Sheep mortality at lambing was the ‘worst in five years’

SHEEP mortality during 2018’s lambing season was the worst for five years, according the National Fallen Stock Company – and possibly the worst since the company started to track mortality trends in 2011.

Assessing the number of animals lost at lambing time is impossible due to the way fallen stock collections are recorded. While some collections are on a headage basis, others are on a weight or volume basis, particularly when what is being collected is a big pile of small lambs.

Nevertheless, despite the imperfect nature of the data, NFSCO’S records are the only guide to fallen stock trends in the UK, and this year’s lambing season was clearly affected by the exceptional cold that started on February 23 with the so called Beast from The East, and then continued during March.

Records show nearly half of lamb losses occur in March, April and May. Looking at 2018’s data for these months, and comparing it to average losses since 2011 shows recorded lamb losses in the UK – excluding those recorded by volume – were the highest at over 250,000, and 30% higher than the average.

Adult sheep losses were the highest for five years, up a third and unassigned losses allocated by weight or volume were also 10% higher than average.

NFU Scotland livestock committee chairman Charlie Adam said: “The £250,000 Scottish Government support for fallen stock uplift, secured through NFUS lobbying, will go some way to help meeting the costs for some.

“However, the true cost will be more apparent over time.

“Where the breeding flock has suffered losses, this can impact a business for several seasons.”

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