winter shearing

eire23

Just wondering does anyone on here shear their sheep at housing? Thinking of doing the march lambing ones this year. It seems to be the done thing every where i read so basically am i just creating needless work or is it as beneficial as they say?

AntrimGlens

I know a few men who do it but mostly for space saving reasons. I've always been a bit fearful of doing it as I would hate to be turning ewes when they're mid pregnancy or at any stage of pregnancy, also I get shearers in and don't know that they'd be that careful turning ewes either. Most people I know who do it are housing on slats and say it prevents wool blocking slats, more ewes can fit against feed barrier and lambs can find teats easier when lambed.
I have thought about it about but as I leave ewes out till closer to lambing it wouldn't suit that well.

ganmo

I've always been told it increases lamb birth weight 10%
I'm sure there's research on it

paddysdream

Never winter shore the ewes here as the vast majority are out until after Christmas and the early ones have lots of room in the sheds.

Have shorn the ewe lambs for breeding every autumn for the last few years.This I find very worthwhile as ;they grow much better;no getting caught in briars etc;very easy to see condition at a glance;more room in shed at troughs;much easier to handle when lambing;rear ends are much cleaner for lambing ;and what I find the best,lambs find it easier to locate teats ie no need to pluck udders.

eire23

Thanks lads, will be shearing them myself so wont have to worry about someone being rough with them and their not lambing till around paddys day so it definatly shouldnt be a problem. Ill do half them this year and see can i notice any difference in lamb weights but it should definatly help lambs for sucking and space at the feed barrier.

Agree with ya paddy on shearing the ewe lambs, its a great job for thrive alright. I do the mountain and lowland ones and they grow like hell after it but jesus they can be right giddy yokes to shear, some of them would test your patience!

ganmo

What time of year would ya shear the ewe lambs?

eire23

ganmo wrote: »

What time of year would ya shear the ewe lambs?

End of july/beginning of agust is when i do them anyways.

razor8

Normally shear mine in September or later depending on weather. Makes things a lot handier in spring, lambs suckling, condition scoring and much cleaner

paddysdream

ganmo wrote: »

What time of year would ya shear the ewe lambs?

From September up until early October (weather permitting).These would be mainly late Feb. early March born lambs.