The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Gaynor on February 06, 2016, 04:13:44 pm

Title: Weaning dates
Post by: Gaynor on February 06, 2016, 04:13:44 pm

Hi, I breed pigs but thinking of having a few ewes - possibly Rylands. Can I just check if I have this right. If I mated ewe in Nov, she'd lamb in April, I could wean in Sept & take to abattoir in Oct? Thanks

Title: Re: Weaning dates
Post by: Tim W on February 06, 2016, 05:00:01 pm

To ram in Nov =lamb in April
Wean anytime after 10 weeks
Rylands finished by October? Not sure ---the few I have seen took a lot longer

Title: Re: Weaning dates
Post by: Rosemary on February 06, 2016, 05:03:08 pm

Served 5th November to lamb 1st April.
We wean at about 16 weeks so early / mid August
Lambs go to slaughter mid October
On this arrangment, our eight Coloured Ryeland tup lambs in 2015 averaged 26kg dw. There was a mix of twins and triplets, including a set of three from one ewe.

Title: Re: Weaning dates
Post by: Gaynor on February 06, 2016, 06:18:25 pm

Thanks for that. Been thinking of sheep for some time & need to acquire some land from farmer adjoining our land. But wanted to do my homework 1st & ensure it would be practical for me. Like to know how my year would work x

Title: Re: Weaning dates
Post by: Rosemary on February 06, 2016, 06:41:03 pm

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/sheep/ (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/sheep/)