The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Azzdodd on August 09, 2013, 06:44:26 pm
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Got 2 lambs I'm not sure are ready ive got another 2 which are overfat but there going anyway. I know with pigs you can measure certain areas to get a rough idea
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There are lots of diagrams and details on how to condition score a lamb if you Google it. You feel for ribs and spinal processes and tails but easier for you to look for yourself as some sites seem to be as clear as mud to me!
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I think with estimating lamb weights, you just need loads of practice, which is easier said than done if you don't have access to loads of lambs. When you are planning to produce for a specific market, you would be looking to breed a particular size and frame etc. to give you a say, for example, 40kg lamb, but when you are talking about a small amount of lambs you already have, their body condition will be a much better guide than their actual weight, as this doesn't take into consideration their skeletal size (if only was 7ft tall, I'd be so slim!). Again, this does take a bit of practise to assess, the main points to feel being over the shoulder, loin, and top of tail.
If this works, there should be a link below to a document which I think is quite helpful:
http://www.scottishsheepstrategy.org.uk/sitev2/pdfs/ccase.pdf (http://www.scottishsheepstrategy.org.uk/sitev2/pdfs/ccase.pdf)
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Oooh! That's a useful one!
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If you can find someone strong enough to pick them up, get them to do so and stand on some bathroom scales. Subtract their weight and voila, you have the weight of the lamb.