[Jacob-list] weaning

[Mary Hansson]

Hi,
 
I don't recommend weaning lambs at 8 weeks unless it is absolutely necessary.  I don't see as they do as well as those left with the dams until at least 3 months of age.  I don't recommend leaving the boys longer than 3 months as they are definitely fertile by 4 months of age and unexpected happenings have produced fruit.......I can think of a 9 month old ewe that delivered a lamb from a breeding with her twin brother at a farm 3 hours from us a few years back.+
 
I have never had a problem pulling one lamb and leaving the other with the dam.  The boys do get pulled at 3 months of age now around here, and that leaves sisters with mothers....seems like they all do better---except for the noise the humans have to tolerate.
 
Mary Ellen

rlynde <rlynde at onramp113.org> wrote:
> I am having knee surgery and would like to have
> this done for the ones that would qualify at 8 weeks
> before the surgery to lessen the load on my husband.

One option would be to just not deal with it at all and let the lambs stay
on the ewes until after you've recovered. You mentioned some of the lambs
leaving. I haven't experienced this situation, but have been warned that if
you remove one lamb of a set of twins, you could be setting the ewe up for
mastitis. Sometimes the lambs get used to just nursing on one side. If that
was the case removing only one would be hard on the ewe.

Robin


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Mary Ellen Hansson, MEd, RD, LDN
ISeeSpots Farm
Jacob Sheep:  Lambs, adults, wool
www.iseespots.com
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