[Jacob-list] Breeding Ewe Lambs

[Linda]

I bred ewe lambs for years. I spoke once with one of the foundation 
breeders here in the south, who said that his ewe lambs would breed at 
50 lbs, deliver a lamb (or two) in the spring and still have gained 
weight. His sheep were more primitive than some of what we see now.
I quit breeding ewe lambs because when Dave asks "how many ewes do we 
have?", I figure I don't have to count the unbred ewe lambs. :-). Joking 
(sort of). I have a limit on just how many ewes I want lambing in the 
spring. I'd rather sell an adult ewe than keep her open. If I'm going to 
hold some ewes out of the breeding population, it seems to make more 
sense that I hold out the ewe lambs.
This year, I have only one ewe lamb. She is keeping company with our 
retired matriarch. If something happened to our old girl, I'd breed the 
ewe lamb.
As far as experiences, my ewes that lambed as yearlings were good 
mothers and needed no assistance during lambing or with raising the lambs.
I was fortunate enough to own Craft's Praline in her later years (thank 
you, Patrice). She arrived at Small Meadows from Craft's bred to 
Puddleduck Sir James and delivered twins as a yearling and continued to 
deliver twins and triplets throughout her long life.








Laura C Frazier wrote:

> I'm soliciting folks' opinions about and experiences with breeding ewe 

> lambs that are 6 or more months old. 

>

> This list is SO helpful. Thanks everyone!!

> Laura

>

> Laura C Frazier

> FarmGirl Arts

> (336) 971-3834

> Kernersville, NC

> http://home.rr.com/farmgirlarts

>

>

>


-- 
Patchwork Farm Jacob Sheep <http://www.patchworkfibers.com>
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