- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Once the newborn lambs are "processed" in the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center lamb-barn, they then have to eventually be transported to the field via a small trailer that can hold several ewes and lambs. The lambs have a separate compartment in the trailer so that they do not get trampled by the ewes during transport. Once they are placed into the field, the ewes must "pair-up" or "claim" there own lambs. In the cases of multiple births it is important that the manager observe the ewes and lambs over the next short-while to insure that the ewes re-connect with their own lambs.
That is just one reason why all of the lambs and ewes are paint-branded with matching numbers... as it eases identification. Here you see a HREC lamb being paint-branded by the "lamb barn crew".
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
At the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center in Mendocino County almost 100% of the lambing (birthing of lambs) takes place inside the "Lamb Barn". As each lamb is born it is identified with the correct ewe so that genetics and growth characteristics and behavior traits can be traced over time. Each lamb is ear-tagged with a unique identification number, weighed, and side-branded (with paint).
Here you can see a lamb ready for "processing" by our lambing crew, Zane Kagley and Jennifer Keithly.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Native grass species in California are facing rapid changes now and over the next 100 years due to probable warmer temperatures and shifts in rainfall patterns. With most California grasslands and prairies heavily invaded by European grasses and forbs, a recent analysis predicts that climate change will favor those exotics over our native species.
In the science of ecosystem restoration, functional strategy models offer promising tools to predict how plants will respond to new and changing environments. Just underway at UC Hopland Research & Extension Center is a study that will test several hypothesis in this field.
The study will primarily be using several ecotypes of Blue Wildrye (Elymus glaucus), a native bunchgrass that is commonly used in restoration.
Here you see HREC Senior Agricultural Technician Troy McWilliams finishing an exclosure plot fence to be used in the study.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
A scarcity of rainfall during December resulted in a dry streambed along most parts of Parson's Creek ... a tributary to the Russian River that flows by the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center headquarters. However, over 5.5 inches of precipitation drenched the landscape during the past storm event ... and now Parson's Creek is flowing for the first time this winter.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Don't ask me why (maybe ask a veterinarian) but the onset of stormy weather during lambing time for some reason triggers ready-to-birth ewes to begin the birthing process. With all of the dry weather through December and early January, and with "lambing season" begun in early January, there were a significant number of ewes in the barn and ready to give birth ...but just holding on. As soon as this storm hit yesterday the lambs began to arrive in quantity. You might say it has been "raining lambs".
Here you see the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center's main barn completely filled with sheep. The ewes in the center isle are in "jugs" and they all have newborn lambs. The "jug" pens allow the ewe to increase her maternal bond with the lamb(s) for about 24 hours until they are placed in small groups on the right-hand side of the barn. The ewes on the left side of the barn are still awaiting to give birth.
There is a whole lot of hands-on management that takes place during these times, including feeding of the ewes, moving newborns and ewes to jugs, cleaning jugs in between uses, strawing down jugs and pens, monitoring each ewe to insure that it has milk flowing and the lambs are nursing, and hauling ewes and lambs to the fields via a trailer. It is a busy time at HREC!
