[Pony-n-trap]

To market?

I have been told they could do with being weighed so we know they are the right size but have nothing to weigh them with, our lambs at foot are now not far off the size of the ewes, we bought them at foot on 30th April, they had all lost their tales and the tups had castrated.

We plan to go to the fat lamb sales next week to check how big they are but I thought I would ask here as well.

[humphreymctush]

you could borrow some scales. It depends on the breed but a normal commercial lamb (Suffolk X) should go when its about 40kg. If they are underweight you coud still get a reasonable price for them as store lambs. It is also good if a batch of lambs is consistant in size and appearance

[Pony-n-trap]

Have spotted some scales whilst out with my terriers tonight, they belong to our neighbour over the hill, we're planning on inviting them round for Sunday Lunch soon so could be a good agenda point!!

I suppose thats the only way we will know, they are all roughly the same size, maybe one or two a tad smaller, they might be the twins who lost their mum about a month ago though.

[trefnantbach]

Tim Tyne's book on sheep for smallholders does a good job of explaining how to assess sheep and lamb condition scores by feeling the muscle over the projections of the vertebras. it will give you a good idea if they are ready if you cant weigh them.

[piggy]

I am now reading that book its really helpful and would def recomend.

[Pony-n-trap]

Will seek said book out!

Thank You!

[humphreymctush]

Condition scoring is also useful to make sure sheep are not too fat. Some years ago I put some two year old wethers in to the abattoir because I wanted mutton. They had so much fat that they were unsaleable. If I had known then how to condition score I would not have made that mistake.

[Sharondp]

Another recommendation for Tims book here!

[Padge]

.................and here