The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: countrygirlatheart on January 21, 2010, 07:40:35 pm

Title: at what age do young sheep stop growing?
Post by: countrygirlatheart on January 21, 2010, 07:40:35 pm
how long to sheep continue to grow?     

I am feeding my pedigree ewe lambs though the winter to try to ensure maximum growth (height) but I'm not sure when they can be expected to stop growing?    If I can find out when they typically achieve their ultimate height then I wont waste money feeding them for no gain

Can anyone help?    Does it vary by breed?    These are zwartbles

Title: Re: at what age do young sheep stop growing?
Post by: hexhammeasure on January 21, 2010, 08:02:31 pm
I found that our suffolks stop actually putting on weight about 4 years old although it is very slow after 18 months usually they will just fatten out rather than get taller we call it their middle age spread!after 4 their condition stabilises (in most cases) for 2 or 3 years before they start getting to retirement age and losing condition average age at retirement is 8 years (old by commercial standards) our old dame is lambing next week at 11years old she WILL retire next year...I told her that last year too....