Much Work, Much Heart: How Lambs Grow Up on a Farm - A Shepherd's Spring: 950 Ewes and the Rhythm of Lambing Season

Lambing season is in full swing on Martina Jensen's farm in Schleswig-Holstein. Each spring, she and her family care for around 950 ewes, ensuring the safe arrival of hundreds of lambs. This period is the busiest yet most fulfilling time of the year for the full-time shepherd.

Jensen's days begin early, checking on pregnant ewes and assisting only when necessary. She prefers minimal human intervention so first-time mothers can bond naturally with their lambs. Each ewe typically gives birth to 1.8 lambs, keeping the family constantly on the move.

The farm is a true family effort. Jensen works alongside her father, while her mother and seasonal workers lend extra hands during the peak weeks. Bottle-fed lambs receive special attention, ensuring they get a fair start in life. Though she accepts that most lambs will eventually be slaughtered, her focus remains on giving them a good life while under her care.

Jensen didn't always work with sheep. Before becoming a full-time shepherd in 2022, she spent years as an early childhood educator. Now, she manages one of Schleswig-Holstein's many sheep farms—a region that ranks third in Germany for sheep farming, with around 190,000 sheep and 320,000 lambs born each spring.

The best ewe lambs are kept for breeding to maintain the flock's numbers. Male lambs, however, are sold on. Across Germany, lambing season sees between 1.2 and 1.5 million lambs born annually, with Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and North Rhine-Westphalia producing the highest numbers.

For Jensen, lambing season is a mix of hard work and deep satisfaction. The farm's future depends on the careful selection of breeding ewes and the sale of male lambs. With each passing year, the cycle continues, rooted in tradition and family effort.