Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science

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Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science
Sheep - 2
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Flock Management

• Good grazing moderate stocking rate-continued
  for 3-4wks after pregnancy - Proper embryo
  development
• Mid Pregnancy-can be fed on low nutrition- to
  maintain weight
• 75 foetal growth during final 6-8 weeks-
  Hay/silage conc (15P) vit/min mix
• Steaming up gradual

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Late Pregnancy

• During the last two months of pregnancy, the
  unborn foetus grows very rapidly and the ewes
  udder development increases accordingly before
  the onset of lambing.
• Because of this growth and development, the
  nutritional demands of the ewe increases also.
• This is called STEAMING UP!
• Because the foetus is growing so rapidly inside
  the ewe, there is little room available for the
  digestive system of the sheep.

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Flock Mgt. - Feed

• Amount of conc. Should be gradually to a max of
  0.5kg/ewe/day single and 0.7kg/ewe/day twins
• Failure to feed inadequately pregnancy toxaemia
• Rams dont graze normally during mating-thin
  weak lush pasture fed conc.
• Ewes should be housed prior to lambing

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Learning Check....

1. What is steaming up?
2. Discuss the feeding regime for the pregnant ewe.

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Lambing

• Lambing date should be known - records kept.
• Do not interfere but inspect
• Small weak lambs should be taken care of.
• The ewe must be carefully observed for signs of
  the onset of labour.
• The lambing process is usually straight forward
  and trouble free.
• It is also important to have an experienced
  person on hand and to call a vet if difficulties
  arise.

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Lambing (Video)
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After the birth

• Once the lamb is born, mucus and other discharges
  must be cleared from the nasal passage of the
  lamb and signs of breathing are noted.
• The navel is then sprayed with a iodine to
  prevent naval ill.
• Small weak lambs need special attention and are
  placed under an infa red lamp to prevent chills.
• They are also bottle fed if too weak to feed for
  themselves.
• Glucose can also be given to animals who are weak
  as it is a good energy source.

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After the birth

• Colostrum is absolutely vital for the newborn as
  it builds up there immune system, is highly
  nutritious and is also a laxative.
• The ewes teats are checked in order to insure
  that colostrum/ milk is being produced by the
  ewe.
• Vaccinations are also administrated to help
  prevent many diseases.

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Feeding

• Ensure lamb suckles mother
• Maintain body temperature.
• Glucose injections
• Fostering crate

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Feed

• Lambs are ruminants so it is very important to
  develop there rumen. Hay/silage and concentrates
  are fed to introduce micro organisms into there
  rumen.
• They are also given fresh access to water at all
  times.
• Feed is very often fed to them in the creep
  feeding process which is where they are given
  access to concentrates, etc through a small gap
  in the fence .
• This gap is too small for the ewe to pass through
  but small enough for the lamb to pass through.
• When a lamb is born it weighs about 3 to 5 kgs.
  They are fed a ration that contains 16 protein
  for muscle development to help them reach there
  target weight at slaughter of 40kgs in six
  months.

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Feed

• Growth rate depends on amount of milk produced
  which depends on ewes level of nutrition.
• Early lambs (Dec-Feb) hay/silage concentrates
  until spring grass
• Late lambs (march) grass provides all nutrition
  needs of suckling ewes

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Feed contd.

• As year progresses lambs graze more growth rate
  become less dependent on milk
• Creep feeding of both grass Conc.

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What is Creep Feeding?

• By the time the lambs are 10 days old, they will
  have access to a creep area for creep feeding.
• A creep is a pen that is fenced so that young
  animals can enter but adults cannot.
• Creep feed is feed given to young nursing lambs.
• The lambs will also have access to fresh water,
  high quality hay, and minerals in the creep area.
  
• This allows for the lambs to get the all the food
  they need but still have access to their mother
  if not properly weaned.

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First Weeks After Lambing

• Tail docking is carried out in the first week of
  the lambs life.
• This involves removing the lambs tail.
• All lowland sheep have their tails docked /
  removed but some farmers just remove the ewes
  tails only.
• In addition, all ram lambs not intended for
  breeding are CASTRATED.
• Castration and tail docking are performed with
  the same tool the elastrator.

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First Weeks After Lambing

• This tool stretches a special strong rubber ring
  so that it can be placed around the tail or the
  scrotum!
• This stops circulation in those areas and they
  eventually just fall off!!!
• In this time (after lambing) the ewes appetite
  also increases dramatically and she drinks a lot
  of water.
• Concentrates should be used until good grass is
  available for the lactating ewe.
• Then precautions should be taken when on good
  grass against grass tetany.
• Grass tetany is caused by low Mg levels in the
  grass.

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Weaning

• Lambs sold before June 1st continue to suckle
  until time of sale
• Lambs being kept weaned June
• Lambs ewes are separated for 7 days
• Ewes go dry
• When weaned lambs ewes MAY graze together
• Lambs are put in good quality grass to keep them
  growing
• Ewes are put in poor pastures- this keeps them
  from gaining weight has them ready for flushing
  prior to mating

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Weaning the Lamb off Milk

• Lambs are weaned at 12 14 weeks old unless
  already sold for slaughter!
• They should be dosed before moving onto fresh
  pasture, and then every three to six weeks.
• The lambs should be kept on clean / good quality
  pasture all the time.
• The ewe is placed on poor pasture. Why?
• So that they are dried up and so that they will
  not be too fat when flushed the following year.
• Vaccination of the lambs should take place
  regularly against clostridial diseases.
  (Initially after 6 weeks and then every six
  weeks)
• Creep feeding should be used to feed the lambs.

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Shearing Summer Dip

• Lowland sheep are shorn before the end of May.
• If wool production is important to the farmer,
  then particular attention is given to the date of
  shearing and the shearing is done when the wool
  rises (weather dependant)
• Sheep should not be sheared if their stomachs are
  over full or when they are in heat.

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Shearing Summer Dip

• Two weeks after shearing the sheep receive their
  summer dip.
• This is to prevent fly strike.
• This refers to the blowfly or the green bottle
  fly, which lays its eggs in the fleece and
  maggots grow quickly.
• Six months after lambing the booster injection
  against clostridial diseases is administered.

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Learning Check..

• Outline the key stages in the management of the
  lamb from birth to weaning.
• What is the purpose of sheep dip and shearning?