Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Ewes that breed as lambs are thought to be the most promising, as they
show early maturity, which is a key to prolifi c lambing. Ewe lambs should
have attained a weight of 85 to 100 pounds (38.6 to 45.4 kg) by breeding
time, as their later growth will be stunted slightly in comparison with that of
unbred lambs. If not well fed, their reproductive life will be shortened, and
unless they get a mineral supplement (such as trace mineralized salt), they
will have teeth problems at an early age.
If replacement ewes are chosen for their ability to breed as lambs, the fl ock
will improve in the capacity for ewe-lamb breeding, which can be a sales fac-
tor to emphasize when selling breeding stock. Choose your potential replace-
ment ewes from among your twin ewes. Turn in these twin ewe lambs with a
ram wearing a marking harness or a paint-marked brisket. The ones that are
marked, and presumably bred, can be kept for your own fl ock; sell the rest.
Culling
By keeping the best of your ewe lambs and gradually using them to replace
older ewes, you should realize more profi t. To know which to cull, you need
to keep good records (see Sample Ewe Record Chart on page 394), and this
necessitates ear tags. Even if you can recognize each of your sheep by name,
you are more inclined to keep more accurate, effi cient records with tags than
without them.
Record the following information in your topics: fl eece weight, wool con-
dition, lambing record, rejected lambs, milking ability, lamb growth, prolapse,
inverted eyelids, any foot problems or udder abnormalities, and any illnesses
and how they were treated. With an accurate recorded history of each animal,
you know better what to anticipate.
At culling time, review the records and inspect teeth, udders, and feet. The
following types of ewes should be culled:
■
Ewes with defective udders
■
Ewes with a broken mouth (teeth missing)
■
Limping sheep that do not respond to regular trimming and footbaths
■
Ewes with insuffi cient milk and slow-growing lambs
Improvements to a fl ock require rigid culling. Consider age, productivity
(including ease of lambing and survivability), and general health. Udders,
feet, and teeth are always prime areas for inspection.
Be objective and practical. The runt you tube-fed and bottle-fed may be
adorable, but it is not a viable choice for breeding stock.
