Thursday, February 21, 2013

Sheep Udder Pics

This post is about sheep udders.  You may not want to keep reading if you're not all that interested in sheep udders.  The ewes are due to lamb just about any day now (technically the 23rd), and I've been keeping a close eye on their udders. 

I took these photos about a week and a half ago when I crutched the ewes. Crutching is removing wool from their back ends, udders, and bellies.  It helps keep an eye for bagging up (and impending labor), but also helps a newborn lamb find the teat. 

I really should post up to date pics, because their udders have really grown since these were taken, but I'm afraid if I did, I wouldn't get around to posting it until after the lambs were here. 

So here's Darla:
















Bean:  I'm thinking she may be due later than the other girls.
















And here's Barley:
















I took a before and after belly shot to show how much better it is after crutching.  The picture is taking looking down at her stomach while she's seated on her rump.  It's a wooly mess!
















Much better!

















I'll try to get new pictures tomorrow to show the difference in their udders.  Of course now that the ewes are due the weather has actually turned cold.  It's been a pretty mild winter with only a few sporadic cold spells, and we're in one now.  I'll probably do night time checks now just to make sure I try to catch any lambs born.  They'd probably be ok, but if there was a problem I'd want to catch it. 

5 comments:

* Crystal * said...

Ya know, I don't guess I've ever really looked at sheep udders... So tiny compared to the dairy goats :)

Hope your lambing goes well..... It is called lambing right? lol

Kris said...

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has lots of sheep udder pictures too. And goat udders and back ends. But they do tell us a lot. And it is the most important end right now anyway. I have 4 ewes due a about the same time as yours. Within a few weeks of each other. I am so ready for lambs! And all your goat kids are so cute.

Becky said...

It sure does make a difference! I'm sure it makes checking on them a lot easier... and make it easier for the lambs. I can't wait to see what they have :)

Jen's Farmily said...

I had never heard of crutching so thank you for the info! Now I'm curious if you have any baby lambs yet or not! They are so cute!

Deb Johnson, Quiltbeeme said...

This is the part of farming that most people don't think about. They think it's a Disney film and lambs just happen! I would find it very hard to do all the work you do to insure healthy lambs and moms. Proud of you, Momma

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