Tips for September

Sheep

• Feed concentrates to any pregnant ewes not at the optimal lambing score (at least grade 3 on the 0-5 body condition scale). Give extra feed and care to ewes carrying multiples (if scanned) or that look heavily pregnant. Avoid stressing them.

• Take care of hazards in lambing paddocks, like holes and unprotected troughs. Remove afterbirths.

• Put covers on all multiple lambs.

• Have colostrum (sheep, cow or powdered) on hand in case of orphans or triplets.

• Check newly-lambed ewes have clear teats and good milk flow. At dusk, check to see all lambs have full bellies.

• Lambs are valuable so be on the watch for thieves and stray dogs.

Always check that a lamb has fed

You may see a lamb following its mother and that she’s stopping to sniff it. However, these signs are no guarantee the lamb has had a decent feed. Exposure and starvation are the main killer of lambs. It’s vital to check that each ewe’s teats are working which means catching them to check. Don’t assume a lamb nuzzling below a ewe with wagging tail has found a teat and is feeding. Keep checking that all lambs (especially multiples) are full – they’ll have round lower bellies.

Cattle

• Get calving gear ready ahead of time and always seek early veterinary help if you think there is a problem.

• Have plenty of colostrum available to provide at least 2 litres in the first six hours of life. Get new calves off muddy paddocks and treat navels with iodine.

• Don’t drench young calves still on milk for worms but do check them for lice. • Keep checking udders for quarters not being sucked out and any damage to teats. Mastitis will show as red, hot swollen quarters.

• When feeding hay or silage, make sure it’s not being wasted and don’t feed out old mouldy silage or hay to any stock.

• Keep all water troughs clean.

• Stand cattle on a dry feed pad during and after heavy rain, one which complies with effluent disposal rules.

• Double check the voltage of electric fences on the boundary to prevent unwelcome visits from neighbours’ bulls.

• Use rubber rings to castrate bull calves before they reach six weeks of age.

• Dehorn all calves before six weeks; use an anaesthetic. Only buy calves that have been properly disbudded.

• If you have not reared calves before, seek good advice before you begin as it is difficult to make it profitable (see tips below).