[Helen Wiltshire Horn]

I have always weaned at about 16 weeks but was wondering if I can do it any earlier.  I have 14 lambs, and haven't castrated any of the boys this year.  I have a few single boys who are probably in excess of 30kg, growing well on ad lib creep and good grass, struggling to get under their Mums to feed.  Some are showing considerable sexual interest in their mothers and sisters.  That said, I have a few smaller lambs, all born within a 16 day period from 11th March, so oldest will be 13 weeks old this Sat, youngest will be 11 weeks old.  When do you think would be the earliest that I could wean?  One of the issues I have is that some of the boys now won't fit in the creep feeder because of their horns!  The plan is to fatten and slaughter early in the Autumn (girls will probably go for breeding next year). Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Helen

[Me]

You can wean at 8 weeks on creep

[farmers wife]

the reason why we dont wean early is 1. you need to keep two flocks and if you are mob/strip grazing it adds to the pain  2. you are feeding creep which can add extra expense which needs to be priced in when taking to market.   Weaning early could be very costly in creep & labour so I would cost that up before taking off pasture.  We are grass fed and wilts do well on just grass the other option is to take the creep away.


We have never done this - low input system.  They all go out together and stay out. We wean around 5-6m.

[Me]

Another way to answer your question is to look at when bottle lambs are weaned