Lamb losses are very costly and reducing losses by just 1 per cent
could help boost returns this season
They can occur at any stage of lamb
development and knowing where you
are losing lambs is essential to be able
to put management decisions in place to
address the issue.
Katie Brian, Eblex Better Returns
Programme project manager, says:
“Effectively managing ewes to ensure
they are at their optimum body condition
score throughout the year will help
minimise the risk of both ewe and lamb
mortality.
“But there is a lot to be learnt from what
has happened before and the first step
in reducing lamb losses is keeping a
record of them. Only when a problem
is identified can changes be made to
improve.”
At this busy time, it is often a low
priority to document this information,
but it is difficult to identify problems
without it.
Miss Brian says: “Farmers should aim
to keep total losses below 15 per cent.
The Stocktake Report 2014 highlighted
the top third of farmers had losses of
seven per cent in their flock [lowland
breeding], so this target is achievable.”
Lamb losses will affect many other key
performance indicators, such as lambs
reared per 100 ewes to ram, the weight
of lamb reared per ewe to ram and, in the
early stages of pregnancy, the scanning
percentage.
A key activity prior to lambing is to
scan ewes and segregate them using
scanning results and body condition
score (BCS). Nutrition requirements
can then be matched to each group –
this is important because during the
latter stages of pregnancy, 70 per cent
of foetus growth occurs and the udder
develops.
A project in New Zealand has shown
lamb survival decreases by five per cent
for every half BCS lost in the four weeks
prior to lambing. And during lambing,
every half BCS below three equates to a
further five per cent reduction in terms
of lamb survival. Therefore optimum
management of BCS will decrease the
risk of lamb losses and improve the daily
liveweight gain to weaning.
Miss Brian says: “Alongside preparing
the ewe in terms of nutrition, BCS,
health and stockmanship, regular
monitoring should ensure any problems
are dealt with quickly before they spread
within the flock. There is a lot to be
said for getting sheds and equipment
prepared to ensure you are totally ready
before lambing starts.”
During lambing
At lambing, it is essential to regularly
observe the behaviour of ewes and assist
them if they have not given birth to a
lamb within one hour for experienced
ewes and two hours for ewe lambs.
Hygiene is important and you should
always wear gloves and use plenty of
lubrication to assist ewes.
Small or weak lambs will often not take
in sufficient colostrum, which can result
in starvation, hypothermia and disease.
Colostrum is vital to the newborn
lamb, as it contains energy, protein and
essential immunoglobulins to protect
against disease. Lambs need at least
50ml/kg of colostrum in their first four
to six hours of life and they will need
200ml/kg within the first 24 hours.
Miss Brian says it is essential lambs are
checked to ensure they have suckled
sufficient colostrum within the first few
hours of life.
“Triplets or lambs from ewes lacking
milk may require a supplement of
colostrum. But if they are weak or
unconscious, a glucose injection will be
required first.”
Mismothering will lead to increased
losses, as penning the ewe and lambs
can help them bond with their offspring.
Helping them to start suckling may make
them more accepting.
Post-lambing
Two days post-lambing, the incidence
of loss decreases considerably, although
simple measures can reduce problems.
Turn out small groups at a time, allowing
mothers and lambs to pair up and ensure
field boundaries are secure so lambs
cannot be mixed up.
The biggest causes of young lambs dying
are exposure and starvation. Both of
these can lead to hypothermia and lambs
will then require warming and feeding
or a glucose injection. Look out for
lambs with dirty necks as it can indicate
stealing milk from other ewes.
Wurzels re-release Combine Harvester to drive farm safety
SEVENTIES classic ‘Combine Harvester’
has been re-released to highlight the
importance of farm health and safety.
The Wurzels, who originally released the
song in 1974, have joined forces with The
Farm Safety Foundation to create new
lyrics highlighting the risks of modern
day farming.
To complement the new words, there is
a light hearted music video produced by
students from Moreton Morrell College,
bringing home a serious message to
farmers of all ages.
Member of the rural music group, Pete
Budd said: “Farming is a great way of
life but working long hours with huge
machinery means you’ve got to keep your
wits about you to stay safe.”
Farming is one of the UK’s most
dangerous occupations, with statistics
from the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) showing 27 people died in the year
to April 2014 due to agricultural related
activity.
Rob Jones, trustee of the Farm Safety
Foundation said: “Whilst