The sheep production and lambs at Stend Vidaregåande Skule, Bergen, Norway
Written by first grade students of Animal Care program at Stend
At the sheep department, we learn how to feed and shear the sheep. In the spring, we divide the sheep into groups based on how many lambs they are going to have, and when the lambs arrive, we learn how to give birth help and take care of the lambs. Usually we are at school only during daytime, but during the period of lambing, we also stay at the school barn during night to look after the sheep. After being born it is very important to help the lamb to get milk from their mother at once. We milk out about 1 dl milk into a bottle and give it to the newborn lamb, to ensure that it gets enough.
At the moment the sheep get in average 3 lambs. Our breed is called Norsk kvit sau (Norwegian White Sheep), and we keep it for both meat and wool production. One of the most fun parts of being in the sheep department is that we get to cuddle with the lambs. They like to jump on us and chew on our hair, but all in all, they are really cute.
Acknowledgements: thanks to the students of Animal Care Course and Tone 🙂