[danconfessed]

Ive had a search and a browse and couldn't find anything on the site - so i apologise if im repeating anything.

Three weeks ago I weaned my lambs from the ewes. I left the lambs in their pasture and took mums to a different smaller paddock.

The ewes have not eaten every morsel of grass and dried up well and the lambs paddock is needing topping.  Is it possible to put the ewes back with their lambs?  It would solve many problems. 

Thanks

Dan (1st timer)

[Marches Farmer]

The ewes should have dried up by now.  How old were the lambs when weaned?  If quite young for weaning they may try to suckle Mama when reunited which I suppose could lead to teat damage and set up an infection, but I think it unlikely.

[Foobar]

I only separate mine for about 2 weeks.

[danconfessed]

Foobar,  do you then put them back together after two weeks?

Dan

[Foobar]

Yes sorry that's what I meant .

[bazzais]

Just dont put the boy lambs back in with their mums - cos things will happen.

[SallyintNorth]

Just dont put the boy lambs back in with their mums - cos things will happen.

Only if the boys aren't properly castrated, of course.

[Marches Farmer]

I gather the lambs three days after weaning, when they've got used to life without the dams, and split them into ram and ewe groups.  The ewe lambs go with an old ewe I won't breed from again - she'll come to the bucket and they will copy her.  The ram lambs are entire and most will be sold as stores at market the following week, keeping back the best of the Southdowns to take on, be registered and be available for hire in the Autumn.

[Foobar]

I put all mine back together now (holding back any ewes that are fat and need to lose weight). Then take out the ewes at the beginning of Aug, and take out the ewe-lambs at beginning of Sept.  I have limited number of fields so my priority to getting the best grass into the animals that need it the most, rather than being paranoid about random tuppings.

[Katrina]

Footbar what do you do with the fat ewes, do you put them on poorer grazing or anything else?  I have one fat ewe and I am not sure what to do to get her to lose weight before tupping?

[Foobar]

Yeah they will be going on poorer grazing .. if I can find any!! Or else they will follow the lambs in the grazing rotation (ie the lambs and thin ewes eat off the best grass first then the fatties go in afterwards).  I have three fat ewes and a very fat wether (ram companion) this year.  I am also training a sheepdog pup and so these four might have to be used for him, which might help them shed some pounds .

[Katrina]

Thanks. I might give the rotation a try otherwise it's the treadmill