The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: m3joeEm on June 28, 2015, 06:01:50 pm

Title: worried about weaning - mastitis
Post by: m3joeEm on June 28, 2015, 06:01:50 pm
On Saturday i weaned the lambs off the ewes. Before i start, I know i havent followed the best process for weaning but I have far too much grass everywhere and not enough fences (will be sorted next year) meaning my options for drying up the ewes were limited. Before weaning they were on average grass not too lush or not poor. I moved the lambs to good pasture and the sheep straight to the mountain (hill heather, rushes, wildgrass etc) . The mountain is huge (around 70 acres for 28 texel/suffolk X sheep. Although it is mostly old wild grass there are some very small areas of lush long grass. I am worried incase they are on too good of pasture and may be producing too much milk potentially causing mastitis?. The lambs were all 3-4 months at weaning and were eating creep so would that mean the sheep would have already slowly been reducing the quantity of milk they were producing limiting the risk?
Title: Re: worried about weaning - mastitis
Post by: Marches Farmer on June 29, 2015, 11:09:49 am
I've sometimes not had poor grazing to put the ewes on after weaning and they've never had post-weaning mastitis.  How old are the lambs?  I generally wean at 16 weeks but will be doing so earlier this year.  My lambs only suckle occasionally at present and they've still two weeks to go.  If you can yard them on put them on a small area of grazing for just a day it will help dry them up quickly. 
Title: Re: worried about weaning - mastitis
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on June 29, 2015, 11:10:58 am
Forgive me for asking but when do you lamb the ewes? I lamb mine in April-May and wean them in September.
Title: Re: worried about weaning - mastitis
Post by: Marches Farmer on June 29, 2015, 02:41:35 pm
I lamb mine to coincide with Easter - an extra pair of hands when my daughter's on holiday from college.  This year it was late March, although I actually prefer to start around 6th March.
Title: Re: worried about weaning - mastitis
Post by: m3joeEm on June 30, 2015, 02:58:46 am
Marches farmer its good to see youve replied alway lvalue your input on this site :).. Also its great news that there is a possibility they should be fine or at least the vast majority :D. I never stop worrying about my flock they are like family haha. They were between 13-16 weeks at weaning .
Title: Re: worried about weaning - mastitis
Post by: m3joeEm on June 30, 2015, 02:59:57 am
waterbuffalo farmer i lambed earlier this year for my area. 20th feb onwards :)