Sheep welfare

Two weeks to go before Milking sheep lamb. The ewes were brought in the shed earlier then normal with a view to them staying in at night and going out during the day.  The ewes had other ideas in this weather they refused to go out. So have spend the the new year in the barn. Warm and fed.  Today we sheered the ewes bums so its more healthy  and a welfare benifit for the sheep and us. We can see if there are difficulties when they lamb more, The ewes are cleaner for lambing and for when we start milking. The process doesnt stress the sheep. At the same time we inject the ewes with a live vaccine to protect both lambs and ewes. Its all technical as with any medication for milking sheep we have to decide if we can give administer it with milking them, Withdrawl periods. Just like vaccinations in humans risk verses benifits. We also re sprayed a spot on each neck with a mark so we know if the ewe is having a single or a double or more