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- #1,921
Margali's Griffin Wood Ranch
- Thread starter Margali
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- #1,922
Margali
Herd Master
I just found out I may have to work next weekend. So weaned the lambs today and started taking pictures. Not sure how good these pictures are? I was holding and Cassandra taking photos. Still have to do other 2 ramlings. Planning to turn into flyer with reg, birth type, etc.
Not sure if this 3/4 view is better for 2404. He kept hunching his butt.
Not sure if this 3/4 view is better for 2404. He kept hunching his butt.
Baymule
Herd Master
2024 looks like a hunchback. Bad lamb! Stand pretty for the picture!
Ridgetop
Herd Master
I am not talking about any conformation of the lambs here. I am talking about the way they look in the way they are stacked up for the pictures. These hints are from 18 years of showmanship classes with different 4-Hers showing sheep.
The pix of the white lambs don't show any length of body at all and they look hunched up. A hunched-up lamb looks like something is wrong with them physically - maybe even sick. You need to stretch the lambs out so they show their length. Also, the front picture of 2404 makes him look narrow in the chest. His legs should drop straight down from the shoulder. That way even on a young immature lamb, the chest will look wider.
Practice stacking them up every day until they are easy to handle and relaxed. If the sheep keeps moving its rear legs out of position a good way to teach it not to move once positioned, is to stack it on several bales of straw or some sort of platform. Make sure that the platform gives the lamb good traction not to slide. Set up the lamb's rear legs near the back of the platform, then holding it by the head, slowly back it up until the lamb steps off the platform with one leg. The lamb will struggle and try to push forward to regain its footing. After doing this a couple times, the lamb will refuse to back up and you can then lift the lamb's front assembly into position.
Once the lamb allows you to set the rear legs without moving, you can proceed to the front legs. Set up the rear legs first then gently lift the lamb by its head (I know that sounds weird, but it is the best way and won't hurt the lamb since sheep necks are their strongest body part) and drop the front legs and shoulders down straight. With small lambs this is the easiest way to stack them. With larger sheep you have to stack the front legs by leaning over or reaching under the sheep to stack them individually.
Another way to show your sheep's conformation is to set up a small pen and slowly move the sheep around in the pen while filming it. Don't do this on a halter, instead use a sheep paddle or flag calmly and slowly to encourage the sheep to walk around the pen. I prefer to judge conformation on sheep as they move this way rather than just still shots. You can stack anything to look good but seeing them move slowly around the pen shows conformation better. Then post the videos on your website when advertising. Or if you can, use good still frames that show the lamb in perfect pose.
BTW, stacking the lambs on a raised platform will enable you to work with them standing up and the camera will have a better angle than when you are shooting downward.
Good livestock pix are hard to take which is why there are professional livestock photographers at Fairs. @SageHill was a pro photographer - she can give you tips on taking the photos. I like the backgrounds with the ear tag numbers showing clearly.
The pix of the white lambs don't show any length of body at all and they look hunched up. A hunched-up lamb looks like something is wrong with them physically - maybe even sick. You need to stretch the lambs out so they show their length. Also, the front picture of 2404 makes him look narrow in the chest. His legs should drop straight down from the shoulder. That way even on a young immature lamb, the chest will look wider.
Practice stacking them up every day until they are easy to handle and relaxed. If the sheep keeps moving its rear legs out of position a good way to teach it not to move once positioned, is to stack it on several bales of straw or some sort of platform. Make sure that the platform gives the lamb good traction not to slide. Set up the lamb's rear legs near the back of the platform, then holding it by the head, slowly back it up until the lamb steps off the platform with one leg. The lamb will struggle and try to push forward to regain its footing. After doing this a couple times, the lamb will refuse to back up and you can then lift the lamb's front assembly into position.
Once the lamb allows you to set the rear legs without moving, you can proceed to the front legs. Set up the rear legs first then gently lift the lamb by its head (I know that sounds weird, but it is the best way and won't hurt the lamb since sheep necks are their strongest body part) and drop the front legs and shoulders down straight. With small lambs this is the easiest way to stack them. With larger sheep you have to stack the front legs by leaning over or reaching under the sheep to stack them individually.
Another way to show your sheep's conformation is to set up a small pen and slowly move the sheep around in the pen while filming it. Don't do this on a halter, instead use a sheep paddle or flag calmly and slowly to encourage the sheep to walk around the pen. I prefer to judge conformation on sheep as they move this way rather than just still shots. You can stack anything to look good but seeing them move slowly around the pen shows conformation better. Then post the videos on your website when advertising. Or if you can, use good still frames that show the lamb in perfect pose.
BTW, stacking the lambs on a raised platform will enable you to work with them standing up and the camera will have a better angle than when you are shooting downward.
Good livestock pix are hard to take which is why there are professional livestock photographers at Fairs. @SageHill was a pro photographer - she can give you tips on taking the photos. I like the backgrounds with the ear tag numbers showing clearly.
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- #1,925
SageHill
Herd Master
Logo looked perfect to me - just right.
When taking the livestock pics it's best to have the camera level with about the ribcage. The camera should be parallel to the animal. When you're taking the photo "lay on the shutter" -- if your camera shoots continuously when you press the shutter button you'll get a lot of pics and be able to delete the ones that aren't great - i.e. eyes blink or roll, neck scrunches into a U, leg moves, etc. If you're using a phone just keep tapping that button for a few seconds. You spend a lot of time getting the animal into position, use that time well - just taking one pic and moving on you can easily end up with less than what you wanted and have to either "make due" or reshoot. My big camera is 12 frames a second. Lots of "deletes" but I always got the shot.
2406 is cute -- of course I'm a sucker for color! Esp red.
When taking the livestock pics it's best to have the camera level with about the ribcage. The camera should be parallel to the animal. When you're taking the photo "lay on the shutter" -- if your camera shoots continuously when you press the shutter button you'll get a lot of pics and be able to delete the ones that aren't great - i.e. eyes blink or roll, neck scrunches into a U, leg moves, etc. If you're using a phone just keep tapping that button for a few seconds. You spend a lot of time getting the animal into position, use that time well - just taking one pic and moving on you can easily end up with less than what you wanted and have to either "make due" or reshoot. My big camera is 12 frames a second. Lots of "deletes" but I always got the shot.
2406 is cute -- of course I'm a sucker for color! Esp red.
Ridgetop
Herd Master
I think I would make the logo larger - it got covered up a bit and I didn't notice it until you mentioned it Had to go back and look for it. Can you do a landscape orientation of the pix? So they are wider rather than taller? The lambs will fit in the frame better because they are wider rather than taller.
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- #1,928
Margali
Herd Master
2403's is going to be wethered tomorrow. He rammed himself at the 43" hog panel enough that he broke top carabiner and wire so it splayed open. Then he jumped out and injured his left hind leg in my hour break. Tender footed and crazy... I will laugh when I eat you!
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- #1,929
Margali
Herd Master
Fence for weaning pen has been upgraded after crazy to 5ft high all around. Tarp over creep gate area in case it rains. I will feed hay in morning.
Baymule
Herd Master
Sheep can do the darndest things. Oh well, lamb chops. Do you take them to be processed or do it yourself?
