First Lambs of the Year

This morning we finally got our first set of lambs! Our estimated start date was on Jan. 12, so even though they have waited until today to start we weren't too far off with our guess using a gestation table. We are very lucky to have mild winter weather to make it easier on the new babies.

The ewe, 'Bear', and her lambs. 

The ewe that lambed is my brother's 4-H mature ewe (2 years old) that will be shown this year with the lambs she had today at 4-H shows. She gave birth to twins: one boy who weighed 10.5 lbs. and one girl who weighed 11 lbs., for twin lambs these are good birth weights. 
For now they are the only ones with a pen but the rest of the barn is open for the flock to use. All ewes get their own separate pen once they lamb to bond with their lambs and for easier monitoring. They are given clean straw bedding, water, feed, a salt block and if the weather is cold a heat lamp for the lambs to sleep under. 

My ram Prairie Winds 6Y, the daddy of the lambs.

All of the lambs born from now until the middle/end of February are sired by a Hampshire ram from my own program. He is a yearling and this was the first year we used him for breeding. This first set of lambs means he was able to get the job done and we are even more happier that they are twins. Here is a link to his pedigree.

It is always good to start the year off with a pair of healthy lambs. As the barn continues to fill up I will try to keep posting pictures and updates. Happy lambing to everyone!