[Jacob-list] big lambs this year?

[Paintedrockfarm at aol.com]

Melody,
 
We always seem to have bigger lambs when we feed alfalfa hay.  Maybe  no one 
else does with this type of diet but I think it may possibly  be the protein 
levels or something.  I know our hay is 80% alfalfa  with 20% orchard/mix 
grass, which was tested at about 22% protein.  I'd  suggest getting your local 
county extension agent to perform a hay analysis  unless you can get the supplier 
to provide you with that information. Most USDA  field offices are located in 
each county and provide this service free of charge  or for a small fee.
 
As for our pregnant ewes, we no longer feed grain during pregnancy but do  
offer that during lactation, along with the alfalfa mix hay. This year, our  
lambs have averaged about 8 lbs/each for twins, some singles are slightly  more.  
Our smallest lambs this year were a set of twins at 4 1/2 and 5 1/2  lbs. 
respectively.  By 3 days of age, each had gained an average of almost  2 lbs.  
Our largest set of twins weighed in at 11 1/2 and 10 3/4 pounds  each -- Brindle 
Hill Donnora is the ewe and she is a big girl!
 
Of course, we do have some sheep (like Donnora) who just seem to  
consistently produce larger lambs -- perhaps a bloodline/genetics thing???   I mean these 
particular ewes are a bit larger than some of the others and  routinely pop 
out 10 pounders with nothing more than a mild grunt! At any  rate, there are 
some slightly smaller than our noted 8 LB. average and, of  course, some that 
are slightly larger.  I would think 7 lbs. for twins  to be an average weight 
for Jacobs.  For our flock, it  doesn't seem like anything we do affects the 
fetal weight -- EXCEPT when we  overfed with grain in our first year.  
 
When I had my children years ago, I was told the majority of the fetal  
weight is gained during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy.  I don't know that  
livestock would respond the same way as a human but it does make sense (to me  anyway) 
that diet does have an impact on birth weight.  If memory serves me  
correctly, my various sheep books seem to support this theory. Interesting,  to say 
the least, how various flocks may/may not be affected by dietary  factors.  
Also, not all shepherds routinely weigh or track weights in their  flocks.
 
As for lambing this year, we are in a dead heat with 26 rams, 26 ewes and  
only 2 mothers-to-be still waiting for their "turn".  The girls made a last  
ditch effort to catch up with the boys here at the end of the lambing  season.  
It will be good to have these last two deliver and we are  expecting twins from 
both.  Only one other year can I recall have an exact  amount of both ram and 
ewe lambs.
 
Have a great week everyone -- Cheryl
Mike  & Cheryl Terrano
_Painted Rock Farm_ (http://members.aol.com/paintedrockfarm) 

Route 4 Box  726
Buckhannon, WV 26201-9205
(304) 457-6620  
paintedrockfarm at aol.com 
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