[Ag-eq] Lambing

[Zach Mason via Ag-eq]

Lambing is controlled by four factors. Ability of the breed(s) of sheep to
breed out of season, health of the ewe, health of the ram, and when the ram
is put in with the ewes. Some flocks use what is called the "Star Program,"
which simply means ewes give birth five times every three years or roughly
give birth every seven months. We are a traditional flock lambing in the
spring, but this year we decided to lamb starting in May rather than April
to take advantage of the warmer temperatures. Depending on the ewe raising
triplets is feasible. The last two years we had one ewe raise four lambs
each year. Last year we fed supplemental milk replacer to start, but the
little buggers would steal off of the other ewes and we eventually stopped. 

Zac

-----Original Message-----
From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
via Ag-eq
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 2:31 PM
To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
Subject: [Ag-eq] Lambing

So now is lambing season in New Hampshire?  I always pictured it as
happening much earlier in the Spring.  But then, all I know about lambing is
from watching All Creatures Great and Small, where it seems to happen while
it's still cold out.  But that's in Yorkshire; maybe ewes are on a different
schedule in different places?

I would have thought that no tripplets was a good thing.  If it's more than
twins, doesn't the extra lamb have to be bottle-fed?
Tracy


_______________________________________________
Ag-eq mailing list
Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ag-eq:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/zmason.northwindsfarm%40g
mail.com