Ewe not wanting lambs to nurse

OK, after half an hour of trying to figure out what I was told to do to post a thread I (accidentally LOL) figured it out. I put on a threat about medical supplies and quoted Donna R. Rayburn's suggestions as well as mine. I hope lots of people will post their suggestions and practices.

Ridgetop, Most excellent explaining!!!

I will throw in there, too, that you want animal to be cool and comfortable in hot weather, too!! Rumenents are walking compost pile that by product is heat from digesting. That is why they like cooler weather. Once it gets above about 80*F and high humidity they slow way down, even quit eating long stem fiber (that is where the milkfat comes from, and is what keeps rumen acidosis from happening.) When my goats were on milk test I would get up in cool predawn of summer and feed hay, then couple hours later milk in morning, just trying to keep them eating well.

There is a sheep dairy here in Jefferson county, TN where I live. I have talked many times to owner and he said you do well to get seven months of lactation, even out of Fresians. Our hot, humid summers don't help, either. He said they are working on their own lines using Fresian crossed with hair sheep Katahdin to try and get ewes they don't have to shear. Blackberry Inn takes all their milk to make cheese.

If you lived in a cold climate and had market for wool, the best uddered and most productive sheep I ever saw are Icelandic. I would kill to have goat with such an escutcheon!!!!! They were kept for both great fiber and high milk production by Icelandic settlers.

I have never had a milk breed sheep. I can see where sheep might have a shorter lactation since they are growing wool as well as producing milk and lambs. Our experience is all with dairy goats, mostly Nubians and LaManchas. Sold the Toggenburgs we started with after a couple of years since their milk is sort of bitter. We drank it when Nubians were drying off, but I had to doctor it heavily with chocolate milk powder.

You are right about hot weather. Make sure that the drinking water is changed out if it gets warm since the goats will not drink it too warm. Also, hot weather can affect the milk production, as can traveling to shows. We used to get to the shows a couple days before show time to give the does time to acclimate. Sometimes they still were low on production since the dairy barns can get hot. Really hot weather or a fast change in weather can also cause them to scour.

Thank you both for sharing your knowledge. I'll be keeping a record of how much milk and how long the lactation is.

These Awassi originate from the middle East, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, etc so I'm excited to see if this plays a factor into her milk production during these hot humid months, especially since it's looking like it's going to be a hot one this year.

Please continue to share your knowledge! There is no other way to learn much of this without those who have the knowledge speaking up and sharing. Thank you.

I love this site - I always learn new stuff.