[SheepMad95]

so this year i decided to scan my small flock of 29 ewes and ewelambs. we have never scanned our sheep before even when mum and dad had a flock of over 700 ewes. so i was quite hopeful that they would all be in lamb.. However, out of 29, nine werent in lamb.

4 of theses first lambed last year, one has been lambing every year since for about 3 years, having in 2 doubles last year as the rams got back in with the flock. and then there where 4 ewelambs that werent in lamb but 2 of them had only been put in with the ram in late december so i wasnt expecting them in lamb..

Just wondering if anyone else is having problems with alot of sheep not being in lamb?!

Thanks

[Marches Farmer]

Lots of higher than average barren rates reported around here.  Our scanner visited one pedigree flock and found 1 lamb in 27 ewes, and had such poor results scanning one of the big Welsh flocks they sent him home!  Down to Schmallenberg Virus.

[SallyintNorth]

Not just down to Schmallenberg - there have been a lot of barren ewes up here too, and a lot of losses to fluke and other parasites.

The weather has been so 'orrid this last 18 months, there's no goodness in the grass nor the forage made last so-called 'summer'    Livestock have needed more help - minerals, cake / licks - to get into breeding condition, and more meds to cope with the unseasonal parasites - fluke in summer, worms in winter, not to mention the already beleaguered stock then succumbing to problems they would normally shake off, such as lungworn and pneumonia.

[feldar]

I honestly think it's been one of those years, as Sally says SBV in some and weather problems and parasites in others, coupled with low lamb prices at the moment you wonder why you bother!! hopefully things will improve    certainly the weather needs to.
I hope the sheep you have in lamb are ok and you get some nice lambs from them. But it has been a very odd year and friends we have talked to up and down the country are all having various problems, believe me you are not alone.