Weaning Lambs piecemeal.

Western Pomise

Have to wean lambs at wkd for an elderly neighbour,he has a repeat customer coming to buy the ram lambs at home,his fences aren’t hectic so he said to me to leave the ewe lambs running with the ewes till he sells them in a few weeks.

I said to him I thought that mightn’t be a great idea as say a ewe with twins of ewe and ram lamb,the remaining ewe lamb would only suck her own side out of habit……so maybe the ewe might get mastitis on the unsucked side iykwim.

He said no they will be fine!……so I wonder who is right?……the old stager or the middle aged ‘progressive’ farmer🙂

would be interested in people thoughts on this.

J.O. Farmer

I'd say it'd be fine, the unsucked would seal up at this stage of the year.

k mac

Slightly off topic but im going weaning a few lambs today, is there anything the lambs need to help, as in a shake of meal or a dose or anything. All born mid to late April.

razor8

Done it several times without any issues

MayoAreMagic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119457592#Comment_119457592

Into a nice pick of grass, well up to speed with dosing and cobalt, out of sight of sheep if possible - definitely their mothers anyway - and they should be sound.

MayoAreMagic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058258304/weaning-lambs-piecemeal

Never seen an issue arise with it personally. Also, Ive seen twin lambs go at both sides in turn enough times to know that that isnt a hard fast rule either...