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".
