With October follow the time of class that I need to think about cover my ewes for next spring . This will only be my second twelvemonth of nurture and then lambing . So everything is still pretty new for me .
Something I have read about is see to it your Ewe and your ram are in dependable shape . So , how do you even tell whether your sheep are in point - top breeding shape ?
I find a good account on the Penn State Extension internet pageboy called“Breeding Season Preparation for Sheep Flocks . ” There are some excellent pictures that you could utilise to evaluate your own passel .
Rating Sheep Body Condition
So here ’s my takeout food : You call for to assess each beast on a score from 1 ( a too - thin , emaciated sheep ) to 5 ( a really fat , fleshy sheep ) . An ideal sheep body condition score is a 3 .
Run your deal across the back half of the sheep ’s back , near the lumbus and hip area . The thorn and ribs should not be prominent or easily felt . If your Ewe look like that , their physical structure condition probably is a 1 .
So , it ’s prison term to get some extra food grain and in high spirits - quality hay in them . Ideally , you would start that a few months before breeding .
A body score of 3 is what you are looking for . It mean that you do n’t inevitably see the spur and hips but can feel them if you press down just slightly on them . Those sheep are well - fill out and have unspoilt muscleman tone in their back legs .
The sheep who score a 5 are likely pretty leisurely to break up out . They are rich — and , no , it ’s not the special fleece they have grown over the summer ! You have to search somewhat severely to find the spine and pelvis bones and can feel pads of blubber on their lumbus and even over their bobtail .
Read more : Do you know your flock ’s FAMACHA score ? Here ’s what it is and what it think for your sheep .
Hands-On
I find it difficult to evaluate the soundbox condition of my sheep without really feeling them . They really have regrown a lot of the woolen that we shear off in the first place in the yr . If you have haircloth sheep , it may be easier to valuate your ewes if they have not develop their fuzz after shedding .
You also call for to consider prior issues that may have caused problems before place your ram out with the ewes . For illustration , did any of your ewes eliminate their Lamb or have issues with lamb or bring forth Milk River ?
Those types of issues are considered problematic . It ’s not recommend that you continue to breed these ewes , as you would believably require more trouble next lamb time of year as well .
translate more : The best first - tending kit is one you never need . Here ’s how to keep sheep healthy and your kit on the shelf .
Keep Records, Make Decisions
It ’s a dear idea to keep records of things like this ( as well as records of your inoculation , worming and other medical event ) . If you are like me , you ’ll forget everything by the time the next reproduction season come around .
I really keep notes on my iPhone so I have a ready to hand phonograph record with me every place I go !
grant the above criteria , I ’ve select 10 of my 14 ewes to breed for the season . The other four will most in all probability go to the sale barn . It ’s just too expensive to feed a large farm creature that is not producing something !
Over the summer , my flock was either on pasture or eating Gunter Grass hay . Then , about six weeks ago , we switched to a higher - character hay with alfalfa in it that should provide ameliorate nutrition for the mothers - to - be .
I will most likely start the ewes on a little snatch of caryopsis as well before we put everyone together in mid - November .
pay that ewes have an estrous cps of about 17 day , we desire to have lamb mid- to late - April . Of naturally , even the best architectural plan do n’t always act out . But if you go into the breeding time of year with at least some idea of what kind of physical body your flock is in ( and which Ewe have the easiest lambing ) , you ’re far more likely to get along out before .
