Importance of sheepbreeding and lambing
THIS is a good time of year to carry out a breeding and lambing review of 2017/2018. The next breeding season is fast approaching, with farmers already identifying rams, selecting ewes and ewe lamb replacements for early and mid-season lamb production in 2019.
Why carry out a lambing review? A lambing review allows the farmer to reflect on the 2017/2018 breeding and lambing season; to identify changes that can or needs to be made; and asking questions about ram selection, ewe selection, and grassland management during the breeding and lambing season, condition score targets, feed costs, veterinary costs, and lambing facilities. But most of all, a lambing review is carried out to look at overall breeding performance; to identify breeding and lambing targets; and adjust management to achieve those targets.
The key information in a review contains the number of ewes to the ram, and whether the ewes were scanned or not. If ewes were not scanned, is it something that should be considered for the breeding season ahead? Scanning allows the farmer to identify ewes bearing twins or triplets, which can be separated once identified and fed better pastures of six to eight centimetres. Scanning also allows barren ewes to be identified; a target for barren ewes should be less than four per cent.
Other questions centre around the number of ewes out with lambs and the number of lambs born alive. The estimated mortality from Scan should be below the target of 12 per cent. The target litter size for lowland ewes is 1.9; and the hill sheep flock is 1.2.
Once the key information of a lambing review is known, the farmer will know the overall breeding performance of the flock and if targets are reached or not. If targets such as litter size are not reached, the reasons for not reaching targets must be identified so changes can be made. Ram selection is very important as they represent half the flock. Do you need to consider changing to prolific high-index rams or consider the purchase of both Terminal sires e.g. Suffolk or Charollaois and maternal rams to produce replacements?
Carry out a thorough inspection of your rams to ensure good functionality. Once you are happy with your rams, the focus should turn to your ewes and issues around lambing. Did your ewes achieve the target Body Condition Score of three to 3.5 at mating and lambing. If not, why not? Did you feed ewes concentrates pre-lambing, and what was the grass situation at mating and lambing?
If abortion occurred in greater than two per cent of the flock, an infection problem is likely. If there was an abortion infection, were samples sent to the lab for analysis and the cause of abortion identified? It is vital that a plan of action is taken to prevent abortion next year. How many ewes prolapsed? The target is less than one per cent. Ewes with prolapse should be identified and culled, and if prolapse is occurring above the target level changes to nutrition and sheep, housing maybe required.
How many of your sheep required intervention during lambing? And how were the lambs’ health at birth? Were lambs slow to get up and suck? And what were their birth weights?
The main causes of lamb mortality must be identified. It is important to identify problem ewes and rams, and cull in advance of the next breeding season as 2018 is not a year to carry passengers.
The unprecedented weather conditions made this year a very expensive year in terms of reduced animal performance, reduced grass growth, higher mortality and feed costs.
Every lamb lost represents a net loss to the farmer, so it is vital to review the previous year’s breeding and lambing season to pin point improvements to be made for next year.