[maddy]

Hi one of my ryeland ewes who is 4 didn't lamb this year - for whatever reason she didn't take.  She was a little fat then but now as has had no lambs to feed is even fatter.

How can I get her to lose weight - if I move her onto starvation paddock she will be alone. Whats the best way to do it as I am sure with excess weight she definitely will not take in November.

[landroverroy]

You need to put her on a diet of straw + minerals, or, as you rightly say, her chances of getting in lamb this year are small.
Obviously you dont want to keep her on her own, although, as a last straw, this may be preferable to the alternative. But it cannot be unsurmountable to work out some way of giving her a companion, even if it means feeding the companion extra feed each day in a way that the overweight ewe can't get to it.

[clydesdaleclopper]

I would put her in with a companion and feed the companion extra - I have a very skinny old lady who I keep for sentimental reasons and when everyone else is just getting grazing she get handfuls of ewe nuts each day which she comes and takes from my hands. Just pick your tamest ewe to be the companion and I think it would work.

[shep53]

Why not sell her if she's really fat and buy a couple of ewe lambs or a nice gimmer ?

[maddy]

Would anyone want an overweight ryeland though? 

[Kimbo]

well she would still make a cuddly pet lawnmower for someone, although not nice for her to be alone

[Keepers]

Would anyone want an overweight ryeland though?

If she weighs well sell her as a cull?

[Marches Farmer]

Very hard to get condition off a Down sheep.  I occasionally get an empty ewe at scanning and she goes off with the next lot of culls.  You may find she gets tupped but won't hold.