The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: ScotsGirl on June 27, 2015, 02:06:12 pm
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i have a black Welsh mountain ewe that is going for mutton. She only has a single lamb so far from skinny! My question is can I send her straight off with her udder still full or should I dry her off first? I don't want her to put on fat, she is about 3 and I want to send her with a ram shearling in August.
Second question follows a conversation with a friend today. He is selling some stores at market straight from mum as he found weight dropped off last year if he weaned first. Would this be the best solution for me taking some to slaughter? Only issue I can see is I want them off ewes earlier than Sept but don't want to lose condition on the lambs which are nearly ready to go.
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All of ur fat lambs, and some of our stores are sold straight off their mums, works well for us.
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I prefer to move the ewes away from the lambs and give both a few days grace before moving them off the farm - the ewes to dry up and the lambs to get used to life without Mama. I think one huge upheaval at a time is quite stressful enough.
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Ok, what about the mutton ewe? Can she go straight to slaughter at weaning?