Margali's Griffin Wood Ranch

[Margali]

I have sold Blackey!
Success plan:
-Lamb early and keep cute picture on hand.
-Answered every request for "lambing soon?" with awesome lamb picture.

 

[Baymule]

Brilliant! And eye candy sells!

 

[Mini Horses]

So, now BOTH are sold! Woohoo!! Feed $.

 

[Margali]

They are HUGE! I just weighed them at 34lbs each! That is 1.4lbs/day worth of milk from Aria.

Aria is getting drawn even with extra 1lb of grain in morning ~3x/wk. I am going to work harder on getting her into the separate pen each evening and give her hay as well. She is such a good moma.

 

[Margali]

Dash on the other hand... She is extremely hard to work with and freaks the other sheep out with her histrionics. She doesn't appear bred and I can't get a pee sample to check. If she doesn't lamb by April, she will join her sister at freezer camp.

 

[Baymule]

My black ewe, Ewenique, goes down when feeding twins. She puts it all in the milk bag. I give her whole corn, which helps. That’s how she learned her name. I’d call Ewenique! I hand fed her through the fence.

You might give Aria a little alfalfa hay along with the grass hay, some whole corn, 1/2 cup, and BOSS 1/4 cup. Watch her condition until she’s holding what she has. Level off for a week, then increase a little more. You don’t want to over do it, but you don’t want her to get skinny either.

That’s awesome on the weights!

 

[Margali]

I think we had a break thru last night, Aria and twins went willing into the separate night pen. She has figured out separate evening pen means no fighting for grain AND breakfast!

The rest of the herd were UNAMUSED.

 

[Ridgetop]

How close to weaning the lambs are you? Remember to cut back the extra feeding several days before pulling lambs you have sold. You want her to dry off easily when she doesn't have the lambs on her anymore and cutting her protein intake will help. I used to pull all food and water for 24 hours on ewes that I pulled lambs off. Made weaning and dry up easier on heavy milkers.

When we are in Texas would you and your daughter like to go to a Dorper show? I am looking for helpers to show my ewes. Even though I am in my prime, youthful help is always appreciated in the ring.

 

[Ridgetop]

I think our next ranch project will be a proper shooting backstop in location of old range. I'm already planning on fencing once check for selling the truck clears.

Good idea.

Have you thought about getting LGDs to run with your sheep?

 

[Margali]

Good idea.

Have you thought about getting LGDs to run with your sheep?

I have to knock the following items off first before I can get a LGD.
1. Secure fence between the home acre and ranch so farm dog vs LGD doesn't be an issue. Right now it's just e-fence
2. Secure paddock for ram so I can have one on-site again

Then I have the question of protected to protector ratio. I currently have 3 ewes and a wether. How many ewes justify the cost of a LGD?