Re: [Blackbelly] A Walking Dichotomy?

[Cecil Bearden]

Barb;
You have just hit on the most important aspect of raising sheep.  Since 
the profit margin is so small, then we have to have ewes with a great 
mothering ability.  I lump a lot of things into mothering ability.  I 
have over 80 ewes right now and this is the first time that I have had 
more than 50 lambs within 4 weeks of age.  I can pick out the ones that 
can produce lambs without help, and the ones that their lambs seem to 
stand around "humped up" from a lack of nutrition or something.  These 
ewes are getting tagged and are going to a sale as soon as their wean 
their lambs.  Since I am 10 years older than when I started raising 
Blackbellies, this becomes more and more important.  I might add that 
the lambs that have that White spot or more white than normal are doing 
very well.  So, that milking ability may came from the ones that have 
that white gene.  I do not pay as much attention to breed standards as I 
do the condition of the lamb and ewe.

Cecil in OKla

  I know with my sheep, I have committed to optimizing nutrition
> at all stages (substituting book-learnin' for the experience I lack) and 
> any ewes that don't get their twins up and going without having to run a 
> hose down their throats for the first day or two, are going to be out of 
> here.  No more free ride.
> 
> Regards,
> Barb Lee 
> 
> 
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