[Jacob-list] bottle-fed lamb questions

[CARL FOSBRINK]

Cathy,
 
    Jacobs are a primitive breed. Our ewes will go off by themselves in the pasture or go in the shelter by themselves and have their lambs. The rest of the flock leaves them alone as they seem to know what is happening. The mothers have good maternal instincts and don't have any problem bonding with their lambs or producing enough milk for triplets. That is how Jacobs should be. If they don't do these things they are culled here.
    I have raised other breeds over the years, but would not go back to spending nights in the barn or doing other unnecessary work. We only check our Jacobs once or twice a day to see how they are doing during lambing season. Our breeding rams stay in with the flock all year round and do not bother the ewes or the lambs. We often see the lambs nuzzling the ram or jump on his back and he doesn't mind at all. 
   We have four different breeding groups this year. The head of our old breeding group is 11 yrs. old and most of his ewes are 9, 10 & 11. We have three more ewes to lamb this year and will have 60 plus lambs.
    We all want to take good care of our sheep and should do so, but it is my sincere hope that we will keep them the hardy, primitive breed they are meant to be and not kill them with kindness.
 
Regards,
Carl

 
Carl and Judy Fosbrink
www.4hornfarm.com




________________________________
From: ARTHUR PARTRIDGE <aztreaz at earthlink.net>
To: jacob-list <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 10:46:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] bottle-fed lamb questions

--Previous Message--

>Why did you leave the ewe and her lambs in a jug for two weeks? If

> there was a problem, that is a reason, but that is the reason for your

> problem with the lamb. If left separated from the flock for too long the

> flock will not accept the ewe or her lambs back into the flock without

> re-establishing the pecking order, which involves a lot of head butting.

=========
My friend raises Icelandics and she leaves the ewe and her lambs in the jug
for two weeks.  She also supplements the triplets; especially the lambs not
getting enough to eat.  She says it helps the bonding of the ewe and lambs
and, as I recall, to prevent injuries to the lambs when they are newborns. 
She has no problems with the ewes and lambs returning to the flock after
two weeks.  I only have one jug set up, for emergencies, so I am not able
to do this.  I put the ewe and lambs in the jug for a few days after birth
or put a gate up in the barn and keep them there for a few days.  No
problems doing it this way either.

Cathy
Moscow, Idaho


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