Lamb % up, but feed same
Lamb % up, but feed same
By Jeremy Hunt
A LAKE District flock of 550 Swaledale ewes is on course to boost its lambing percentage by 10%, worth an expected £1500, without any extra feed and with 70 broken-mouthed ewes.
Several new strategies have been introduced at Terrace Farm, Lorton, near Cockermouth, to help achieve a higher output from the flock. The response from the older ewes – five and six shear – has been particularly encouraging.
"Although we were ruthless in our culling of problem ewes last autumn we have been increasing ewe numbers over the past three years and decided to retain the best of the older sheep," says Robin Armstrong, who runs the farm with his wife, Agnes, and son Ian. The broken-mouthed ewes have been a good barometer of the new regime. This has included strict condition scoring from weaning and throughout pregnancy, a new approach to rationing and regular footbath treatment.
"Older ewes look exceptional and most have been scanned for twins. Considering the price they would have made if we had drafted them out last autumn it has been worth keeping them," says Ian.
The flock at Terrace Farm is being monitored by ADAS as part of its lamb survival project on hill and upland units. Average pre-tupping condition score of ewes in late September was 2.7. "We would really have liked them at condition score three at this stage, but at 2.7 it was predicted to give a lambing percentage – lambs born – of 147%," says ADAS consultant John Rockliffe, who is monitoring the trial.
Condition score at scanning on Jan 16 was 2.3, compared with a target of 2.5. Pregnancy rate was 157%. High-energy feed blocks were used before and during tupping. Ewes had access to blocks until trough feeding started on Jan 24. Ad-lib hay has been fed since late December.
"Our aim was to get ewes in better condition for tupping time. It certainly seems to keep them going through the winter," says Ian, who believes ewe condition has caused unnecessary lamb losses in the past.
Although ewes had access to feed blocks from October to mid-January, costing £1.20 a ewe, savings were made on other supplementary feeds, including 10t of beet pulp which has not been fed.
Feed to single-bearing ewes will rise to 0.5kg of concentrate a day by lambing time in late March and 0.7kg for those carrying twins.
"Changes to the feed regime have certainly improved the flocks condition. Ewes look well and regular foot-bathing has had a big impact on lameness and that is bound to have affected condition," says Ian.
Last years performance saw 141% lambs sold. This years target is 150%.
Robin and Ian Armstrong are looking forward to a better lambing this year.