Third Weighing

Weight gains dropped off after the hay was depleted and the lambs began getting more of their intake from the fresh oat pasture. They are still consuming 2 lbs. per day of grain, split into two equal feedings. The grain is a balanced mix of whole barley, soybean meal, and minerals, 16 percent crude protein.

Rounding the lambs up for weighing

For the third weigh period, gain ranged from 0.8 to 10.8 lbs. for an average of 6.6 ± 2.0 lbs. and a median of 6.8 lbs. Looking at it another way, average daily gain (ADG) ranged from 0.057 to 0.771 lbs. per day and averaged 0.472 ± 0.145 lbs. per day. The median ADG was 0.486 lbs. 
 
No lamb lost weight during the past two weeks. One lamb was dewormed (with moxidectin; Cydectin @ 1 ml/11 lbs.) because it had a FAMACHA© score of 3 and failed to meet its gain objective (70% x 0.6 lbs. per day). The rest of the lambs had FAMACHA© scores of 1 or 2, mostly 1.

For the third weigh period, the ram lambs (n=19) gained an average of 0.469 ± 0.143 lbs. per day. Their median ADG was 0.486 lbs. per day. The wethers (n-24) gained an average of 0.457 ± 0.112 lbs. per day. Their median ADG was 0.464 lbs. per day. The short-scrotum lambs (n=17) had the highest, but most variable ADG: 0.496 ± 0.187 lbs. per day. Their median ADG was 0.514 lbs. per day.

For the first 35 days, ADG has ranged from 0.267 to 0.814 lbs. per day and averaged 0.560 ± 0.105 lbs. per day. The median ADG is 0.567 lbs. per day. No lamb has lost weight. So far, the ram lambs are gaining 0.551 ± 0.108 lbs. per day. The wethers have gained slightly less: 0.550 lbs. ± 0.119 per day. The short scrotum lambs have the highest 42-d ADG: 0.586  ± 0.081 lbs. per day. At this point, it is not known if any of these differences are statistically significant.

Sex	No.	ADG -3rd period	42 d ADG
Ram	19	0.469 ± 0.143	0.551 ± 0.108
Wether	24	0.457 ± 0.112	0.550 ± 0.119
Short scrotum	17	0.496 ± 0.187	0.586 ± 0.081
ALL	60	0.472 ± 0.145	0.560 ± 0.105

A five acre paddock of dwarf pearl millet was recently planted and has emerged. It will be available for grazing later in the summer.The project will end in mid-August, with the harvest of the lambs.