Ridgetop
Herd Master
Did you raise both sets of lambs exactly the same? Did the same ewe have both sets of lambs? Were both sets of lambs the same size and weight at birth? Did she milk well? Did you feed differently? Was pasture better one year than other? Did you creep feed the second set of lambs? Do you have a program of worming? Do you know any of the history of your 3 unrelated sheep? Did the other ewe have normal lambs when bred to the same ram?
Since it sounds like it was the same ewe that had the mini lambs the first year, and normal lambs the next year, I would watch her to see if she has a very small lamb(s) again. This could just have been a fluke, or a problem with the ewe or ram. Since you bred completely unrelated animals, you don't know what their genetic characteristics or flaws may have been. I would continue breeding the 3 animals and keep track of their growth patterns to see if you can identify any other problems. Weigh the lambs at birth and then periodically weigh them again. Lambs gain about 1 lb. a day for the first few weeks then gain between 1/2 lb. and 1 lb. per day depending on the breed and nutrition.
I'm sorry you were upset at the question of inbreeding, perhaps you are not familiar with livestock breeding practices. Used properly, inbreeding and line breeding are good tools. Here is an explanation to help you understand the reasons for this type of breeding.
The methods of inbreeding (breeding closely related animals) and line breeding (breeding more distantly related animals) are time tested ways to consolidate the best points of an animal or breed. It is used very successfully to establish new breeds like the Polypay, Dorper, etc. It is important to use only the best animals when inbreeding since inbreeding will not only consolidate an animal's best points, but also its flaws. That is why knowledgeable breeders do not overdo it. Line breeding with occasional outbreedings to bring in a desired trait is usually the safest way to breed good solid specimens without problems. As in any breeding program, culling harshly is the key to producing good quality stock.
Consistently using only outbreeding (breeding unrelated animals) is a bad way to go. The offspring are usually inconsistent in quality and type. With a constant outbreeding program you are combining different sets of genetic characteristics which may or may not blend well. This means that you will never be able to produce good animals in a predictable manner. The whole reason for breeding animals is to obtain consistent type within your flock or herd. Unless you practice a modified type of line breeding you will never achieve your goal.
Backgrowth rates - yearling ewes often have smaller lambs in their first lambing, since they are smaller and there is less room to grow. Most first time young ewes single. However the lambs usually grow fast and by the time they are 6 months should have caught up with lambs from 2nd and 3rd time lambing ewes. The same goes for twins and triplets, they usually catch up fast once they are out of confinement inside the ewe.
One year we rebuilt our feeder to give all the sheep enough space to eat at once. BUT it didn't allow enough space for the growing lambs to feed with their mothers at the same time. This meant that the lambs ate last - after the best part of the alfalfa was eaten. There was little forage that year since we were in a serious drought. All the lambs were singles. We did not creep feed. When we weighed to send our lambs to market, our lambs were only 70-75 lbs. at 6 months.
The following year the ewes, except 1, singled again. But that year we built a creep for our lambs. They had access to the same alfalfa as their moms, but in their own creep pen where they were not shoved away by adults. We also fed grain. Still limited forage due to drought. Big difference in size, sent to market at 5-6 months over 100 lbs.
The 3rd year all the ewes had twins. We continued the same program of creep feeding, but that year we had lots of rain which resulted in lots of green forage. After it dried, we still had lots of dry grass forage. We still fed our lambs in the creep. Lambs went to market at 4 months over 100 lbs.
We have Dorset sheep which are usually easy keepers and will go to market off green pasture easily. We have no green pasture here in So Cal. We have dry brushy forage on a 4 acre pasture. We hand carry alfalfa 2x day except in the best years when we have heavy rains, then we give one alfalfa feed daily while the pasture lasts. We only worm once or twice during a super rainy season, except for new flock members. We vaccinate for CDT every year. We do not change our practices so you can see the difference that feeding and nutrition, and amount of feed makes in young lambs.
Since it sounds like it was the same ewe that had the mini lambs the first year, and normal lambs the next year, I would watch her to see if she has a very small lamb(s) again. This could just have been a fluke, or a problem with the ewe or ram. Since you bred completely unrelated animals, you don't know what their genetic characteristics or flaws may have been. I would continue breeding the 3 animals and keep track of their growth patterns to see if you can identify any other problems. Weigh the lambs at birth and then periodically weigh them again. Lambs gain about 1 lb. a day for the first few weeks then gain between 1/2 lb. and 1 lb. per day depending on the breed and nutrition.
I'm sorry you were upset at the question of inbreeding, perhaps you are not familiar with livestock breeding practices. Used properly, inbreeding and line breeding are good tools. Here is an explanation to help you understand the reasons for this type of breeding.
The methods of inbreeding (breeding closely related animals) and line breeding (breeding more distantly related animals) are time tested ways to consolidate the best points of an animal or breed. It is used very successfully to establish new breeds like the Polypay, Dorper, etc. It is important to use only the best animals when inbreeding since inbreeding will not only consolidate an animal's best points, but also its flaws. That is why knowledgeable breeders do not overdo it. Line breeding with occasional outbreedings to bring in a desired trait is usually the safest way to breed good solid specimens without problems. As in any breeding program, culling harshly is the key to producing good quality stock.
Consistently using only outbreeding (breeding unrelated animals) is a bad way to go. The offspring are usually inconsistent in quality and type. With a constant outbreeding program you are combining different sets of genetic characteristics which may or may not blend well. This means that you will never be able to produce good animals in a predictable manner. The whole reason for breeding animals is to obtain consistent type within your flock or herd. Unless you practice a modified type of line breeding you will never achieve your goal.
Backgrowth rates - yearling ewes often have smaller lambs in their first lambing, since they are smaller and there is less room to grow. Most first time young ewes single. However the lambs usually grow fast and by the time they are 6 months should have caught up with lambs from 2nd and 3rd time lambing ewes. The same goes for twins and triplets, they usually catch up fast once they are out of confinement inside the ewe.
One year we rebuilt our feeder to give all the sheep enough space to eat at once. BUT it didn't allow enough space for the growing lambs to feed with their mothers at the same time. This meant that the lambs ate last - after the best part of the alfalfa was eaten. There was little forage that year since we were in a serious drought. All the lambs were singles. We did not creep feed. When we weighed to send our lambs to market, our lambs were only 70-75 lbs. at 6 months.
The following year the ewes, except 1, singled again. But that year we built a creep for our lambs. They had access to the same alfalfa as their moms, but in their own creep pen where they were not shoved away by adults. We also fed grain. Still limited forage due to drought. Big difference in size, sent to market at 5-6 months over 100 lbs.
The 3rd year all the ewes had twins. We continued the same program of creep feeding, but that year we had lots of rain which resulted in lots of green forage. After it dried, we still had lots of dry grass forage. We still fed our lambs in the creep. Lambs went to market at 4 months over 100 lbs.
We have Dorset sheep which are usually easy keepers and will go to market off green pasture easily. We have no green pasture here in So Cal. We have dry brushy forage on a 4 acre pasture. We hand carry alfalfa 2x day except in the best years when we have heavy rains, then we give one alfalfa feed daily while the pasture lasts. We only worm once or twice during a super rainy season, except for new flock members. We vaccinate for CDT every year. We do not change our practices so you can see the difference that feeding and nutrition, and amount of feed makes in young lambs.
