International sheep experts have created the top five tips for ewe productivity at a recent SheepNet conference in Spain. The tips are designed to offer practical advice for sheep farmers looking to get more from their flock. Each country put forward advice from their industry and the conference decided on the best five out of a total of 76. The top tips were:

  • Water supply to multiple lambing pens from one source to reduce labour (Ireland).
  • Use of electronic ID recording tool to improve productivity (Turkey).
  • Moving gates to put sheep through the race without stressing them (Australia).
  • Dealing with enlarged teats by taping the normal teat to encourage lambs to suck the large one (Ireland).
  • A barrier to prevent lambs from jumping in the feed trough (France).

    • The EU-funded event had experts from SRUC along with representatives from Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Romania, Spain, Italy and Turkey.

    Dr Claire Morgan-Davies, who attended the event alongside SRUC colleagues Professor Cathy Dwyer and Poppy Frater, said: “The EU is only 85% self-sufficient in sheepmeat and is the largest importer of sheepmeat worldwide. An increase in EU ewe productivity by 0.1 lambs reared per ewe joined would increase self-sufficiency in sheep meat to 92%. Ewe productivity is one of the main factors impacting on profitability of prime lamb production so these SheepNet events are an excellent way to share best practice.”