[crobertson]

This year is our first time tupping with our 6 texel shearlings we have grown on from lambs last year. Decided to sponge the ewes to compact lambing, following the procedure and hoped we'd done everything right (never done before). Well the tup went in yesterday afternoon and all were covered by last night !

Lets hope they all hold and we have our first time lambing in March !

[twizzel]

Very good! I'm thinking of sponging our ewes next year, was it easy to do?

[crobertson]

Yes it was very straight forward, sponges in, remove 14 days later & PMSG injection, ram in 36-48 hours later. All ovulating at the same time so all been covered by the ram in the same afternoon - hopefully we'll have a precise lambing ....
Providing all goes well I will definitely be doing the same again next year

[Womble]

Any tips on how to insert the sponges with minimum hassle for you / discomfort for the girls?

[Anke]

Any tips on how to insert the sponges with minimum hassle for you / discomfort for the girls?

Don't use the applicator, lubrication gel, and ahemmm.... let your wife do it - women are a bit more experienced with that kind of thing...

[crobertson]

I would use the applicator as they are a bit of an awkward shape otherwise - however I only pushed the applicator in as far as I felt comfortable / the girls didnt really react to (so probably not as far as others) I figured as long as the sponges were in, progesterone would still be released and have an effect so as long as they are in far enough that they dont fall out.

[Womble]

Mrs Womble just said that this whole thing was my idea, and therefore my problem. She also told me exactly where she'd shove them if I gave the sponges to her!!


I guess I'm on my own then! 

[Marches Farmer]

Providing all goes well I will definitely be doing the same again next year

When we used raddle harnesses on the rams I used to note tupping dates every day.  One year the ewes all started lambing 9 days early, another 6 days late.  Old ewes with twins tend to lamb early, first-timers with a single often lamb late .....   Now I don't bother to record tupping dates.  We leave the rams in for only 18 days and that's more or less how long lambing takes.  Any barreners are culled.

[crobertson]

Hahaha that was half of my families reaction ..... I must say they're now not so objective !

Gotta do what ya gotta do

[Womble]

My attitude is that the sheep work for us and not vice-versa, so anything we can do to tighten up lambing and hopefully need less time off work for it has to be worth a try at least once!


The sponge instructions say that removal is accompanied by a 'characteristic discharge and odour'. Can you tell me, is that a euphemism for 'you're about to lose your breakfast'? 

[crobertson]

Thats exactly why I did it, we all have jobs so hopefully a tight lambing, less time off work, especially with only 6 we want them all in, lambed and back out together rather than a potential scattered 3-6 week period.

I was a bit sceptical with not sponging before but the ram was instantly interested and couldn't pick which one first so they are definitely synchronised !

Hahaha I'm quite strong stomach but no I would say there was a slight discharge on probably 3 of them and no odour .... luckily

[Anke]

My vet told me that the "thing" they most often have to remove from farm dogs' insides is... used sponges... so someone is attracted to the smell/taste of them.

[Foobar]

Any tips on how to insert the sponges with minimum hassle for you / discomfort for the girls?

Lube - empty some into a tub so that you can dip the applicator or hand into it.  Slap a bit on the end of the loaded applicator and also slap a bit on the vulva entrance (means that the ewe doesn't get a cold shock when you touch the end of the applicator on her!).  Insert slowly - if you twist the applicator from side to side slowly whilst you slide it in that can help.  It gets easier with practise.

Have a bucket of hibiscrub solution so that you can rinse the applicator between sheep.

The applicators don't have a grip on them so are very slippy when you are covered in lube, I would recommend that you manufacture your own grip - I wrapped some string around mine near the top and over-wrapped in electrical tape, it made a huge difference.

Having someone to load the applicator for you is also helpful -  you tend to have one dirty hand (which is holding the sheep) and one clean hand (for the applicator) - so a helper with two clean hands for loading is ideal.  Or a helper to hold the sheep.

I wouldn't use the applicator on ewe lambs, a finger will do.

Note, you don't have to use the PMSG injection if you are doing it at this time of year (i.e. when they are already cycling naturally).

And defo keep your dogs away from the used sponges unless you want a sick dog and a huge vet bill!

[Rosemary]

If you do this, how many ewes can you expect a tup to successfully cover? We usually have 15 ewes - would we insert 15 sponges one day then take five out on three consecutive days, all 15 on one day or what woudl we insert five songes on each of three days or what?

[Bramham Wiltshire Horns]

i would be interested in doing this next year again because of the work schedule would be handy to get them done closer
what are the costs etc of sponges etc