We have had an outstanding lambing season here at Ranfurly Farm. There are 47 lambs on the ground from 21 ewes so we are looking at a lambing percentage of around 225%. With nine sets of triplets arriving this spring, it is hardly surprising that the percentage is so high!
On the left, twin ewe lambs out of my Gigrin Kite grandson Norman.
BlueDragon Grandson |
Blue Dragon granddaughter |
One of the Gotland ram lambs out of Marty - look at the fleece on his already! |
We had the usual number of issues - a tail first lamb (survived!), a head first lamb (didn't make it) and a sidewise lamb in a set of triplets that is holding its own.
I don't know what I would do without Mike's expertise in these matters, he is an absolute master at sorting out what is going on and getting the lambs out alive.
For those of you wanting to know what might be available for sale in the fall, here is a summary of our arrivals!
Bluefaced Leicesters:
From my Blue Dragon son: 6 ewe lambs and 2 ram lambs
From my Gigrin Red Kite grandson: 5 ewe lambs (one is black patterned) and 4 ram lambs
( My coloured BFL X ewe had a coloured ewe lamb - she is 7/8 BFL)
Gotlands:
All from "Marty" 5 ewe lambs (2- 62% and 3-82%) , 5 ram lambs and 1 wether.
Charollais
Our grand experiment this year was to breed my BFL Mule ewes and 4 BFL ewes to a Charollais ram. The BFLxCharollais lambs are as long as freight trains and growing like stink. The Charollais lambs for the mules are not quite a long but have the same growthiness. There are 6 ewe lambs which might make good commercial prospects and 11 wethers in this group.
I will post photos in the next few days as the sun is finally shining and that makes everything look better!