[Jacob-list] big/small lambs?

[Linda]

I don't think you can consider a lamb premature going only by the birth weight.  You got to factor in vigor and development.  A fully formed 4 lb lamb that is up and nursing in 15 minutes is not premature. 

Linda
 
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn


> We do weigh, simply because all our less than perfect lambs get

> sold to a Greek restauranteur and we need a guide to how big

> they'll be for the Greek Orthodox Easter (24th April this year),

> and I've never had a single below 6lbs or a twin below 4lbs. I

> would tentatively suggest that anything smaller is premature?

> Biggest was 11lbs, a single ram, and he went in OUR freezer for bad

> markings. Plug ugly. Massive head.

>

> Melanie

> In medio stat virtus

>

> http://ministats.free.fr/world_redirection.php?ville=obsville

>

>

>> ----- Original Message -----

>> From: paintedrockfarm at aol.com

>> To: patchworkfibers at alltel.net ; jacob-list at jacobsheep.com Sent:

>> Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:51 PM Subject: Re: [Jacob-list]

>> big/small lambs?

>>

>>

>> HI Linda,

>>

>> Our lambs tend to remain on the large side right from birth but

>> seem to be smaller as yearlings than others I've compared

>> too....hmmmm

>>

>> Our flock matriarch, Barking Rock Brie, routinley popped 10 lb

>> twins with ease for many years - last 2 times we bred her at 10 &

>> 11 yrs., she singled each time with 12 lb. lambs.  Most of our

>> lambs average 7-8 lbs. even for twins, triplets generally 6-7

>> lbs. each.  Single births hover around the 9 lb. mark most years.

>>

>> Exceptions, yes....Sweetgrass Tegwen always has tiny babies! 4-5

>> lbs. tops, all ewe lambs thus far too.  Birch, Layleigh's dam,

>> singled for us one year and delivered a 13 lb. lamb with very

>> little trouble.  She is a bigger Culloden (Fieldwood) ewe and a

>> good thing or she might not have had him. 

>>

>> One of our triplet mom's, Brighton Pansy, averages close to 7-8

>> lbs. even with triplets -- WOW!

>>

>> B-T-W we normally feed hay only until after lambing so not sure

>> why the big babies.  We grain our l acting ewes and/or any ewe

>> who seems to not have wintered well for the last 2 weeks of

>> gestation.  Those we grain and those we don't still have 7-8 lb.

>> lambs, mostly twins.  We found more triplet births in years we

>> did a flushing program and more singles in damp summer/fall. 

>> just some observances over the years.

>>

>> It has been like that since our first lambing year and we weigh

>> each lamb at birth, then 2 days (tagging & docking) where we see

>> most have already gained at least a pound, sometimes more.

>> Weighing again at a week or two, then 30 days and monthly as best

>> we can.

>>

>> Certainly seems interesting!

>>

>> Cheryl in WV

>>

>>

>> -----Original Message-----

>> From: Linda

>> To: Jacob-list

>> Sent: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 6:36 pm

>> Subject: [Jacob-list] big/small lambs?

>>

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>> What's the biggest and smallest lambs (at birth) you've ever had?

>> I admit that I don't usually weigh lambs anymore unless they are

>> really big or really small. As long as they are healthy and

>> vigorous, I'm happy.

>> My smallest lamb was barely 3 lbs and born last year. He's not a

>> huge yearling now, but doesn't look out of place with the other

>> yearling rams.  My biggest lamb was 11 lbs. He was a difficult

>> birth for his dam (who was somewhat overweight).  Most of my

>> lambs are 5 to 6 lbs.

>>

>> Linda

>>

>> www.patchworkfibers.com

>> Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn

>>

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