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Reducing Lamb Losses
By Dr Phil Hadley, Eblex SW
Minimising lamb mortality should be a key objective for all breeding flocks as the lambs reared per ewe has a major impact on overall flock profitability. It is vital to record details of lamb losses and to highlight areas of weakness to be addressed in future years. This section discusses the key points to reducing lamb mortality and gives targets to aim for.
Management guidelines:
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Scan to identify twin and triplet bearing ewes to feed preferentially
- Manage nutritional requirements of the ewe, especially in the last 8 weeks as lamb mortality is highest in lambs with low birthweight or born to ewes in poor condition
- Administer booster vaccinations 4-6 weeks prior to lambing as part of a clear flock health plan
- Plan for lambing with well organised equipment and colostrum supplies, sufficient labour (one person to 250 indoor ewes or 350-600 outdoor ewes), adequate indoor lambing pens (one per 8-10 ewes) and a hospital area for those needing additional care
- Ensure good lambing hygiene with disposable gloves, hand washing, clean bedding, disinfection and iodine for navel treatment
- Ensure lambs get sufficient colostrum in the first 4-6 hours following birth for nutrition, laxative and immunity benefits
- Foster lambs immediately to increase chance of success
- Leave castration until lambs are at least 24 hours old to avoid compromising colostrum intake
- Allow ewes sufficient time for mothering prior to moving
- Use mothering ability to assess suitability for flock replacements and use Estimated Breeding Values when purchasing rams for breeding
Key figures
These are just some of the key points in managing lamb mortality and improving returns from your flock. For more detailed information visit www.eblex.org.uk.
Areas of Lamb Mortality
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