Ram effect: Preparations for implementing the ram effect to compact the mating season and lambing must start well in advance of mating. Female sheep must be out of sight and scent of rams for at least the previous month.
The timetable for the practice includes introducing rams on day one for a period of 24 to 48 hours. Introducing rams will trigger a silent heat (not detected by rams) in most ewes that are not already cycling within 36 hours, while a proportion of ewes will have a silent heat after six days.
The preferred situation is to introduce vasectomised or aproned rams to ewes.
Running rams in a fence adjoining ewes can work but the optimum is to join rams with ewes. Where joining fertile rams, it is possible that a small percentage of ewes may already be cycling and may be successfully mated. This risk increases the later in the season you progress.
Ewes will generally cycle about 17 days after the final silent heat giving rise to two peak mating periods – at day 18 after rams were first introduced and at day 23.
It is advised to introduce fertile rams however at day 14 to allow for any variation in cycle length and also to pick up any sheep which were actively cycling at the time of ram introduction.
Purchasing rams: It is unfortunately the case that many rams need an acclimatisation period post-sale to adjust to their new environment.
Sheep breeding specialists highlight that the first 10 days post-purchase are the most critical in terms of transitioning the rumen from what is likely to be a high concentrate diet to a grass-based diet.
As such, the advice is to continue to feed a small volume of concentrates and scale this back over a period of at least 10 days to two weeks. Some farmers will continue to feed a low level of 0.3kg to 0.5kg concentrates for an added period.
A major shock to the system where rams are offered poor-quality grass or purchased and joined straight with ewes is highlighted as often being a contributor to rams suffering from sub-fertility or fertility issues. Exploring the previous management will help put a plan in place to safeguard your purchase, while commercial farmers driving demand for rams produced off a grass-based diet is where the industry needs to transition to.
Blowfly strike: There have been more reports over the last fortnight of sheep shorn earlier in the season being hit with blowfly strike. Take note of withdrawal periods where applying pour-on or dipping cull ewes.
There are supply issues with Cyperguard and Ecofleece non-organophosphate sheep dips, with only limited supplies in the market. Organic sheep producers can consult with their vet with regard to seeking permission to use pour-on products.
SWS condition score: Farmers participating in the National Sheep Welfare Scheme who selected the body condition score (BCS) action should note that the first BCS assessment should have taken place by 31 July with the second taking place between 1 August and 15 October.
The number of breeding ewes at BCS 1 or 2 should be clearly recorded in the action booklet and such ewes offered preferential treatment.
Ram effect: Preparations for implementing the ram effect to compact the mating season and lambing must start well in advance of mating. Female sheep must be out of sight and scent of rams for at least the previous month.
The timetable for the practice includes introducing rams on day one for a period of 24 to 48 hours. Introducing rams will trigger a silent heat (not detected by rams) in most ewes that are not already cycling within 36 hours, while a proportion of ewes will have a silent heat after six days.
The preferred situation is to introduce vasectomised or aproned rams to ewes.
Running rams in a fence adjoining ewes can work but the optimum is to join rams with ewes. Where joining fertile rams, it is possible that a small percentage of ewes may already be cycling and may be successfully mated. This risk increases the later in the season you progress.
Ewes will generally cycle about 17 days after the final silent heat giving rise to two peak mating periods – at day 18 after rams were first introduced and at day 23.
It is advised to introduce fertile rams however at day 14 to allow for any variation in cycle length and also to pick up any sheep which were actively cycling at the time of ram introduction.
Purchasing rams: It is unfortunately the case that many rams need an acclimatisation period post-sale to adjust to their new environment.
Sheep breeding specialists highlight that the first 10 days post-purchase are the most critical in terms of transitioning the rumen from what is likely to be a high concentrate diet to a grass-based diet.
As such, the advice is to continue to feed a small volume of concentrates and scale this back over a period of at least 10 days to two weeks. Some farmers will continue to feed a low level of 0.3kg to 0.5kg concentrates for an added period.
A major shock to the system where rams are offered poor-quality grass or purchased and joined straight with ewes is highlighted as often being a contributor to rams suffering from sub-fertility or fertility issues. Exploring the previous management will help put a plan in place to safeguard your purchase, while commercial farmers driving demand for rams produced off a grass-based diet is where the industry needs to transition to.
Blowfly strike: There have been more reports over the last fortnight of sheep shorn earlier in the season being hit with blowfly strike. Take note of withdrawal periods where applying pour-on or dipping cull ewes.
There are supply issues with Cyperguard and Ecofleece non-organophosphate sheep dips, with only limited supplies in the market. Organic sheep producers can consult with their vet with regard to seeking permission to use pour-on products.
SWS condition score: Farmers participating in the National Sheep Welfare Scheme who selected the body condition score (BCS) action should note that the first BCS assessment should have taken place by 31 July with the second taking place between 1 August and 15 October.
The number of breeding ewes at BCS 1 or 2 should be clearly recorded in the action booklet and such ewes offered preferential treatment.
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