[Hillview Farm]

Long story cut short.

I went away on holiday and left my other half to look after the sheep. I went away the first week of July and while I was away he rung and said the ram had done a runner and got in with the ewes. Got back and all where they should be. A couple of weeks later but I cant quite remember when but he got in again so we moved them a couple fields over and I thought nothing of it.

Tupping time came we sponged and had two ewes not covered. Left him in for another cycle still nothing. I get upset thinking they were barren. Was told barren ewes normally keep cycling.

Now they are starting to just drop an udder! These are mature commercial ewes  and at the moment on grass alone.

Am I right in thinking that they would be around 6 weeks off?

[sheepandponies]

Might be a bit late, but why dont you get them scanned and you will know for certain?  Otherwise you wait to get your surprise
If they are aged ewes they will know their job well. 

[Hillview Farm]

Scanner is due in the first week of January but that far into the gestation I don't think they can tell how far in lamb they are.

Surprise it will be then    one is prone to triplets! Few late nights for me soon then haha

[Marches Farmer]

21 weeks' gestation so you might want to consider giving them a bit of feed - can't do any harm and may help produce robust lambs.  Don't forget their Heptavac booster.

[Hillview Farm]

That's my worry. Heptavac! Don't know when to do it...

[Anke]

Would they not be less than 6 weeks off if covered mid-July? And I wouldn't expect a mature ewe to drop an udder more than a couple of weeks beforehand?

So I would heptavac these two asap, bring in and feed inside.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Have a word with the vet about the pros and cons of a vac this late into gestation. the recomended period is 4 to 6 weeks prior to lambing to ensure that the lamb inherits the benefits of the vac.


Do you keep any notes on your ewes? Do you know how soon before lambing this ewe usually develops an udder? I would feed them and offer a twin lamb bucket.


Lambs for Christmas how exciting!

[Hillview Farm]

I wish I kept record of when I moved them! They were definitely moved before mid august so could be any time up until then I just can't remember when it all happened!!

When I say dropping an udder I mean just starting to alter. I'm sure I normally notice this happening when I start feeding the ewes pre lambing.

Very exciting!