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North Central Illinois | Last few years I've been about half twins and half triplets from mature dorper/katahdin mix ewes and singles with 10% twins from yearlings.
This year the first 4 yearlings have had twins and only one of the 15 mature ewes has had a set of triplets.
Normally I rotationally graze mixed grass/legume stands until October and send lambs to market. Then turn ewes onto harvested corn stubble with cover crop and turn rams out 3-4 weeks later.
This year I got busy in October and pulled lambs just before ran turnout. Also I grazed them on red clover cover crop from early August until January because weather was decent. Kinda wondering if not giving the ewes the 3-4 week break lowered the ovulation rate. Overall body condition was above average at the start of breeding season and a few ewes were a bit on the fat side. | |
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Lower % Lamb drop this year
