Lambing Schedule

Our Lambing Schedule

Described below is a semi accelerated, single flock lambing plan that I implemented in the summer of 2001 by removing the rams from what had previously been year-round service.

The dates selected are admittedly semi arbitrary, but reflect birth date observations in my flock, as well as ovine estrus and ovulation data from McGregor, TX (similar latitude to me). The dates will be adjusted as experience dictates.

The scheme features three 35 day lambing seasons per year (beginning the first day of February, May, and November) and is rather simple in that only one ewe group is required (a major objective of mine); and only one of the three breeding seasons should require flushing. Minor disadvantages are the labor of three ram introductions per year, the three ram removals, and the three weanings per year --- plus the fact that the August flushing will be to the entire ewe flock (not just the open ewes). At the present time, I don't consider any of these "problems" to be a problem.

"Days of rest" were calculated to see if this lambing plan is in any way accelerated. It has some possibilities. Moving from the February 1 lambing schedule to the following November 1 schedule should be easy with 34 days of rest between weaning and the start of the breeding season. Moving from the May 1 lambing schedule to the following February 1 schedule should also be easy with 37 days of rest between weaning and the start of the breeding season.

However, negative days of rest means the next breeding season has started before weaning of the current lamb crop begins. For a ewe on the November 1 lambing schedule, it will be impossible to lamb again on either the following February 1, or May 1 schedules because the breeding season will have already passed before weaning begins.

February 1 - March 7 Lambing (35 days)

Flushing	August 19 - September 16
Teasing	August 26 - September 9 (Rams returned to the sheep farm to a secure pen)
Breeding	September 9 - October 13
Lambing	February 1 - March 7
Weaning	May 6 (Ages are 60 to 95 days)
	Days of rest between May 6 weaning and December 7 breeding for May 1 lambs is negative. Days of rest between May 6 weaning and June 9 breeding for November 1 lambs is 34 days.

May 1 - June 4 Lambing (35 days)

Teasing	November 23 - December 7 (Rams returned to the sheep farm to a secure pen)
Breeding	December 7 - January 10
Lambing	May 1 - June 4
Weaning	August 3 (Ages are 60 to 95 days)
	Days of rest between August 3 weaning and June 9 breeding for November 1 lambs is negative. Days of rest between August 3 weaning and September 9 breeding for February 1 lambs is 37 days.

November 1 - December 5 Lambing (35 days)

Teasing	May 26 - June 9 (Rams returned to the sheep farm to a secure pen)
Breeding	June 9 - July 13
Lambing	November 1 - December 5
Weaning	February 3 (Ages are 60 to 95 days)
	Days of rest between February 3 weaning and September 9 breeding for February 1 lambs is negative. Days of rest between February 3 weaning and December 7 breeding for May 1 lambs is negative.

NOTE:

I am adhering to these schedules except for weaning. I am leaving the lambs with the ewes and letting Nature do the weaning. This might lessen the chance that the February 1 and May 1 schedules are accelerated?
We have abandoned the May lambing season because very few ewes ended up there and the lambs did not grow as well as the November or February lambs because the quality of our summer perennial forages is poor compared to the quality of our winter annual forages.

Updated June 2003.