Author Topic: Shetland X texel ram lamb (Read 1672 times)

NewLifeOnTheFarm · « **on:** October 09, 2018, 08:21:33 am »

Hi, I have a Shetland X texel entire ram lamb who will be our only lamb going to the abbatoir. We don't have a weigh crate, so just looking for advice for when to send him for slaughtering. He is a good size, bigger than his mum who is pure Shetland, but on the whole seems to have more Shetland characteristics than texel.

Thanks

bj_cardiff · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2018, 08:48:05 am »

Run your hand down his spine and feel how much of his spine you can feel. Ideally you'd like to take lambs with a decent cover of fat so with a score around 3-4. This chart explains it quite well. http://www.lifetimewool.com.au/conditionscore.aspx

Anke · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2018, 10:03:18 pm »

Is he for private consumption? Then his weight doesn't matter, but you want to send him off before he starts bothering any girls (or like happened to me - jumps the fence to mate with his dam/sisters…) or gets uppety with you… if he is bigger than his dam he must be over 40kgs?

NewLifeOnTheFarm · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2018, 12:45:06 pm »

Thanks for your replies. Yes our estimate is that he will be 40 - 45 kg. They are being brought in this weekend to do some sorting so we will have a good feel of him and go from there.

NewLifeOnTheFarm · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2018, 02:25:07 pm »

Just been doing some moves and the ram lamb in question is definitely 3-4, probably more 3, can feel his backbone, no ribs, starting to muscle up. He does feel light, although bigger than his dam assuming this is probably down to bone density as well as size? Anyway, we have decided to send him and see what we get, he will just be for us anyway and it will give us an idea of what we need to do next year.