The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: JedM on August 01, 2015, 04:12:46 pm

Title: Drying up?
Post by: JedM on August 01, 2015, 04:12:46 pm

I collected my first sheep 3 weeks ago, (3 Wiltshire horn ewes), and their lambs hadn't been weaned from them.  I was told to keep them on poor grass at first until their udders had dried up to prevent mastitis.
I penned off part of their field which didn't have much rich grass in it and they are now running out of grass.  They have been kept in this pen for all 3 weeks and I was wondering if that is long enough before letting them into the whole field? 
Their udders have got a lot smaller but they haven't completely dried off yet.

I'd be glad of comments from other on what you do after weaning.

Thanks   :)

Title: Re: Drying up?
Post by: Melmarsh on August 01, 2015, 07:57:29 pm

Three weeks should be plenty of time, as long as the udders are decreasing in size then give them more grazing, if you have a lot of grass then give them a bit at a time to see what the udders do. They shouldn't start to fill again, have a feel to check no lumps or bumps  if you're worried.  :thinking:

Title: Re: Drying up?
Post by: Loobylou on August 01, 2015, 08:34:45 pm

I'm not sure how true it is, but I read somewhere that the mint herb is supposed to dry them up. It's maybe worth a go?

Title: Re: Drying up?
Post by: SallyintNorth on August 02, 2015, 12:59:22 am

The udders don't shrink to nothing, they just stop being big and turgid.  By the time you are checking your girls before tupping, they'll be smaller and more floppy, but not completely flat.

I'd do as Melmarsh suggests, let them onto the rest of the grass steadily and keep a watching brief.  If it's clover-rich it might stimulate production, otherwise, after 3 weeks without their lambs, they should be fine.

Title: Re: Drying up?
Post by: Marches Farmer on August 02, 2015, 08:17:01 am

Three weeks should be ample time - it's the lambs suckling that stimulates milk production - they'll start to dry up within a day or so without it.  I've rarely had poor grazing to put my ewes on after weaning - they bawl for half a day as their udders become uncomfortably full, then stop.

Title: Re: Drying up?
Post by: JedM on August 02, 2015, 09:24:32 am

Thanks all...

I have plenty of mint around the garden so I'll give that a go.

There isn't much clover in the field, but I think I'll do what Melmarsh suggests and will let them onto a new piece of grazing, and slowly increase the amount. 

Title: Re: Drying up?
Post by: pharnorth on August 02, 2015, 06:08:14 pm

Thank you, very helpful, I am weaning mine tomorrow so I now have a field plan......