Ewe lamb management

Research from Teagasc and AFBI shows that for yearling hoggets to have the best chances of lambing sufficiently and performing satisfactorily thereafter, they should be gaining in the region of 80g liveweight daily during early and mid-pregnancy. The AFBI research shows that where ewe lambs lose weight in mid-pregnancy it can lead to higher mortality.

Feeding needs to be balanced though, as the AFBI trial found excessive feeding in early pregnancy is more likely to lead to over-sized lambs. Over-feeding in mid-pregnancy has been shown to have negative effects on placental development and also possibly reduce a hogget’s maternal instinct at lambing.

Recent weather has been hard on sheep, so there should be an even greater focus on ensuring nutritional demands are met during pregnancy. In the Teagasc trial, ewe lambs mated in October or early November were housed in mid-September and offered a diet of high-quality 75% DMD silage. Supplementation at a rate of 200g daily was introduced in mid-January and increased to 250g in late January with sheep transferred on to a rising level of supplementation in later pregnancy.

Many sheep farms will have silage or hay of lower quality or prioritise retaining ewe lambs outdoor for longer. The feeding quality of winter grass at current low levels of utilisation and falling quality will struggle to underpin significant weight gain and therefore the advice is to consider offering a small level of concentrate supplementation (200g to 300g daily) to meet weight targets. Similar levels of supplementation are advised for moderate quality silage (68% to 70% DMD) or good-quality hay with condition and weight gain monitored regularly.

It is also important to ensure replacement hoggets run dry are capable of meeting weight targets. Keeping these lambs in warm condition will also allow unsuitable lots to be quickly drafted if further selection is taking place.

Ewe condition

As mentioned earlier, weather is taking its toll. Monitor the condition of ewes and introduce supplementary feeding earlier if required. A little feeding now will go a long way in maintaining condition.

Clostridial vaccination

The recommended time frame to administer a clostridial disease vaccine varies. Many products advise giving the vaccine four-to-six weeks pre-lambing while a couple of products highlight a window of two to eight weeks. Follow the guidelines closely to ensure optimum production of maternally derived antibodies in colostrum. Where there is a lambing spread, it is recommended to split the treatment date, if feasible. If sheep have not previously received a primary course of two treatments four to six weeks apart or it is longer than 12 months since the last treatment then a primary course will be required to stimulate optimum immunity.

Happy Christmas

I would like to wish all readers and their families a happy, safe and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous new year. Christmas is a festive period but it can also be lonely time for some so keep an eye out for your neighbours and friends who may need some support.