We will only touch on this subject because much of what
was covered in the BREEDING
SHEEP section also pertains to choosing Club Lambs.
Following the Structure Rules is key to club lambs chosen
to be raised as terminal projects or as breeding individuals.
One thing we will mention again is CHOOSING YOUR CLUB LAMB
AND MAKING IT YOUR BREEDING PROJECT after the shows are
over. We completely disagree with the practice and will
explain why here.
Is She A Club Lamb Or Breeding Ewe? Breeders that raise and sell club lambs are selling terminal
projects. Simply, lambs that grow to potential, show and
go into the freezer after the shows are over. This is what
"Terminal Project" means. Lambs fed in this manner for an
optimum show career as a club lamb can be held back somewhat
from becoming as large as necessary for a breeding ewe,
with few exceptions. Therefore, a ewe lamb brought back
from its last show of the season, fed and bred may not necessarily
be your best breeding sheep. Many ewes are too small or
can develop prolapse problems from this practice.
Liquid diets that some club lambs are being fed are inhumane
to sheep. After all they are ruminants and require roughage
for their stomachs to function properly. (I expect to catch
some heat over that remark from the club lamb folks that
feel that this is proper nutrition for their sheep. Mother
nature did not design the sheep to receive liquid drenches
from their owners, and this practice is taking the sheep
industry down the wrong road). I for one would not enjoy
eating a lamb that was fed in this manner. They are what
they eat.
We have heard the horror stories from young 4-Hr's that
have purchased ewe lambs at club lamb sales. These lambs
fed on liquid most all of their lives, and given their first
hay or grain feeding when it arrives at its new home. I'm
sure you can conjure up the vision of what would happen
to this lamb. Stomachs that have been bypassed for so long
are put into a tizzy and commonly prolapse of the rectum
is the sad result. This is just one more reason why the
club lamb ewe should not be kept as a breeding ewe.
PLEASE, unless you know what you are doing - refrain from
making your club ewe lamb (terminal project) your breeding
ewe! Not all will agree here, but the beginner is usually
the loser with this kind of practice. If you think your
son or daughter will become attached to the lamb and wish
to keep it, then purchase a wether (castrated male) to show
as a club lamb, or go into the Breeding Stock shows with
a breeding ewe from a reputable breeder. [Return
to Top ]
Wether Sires and Wether Dams There
are excellent Club Lamb Producers out there that sell Wether
Dams and Wether Sires. These are sheep that have been bred
for the production of club lambs (terminal projects). If
you wish to raise club lambs, contact a good breeder that
will sell you sound adults, or lambs for this purpose. [Return
to Top ]
Club Lambs In Summary We were very brief in the Club Lamb section, but as we mentioned
in the first part, so much of how to choose your sheep not
only pertains to Breeding Sheep but also Club lamb purchases.
There are some major health factors in club lambs that are
plaguing the industry like club lamb fungus and rectal prolapse
that the environmentalists and animal rights activists are
having a field day with. As we stressed with breeding stock
sheep, do your homework and do it well! Check out all of
the potential breeders thoroughly before you buy and ask
lots of questions. Check out their facilities and disease
control programs, so that you do not bring health problems
onto your farm or ranch with your new sheep additions.
You can avoid many problems getting started in sheep if
you RESEARCH your project at great length, and check out
your breeders with equal enthusiasm! Leave no stone unturned.
Once the investment has been made, the sheep are yours and
there is no turning back. YOU CAN DO IT!! [Return
to Top ]
