Spring Lambing Program Animal Production Topic #3017 Megan Burgess

Terminology  Ewes - female sheep  Lamb - less than 1 year old  Ram - male sheep  Lambing - ewe giving birth  Weaning - remove from nursing  Shearing - shaving of the wool

Lambing Profitability  Ewes lamb in late February, March, and early April Ovulation rate is at a normal maximum Little embryo loss due to heat stress and ram fertility  Mild temperatures make lambing easier

Lambing Profitability  Use roughage, grain, or pasture feeding mechanism that works best  Objective: Produce slaughter lambs of market weight to be sold July and August  May interfere with other ag enterprises

Flock Requirements  Suitable breed crosses between ewes of: Rambouillet Columbia Finnsheep Targhee Corriedate Dorset Hampshire Suffolk Shropshire

Flock Requirements  Rams of large meat-type from sire breeds  Replacement ewes may be raised/purchased Less expense than in fall or winter lambing operations days of age Use pasture to lower costs

Feeding  Ewes Supplemented silage and dry roughage Grain and protein prior/during lambing  Pasture will satisfy nutritional needs Silage and hay supplements during winter Dry lot of silage, grain, and hay prior/during lambing

Feeding  Lambs Should be fed creep-feed Mixture of grain and pasture Should not be pastured with ewes Cut away from ewes daily – graze separately Pasture only when lambs are eating well

Breeding Practices  Flushing, teasing, or control of enviro. conditions has little effect on conception rate, length, or lambing period  Ewes on good quality feed

Lambing  Lambing rates should be %  Intense care in lambing shed to reduce losses  Ewes and lambs in separate pens 4’x5’ Ewes with singles and those with twins penned separately Ewes and lambs retained in small groups as long as possible

Weaning  days of age  Ewes moved away from lambs  Do not change lamb ration

Shearing  Ewes Shear once a year in spring prior to lambing  Rams Shear twice a year before breeding and in spring  Lambs Shear May 15 - June 1 to account for rapid growth gains

Health - Vaccinations  Lambs Type D enterotoxemia at 6 weeks of age Replacement ewe lambs again after weaning  Vaccinate all sheep in problems areas for: Vibrosis (ewes) Tetanus (ewes) Type C enterotoxemia (ewes) Sore mouth (lambs) Bluetongue (ewes)

Health - Internal Parasites  Follow a planned pasture management and drenching program Drench twice Before ewes are put on pasture Before breeding Lambs Drench as pasture and climate conditions indicate

Health  External parasites Dust, dip, or spray annually following shearing  Docking and castration All lambs dock at weeks of age All ram lambs should be castrated

Selection  Purchased ewes Good size, sound, and healthy  Replacement ewes Multiple lambing Growth rate to weaning

Selection  Rams Large, sound, and with production records Pre-weaning and post-weaning growth rate If replacements, select rams born as twins

References  Sheep pictures on slide 4  Sheep picture on slide 9  All clipart found at