Mineral deficiencies: Cobalt deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency in lambs as the year progresses. It is characterised by reduced animal performance and, in more severe cases, lambs losing significant condition and pining away. As lambs cannot store cobalt in their body, supplementation should ideally be administered every two weeks.
Oral administration is practiced most frequently, but alternative options include administering boluses or in-feed mineral supplementation.
Where other mineral deficiencies are suspected, blood samples should be taken from a number of animals to accurately identify the cause and to allow a supplementation programme to be put in place.
Ram effect: Ewe lamb liveweight is a major determinant influencing age of puberty and also the potential litter size. Lambs will reach maturity at lighter weights as the year progresses, but, in general, the target weight at mating to maximise reproductive performance is 60% of mature liveweight. Even where achieving this, it is hard with ewe lambs to achieve a tight lambing spread and high pregnancy rates over two cycles or a five-week breeding period (about 35 days). The ram effect can be successfully used to bring ewe lambs, or ewes, cycling quicker, as long as they are close to the normal breeding season and weight/age targets are met.
To work successfully, ewe lambs or ewes cannot have been in any contact with rams (either physically or visually) for at least the previous month. Introducing rams to ewes about 17 days before the target breeding start date will help to induce cyclic activity. A silent heat will occur in some sheep immediately with the rest generally experiencing a silent heat five to six days later.
It is generally recommended to leave rams with ewes for 24 to 36 hours. It can be done by introducing a fertile ram and using an apron, sheet, etc., around the ram’s body to prevent insemination, a vasectomised or teaser ram or a ram in an adjoining paddock that has good visual sight and contact through sheep wire, for example. Rams should then be removed and reintroduced 14 days after initially being introduced. A high percentage of ewes/ewe lambs should be in heat about 17/18 days after first introduction or five to six days later. A higher ram ratio of one ram to 20 to 25 sheep will be required. The response in mature ewes is weaker as the breeding season draws close as ewes may be already cycling.
Winter straw requirement: Purchasing straw earlier may represent costs savings over purchasing later in the year. A lowland ewe requires 7kg straw per week, while hill ewes housed on straw generally require 4kg to 5kg straw per week. To put more simply, a 4x4 straw bale weighing 140kg will bed about 18 to 20 lowland ewes or 30 to 35 hill ewes for a week. When calculating how many bales you need, consider bale weight and quality when negotiating deals. 8x4x4 square bales weigh about 540kg to 580kg, but this can vary from 480kg to 600kg. 8x4x3 bales weigh about 350kg to 380kg, while a standard 4x4 round bale weighs 150kg to 160kg (ranges 130kg to 180kg).
Mineral deficiencies: Cobalt deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency in lambs as the year progresses. It is characterised by reduced animal performance and, in more severe cases, lambs losing significant condition and pining away. As lambs cannot store cobalt in their body, supplementation should ideally be administered every two weeks.
Oral administration is practiced most frequently, but alternative options include administering boluses or in-feed mineral supplementation.
Where other mineral deficiencies are suspected, blood samples should be taken from a number of animals to accurately identify the cause and to allow a supplementation programme to be put in place.
Ram effect: Ewe lamb liveweight is a major determinant influencing age of puberty and also the potential litter size. Lambs will reach maturity at lighter weights as the year progresses, but, in general, the target weight at mating to maximise reproductive performance is 60% of mature liveweight. Even where achieving this, it is hard with ewe lambs to achieve a tight lambing spread and high pregnancy rates over two cycles or a five-week breeding period (about 35 days). The ram effect can be successfully used to bring ewe lambs, or ewes, cycling quicker, as long as they are close to the normal breeding season and weight/age targets are met.
To work successfully, ewe lambs or ewes cannot have been in any contact with rams (either physically or visually) for at least the previous month. Introducing rams to ewes about 17 days before the target breeding start date will help to induce cyclic activity. A silent heat will occur in some sheep immediately with the rest generally experiencing a silent heat five to six days later.
It is generally recommended to leave rams with ewes for 24 to 36 hours. It can be done by introducing a fertile ram and using an apron, sheet, etc., around the ram’s body to prevent insemination, a vasectomised or teaser ram or a ram in an adjoining paddock that has good visual sight and contact through sheep wire, for example. Rams should then be removed and reintroduced 14 days after initially being introduced. A high percentage of ewes/ewe lambs should be in heat about 17/18 days after first introduction or five to six days later. A higher ram ratio of one ram to 20 to 25 sheep will be required. The response in mature ewes is weaker as the breeding season draws close as ewes may be already cycling.
Winter straw requirement: Purchasing straw earlier may represent costs savings over purchasing later in the year. A lowland ewe requires 7kg straw per week, while hill ewes housed on straw generally require 4kg to 5kg straw per week. To put more simply, a 4x4 straw bale weighing 140kg will bed about 18 to 20 lowland ewes or 30 to 35 hill ewes for a week. When calculating how many bales you need, consider bale weight and quality when negotiating deals. 8x4x4 square bales weigh about 540kg to 580kg, but this can vary from 480kg to 600kg. 8x4x3 bales weigh about 350kg to 380kg, while a standard 4x4 round bale weighs 150kg to 160kg (ranges 130kg to 180kg).
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