General sheep thread

wrangler

Green farmer wrote: »

Wrangler , Started mealing ewes today as silage ran out this morning. Not lambing till 1st April onwards. Haven’t separated the singles /twins yet, but how much would you blanket feed them for the next week to start them off ? 4 weeks from lambing I’ll separate and vaccinate. Their on bare paddock getting the smallest pick of grass and will lamb outside. Trying to build up abit of grass before they start lambing.

Start them off with a pound, because this weather coming will knock the doubles with Twin Lamb Disease. If it was me I'd split it in too feeds in case of sickening them. If we get snow and they're eating well increase it because this is hungry weather, extra meal won't do the singles any harm for a week or so at this stage
Again because of the weather, the doubles would need to be getting a pound twice a day from four weeks out. Again always be increasing gradually and make sure they're eating everything in five mins.

White Clover

Wrangler, my ladies are due in about 10 days. I'm giving the doubles 3 pounds over 3 feeds but they're not finishing it. Would it be foolish to cut back to 2 feeds? It's just like they don't have the space for it inside. They're always lying content when I arrive. Drinking plenty and straw ad lib.

wrangler

White Clover wrote: »

Wrangler, my ladies are due in about 10 days. I'm giving the doubles 3 pounds over 3 feeds but they're not finishing it. Would it be foolish to cut back to 2 feeds? It's just like they don't have the space for it inside. They're always lying content when I arrive. Drinking plenty and straw ad lib.

2lbs/day isn't enough, try maybe 2.5lbs/day divided in three feeds, It's better not to sicken them and like you say lambs'll be taking up more and more room.
If they still can't eat it you may go back to 2lbs, don't sicken them anyway.
Take away any thing the don't eat in five mins
We've the triplets and doubles together and they eating 3.1lb/day average

razor8

wrangler wrote: »

You should've brought them along...very relaxed atmosphere
Great night in Cavan last night, around ninety at it, great question and answer session, a lot of young farmers at it and of course put a face on a few names here.
Heard there was huge crowd in Cootehill too for the SOS campaign meeting,

Like yourself Finbar tells it as it is. Father said he was chatting you. He complimented Yvonne who spoke really well for someone who hadn’t done it before

wrangler

razor8 wrote: »

Like yourself Finbar tells it as it is. Father said he was chatting you. He complimented Yvonne who spoke really well for someone who hadn’t done it before

Yea it was a good night, Yvonne was really nervous,she made sure everything was on the power point presentation to prompt her.... really nice crowd of people

greysides

MeTheMan wrote: »

Have 3 ewes prolapsed here all triplets. Home made job for two of them. The other put out the bag very closed up, eventually got the three out but all died. Very annoying, bit early but three nice sized lambs just never took a proper breath. The other two seem OK now. Was tempted to remove it from one who has it in two weeks but I'm going to leave well enough alone.

Once you deal with the prolapse give them a course of antibiotics. Exposure to air liquifies the cervical mucus plug and allows in bacteria to kill or weaken the lambs.

charolais0153

greysides wrote: »

Once you deal with the prolapse give them a course of antibiotics. Exposure to air liquifies the cervical mucus plug and allows in bacteria to kill or weaken the lambs.

On all prolapses? Even a small one? Pen and strep or alamycin?

Dickie10

after a terrible start to lambing with abortions in 3 doubles things have improved well. now have 81 lambs from 32 ewes. think i have 10 triplets lost 1 and lost 1 from a quad

Dickie10

"the lord giveth and he taketh away" - Dickie 3:65

greysides

charolais0153 wrote: »

On all prolapses? Even a small one? Pen and strep or alamycin?

Yes. Either. 3 to 5 days.

Early treatment is essential.

IME, prolapses often lead to dead lambs, ringwomb, retained placenta, sick sheep and knackery. In that order unless treatment is at first sign and antibiotics given. A pessary on correction is good too.

wrangler

Two viable lambs today, 140 days since ram turnout, 3kgs and 4 kgs but viable...... that's the start

kk.man

wrangler wrote: »

Two viable lambs today, 140 days since ram turnout, 3kgs and 4 kgs but viable...... that's the start

When are the due to lamb?

wrangler

kk.man wrote: »

When are the due to lamb?

We usually go by 145 -150 days, so next thursday would be 145 from ram turnout

Siamsa Sessions

wrangler wrote: »

Two viable lambs today, 140 days since ram turnout, 3kgs and 4 kgs but viable...... that's the start

Alive is the main thing!

Had one lamb at 3kg here so far and he’s doing grand now. His twin was 6kg and still-born.

You’ve much more experience than me-self but I’d have thought 4kg is low-ish but fairly OK at the same time?

charolais0153

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Alive is the main thing!

Had one lamb at 3kg here so far and he’s doing grand now. His twin was 6kg and still-born.

You’ve much more experience than me-self but I’d have thought 4kg is low-ish but fairly OK at the same time?

4kg is grand. A great lamb is 6 kilos.

wrangler

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Alive is the main thing!

Had one lamb at 3kg here so far and he’s doing grand now. His twin was 6kg and still-born.

You’ve much more experience than me-self but I’d have thought 4kg is low-ish but fairly OK at the same time?

I'd agree, 4 is low, I say viable when they can get up and maintain their body temperature, the 3kg is a bit shook but taking 100 mls from a bottle every 2 or three hrs, the bigger one is sucking away.
But something was wrong when she threw them out at 140 days
As I say the sh...e comes at the start

arctictree

Well 3 dead Ewes and 2 abortions here so far. Nothing alive yet. Due to start today. Things can only improve....

kk.man

Keep the the chin up guys...

arctictree

First 2 live this morning. Off we go!

Siamsa Sessions

arctictree wrote: »

Well 3 dead Ewes and 2 abortions here so far. Nothing alive yet. Due to start today. Things can only improve....

Started this day last week: 2 dead lambs, 1 ewe no milk, 2 ewes rejected their lambs, 1 ewe with milk fever

Was ready to flog the whole lot (again!)

But no trouble since, apart from a hogget prolapsing.

Is there a scientific or biological reason we get tough cases at the start?

charolais0153

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Started this day last week: 2 dead lambs, 1 ewe no milk, 2 ewes rejected their lambs, 1 ewe with milk fever

Was ready to flog the whole lot (again!)

But no trouble since, apart from a hogget prolapsing.

Is there a scientific or biological reason we get tough cases at the start?

Id say they lamb kind of earlier becayse they are under a bit if stress with dead lambs or milk fever.
Had a ewe last wekend with ringwomb got the 2 lambs out eventually alive , put a stitch in her befire she put out her insides. Shes kept forcing and has dried up and one of the lambs died.
Had 2 cases of mastitis in couples during week and one of them seems to be drying up. Had a single with mastitis yesterday too. All ewes were checked when rams went out.
ewe threw 2 lambs yesterday evening also.

RobinBanks

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone could offer me a bit of advice on feeding store lambs.

I bought 20 last oct and had planned to kill them around now but they are not ready to yet. Avg. wt of 43kg. I was told I would need to get them near 50.

I moved them to fresh grass this morn but I want to give them some meal. I never had lambs before so not sure what meal is best to give.

Anyone any recommendations on what to feed and how much per head

charolais0153

RobinBanks wrote: »

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone could offer me a bit of advice on feeding store lambs.

I bought 20 last oct and had planned to kill them around now but they are not ready to yet. Avg. wt of 43kg. I was told I would need to get them near 50.

I moved them to fresh grass this morn but I want to give them some meal. I never had lambs before so not sure what meal is best to give.

Anyone any recommendations on what to feed and how much per head

Intensive lamb pellet. Start them off gradually. 200 grams up until ad lib i suppose

RobinBanks

charolais0153 wrote: »

Intensive lamb pellet. Start them off gradually. 200 grams up until ad lib i suppose

Cheers. How long would you think they will take to reach 50kg? 2 months?

charolais0153

RobinBanks wrote: »

Cheers. How long would you think they will take to reach 50kg? 2 months?

Not a specified weight just until theyre fat enough. Putting on too much fat is uneconomical

Siamsa Sessions

RobinBanks wrote: »

Cheers. How long would you think they will take to reach 50kg? 2 months?

Good grass and meal would probably mean daily weight gain of 200g (depending on breed) so work from there as to how soon they’ll be 50kg

mcgiggles

Our texel with the prolapse threw the 2 lambs the other day. Perfect little lambs just early. Its nearly harder when they come out perfect. She's for the chop for sure. 3rd year lambing, never starts well but seems to improve (most of the time) as we get going. Ours are starting due 13 March. Will be moving back into the home house soon enough for the few weeks. Building there this year can't wait to be back on the land close to everything.

Siamsa Sessions

mcgiggles wrote: »

Our texel with the prolapse threw the 2 lambs the other day. Perfect little lambs just early. Its nearly harder when they come out perfect. She's for the chop for sure. 3rd year lambing, never starts well but seems to improve (most of the time) as we get going. Ours are starting due 13 March. Will be moving back into the home house soon enough for the few weeks. Building there this year can't wait to be back on the land close to everything.

We built a bungalow and moved home last April - couldn’t manage sheep without being so close now. Tis a different life altogether - enjoy!

greysides

charolais0153 wrote: »

Had a ewe last wekend with ringwomb got the 2 lambs out eventually alive , put a stitch in her befire she put out her insides. Shes kept forcing and has dried up and one of the lambs died.

Aspirin is a good pain killer in sheep although there's no products available in this country licenced for cattle/sheep.

Dosage rate can be found online.

If you are stitching ewes don't go through the lips, avoid the shiny inner layer as urine can irritate the stitched area and cause straining. Buttons at either side included in the stitch will help spread the pressure. As will a length of rubber tube at either side shared between several stitches.

I use a circumferential subcutaneous cotton tape put in with a special needle. Works well. Of course, the epidural I give first helps with taking away pain and allowing the area to settle down before it wears off.

kk.man

RobinBanks wrote: »

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone could offer me a bit of advice on feeding store lambs.

I bought 20 last oct and had planned to kill them around now but they are not ready to yet. Avg. wt of 43kg. I was told I would need to get them near 50.

I moved them to fresh grass this morn but I want to give them some meal. I never had lambs before so not sure what meal is best to give.

Anyone any recommendations on what to feed and how much per head

You should have left them in the field before changing them to fresh grass. It might be a tad harder for them to get use to meal. Give them a really patable sweat crunch 1st and then switch to the pellets. A bag of it is all I'd buy and at the rate of 200g each to start per day.
They would take to it faster if they had less grass but with snow otw it's a good week to start!