Lambs

Published on 4 September 2019 On Farm

Given its lambing season we thought we’d share some fun facts about our wooly friends!

The period of gestation for lambs is about 5 months.
One ram will sire 70 to 90 lambs each season.
Lambs are between 2 – 3 kilograms when born.
Lambs can walk very soon after they are born.
Lambs receive a 6 in 1 vaccine at 7 weeks, with a booster dose at 14 weeks.
Lambs are dependent on their mothers until they are weaned at 3-4 months.
Baby lambs have ‘playgroup’ every afternoon where they learn to play, interact and have fun. One or two of the ewes will watch the playgroup whilst the other mums rest or feed.
Merino lambs are retained on Markdale for future wool production, and the merino/white suffolk cross lambs are sold for consumption.
Young sheep are called ‘lambs’ until they get their first adult teeth at approx 14 months old – they are then promoted to hogget (‘teenager’) – they become an adult at 2 to 2.5 years old, when the next 2 adult teeth emerge.
Markdale lambs are free range and essentially pasture fed.