The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Declan on May 30, 2010, 10:59:21 pm
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Perhaps a silly question- I have been offered what were pet lambs earlier in the year- bottled feeding now finished they are on grass as normal. They are extremely friendly. Does the fact that they were pet lambs make them any "softer" or less resistent to the harsh life than we can sometimes encounter- than the ordinary reared sheep.
They are zwartbles.
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Hi Declan
Depends perhaps on why they became bottle fed and whether or not they were given enough colostrum immediately after birth - without that they are likely to suffer from more illnesses than lambs reared by their dams and there appears to be an increased risk of sudden death in the first few months. I would be doubtful about breeding from orphan lambs - if the dam died then it could have been from something hereditary such as a narrow pelvis (leading to a problem lambing) or weak blood vessels. As with dogs, horses etc, it's better to see the parents before choosing breeding stock. If they are as pets or for meat, less of a problem.
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Don't have a lot of experience with orphan lambs but I kept two bottle reared half Zwartbles lambs from my own flock and they are just like all the others.
They are now 4 years old, very healthy, never had any problems, had lambs of their own and were good mothers.
They were both triplet lambs I deliberately took from the ewes not a result of a problem birth.
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Just along the same lines a Fleecewife, if you don't know for sure they have been done, get them the first dose of Heptavac straight away and second in 4 - 5 weeks time. Also wouldn't breed from them , unless they are spare triplets (and only if you want triplets out of them... as it tends to come down the female line!)
Also maybe worm straight away?
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All great advice- thanks.