Recording lambing ease
Recording Lambing Ease
Traits influencing lambing ease have a genetic component and Signet breeders now have the opportunity to record both lambing ease and birth weight
Scores relate to each lamb – so two lambs can have different scores. If you are unsure as to whether a lambing event has been assisted, leave the record blank. Blank scores are interpreted as “no score” rather than “no difficulty”. Score as many lambs as possible, including dead lambs.
Scores are as follows:
1 = no assistance
2 = slight assistance by hand
3 = severe assistance
4 = non-surgical veterinary assistance
5 = veterinary assistance, surgery required
6 = elective caesarean
Recording Birth Weight
The birth weight of a lamb will influence how easily it is born.
Lambs should be weighed with 48 hours of birth. Weights should be measured, not estimated.
Breeders should indicate whether weights are taken in metric or imperial units. The recording of this trait is optional, but is required if lambing ease scores are to be used in future analyses
More information is provided in our fact sheet Recording Lambing Ease and Birth Weight