The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: tommytink on September 22, 2019, 09:35:04 pm
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We’re getting a ram on loan mid Oct for our Badgers. We have our own tup for our Hill Radnors and are planning on putting him in tomorrow. Because a) we want the two separate flocks to lamb at different times and b) our ram is lonely and we want to get him in so he has company.
Appreciate this will equal a mid-February lambing. Also that it may mean more expenditure on feed?? It’s only for eight ewes, so not a terribly big deal, right?!!
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Mine is going in tomorrow or the day after :excited: I have to lamb a bit earlier due to work commitments from end of March onwards.
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You may have a very extended lambing season then as your ewes may not be cycling yet... and you would probably need space undercover not just for the actual lambing but maybe for ewes and lambs as well, as mid February can mean loads of snow and unpredictable weather...
If you are only talking 8 ewes, have you thought of sponging them, lets say in two batches a couple of days apart for removal of sponges and then supervise the mating?
And for next year, why not keep a couple of wether labs to keep the tup company?
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A different breed but my rams came OUT 8 days ago. No sponging or any un natural hormones just a teaser ram in for two weeks beforehand. However I do know that I have to cater for indoor lambing and housing until the weather/grass allow the lambs to live out. This year was great as the fresh lambed sheep were able to graze from day one but last year it was March before the grass was suitable.
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Our ram came out last week - because we don’t lamb until April. :D. The flock has a lot of Shetland and other primitive blood, they’ve never cycled before October before.
We’ve decided to try an even later lambing this year. Tups out Nov 21st instead of bonfire night. We’ve had bad weather and poor grass for the earliest mums too many times.
I’m planning on running the lads’ group next to the ewes from the beginning of November, which should get the girls all cycling and ready. I can even log likely tupping dates from who is hanging about the fence on different days ;).
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My Lleyn and Texel Rams went in 1st september but have only started working in the last week. Bit slow to start this year because of the weather I think.
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It's not about when YOU want to put the ram in it's about when the ewes are cycling and will take the ram and when the ram is ready, your 2 breeds were bred for high ground so later cycling , when did they lamb last year ? What may happen is that the ram goes out today and serves the odd ewe until 10 - 14 days in then the rest will cycle , same with the Badgers unless they can be in the next field to the working ram which will stimulate them to cycle . If your ram has been in the next field to all your ewes have you seen signs of stimulation eg ewes coming to the fence and the ram excited
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We put our tups in on the 10th August aiming for January lambs (two flocks - Zwartbles and Berrichons). Unfortunately my older tup was firing blanks so I shipped him on and replaced him with a ram lamb I'd held back this year so whilst my husband's Berrichons will be lambing in January as planned (and hopefully producing lambs big enough to go to Three Counties Show) my Zwartbles will now be lambing middle of February onwards including one who will be having cross-bred lambs that I'd rather have kept pure but didn't want to run her with her son. Rather annoying but there's sheep for you ::)
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We're in an area of mostly welsh hill sheep, and based on the neighbours' slightly lax attitude to stock separation, I'd say that the ewes have started cycling fairly recently. ;D
Because of my work, we have to put the rams in pretty late (to lamb around the easter break, usually), but given that it was snowing in 2018 as I was bringing them in to the delivery suite, I'm pretty happy with that. Our lambs look a bit small in comparison with those I see in the shows in the summer, but since we're not really trying for a commercial operation, it's not the end of the world.
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Any hot-tips on how to keep the ram in the adjacent field without him jumping the fence for the 2-3 week 'teaser' period?
The fences are standard post and (2) rail horse paddocks with stock fence below, but we have had the neighbours Texel Rams jump the fence like it wasn't even there.
Our ram is more dopey to be fair (Hill Radnor), but I would really like to keep them apart until WE decide to put him in with the ladies.
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We also put our rams in mid-October, giving a mid-March lambing, not mid-February, surely? :thinking:
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I had the tup here in July for my possible lambers of 5 for earlier lambing due to wanting the shed for Knickers (maiden Heifer) end of December! Pet weather jumped the electric and followed me whilst I was checking the cut hay grass so I shoved him in with them. Next day he had an orange butt!! The only ewe the tup didn't get was a Dorset Down ewe crossed off a Bleu du Maine x Shetland, which was surprising! He got her daughter who is Lleyn sired! He also got her half sister (mums side) and a pair of Dorset Down x Shetland twins that have lambed before! Depending on the amount born, we'll eat them as next year it's stock the freezer time (beef, Lamb & pork). This year it's been eat the freezers empty!!
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putting our ram in november this year lambing in April due to family commiments
it was around 7th October last year for march lambing
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Yep, I’ve read up about cycling and that hill breeds can be later. Also heard of sponging but don’t feel confident/knowledgeable enough to attempt that. We initially had him in a small paddock and moved the girls out of sight as again, read that sound/sight could start cycling. Maybe we should’ve left them all in view instead! I guess now he is both the teaser and the tup!
He went in Monday. He was curious but they all ran away from him! Today they are grazing together and the ewes are standing and letting him sniff. No action yet though. Got a raddle on him so I get a clue when something might be happening. This is first time for all of them. I also think the weather is playing a part - been absolutely heaving it down and all sheep look worn out!
Just glad he’s not on his own any more. Think he came from having company so was tough being by himself. I’d like to keep him with the ladies as much as possible but at least next year fingers crossed he’ll have some ram lambs to keep him company and maybe we’ll let him keep one :D
We’re not commercial minded as yet, our first year is all trial and hopefully no error. We have recently refitted our lambing shed. Riddled with woodworm and rot we took it back to the concrete block base and rebuilt it. We’re calling it the Radnor Hotel! Plenty of space for eight ladies and babies. The bloody Badgers will be fending for themselves and lambing outdoors!!
Badgers will be moving to a field nearby for flushing but not bordering the Radnors. Don’t want to risk the tups interacting.
I’m waiting for orange butts too PipKelpy - did your wether have a funny walk after acquiring his?!!
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I always try to keep a field in between my tups whilst they are out with their respective ladies.
And as for the weather... I put my tups out on Monday and we had torrential rain all Monday night. Tuesday morning 2 orange bums. If the girls are cycling the rams will serve them whatever the weather!
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So is everyone going for orange?! My OH wants to take the harness off as he’s worried it’s uncomfortable for him if he lies down. It’s not too tight though and we’ve checked it’s not rubbing. The only thing is that he’s getting an orange chest now with the wet weather!
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I’m waiting for orange butts too PipKelpy - did your wether have a funny walk after acquiring his?!!
No he didn't! Did laugh at the little bugger though as the tup was here last year (asked if I could have him back again if possible as I knew he got on with the cattle.) Did actually tell the breeder though when I returned him that unless he was sending him off (for the chop or selling) I would have him back again next year. I stood watching him as Knickers was rubbing her head on his one side, Jennifer and Mary came to headbut him on the other side (he still stood willingly) then Duster (Junipers lad) decided to get in on the act and pounce on him. Stupid sod just stood there! So I shot through the gate and clapped my hands and got looks off all as if to say What??
Breeder actually said could he have escaped? I said yes, plenty of room, wasn't cornered or anything. He reply then was don't worry!! Nice owner!!
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So is everyone going for orange?!
I usually start with yellow, then orange, green, red, blue, black. That was back in the old days!! Swore by the harness. Nettex one with the all-weather chalks.
But last year, flys got under the straps on his back and maggots appeared under the harness. Never a good thing to start with and especially when its not my tup, so off to the shops and back with blue powder. This year, saw the powder on offer so for my massive flock (5) bought some more tubs. Started with yellow, then got to the orange. But the heat in July meant that the girl who got seen to first had bright butt, but the others then went paler due to melting (the wax). But never mind, rubber glove (me) handful of goo, bucket shoved under his nose and he's recoloured!
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On black sheep I have had no luck with yellow or orange so I started with green and followed that with blue.
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On black sheep I have had no luck with yellow or orange so I started with green and followed that with blue.
I would’ve thought yellow in particular would’ve been good on black sheep! And you’d never see green or blue. Guess you don’t know till you try it out.
Still no action yet. How long can it take for ewes to start cycling? He’s been showing interest - smelling their pee, doing the lip thing, sniffing butts, and doing little nibbles and licks on their sides. So he’s hopefully not one of the (allegedly 10%) gay rams!