Messages

1

All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: I am kicking around the ideal of A.I.

« on: October 05, 2017, 10:43:48 am »

I used Justin Luther's Reproductive Services.  Based on ewes getting marked again, we had 80% success.  All bred to Big Star.  That includes 2 of 3 ewe lambs that were 6 and 7 months age.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Slow Gainer, Suggestions?

« on: July 10, 2017, 09:43:20 am »

I prefer supplementing with "complete" supplements instead of grain, but at 17%+ protein and not much time, I'd replace 2 cups of the show feed with 2 cups of whole corn.   They could also see if the lambs will eat with vegetable oil mixed in.  Start at a tablespoon, increase  until 1/4 per feeding for the 2.  If they don't eat, throw the feed out and give the "normal" feed. 


We once fed a dairy steer a quart of soybean oil a feeding and went from him looking like a feeder calf first week of July to winning a purple at the state fair a little under 2 months later.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Seeking Input **Photos Added**

« on: July 10, 2017, 09:37:07 am »

No need for Fitter 35 IMO

Are you feeding PowerFill or PowerFuel?  PowerFill is a pig supplement designed for pigs that are being held.  No reason to feed that to your lambs.  PowerFuel is a high fat supplement which if they are eating it, is a good thing for these 2 lambs.

I'd also suggest cutting the sprinting down.  Try 200 yards every other day, really hard.  You don't want to burn many calories but you do want to get the adrenalin up high.  The high fat supplement helps when you  keep exercising the lambs.

Also 2nd the idea of working to get them not overstretched, neck on the first one is pretty  good angle.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Slow Gainer, Suggestions?

« on: July 09, 2017, 06:12:10 am »

Will the lamb eat any more than the 3 lbs being fed?  Feed the lamb and remove the feed pan after 15 minutes.  They eat the most if trough fed 2 or 3 times a day and don't have feed in front of them all the time.

What is the protein level of the feed being fed?  Drop it to 15% if not there.  Lamb will put some more fat on at that %.

You can get vitamin B crumbles at most horse stores.  This increases appetite, top dress an ounce on the feed.

Are the lambs being run?  If so stop, other than about 50 yards to increase the appetite.

Keep fans on lambs to maximize comfort.

What are the rules for weigh in?  These vary but take advantage of as many of these as the show lets you.
- weigh with blanket
- buy they heaviest halter.  My son made the minimum weight at Askarben because he weighed in with a halter that weighed a pound
- if they can be wet when weighed, have the lamb wet
- don't clip the lamb until after weighed again
- give the lamb a little salt and it might drink more water just before weighing
- Feed the lamb just before it is weighed

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Buy and Sell / 2017 Select Cut Lamb Sale - Bidding open

« on: April 11, 2017, 06:57:15 am »

Bidding is now open.  I really like the lambs in this sale and think with the right feeder any of them can compete and shows.  Some look good enough to me to compete even with an OK feeder, 

Our 2 ewe lambs are from the top end of our crop.  The last few years our lambs in this sale have all stayed in Minnesota.  I'd love to see one of these lambs shown in another state and we can help get her shipped to almost anywhere in the country.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: B12

« on: April 11, 2017, 06:53:06 am »

Every once in a while you get a lamb that just doesn't like to eat.  There are a bunch of different things that we've tried.  Some work on one lamb some work on others.  No one solution for all.

Vitamin B -Go to a horse supply store and look for vitamin B crumbles.  Just sprinkle a little on top each day. That's easier than the shot.

Remove the feed pan after 15 minutes no matter what the lamb has eaten and don't let them have any grain for at least 10 hours.  If feeding hay just give a handful.

We had one ewe lamb that didn't like the show feed mix but she loved the 37% protein pellets we fed are feedlot lambs.  She ate 90% those pellets.

Some lambs will eat shell corn and not show lamb feed.  Those lambs we'd top dress fitter 35 and champion drive on top of corn.

Running for about a minute 10 minutes before feeding can stimulate the appetite

Some lambs are social eaters and will eat fine with another lamb.  Some of these lambs we just gave up on and threw back into the feed lot.  3 weeks later they had gained 15-20 pounds.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: RamGo ?

« on: March 31, 2017, 09:47:22 am »

John, thanks for posting that Justin is doing this.  I was ignoring the idea until you pointed out someone that is about 35 miles from me can do this.  (And that I will probably see in 2 days.)

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Crown Jewel pedigree

« on: March 27, 2017, 07:37:26 am »

Giver Miller's a call.  They'd be happy to tell you.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Ketosis and Keto Gel

« on: March 22, 2017, 04:28:58 pm »

I would give her 3 clicks twice a day.  Could go to a 3rd time.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / 2017 Spring Workshop - Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers

« on: March 18, 2017, 01:03:09 pm »

If you are interested, please pre-register by 3/20 so we can have enough lunches.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Ketosis and Keto Gel

« on: March 07, 2017, 09:40:20 am »

One of the things I like about the tubes (KetoGel, KetoGel+, CalGel, ....) is they all store well and they are relatively low cost.  I can buy them, throw them in a storage bucket and they are there if I ever need one.  I use Ketogel anytime I have a sheep that's gone off of feed and I want to make sure it's getting energy going in.  Seems to work well to give them enough energy to help get over what ever the problem is.  Of course if I have ketosis I use it but don't see much of that anymore but we did have a 8 year old ewe that got it this year.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: What Are Your Favorite Things?

« on: March 03, 2017, 06:14:45 am »

Not in any order, thermometers, tube feeder, walk through gates, fence line feeders, automatic waterers, Premier round bale feeders, (I hate feeding small squares), high tensile electric fence ( low cost, very low maintenance).

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Big Udder, No Milk

« on: March 03, 2017, 06:11:57 am »

Our vet has hand written on our bottle .5 cc for milk let down.  Been many years since we've given a shot for that.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Dirty Clipper Blades

« on: March 03, 2017, 06:09:27 am »

If your clipping lambs, I'd suggest you wash the sheep first.  Makes the blades last way longer.  If they have long wool and are dirty I'd consider shearing them first with a shearing machine.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Re: Docking tails

« on: February 19, 2017, 02:46:47 pm »

Put one band on as short as you can.  Make sure it is "square" to the lamb.  Then put another band on rolling it past the first one.  It will be short enough. If not straight use the prong on bander to realign the bands.