The Poultry Keeper

Auntie Katie · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 226 Location: Cambridgeshire

Hi all

My OH has come home from work today with a sheep question. Somebody at his work has had 16 lambs born over the last week or so, 10 of the them were boys and all 10 have died for what seems to be no reason. All the girls are OK - does anybody know if this is just coincidence or has anybody heard of anything like this before.

I've told him that there's bound to be somebody here that will have some ideas! Very Happy

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6748 Location: isle of lewis

i saw something the other day on the net
nobody seemed to have an answer it did puzzle me
we have a bit of a puzzle this year as almost all of the kids born on the isle are boys this year which is strange
if anyone has an answer to this as well i'd be interested

debcat · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:16 pm Post subject:

this rings a bell, can't remember where or why, will try and find out

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2036 Location: North Cornwall

There was something on the news a few weeks back about eating more calories to make boys. Perhaps all the goats were well fed last year.
Doesn't answer why all Kates boy lambs have died tho, sorry Sad

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1399 Location: Clawddnewydd

Thats a mystery........ I too have had nearly all ram lambs Evil or Very Mad

Some years it happens like that, usually tups would be excellent, but with the way things are at the moment, no guarantees that they will sell.... Sad

I always thought it was to do with the weather conditions at tupping time. The article on babies being male if you ate a certain % of calories was only 55:45 wasnt it? Not hugely significant in my view....... Now if it was 55/73 lambs as in my case..........

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 953 Location: Carmarthenshire

Only having 3 breeding ewes at present i was lucky enough to get 2 of each but (1 set of twins), the 2 ewe lambs are coloured, which is just what i wanted as I am keeping them, and the 2 ram lambs are white (which is handy as they will be going). I am aiming to build a coloured flock of Rylands.

As for the ram lambs dying, there are a host of illnesses that can kill lambs but I've not heard of one that just kills the rams - that is puzzling Question

- unless they are weaker and succumb to illnesses the hardier ewe lambs don't Question

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1312 Location: Leicestershire

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6748 Location: isle of lewis

i wonder if nonie will ask her livestock lecturer for us he might know

manic nonie · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject:

she will do so, I think I've heard something along these lines but I can't remeber for the life of me were. will ask around.

Auntie Katie · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 226 Location: Cambridgeshire

Thanks guys! I've been trying to catch our farm vet at work all week with no luck so any thing else anybody hears would be fab! The lad OH works with hasn't been in to work much since so we don't know if anymore have been born or died.

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1399 Location: Clawddnewydd

Have we heard any more about what could have caused this yet? I'm really interested to find out.... Very Happy