The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: moprabbit on January 31, 2012, 10:36:08 pm

Title: Age for breeding
Post by: moprabbit on January 31, 2012, 10:36:08 pm

I've 4 Texel x mule ewes that will be 2 years old in March. As yet I haven't bred from them. If I wanted to breed from them and have them tupped in Oct/ Nov of this year, they would be 3 when lambing for the first time. Is this ok? Thank you.

Title: Re: Age for breeding
Post by: Small Farmer on January 31, 2012, 10:42:46 pm

We breed in their second year, so yes.

Title: Re: Age for breeding
Post by: Fleecewife on February 01, 2012, 01:10:53 am

The ideal is for them to lamb at 2 yo, but we have lambed a couple of ewes for the first time at 3yo and that has gone ok.  Just watch that they haven't got too fat before they go to the tup - plenty of time to slim them down on grass only before tupping time

Title: Re: Age for breeding
Post by: Remy on February 01, 2012, 09:37:44 am

I bred from my Charollais ewes in their second year, but they were very well grown - three had twins and two had singles, with no problems and the lambs grew really well.  I bought some different breed ewe lambs in last year but they aren't as physically mature so I'll be breeding from them next year.