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Everything you ever wanted to know about lambing but were too afraid to ask

Bernice Parker, 10 March 2015

  • There are currently about 100 breeding ewes in the flock and we expect 150+ lambs.
  • Our ewes are 2 years old the first time they lamb.
  •  The gestation period for a sheep is 5 months:
  1. The ewes come into season in September.
  2. We put our rams in the field in with the girls on 1st October.
  3. Lambing will commence in the first week of March.
  4. We choose this schedule in order to have lambs on show in the fields for Easter.
  •  The pregnant ewes come in from the field just after Christmas for extra care, shelter and food. This is important for strong lamb development.
  • The ewes are all scanned in the New Year and we separate them into two groups:
  1. Those expecting a single lamb in one group.
  2. Those expecting twins or triplets in the other.
  • Normal presentation for a lamb to be born is head and forelegs first. If this is the case then the ewes can normally manage with no assistance. They will sometimes need help if the lamb is particularly big, or if it is coming the wrong way round.
  • Once they have given birth, the ewe and her lambs will be put into a separate pen:
  1. This allows the bonding process to happen.
  2. It prevents the ewes that haven’t lambed yet from overenthusiastically ‘adopting/stealing’ someone else’s baby!
  3. They stay separate for 1–2 days.
  4. Weather permitting, healthy ewes and lambs can go out into the field after 3–5 days.
  •  It is normal for ewes to have blood and mucus around their back ends after giving birth.
  •  It is normal for new babies to sleep a lot – newborn lambs will sleep for 12–16 hours a day.
  • We will probably keep or sell most of the female lambs as pedigree breeding stock, most of the males will go for meat with a few of the best sold as breeding rams.
  •  Lamb on your plate is anything from 4–12 months old.

 

Bernice Parker

Public Events Officer

Comments (8)

Comments are currently unavailable. We apologise for the inconvenience.
Bernice Parker Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Staff
20 April 2022, 11:57

Hi There

I'm afraid we are unable to give out any animal care advice via this page

Best Wishes - Bernice Parker (Events Officer)

20 April 2022, 01:17
How often should we see lambs nursing and should they be lying down all the time?
Bernice Parker Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Staff
6 April 2021, 10:31

Hi Crystal

I am afraid we are unable to give out any animal care advice via this page.

Best Wishes

Bernice Parker (Events Officer)

Crystal Burns
30 March 2021, 11:46
Hi I have an orphan lamb she's now 17 days old when would. It be okay to let her sleep out side for the whole night ?
Bernice Parker Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Staff
7 August 2020, 16:10
Hi Darren

I'm afraid we are unable to give out any veterinary advice via these pages.

Best Wishes - Bernice (Events Officer)
Darren
7 August 2020, 10:07
Hay just wondering if I can give my sheep tasvax 5in1 with lambs at a week old
Dident get time to do them while thay where pregnant
Thay seem health but thay are over due
Thanks
Alan
25 April 2020, 09:00
Textbook.
Clive Worrall
16 April 2016, 08:04
All I needed in a nut shell thanks.