Mothering Ability?

kk.man

Now that lambing is almost over ...one thing that stood out for me this year(we hadn't had ewes lambing in about 25 years here) was that the mothers didn't lick the lambs very dry...they all licked them but not very well and are good mothers...is this a recent thing or am I being a bit nostalgia when it comes to my memory?

The ewes are mainly cheviot/Suffolk/mule crosses

Lambman

Get the salt out!

rangler1

kk.man wrote: »

Now that lambing is almost over ...one thing that stood out for me this year(we hadn't had ewes lambing in about 25 years here) was that the mothers didn't lick the lambs very dry...they all licked them but not very well and are good mothers...is this a recent thing or am I being a bit nostalgia when it comes to my memory?

The ewes are mainly cheviot/Suffolk/mule crosses

I guess most are indoors now, no east wind to help dry them...no loss either

Siamsa Sessions

kk.man wrote: »

Now that lambing is almost over ...one thing that stood out for me this year(we hadn't had ewes lambing in about 25 years here) was that the mothers didn't lick the lambs very dry...they all licked them but not very well and are good mothers...is this a recent thing or am I being a bit nostalgia when it comes to my memory?

The ewes are mainly cheviot/Suffolk/mule crosses

As long as they're healthy and drinking their mothers, I wouldn't be too concerned.

Willfarman

I have two bitches that rejected one of their own lambs after around 5 or 6 days. I think it's because they're ram and ewe lambs with ewe lamb having smell of pee under tail. and these biddys maybe only reared singles before. Penned up with buckets on heads!!

Bullocks

Willfarman wrote: »

I have two bitches that rejected one of their own lambs after around 5 or 6 days. I think it's because they're ram and ewe lambs with ewe lamb having smell of pee under tail. and these biddys maybe only reared singles before. Penned up with buckets on heads!!

I had two like that , it's woeful frustrating . Great satisfaction when you see the rejected lamb snaking in for a suck from behind while the favourite lamb is sucking

Green farmer

Willfarman wrote: »

I have two bitches that rejected one of their own lambs after around 5 or 6 days.!!

Let them off and rear one yourself. Then cull the b.....es In September. Have some like that here and instead of stressing myself , just marked them BT instead. I'll have their replacements sourced before they go out the gate. I'd swear they just get it into their head that rearing two is beneath them. Their not even worth wasting your time on.

Lambman

Why September I'd be looking rid a them middle a July when weaning... fat ewes will be twice the money they'll be in September in July.

razor8

These worked a treat for me, take them off after a week and 99% of the time it works