My #1 Metric for Newborn Lambs & Calves

Join me today as I discuss my one metric I prefer to use on newborn lambs and calves to tell if they are beginning to thrive and gain in those critical first few days.
Link: prime-scales.c...

[@benburns5995]

Hi Jason, great to see this update video along with the cute little lambs. The mother that had the triplets does she have enough milk to feed all three? I know sometimes farmers need to bottle feed some especially with triplets. What a beautiful day you had to film this video with 76 degrees and sunny. Great to see the kids working together helping out on the farm and learning for home school as well.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Thanks, Ben! Yes, in 6 years we’ve only had 1 bottle lamb. We breed for top notch mothers who are able to feed lambs unassisted. Last year one of our other mammas has triplet rams, raising them all the way out unassisted. Their combined weights at weaning were most likely greater than hers!

[@kevingoleman5544]

Thank you for these videos. This is my first spring raising sheep. 4 pregnant Katahdin ewes bout ready to drop any day. Pretty nervous bout the whole thing. Your videos of knowledge really help. Thank you.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Great to know, Kevin! My email’s always in channel description if I can further assist! I hope it’s a phenomenal lambing season for you.

[@Ironrodpower]

Post that bird house plans. Very thought of that great idea

[@wocoranch]

Good day man!! Beautiful time of year! And wow what a difference I'm having to remind myself it's only April haha, everything is sooo green and beautiful!! Thanks as always for a wonderful video! Lots of good information we plan on using!!

[@birchfieldfarming]

Awesome! Glad things are well your way!! Happy grazing season!🤠

[@davidduncan1938]

Hello, I have been wondering if there is a difference between red Devon cattle and American milking Devon? Also, do you know of any farms with these cattle in Michigan? Thanks for all you do with the videos. We enjoy them and are learning much. God bless you

[@birchfieldfarming]

Yes, there is a difference. My understanding is the regular Red Devon were developed more for the beef, whereas the American Milking Devon were the original animals brought over in the 1600’s used for triple purpose - meat, milk, and draft. I believe there are registries for both. I don’t personally know of anyone selling in Michigan, so I’d start here: reddevonusa.com

[@itinertantparishioner8092]

Hi Jason, Yes, It has been a little while. Glad to see this post. I too have always enjoyed those first signs of spring, giving rise to a new season after a long cold winter. Having worked outdoors for most of my life, the new spring has always brought new life in many ways. Most of all, it has provided assurance that we can make it through the tough times of season. I can remember sitting out long cold winters, thinking, "If I can Just make it through till March, things will be OK." I find it imperative to pray unceasingly and to remain faithful in season and out of season. Experiencing new life on the farm is evidence of this faith. It is no wonder that Easter is celebrated at this time. How appropriate is it to see new life blooming all around us as we celebrate life in our Risen Lord. As you mentioned, we can use these times of good season to get us through the not so good ones. We interpret the term season to be a length of time or the duration of a particular situation, a period. Whatever one is going through, we can know that this season will pass, Thank God. May God Bless You and Yours, Itinerant

[@birchfieldfarming]

Good words here, and we’re all blessed when IP stops by to comment! Hope things are looking up out east, friend.

[@appalachianheartsong5487]

Thanks for the update Jason, and your personal guidance as we go through our first year with livestock. 20 healthy lambs on the ground to date, and the one Highland bull calf. We did have a ewe with apparent predtox and had to put her down. Took her one ewe lamb from her thereafter, but she too didn’t make it. Lots of lessons learned, but we are so very thankful for the blessings we have received. We pray for you and your family each day, Dan and Elle.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Wow, 20 lambs! What an amazing crop for first time lambing! Congratulations! Heartbreaking on the loss, but as in my situation those genetics would not be able to continue in the wild so it can be a blessing to flock health long-term. Thank you for your prayers, please stay in touch, friends.

[@dnawormcastings]

The lambs are looking great and the grass is so green also 🇳🇿❤️🙏🏼

[@birchfieldfarming]

Things are looking up! Hope all is well across the pond.😀

[@Ironrodpower]

Post that bird house plans. Very thought of that great idea

[@birchfieldfarming]

Yeah, I guess his bird house made it all the way to the owner of Timeless fence, pretty cool. They said they were putting it in their next newsletter! I have no idea how to post any of the Fusion 360 files - that’s all Sam’s department…so many things we could do tho with the slip on sleeve idea!

[@Ironrodpower]

@@birchfieldfarming I wonder if there is something like that in just the stock librarys. Something I could make that would actually be useful lol Ender 3d printer

[@birchfieldfarming]

@@Ironrodpower…I’ll see what Sam can come up with. I’ll post here if he’s able👍

[@Ironrodpower]

@@birchfieldfarming thanks

[@Ironrodpower]

@@birchfieldfarming WOW my typos are tier 1.....,

[@brittcorley]

Do you have vole issues growing your sweet potatoes that way? I've been wanting to try growing them in that black greenhouse fabric but I'm afraid the voles will think I'm setting up luxury apartments for them 😂 It's to the point that I might have to do something I really, really hate to do....treat them to some tasty green pellets...☠ Digging sweet potatoes is just too much work to have half of them chewed up by rodents.

[@birchfieldfarming]

We have major vole issues every year with sweet potatoes! We’ve always just planted enough for us and them!🤣

[@brittcorley]

@@birchfieldfarming That's what I've always done too...but my lower back protests digging all those potatoes more and more each year. 😂

[@birchfieldfarming]

@@brittcorleyOh for sure! We’ve set mouse traps with some success, but have yet to find that silver vole bullet!