Results from the Lambing Survery

Members of Blue Sires SRS were asked to keep a record of the amount of assistance needed in lambing their Bleu du Maine ewes in 1999 and 2000.

Using the chart shown in table 1, the level of assistance was recorded in table 2 together with the age of the ewe and numbers of lambs born.

Table 1 - Chart to Assess Level of Assistance at lambing

Level of assistance Grade of Difficulty (from 0 TO 5)
None
0
Little - (removal of tight lamb in normal position)
1

Moderate -
(a) one foot back
(b) hind legs first
2

Dfficult -
(a) head only out
(b) tail first ie breech
3

Very Difficult -
(a) head back, front feet forward
(b) two lambs coming together
(c) transverse lie
(d) ring womb
(e) dead lambs
4
Veterinary Assistance -
(a) caesarian section
(b) uterine prolapse, before or after lambing
5

 

Table 2 - Record of Lambing Assistance

Age of ewe
2
3
4
5+
Nos of Lambs (dead & alive)
1
2
3
4+
Type of Assistance
0-1
2
3
4
5

Results
215 ewes were recorded.
428 lambs were born producing a lambing percentage of 200%.

Number of ewes lambing according to age:- 2 years - 53, 3 - 47, 4 - 28, 5+ - 37 (age was given in 165 lambings) shows that there was an even spread of age from first time lambers to aged ewes.

Table 3 - Percentage of lambs classified by Level of Assistance at Lambing

Level of assistance
%
None / Little: 0-1
79.50%

Moderate: 2

9.00

Dfficult: 3

3.90

Very Difficult: 4

6.00 (ringwomb and dead lambs)
Veterinary Assistance: 5
1.45 (2 cases prolapse)

Where the number of lambs born could be related to the assistance needed, single deliveries in four 2 year old ewes needed moderate help due to very large lambs, twin lambings required an increased level of involvement in 26% (1 in 4) and triplet lambings 33% (1 in 3) of cases.
There were no quads. born in this survey.

Summary
A lambing percentage of 200% indicates the high prolificacy of the breed.
Four flocks had a lambing percentage of less than 200% but another flock recorded 224% with 21 out of the 25 ewes delivering with minimal assistance.
One flock keeper recorded no or minimal help needed in lambing his 22 ewes.
Little or no assistance was needed in 80% approx. of all lambings.

In only 2 cases (1.45%) was veterinary help sought and even in more difficult presentations of the lambs (6%) outside help was not needed.

Conclusion

A profilic and easily lambed ewe!

Easy care (at lambing!) and easy on the purse!

Ease of lambing confers less stress on ewe, her lambs and the shepherd.

Vigorous lambs at birth will feed well and grow fast.

The first two years of Blue Sires has shown that the Bleu du Maine is a prolific and easily lambed ewe producing lambs with rapid growth, high muscle and low fat.
The high scheme index of the rams selected for breeding indicates that there will be a continuous improvement in genetic merit with excellent conformation being maintained. The SRS scheme members use R1/R3 genotyped stock rams with great emphasis on breediing to eliminate Scrapie.

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