Re: [Blackbelly] Prolific?

[Barb Lee]

Mark,
Thanks for the input...what I'm aiming at is sort of a feeding issue, as 
opposed to a timing issue...The reason I ask is because of some text in 
a book on forage-based sheep raising, which puts the "prolific" breeds 
such as Finnsheep which have large litters, into the same feeding 
requirements of dairy type animals in that they require great amounts of 
high quality feed to support many little bodies at one time.

This gentleman does not think that litter-ing breeds are as successful 
in an all grass-based program because their nutritional requirements are 
so high.  He is also in Canada where the grass season is shorter.

I know all-grass (including legumes) forage based dairying is possible 
but it is highly management intensive and frequently highly seasonal. 
So if sheep are prolific on a "many mouths to feed at one time" versus 
"a few mouths to feed many times," pushing for too many lambs in litters 
could significantly alter the success of a program that relied primarily 
on grass. (Grass farming is said to be a knowledge based farming 
system.) Something to think about for those of us who are interested in 
raising the sheep for the grassfed market.

Barb

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "The Wintermutes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info>
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] Prolific?


>I interpret prolificacy for the Blackbelly as capable of lambing three 
>times
> in two years with around five lambs.  Outstanding ewes can twin every 
> time.
> But normal ewes usually single in the more challenging months.
>
> The Finnsheep and Romanov typically lamb two times in two years with 
> around
> five or six lambs.
>
> So if you lamb every eight months the Blackbelly are prolific.  If you 
> lamb
> only once a year they are less prolific?  Maybe precocious is a better 
> word
> than prolific for the Blackbelly.
>
> I am aiming for more than a 200% lambing rate.  I'm not really aiming 
> for
> triplets as much as avoiding singles.
>
> Mark Wintermute
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of 
> Barb Lee
> Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 6:12 PM
> To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info
> Subject: [Blackbelly] Prolific?
>
> Do folks out there generally feel that blackbellies fall into the
> "prolific" category, with such breeds as Finnsheep?  That would mean
> producing pretty good sized litters (3-5) on a regular basis.  Or do 
> we
> tend to think of them more as out of season breeders that are fairly
> reliable twinners.  I'm not thinking of one or two outstanding
> individuals, but tendencies of any flock to produce large litters of
> lambs.  I'd also be curious for curiosity's sake, whether folks are
> going out of their way to produce triplets +
>
> Thanks,
> Barb Lee
>
>
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