Page 10 - Livestock Matters - Spring 2012

Basic HTML Version

LAMB GROWTH
9
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
Veterinary Surgeon
Claire Riddell
XLVets Practice
Alnorthumbria
Veterinary Group
Whilst scanning and lambing percentages are
parameters that are often referred to early in
the flock year, just as important to profitability
are later losses and the growth rates that
lambs achieve.
Electronic tagging and weighing systems allow
daily liveweight gains to be easily appreciated
and subtler losses in production targets are
more readily identified. Daily liveweight gains
in lambs born to terminal sires should be
approximately 250g-300g/day pre weaning
and 150g/day post weaning. Roughly a
quarter to one third of lambs should be finished
by weaning. If you are not hitting these targets
then involve your vet as money is being lost.
Lamb growth rates are down to three main
factors: genetics, nutrition and disease.
Genetics are important and set the potential.
High EBV rams have been shown in lots of
trials to leave lambs which grow faster and
grade better than 'farmer' choices.
Whilst an obvious factor in lamb growth,
nutrition is often overlooked in favour of
more obscure causes. Lambs should be given
preferential nutrition on a sheep unit to ensure
targets are met. Whilst numerous systems are
available, the same principle applies - energy
and protein quality and quantity need to be
sufficient to sustain their daily needs and also
growth. In addition, the food supplied should
be available in a form that they are able to
easily utilise; lambs need an energy dense diet
hence a sward that has been allowed to get
too long will not grow lambs to their potential.
C L A I R E R I DDE L L
Ewes provide lambs with some immunity to a range of
diseases they may encounter early in life through colostrum.
However, diseases encountered early on in the life of the
lamb can have ramifications for future development.
Production limiting disease in lambs is
common. The most frequently seen
conditions associated with poor growth
rate include:
l
Gut worms
l
Coccidiosis
l
Selenium deficiency
l
Cobalt deficiency
l
Lameness
l
Ectoparasites (scab, lice and fly strike)
l
Chronic cases of joint ill etc
l
Clostridial diseases
Factors limiting
lamb growth and
production