[NewLifeOnTheFarm]

Morning all,

We have 2 lambs missing from our fields, presumed taken by badgers of foxes. I know many neighbours have similar issues. These lambs are not tagged. So how do people go about recording the losses? Or do most not bother? We have always been very lucky so far, probably due to having low numbers and hardy breeds, but as we expand lamb losses will no doubt become inevitable. If a lamb dies, do you have to tag it post mortem?? I know our fallen stock company collect lambs by the bag full of under a month as have seen it on the price list.

Thanks all

[twizzel]

No it doesn’t need to be tagged. Just keep the collection note that the knackerman leaves you, then keep slip in movement book. I tag all my lambs at birth so the death is logged in movement book, as is the birth. At lambing any stillborn or dead lambs go into a feed sack and the knackerman collects the bag when full, these aren’t identified in movement book but the note from knackerman provides evidence they have been disposed of properly.

[Womble]

I take it you got a receipt from the fox? If so, just put that on file  .

[NewLifeOnTheFarm]

I take it you got a receipt from the fox? If so, just put that on file  .

Greedy sod didn't even leave a thank you note. Just a very sad ewe.

[Womble]

Oh well, in that case I'd just record in the diary that two lambs are now missing, presumed taken by a fox. I don't really see what else you can do!

[bj_cardiff]

I think it depends on your record keeping. If you note all of the births and tag them that early then I suppose you'd have to record that the lamb was missing presumed dead. If you don't get round to tagging them till they are a few months old, and haven't recorded their birth, then I would do nothing and not record them