[Jacob-list] Rejected lamb

[Betty Berlenbach]

Hi, Cathy,

I don't breed lambs either, for the same reasons.I know it's anthropomorphizing, but it seems to me that a yearling ewe bred as a lamb is like a 13 year old girl: sure they're capable of having babies, but that doesn't mean they should!  I do know many breeders who DO breed lambs and are successful at it.  I guess partly for me it's a feminist issue...just like docking tails!...but it just seems right for me not to breed lambs.  I agree that often, waiting they have twins that first time as 2 year olds.  I guess in a production only model or an "in the wild" model, lambs would/should be bred, but it just doesn't work for me, so...
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Cathy Robinson 
  To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 10:45 AM
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Rejected lamb


  There have been some interesting responses to Josh's questions, many have prompted some questions of my own.

  Are a lot of you breeding ewe lambs to deliver for the first time as yearlings?

  We do not breed our ewe lambs, for several reasons, but this scenario being one of them.  All of our ewes deliver for the first time as two-year-olds; many produce twins at that point and we feel they are better equipped to deal with motherhood with another year of maturity behind them, both mentally and physically.   We have had a few purchased ewes deliver as yearlings.  Some did great, others not so great.  

  While we are not "over the top" in the care of our sheep, I do believe that they should be given every opportunity and advantage to succeed on their own.  It doesn't surprise me that a ewe, just a year old herself, might not have it together enough to be an excellent mother under the circumstances described.  I would never cull her for that reason alone at this point in time.    If the ewe had been given a quiet spot to be with the lamb once delivered, it could have turned out differently.  There are just so many variables in this scenario, even the basic personality of the ewe herself.  

  Cathy
  Perfect Spot Farm
  http://perfectspot-farm.com/


  On 5/12/2011 10:38 AM, Joshua Bourget wrote: 
    Hello everyone, I had a yearling ewe first time mom lamb yesterday with a great 2 horned ram lamb that she wanted nothing to do with. I was unaware of her being about to lamb, and threw hay to them quick then i noticed she was having it. I watched him come out, and then the mother ran over and started eating hay, didnt lick him off at all, and after i cleaned him and let him nurse a little off her, she still wouldnt let him neer. I brought him into the house, and gave him colustrum and a few bottles, and today my girlfriends taking him to a friend of ours who has goats, and they are going to raise him on a does milk from their farm. I have no time for a bottle baby working 55 hours a week,

    So my question is this...Will this ewe be a better mother next time around? and actually care for her lamb? or should i consider removing her from my flock. Has anybody had experience with bad first time moms that turned out to be great moms once they were older?? i hate to get rid of her but i only have room for productive members of the flock and if she isnt going to raise her lambs thats not what i want. I will try to re breed her this fall and see if she will support a lamb next year. 

    Josh Bourget
    www.fiercehornfarm.com 

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