Topics

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Raising replacements on pasture

« on: June 11, 2017, 04:11:33 pm »

A novice question I know but a first for us. We ha always raised our replacement ewe lambs in drylot on hay and grain. However, we now have access to some exceptional pasture. Lots of green grass with some clover and forbs. Will replacement ewe lambs grow well enough on hrass alone to breed at 8-9 months old? They are 3-5 months old now and 60-90 lbs.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Dorper Ram Lamb

« on: May 02, 2017, 09:13:53 am »

Introducing "Titanium." At just six weeks old, this guy is already an impressive specimen. We have yet to see a fullblood Dorper this smooth, this straight, or this extended. Yet he still manages to pack an ever increasing amount of muscled into his rack, loin and hip. We have high hopes for this sheep as we continue to build out Dorper program.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Our Dorper project

« on: March 02, 2017, 09:39:34 am »

I just thought I'd share this picture of one of our first Dorper lambs. We started our Dorper project with the goal of building a flock of fullblood Dorpers that would produce quality wethers that could compete in the market arena. Though still very early in the process, and not perfect by any means, we are pleased with how this little lady is put together. She is extremely clean fronted, straight down her topline and has a big, grooved up rack, plus good shape out her hip. She gives me hope that we are headed in the right direction. We have more ewes due this month. I cannot wait to see what they look like!

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Buy and Sell / California Connection Online Sale

« on: February 21, 2017, 02:16:21 pm »

Several Pen members are offering lambs for sale on February 23 in the California Connection online sale at https://wlivestock.com/Willoughby/Sale/californiaconnection022317.

Below are a sample of the lambs being offered:


Burn ewe lamb


ExGames wether


Dorset ewe lamb

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Frostbit Udders?

« on: January 12, 2017, 09:59:45 am »

Please forgive me if this is a totally novice, silly question... Can ewes get frostbit udders? I have a group of ewes that I weaned a couple weeks ago. Udders are no longer full but still not completely gone. If I kick them out of the barn into the snow, can their udders freeze?

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Happy New Year!

« on: January 01, 2017, 09:19:42 am »

I hope everyone had a great year in 2016. We started the year with a pretty rough lambing season fighting abortions, ending up with only about half the lambs we should have. Nonetheless, we managed to end the year with more winners than ever before. The highlight for me personally was probably watching my son winning Grand at our county fair, a title that had managed to elude us all these years. We made the leap into Dorpers and are enjoying watching how their first lambs are developing. We are grateful and humbled by everyone who trusted our genetics this past year. We couldn't do it without you! Overall it was a great year and we eagerly look forward to new great things in 2017!

What were some of your highlights from last year?

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Individual feeding pens

« on: December 23, 2016, 10:28:55 am »

We are going to make an individual feeding pen setup for our boys for Christmas, similar to those pictured below. For those that use these, what width and length is each stall? Any tips or suggestions?

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Let's see those babies!

« on: December 13, 2016, 10:07:02 am »

With fall lambing out of the way and winter lambing just beginning, let's see those baby pictures!

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Cystic Ovaries?

« on: December 02, 2016, 09:24:57 am »

I have a ewe that repeatedly cycles but never settles. I am certain it's not a ram issue. I remember reading somewhere that ewes can get cystic ovaries and cause this and that giving them a dose of lutalyse or something will correct the issue? Am I remembering this correctly? What would the dosage be?

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Sheep apparel in time for Christmas!

« on: November 28, 2016, 06:04:14 pm »

Several styles to chose from in a variety of styles and colors. Perfect Christmas gifts for the sheep enthusiast in your life!

Click here to buy: https://manager.sunfrogshirts.com/Collections/collections-edit.cfm?collectionID=58884

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Grafting lambs

« on: November 14, 2016, 12:47:52 pm »

I have tried all the methods to graft lambs with only very limited success (as in one in all my years that has actually claimed a lamb that wasn't her own). However, a few years ago I invested in a head gate. I have only used it twice but both times the ewe took the lamb after a few days. This last one, a ewe lost her TWO WEEK OLD lamb. So I stuck her in the head gate and put one of a set of triplets on her, no really expecting her to take it after having her own lamb for two weeks, but figured it was worth a shot. Well, after four days she is enthusiastically claiming the lamb! I'd call that a success.

What methods have you tried to graft lambs and what has been your success?

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / How old was your oldest ram?

« on: October 25, 2016, 01:17:39 pm »

I am just curious, how old have you had rams still working? I have an old boy that is going on eight that I just sent back to Texas. He's in great shape and getting around well.  I would live to get one more season of use out of him.

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Fall Lambing Update

« on: October 21, 2016, 09:46:40 am »

I want to hear from everyone how fall lambing is going! I know a few breeders have had a very busy, yet successful, run lambing out large numbers of AI ewes in a very short period of time. Share how it went. What were your conception rates and what were your experiences lambing out so many ewes at once?

Lambing season officially started for us yesterday with the birth of a stout little ExGames x Ambition ram. Last year was our first attempt at breeding for fall lambs and we ended up with just two ewes bred. This year it looks like we have 8 or 9 out of 10. We also had a litter of livestock guardian dog puppies born on Monday, so our barn is a pretty exciting place right now!

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / I sold the lead sheep!

« on: September 22, 2016, 09:54:57 am »

Just a funny observation... I sold a group of five ewes last week, including two of our oldest. Every morning I let the ewes out of their pen to graze. We have two 40 acre pastures. They have to cross the lower pasture to get to the upper where there is still feed left. They normally do this on their own and then come back down on their own in the evening for their grain. Well, apparently the lead sheep was in that group I sold. Ever since, instead of following their usual routine, they walk about 50 yards and then stand there looking lost, like they don't know what to do or where to go. Several times now, in the evening, I have had to go up and drive them them back down to their pen for their grain. I go up there and they are just standing a group looking lost. Our guardian dogs are standing around, like, "Come on, ladies! Let's go home. I want my dinner too!" I hope one of them assumes the leader role soon!

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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Rectal prolapse

« on: September 05, 2016, 09:09:21 am »

I've got a butcher lamb that we traded (not one we bred) that got a rectal prolapse. I didn't treat it soon enough and now iodine injections aren't keeping it in. He's straining when he lays down but is eating well. He's not quite finished but I went ahead and called the butcher to get on her schedule but it's going to be a few more days before she can get to him? What would you do in this situation? Suture him up? Put in a tube? Leave him be? I just don't want to go out and find him dead with his intestines prolapsed but I also don't want to cause him more stress and pain stitching him up if it's not necessary. Or use a tube? I don't think I'll be able to get a band around it but I do have umbilical tape. What would you do?