A lamb's milk intake influences the time it will start grazing and the degree of competition between ewe and lamb for available feed. The lamb will start eating pasture at three weeks of age if milk production is low, but at high levels of milk production, it could be four to five weeks before the lamb consumes appreciable quantities of pasture. Though lambs with a low milk intake will consume more pasture, the increased pasture intake will not compensate for lower milk intakes until about eight to nine weeks of age. Six weeks later, give them a cobalt and a selenium bullet. A confined lambing period, such as that achieved by the use of teasers for out of season joining, and a period of joining of five to six weeks can be of considerable advantage at marking as it avoids a long 'tail' in the lamb flock.
Post marking to weaning Marking and tailing wounds take three to four weeks to heal.
The flock should not be unnecessarily disturbed during this time. The next decision is when to wean the lambs. At weaning, the lambs are challenged not only by being separated from their mother, but also by their need to fend and forage for themselves. The ewes stop producing milk, and can therefore concentrate on regaining losses in body condition suffered over the lambing and lactation period. The decision of when to wean is dependent on feed conditions at the time, the outlook for the remainder of the green feed period, and the difference between the current status of the sheep and the objectives sought to the end of the growing season.