Author Topic: breeding season (Read 2617 times)

cairnhill · « **on:** May 25, 2010, 07:08:11 pm »

Hi All

My hebrideans live in a family group at the moment and I got 4 male lambs this year. In total I have 3 ewes, 3 rams (including the 8 week old intact) and 3 castrates. I don't want to have lambs next year as I only have a couple of acres. I do have access to 6 acres of woodland at a friends as she needs some conservation grazers. So my question is to avoid my girls getting pregnant, when do they need to be seperated from the entire males.

thanks in advance
Anna

mab · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2010, 08:06:00 pm »

I believe a ram can become 'functional' at 4 months, but i'm no expert.

I'm told that an mature ewe can get pregnant at any time of year, so - if I've read your post right - you need to remove your intact ram in the next 2 months.

mab

cairnhill · « **Reply #2 on:** May 26, 2010, 10:49:55 am »

Oh dear! I thought it was something to do with melatonin and shorter daylight hours. Looks like I will have to try to sell my tups asap.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #3 on:** May 26, 2010, 10:57:18 am »

It is to do with melatonin etc but no-one told the sheep

Entire tup lambs will be ok until weaning at 4 months but there is the slight chance that any adult males could be successful with a ewe anytime. Hebs don't usually breed out of season but if you really don't want any more lambs then the sure way is to separate them.

shetlandpaul · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2010, 12:28:30 pm »

our ram stays with his girls all year and the lambing was only a week ahead of the planned flocks births. this is the second year and they have lambed at the normal time.