Lambing Record Template: Track Every Birth
A lambing record template keeps the ewe, each lamb, the date, and what you observed together. Use one row per lamb, with the same IDs on later rearing, death, and weaning records.
Fields for the barn sheet
| Field | What to write |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Birth time if observed; otherwise when found, labelled as such |
| Ewe ID | The dam's tag; mark an uncertain match for checking |
| Sire or breeding group | Known sire or exposure group; do not infer parentage |
| Lamb ID and sex | Individual identity, including a temporary ID if needed |
| Number born | Litter total, with born-alive and born-dead counts separate |
| Assistance | What was observed and what help was given |
| Birth weight | Measured weight, unit, and time; leave unknown if not weighed |
| Rearing | Birth dam, foster dam or bottle, with dates of changes |
| Notes | Concrete observations and who made them |
Birth and rearing are different records. A twin raised by another ewe still belongs to its original birth cohort. Keep that connection when calculating lambing and weaning rates.
Assistance and losses
Write plain observations such as “no assistance observed” or “assisted by Sam at 02:10.” If you submit scores, use your program's definitions. There is no universal assistance scale: Canadian Angus publishes its own collection codes.
For a death, keep the lamb ID, date found, last known alive time if available, observations, and any professional findings with their source. An unknown cause stays unknown. It does not establish whether anyone was watching or what caused the loss.
Copy or download the sheet
Download the printable lambing sheet. No email is required.
Lambing record
| Date/time | Ewe ID | Sire/group | Lamb ID | Sex | Born alive/dead | Litter total | Assistance observation | Weight/unit | Rearing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At weaning, add each lamb's date, status, and measured weight if available. Keep transfers and deaths separately so the season totals can be checked.
Keeping the record in Ranch.Bot
Ranch.Bot can keep these details in a dated generic record description linked to animals or groups. Check the proposed links before saving. It does not automatically create offspring links, foster relationships, or a dedicated lambing record form. See the calving and lambing guide for the shared field checklist.