[JFW67]

Hi All,

I have separated my lambs from the ewes.
They are in sight in adjacent fields and all of them seem pretty happy with the situation.

How long do they need apart to be fully weaned?

[shep53]

2-3weeks should be fine

[JFW67]

2-3weeks should be fine

Thank you.

[twizzel]

I wouldn’t put them back together for at least 6 weeks though. I’ve had ewes separated for a month that when put back together will let their lambs suck.

[JFW67]

Hi Twizzel

I wouldn’t put them back together for at least 6 weeks though. I’ve had ewes separated for a month that when put back together will let their lambs suck.

After that period off does the ewe begin producing enough milk to be significant?

[twizzel]

Hi Twizzel

I wouldn’t put them back together for at least 6 weeks though. I’ve had ewes separated for a month that when put back together will let their lambs suck.

After that period off does the ewe begin producing enough milk to be significant?

Probably not, but I wean my ewes to give them a break to regain body condition before tupping. That’s never going to happen unless they stop milking. They don’t need to feed lambs anymore, and the lambs need to learn to live without them! My ewes go up to a different farm after drying off. The lambs stay at home, then we swap them around at tupping.


Or the alternative is you just leave all the ewes and lambs together and naturally wean. But experience tells me they need separating, to give the ewes a break.

[JFW67]

 
Probably not, but I wean my ewes to give them a break to regain body condition before tupping. That’s never going to happen unless they stop milking. They don’t need to feed lambs anymore, and the lambs need to learn to live without them! My ewes go up to a different farm after drying off. The lambs stay at home, then we swap them around at tupping.


Or the alternative is you just leave all the ewes and lambs together and naturally wean. But experience tells me they need separating, to give the ewes a break.
[/quote]Or the alternative is you just leave all the ewes and lambs together and naturally wean. But experience tells me they need separating, to give the ewes a break.
[/quote]

Very useful.  My main issue is stocking enough in summer to control the grass growth and reducing to the right level in autumn to have grass to feed the dam ewes through the winter.   

I currently have 8 breeding ewes and a ram.
Two wethers lambs I aim to keep and another 9 lambs, (3 rams and 6 ewes)
The intention was to have the 8 ewes, ram and wethers as the permanent stock and to sell off lambs when it is the right point to leave enough grazing for the winter with haylege and some nuts in the new year.

This is the first year so lots of learning going on!

[JFW67]

Probably not, but I wean my ewes to give them a break to regain body condition before tupping. That’s never going to happen unless they stop milking. They don’t need to feed lambs anymore, and the lambs need to learn to live without them! My ewes go up to a different farm after drying off. The lambs stay at home, then we swap them around at tupping.


Or the alternative is you just leave all the ewes and lambs together and naturally wean. But experience tells me they need separating, to give the ewes a break.

Very useful.  My main issue is stocking enough in summer to control the grass growth and reducing to the right level in autumn to have grass to feed the dam ewes through the winter.   

I currently have 8 breeding ewes and a ram.
Two wethers lambs I aim to keep and another 9 lambs, (3 rams and 6 ewes)
The intention was to have the 8 ewes, ram and wethers as the permanent stock and to sell off lambs when it is the right point to leave enough grazing for the winter with haylege and some nuts in the new year.

This is the first year so lots of learning going on!