Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science

1. Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science Sheep - 2

2. 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 (15%P) + vit/min mix • Steaming up –gradual

3. Late Pregnancy • During the last two months of pregnancy, the unborn foetus grows very rapidly and the ewe’s 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.

4. 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 don’t graze normally during mating-thin & weak – lush pasture & fed conc. • Ewes should be housed prior to lambing

5. Learning Check.... • What is steaming up? • Discuss the feeding regime for the pregnant ewe.

6. 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.

7. Lambing (Video)

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

17. 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 kg’s. 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.

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

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

20. 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.

21. First Weeks After Lambing • Tail docking is carried out in the first week of the lamb’s life. • This involves removing the lamb’s tail. • All lowland sheep have their tails docked / removed but some farmers just remove the ewe’s 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”.

23. 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 ewe’s 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.

24. 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

25. 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.

26. 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.

29. 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.

31. 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?