02/16/2025
We're about 30 days left before lambing starts. We increased rations to 3% of body weight and will probably hold there. Once they've birthed, we'll drop down to 2.5% to start while lactating. Lactation is the best time to pull weight off by having them use their stored energy. After about 3 to 4 weeks we'll check body conditioning and see if we maintain or move closer to the 2% maintenance ration.
Right after the ewe has given birth, we move them into lambing jugs to bond, making it easier to keep eyes on them, and to allow free choice food to mom to help recover from birthing. We dip the cord and take initial pictures just in case a lamb crawls through a gap as well as to share. It also lets us monitor the lambs and moms to make sure they're getting the nourishment they need. We do try to get colostrum in the lambs ASAP, but if mom is resisting, we make sure she has food, give her electrolytes, and a few hours of peace before working on making sure the lambs nurse. So far, this protocol has resulted in no bottle lambs.
Day 3 is generally graduation day where we take care of mom's hooves, photograph the lambs, give them 1 ml dose of CD&T, microchip, collect DNA, and dock tails. We wait a bit until the lambs realize they can walk and then kick them out with the other moms and lambs.
We have a few cameras to replace in the barn because the goats ate the power cords 😞🐐. Having cameras you can check from bed or away from the farm is super helpful. So much better than getting dressed every few hours for nothing to have happened :)
In addition to having lambs this spring, we will probably have proven males available either for lease or a new home.
