[Jacob-list] Weaning

[Carl Fosbrink]

From: Marjorie Schafer 
Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2012 10:17 PM
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
Subject: [Jacob-list] Weaning


Hello, 


We're new Jacob breeders--have had our sheep for a year now, and had our first lambs this spring.


I was wondering if you could tell me how and when you wean your lambs? We lambed in February and are weaning our lambs now. I don't like to wean until the lambs are at least three months old, but want to wean by four months old. We put the ram lambs in one pasture and the ewe lambs in another pasture.  Do you withdraw feed from the ewes beforehand? Our ewes are on pasture. We only give the Jacobs a handful of grain each sometimes just so they will come when we need to catch them. Too much grain is not good for Jacobs. Ours get pasture in Summer and a good hay in Winter, a free choice loose mineral at all times and good clean and cool water at all times. Do you keep the lambs in a pen? No. I keep them on pasture. Do you wean both ewe lambs and ram lambs, Yes and if so do you do so in separate pens? Yes


I would appreciate your insights! Jacobs are a primitive breed and should be raised different than modern breeds. We want to keep the Jacob breed a hardy breed of sheep that lambs easily and can be maintained on mostly pasture or hay. The only time I feed grain is a couple of months before the ewes are due to lamb and then I only give them a handful of grain each per day. I give them a mix of corn, oats and wheat with wet molasses on it to prevent pregnancy toxemia. My ewes lamb unassisted in the pasture or the shelter, whichever they want. The ewes like to go off to themselves when they lamb so the others don't bother their lambs. This gives the ewe time to clean off her lambs, let them nurse to get that first colostrum, and for the ewe and lambs to get each other's smell and voice down. I keep my breeding rams in with their ewes all year around. Putting adult rams together can result in broken horns or even death and I don't want that happening to my breeding rams. It is necessary to keep the young rams together because there are so many of them. I put an equal amount of importance on my breeding ewes and my breeding rams. I want both of them to be of the highest quality I can obtain. Jacobs should have a deer-like conformation, a triangular shaped head, small udders on ewes and small scrotums on rams. They will stand on their back legs to browse and like tree leaves, briar leaves, honey suckle, grass and more. We never have to trim hooves on our black hoofed Jacobs and the ewes often lamb in very cold weather with out any problem. They do not mind snow, but do not like rain so should have a shelter to get out of the rain. Good luck with your Jacobs. They are a wonderful breed of sheep.


Thanks,


Margie
Round Barn Jacobs
Durand, IL
www.roundbarnjacobs.com


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