Runt Lambs

arctictree

I have a couple of lambs that are about half the size or less as the rest of them. About 22 kg. What would you lads do with these. Are they worth feeding on?

IH784man

I buy them at the mart when I see them,you could pick them up for 30 or more.They won't be ready till Christmas though.

Green farmer

Depends on why they became runts. I've a small few of them. In my case traced them to be pet lambs or ones who's mother abandoned / got separated from them. They'll get there in the end but found it can take abit of feeding to reverse the stunted growth thing and get them thriving again. could be next April before they come right. Mine are lowland, might be different for the mountain ones who'll thrive when the hit the lowlands.

arctictree

I think two of them just have bad genes. Their mother is very small. Not sure about the others.

IH784man

I got some pet lambs around start of April time,sold 2 right suffolks for 90.50 last month,yet there is 3 more still left.Depends on the breeding on them,Them two were very well bred.Others not so much

Siamsa Sessions

Going on the price of lambs in New Ross this morning, you'd have got nearly €50 for them there.

Green farmer

IH784man wrote: »

yet there is 3 more still left.Depends on the breeding on them

The ones that are runts from lack or dosing or good grass or cobalt are alright to deal with. However the ones with bad genes are abit harder. Remember they've gone through the best grass growing time of year to get them to where they are now. How much more will they thrive with dropping grass quality without the need for meal . ? Their not called runts for nothing

ganmo

I've heard lads call them the profit...because they eat it

Willfarman

These are the lambs that come into a few bob next feb.

IH784man

If you buy a couple of them at 30/40 euro each and put 20 euro of meal in them each and killed them at near 100 euro each near Christmas you'd make an alright profit with not a pile of work involved in them