‘Right’ ram can cut lamb production costs by 16p/kg
Sheep producers could make significant savings by simply buying the “right” rams this season.
According to independent sheep consultant Catherine Nakielny, a higher ewe-to-ram ratio can be achieved if farmers buy a ram that is fit for purpose and this could help save up to 16p/kg on their lamb production, estimations show.
She adds: “There is plenty of evidence that performance recorded rams can generate higher returns through both the slaughter lamb generation and the retention of females whose subsequent performance is improved.”
See also: Zwartbles crosses could be an alternative to Mules
Studies typically show a £3-5 a head cost benefit of using performance-recorded terminal sires.
Dr Nakielny highlights that using recorded rams could result in a conservative increase in income of £3.50 a lamb, which equates to an additional 8p/kg if lambs weigh 42kg.
“But, using rams that are able to successfully get the optimum number of ewes in lamb and survive for three or more seasons will also reduce production costs and increase output,” she adds.
Guide to conducting a ram MoT
- Condition – rams should be in condition score 3.5 to 4 at tupping and not have lost condition in the previous eight weeks
- Lameness – rams should be free from foot-rot and any stiffness
- Infection – there should be no signs of any infection. Brisket sores are avoidable
- Genitals – testicles should be equal sized, firm with no abnormal lumps and bumps. Larger testicle size is positively related to serving capacity
- Penis and prepuce – there should be no signs of disease or inflammation
If you compare the performance of two rams, both costing £600 but one lasting two seasons and another lasting four, there is a significant saving to be made, says Dr Nakielny (see table two, right).
Providing rams are fit, fertile and healthy, they should easily serve 80 ewes in a breeding season, she says.
“Many of the producers I work with are using one ram a 100 ewes and for anyone who doubts what a ram is capable of just think about how many ewes an unwanted ram or ram lamb can serve in a short period of time,” she explains.
But, she stresses making sure rams are capable of serving more ewes requires planning, and farmers need to buy the right ram to start.
She says ram buyers should look to buy a performance-recorded animal that has been bred and managed on a predominantly forage-based diet.
“There is nothing wrong with feeding a small amount of concentrates to a ram prior to sale, but excessive and long-term feeding is damaging.
Choosing a ram flock from which you source genetics is equally important as choosing the individual ram. “Identify a flock which is selecting on the basis of performance records, breeding for the needs of the commercial market and using a forage-based system to produce its rams,” advises Dr Nakielny.
| Table one: Flock savings based on length of service | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Flock example | Example 1 | Example 2 | Saving |
| Flock size | 800 | 800 | |
| Rams required a year | 16 | 10 | |
| New rams required a year | 8 | 2.5 | |
| Rams past two seasons | Rams past four seasons | ||
| Annual ram purchase costs | £4,800 | £1,500 | £3,300 |
| Table two: Ram cost savings based on length of service | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual example | Example 1 | Example 2 | Saving |
| Ram purchase price | £600 | £600 | |
| Years used | 2 | 4 | |
| Ewes mated a year | 50 | 80 | |
| Cost a ewe mated | £6.00 | £1.90 | £4.10 |
| Cost a lamb reared (assuming 1.3 lambs a ewe) | £4.62 | £1.44 | £3.17 |
| Cost/kg lamb liveweight (assuming 42kg a lamb) | £0.11 | £0.03 | £0.08 |