Spring Lambing

As a custom here at Moriah Ranch, we like to have the lambs born prior to the calves. So we begin lambing the last week of February, with the “goal” to be finished in 3 weeks or less.  Let's back up here for a minute…


To have a successful lambing, planning starts months ahead of the actual delivery date goal. We start first by pulling the ewes off of pasture and begin feeding cracked corn 2 weeks prior to the rams going in with the ewes (this is the last week of September). This change in feed increases the energy level of the ewes diet, thus increasing her fertility. After this 2 week period, the rams are introduced to the ewes and nature runs its course.


A ewes cycle is every 16 days, so we leave the rams in with them for 32 days. By doing so, we hope that each ewe has had her cycle at least once. Once we remove the rams, life goes back to normal and the waiting period begins. A sheep's gestation is 5 months minus one week. So we can pretty much guess everyone's due date, by knowing what day she was bred. We start looking for lambs the last week of February….sounds easy enough, right!? It really is if you watch and know your sheep. We do visual checks every 3 hours, if not more, 24 hours a day 7 days a week during this time. *See why we like a 3 week lambing period!! 


We have had folks say, “why don’t you just get a barn camera? And save yourself a lot of trouble!” Well, there's nothing like actually being in the barn and corrals and watching each ewes behavior.

They make a certain sound when lambs are coming, a rather soft low baaa, and paw at the ground. We then move them to a “jug” (a small stall) and let them have their lambs. We leave them in the jug until the twins are bonded and momma is healthy and ready to go…this is typically just a couple of days. Here she receives room service 5 times a day….receiving grain, hay and fresh water after each visit. (and fresh straw for a warm comfy bed) For me, this all is a labor of love and I look SO forward to it each and every year. As a side note, we wrapped up lambing this year in just 2 WEEKS! A new record here.



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