Weaning can be considered a simple change from milk feeding to solid feeding but in truth it is a balancing act between maximising early feed efficiency and managing rumen development.
Grassland management is often overlooked for new leys, but by prioritising weed control early during establishment, you will achieve cost-effective, long-lasting control, resulting in higher yields of grass.
In mid-season lambing flocks, the aim is to get lambs to 32 to 42kg as soon as possible, capitalising on early feed conversion efficiency (FCE). Investing in early nutrition to capitalise on this early growth potential will pay dividends.
With the fortnight of Eid celebrations commencing in mid-July, those who lambed early to mid-March need to get lambs finished quickly to ensure they don’t miss market opportunities.
We are all aware of the importance of ewe colostrum as the first feed and antibodies has always been the ‘buzz’ word, however, successful colostrum feeding is a considerably bigger picture.
For years we have seen demand for 5 and 10kg bags of lamb milk replacer. But if we take a closer look at how much powder it takes to rear a lamb…should we really be buying these small bags?
Hygiene is crucial during lambing to help reduce stock losses through infections such as; watery mouth, joint ill and scours, and mastitis and metritis in ewes.
The past six months have seen one of the most volatile periods for raw material markets in the last 20 years, with prices across the board substantially up since the autumn. There are several factors that have impacted the high prices we have seen; Brexit, COVID-19, strikes in South American ports, droughts, and floods, but fundamentally it comes down to supply and demand.
Just like the weather, parasites can be just as unpredictable, striking stock at varying times with no two years the same.
This means that when it comes to parasite control, decisions around treatments should be based around the risk on the farm at that time, rather than what was done in the previous year.
If your lambs are struggling on low-quality forage or limited grazing options, you should turn to creep feeding your lambs. Read our top tips to consider when creep feeding.
When it comes to managing worms in sheep, it is no longer acceptable to use anthelmintics routinely. While wormers have their place, they need to be preserved for use at the right time to stop the development of anthelmintic resistance.
