[Jacob-list] big/small lambs?

[Linda]

Another good point.  Ewes that consistently deliver and raise vigorous lambs without assistance are what the breed is about.

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


> Good point. Other than that the important thing for me is that they

> don't need any assistance. In ten years we've never had to step in

> and do anything during a delivery and that suits me just fine.

>

> Melanie

> In medio stat virtus

>

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

>

>

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

>> From: Linda

>> To: Melanie Boxall ; jacob-list at jacobsheep.com Sent: Thursday,

>> March 20, 2008 10:11 PM Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] big/small lambs?

>>

>>

>> 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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