The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Mungo24 on June 06, 2013, 08:33:26 pm
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Last year I didn't put two of my ewes to the ram. I was chatting to a farmer friend about plans for this autumn, he said that it would be hard to get these two in lamb as they had missed a year. I haven't heard this before is he right.
Thanks
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I think (others will correct me if I'm wrong) it will be due to condition - fat ewes are harder to get in lamb and ewes that haven't lambed are likely to be fatter than those that have.
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I agree with Rosemary. That's probably all it's down to.
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I wouldn't worry too much. I missed out a year with my mob and then they all had twins this year.
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I've taken the odd one out for a year due to various problems in the previous or if they're underscore pre-tupping. No ill affects at all.
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None of mine were tupped last year as I was having a major op at lambing time. This year, only one (out of 16) didn't take within two cycles and only one of the other 15 was actually revisited - all the rest were first cycle. Normal half and half, twins and singles (Shetlands)
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Excellent, thank you for your replies.
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Just make sure they don't get too fat before tupping - even if they do get in lamb, you are asking for trouble lambing fat ewes, stuck lambs, prolapse - all of these things seem to occur in ewes that are overfat more than slim ewes.
I certainly wouldn't feed them any hard feed this year and depending on condition, I might restrict their grass until a few weeks prior to tupping, when Id flush them as per usual. I would say condition score 2.5 maximum at tupping, and it won't hurt if they are 2. Others seem to favour 3, but I think its going a bit far.
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Thanks for the replies, they are Jacobs and so bit more rangy than your average but no goodies if they re overly well conditioned. They are certainly softer on the bony bits the ewes with lamb, I will keep an eye on them. They are in a field next to my ram and his wether mates, I have always assumed the ewes with lambs on them will not begin to cycle until the lambs are weaned. Are the unmated ewes likely to come into season earlier? I intend to move the ram away from them mid July, surely they won't cycle this early.
Thanks in advance.