Lambing Work Experience

Hello all!

Apologies if this seems a ridiculous question, but when you complete your lambing work experience, just what do you do. As in, how involved do you get etc

Thanking you
Sam
x

Reply 1

Annaconda

17

it depends, some people just watch and some people actually get to help. It just depends on the farmers.

i went on a 2day lambing course and we had lectures and stuff about it, did middle of the night watches and practiced difficult lambing situations with a simulator using cadavers.
Didnt actually get to see an actual lambing though :frown:

Reply 2

city_chic

13

I saw a lamb being born when I was 10... :p:

Reply 3

xxnikkixx

wen i did lambing last year i was gettin stuck in after id been on the farm for 5 mins...be prepared to do lots of hard work as lucy said and also to get very messy! Its one of the best work experiences ive done it was amazin!

Reply 4

Capetta

OP

1

I grew up on a sheep farm so am familiar with what happens, but haven't ever been involved in it as such.

Thanks for your replies
x

Reply 5

Future African game vet

11

Capetta

I grew up on a sheep farm so am familiar with what happens, but haven't ever been involved in it as such.

Thanks for your replies
x

where do you live? I need at lambing placement :biggrin:

(Sorry thats very cheeky of me! I'm not rude really! :rolleyes:

)

Im just hunting for some where to go - I live in Preston in the north west.

Reply 6

Evenstar

13

Capetta

Hello all!

Apologies if this seems a ridiculous question, but when you complete your lambing work experience, just what do you do. As in, how involved do you get etc

Thanking you
Sam
x

HI SAM!

Reply 7

fairy princess

I think lambing is the work experience where you get the best opportunity to get involved and actually get your hands dirty (very dirty indeed!).

I had never done any farm work experience when I first went lambing and had only stood around at the vets where I wasn't really allowed to touch anything, so I was quite shocked when the farmer dumped a newborn lamb in my lap and told me to feed it within 5 minutes of my arrival!

It's much more fun getting hands-on experience though! :sheep:

Reply 8

Evenstar

13

Aw! I reeeeeeally want to go lambing but can't get the time off work and college to do it. :mad:

Reply 9

Annaconda

17

im hoping to go to a farm park at easter,a nd although they probably wont actually need my help it will be fun to see. And theres gota kids being born at the same time and i love goats.

p.s anyone know what goat-birthing is called? surely it cant be "kidding"

it is 'kidding'!

OP

Lucy.x

not getting at you, just curious...but if you want to be a vet why not????
its experience right on your doorstep! plus its so ffun :smile:

Sorry that didn't mean to sound as stroppy as it did!!!! I grew up on a farm, however parentals have now split and no longer have the farm..hows that for timing!!

This is going to sound like a dim question......when you say hands on, do you mean helping delivering the lambs, or more with getting the crap off the lambs and getting them suckling etc? Only ask, as i have done that, but not the actual delivering side, so wouldn't want to be thrown in at the deep end so to speak and have to try and deliver one!!

Am i just worrying too much??????!! Spanx all!! :biggrin:

Reply 12

Jennybean

13

Capetta

Sorry that didn't mean to sound as stroppy as it did!!!! I grew up on a farm, however parentals have now split and no longer have the farm..hows that for timing!!

This is going to sound like a dim question......when you say hands on, do you mean helping delivering the lambs, or more with getting the crap off the lambs and getting them suckling etc? Only ask, as i have done that, but not the actual delivering side, so wouldn't want to be thrown in at the deep end so to speak and have to try and deliver one!!

Am i just worrying too much??????!! Spanx all!! :biggrin:

On most farms, you will be thrown in at the deep end. I arrived at my lambing placement with two friends this Easter at 8am on our first day. None of us had any experience at all, the closest I'd come to a sheep was work experience at a kids' farm park. By 8.45 I'd delivered a set of triplets. It's not hard, you'll learn really quickly and the shepherds will generally be willing to help and advise you, and won't leave you alone with a difficult case until they're absolutely sure you're alright to handle it. After the lambs are born you'll also be responsible for feeding, watering, bedding up, ensuring the lambs are suckling, castrating and tail docking, numbering the ewe-lamb pairs, worming the ewes and adopting any orphans onto other ewes using fostering methods or if that fails, feeding them by hand. It is bloody hard work and we worked 14 hours most days but it's very rewarding. As a pre-uni student you might not be allowed to have so much responsibility but if you make it to Easter of your first year you will :smile:

Reply 13

Jennybean

13

fairy princess

I think lambing is the work experience where you get the best opportunity to get involved and actually get your hands dirty (very dirty indeed!).

I had never done any farm work experience when I first went lambing and had only stood around at the vets where I wasn't really allowed to touch anything, so I was quite shocked when the farmer dumped a newborn lamb in my lap and told me to feed it within 5 minutes of my arrival!

It's much more fun getting hands-on experience though! :sheep:

Hey, do you know Chris Webb? He's in your year, I lambed with him and he's coming down to see us RVC lot quite soon, he's such a sweetie!

Reply 14

fairy princess

Jennybean

Hey, do you know Chris Webb? He's in your year, I lambed with him and he's coming down to see us RVC lot quite soon, he's such a sweetie!

Haha Chris is a ledge!
But going down to RVC! what a traitor lol :wink:

Reply 15

Jennybean

13

fairy princess

Haha Chris is a ledge!
But going down to RVC! what a traitor lol :wink:

We're going to convert him, and then you'll never get him back. Wahahaha.

I hear you guys have Saturday lectures this year? That must really suck! There's obviously a high price to pay for being cleverer than yow lol.

Reply 16

Evenstar

13

When is lambing, generally? Is it February time?

Reply 17

<(+_+)>

10

^ Lol I'm wondering the same thing.

Reply 18

earedien

Depends on when tupping is. Sheep are short day ovulators. Traditionally they start tupping on Guy Falkes (5th Nov) to lamb on 1st April (148 days gestation). They usually time tupping so that lambing occurs in the Easter hols, so late March depending on when the full moon falls etc. Some systems lamb earlier so that they can sell their lambs at Easter as the meat gets a better price (everyone wants a lamb roast on Easter Sunday) compared to in August/September when fat lambs flood the market. Now that I've bored you all silly, I'll go and start learning the intricacies of ruminant digestion.

Reply 19

Annaconda

17

february ish to easter ish i think normally

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