Ovine

Question 1

In the UK, what is the average flock size?

Answer 1

Common flock size is 200-500 sheep, with a mean of 420.

Just over 10% of flocks have over 1000 sheep.

Question 2

Describe recent flock sizes.

Answer 2

Decreased populations in the 2000s due to foot and mouth outbreak and has stayed relatively the same since. Flock sizes starting to increase due to increased economic pressures.

Question 3

Describe sheep meat demand.

Answer 3

• Globally increasing in many countries, such as a 10% increase in demand to Hong Kong.
• Main exports to France.
• Demand in traditional countries, such as the UK, decreasing.

Question 4

How does stocking rate affect sheep farming?

Answer 4

Increased stocking rate leads to more efficient use of pasture, housing and labour, but if too high leads to disease and morality.

Question 5

How does skilled labour inputs affect sheep farming?

Answer 5

Very skilled job but low profits. Most shepherds are 58+ years old. They hire some skilled help during lambing season and one person must look after less than 1000 ewes.

Question 6

How does market price affect sheep farming?

Answer 6

Low market price led to high numbers of unproductive sheep with low inputs, variable prices led to excess transport and trade of ewes, and low price to cull ewes leads to welfare problems.

Question 7

What factors affect the price per lamb?

Answer 7

• World price - number of global stock, demand, transport costs and trade distortions
• UK demand
• UK supply

Question 8

Describe the structure of the sheep industry in UK.

Answer 8

Hardy hill ewe X Longwool ram = Half breed ewe

Half breed ewe X Terminal sire ram = meat lambs for market

Question 9

How many sheep breeds are there in the UK?

Answer 9

90

Question 10

What factors affect the number of lambs sold?

Answer 10

• Flock type: hill, upland, lowland
• Number of lambs born: conception rate and abortion
• Mortality of lambs: management around lambing, feeding, disease

Question 11

Define conception rate and lambing percentage of ewes.

Answer 11

Conception rate is the number of ewes as a percentage that become pregnant after mating with the tup.

Lambing percentage is the number of lambs sold or retained as a percentage of the total numbers of ewes put to the tup.

Question 12

What is the conception rate of ewes?

Answer 12

90% +

Question 13

How is body condition scoring of ewes crucial to maximising profits and minimising losses?

Answer 13

• If this is gotten right, it can maximise number of lambs born, minimise lamb losses and maximise lamb growth rate.
• If this is gotten wrong, it can cause ewe mortality, forced culls and losing lambs due toxaemia, twin lamb disease, etc.

Question 14

What are the constraints of commercial sheep production?

Answer 14

• Low labour inputs even on intensive units

* Poor profitability so investment is low

Question 15

How can the number of ewes that must be culled reduced?

Answer 15

• Draft/cull ewes may be useful breeding animals
• May have value as meat
• May be a cost/pay for removal of dead stock

Question 16

What is the financial support for UK sheep farmers?

Answer 16

EU single farm payment scheme replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme, funded by the UK government.

In 2021, transition from direct payments to rewarding farmers for the provision of environmental services.

Question 17

Describe the sheep year.

Answer 17

1. Tupping
2. Pregnancy for 145-155 days
3. Lambing
4. Lactation
5. Weaning at 12-14 weeks
6. Dry period

Question 18

What are some common reproductive losses?

Answer 18

• Perinatal mortality is still very high
• Outdoor systems – hypothermia, starvation
• Indoor – infectious diseases

Question 19

Describe intermediate and early lambing.

Answer 19

Intermediate - lambs born feb-mar, slaughter may-jun, higher costs for housing and feeding than hill or upland systems.

Early - lambs born before Christmas, ready for sale at Easter, high costs for housing and feed.

Question 20

What is the veterinary role on sheep farms?

Answer 20

Vaccination
Worming
Flock health planning
Advising on all aspects of sheep management

Question 21

Describe the target growth rates for lambs (twins).

Answer 21

• 0-10 weeks = 1.8 kg/week
• 11-14 weeks = 1.5 kg/week
• From weaning onwards = 1 kg/weak
• After 12 weeks there is no advantage to keep on ewes
• 700-1400 g/week at pasture so highly variable due to quality of pasture and parasite content

Question 22

What is the target lamb production?

Answer 22

Target lamb production is 42-44 kg liveweight for export and a killing out percentage of 46-48%.

Question 23

How are ewes prepared for tupping?

Answer 23

Body conditioning scored and flushing - increasing plane of nutrition increases ovulation rate/twinning %. Flushing done with grass or concentrates and pellets if grass is not available.

Question 24

How are rams prepared for tupping?

Answer 24

Body condition scored 10-12 weeks before. Must be 3.5 or 4. Rams are checked for:

• Teeth and mouth
• Any wounds on head, neck and shoulders from fighting or signs of CLA
• Sores from raddles on brisket
• Check any signs on lameness
• Check penis sheath is clear of infection, no shearing damage and that penis can be extracted
• Testes are firm, a good size, no lumps or adhesions, are even in size

Question 25

What are teaser vasectomised rams used for?

Answer 25

Used to synchronise ewes - Vasectomy at least 8 weeks before needed - One teaser per 100-150 ewes - Put in for a maximum of 14 days - Remove before fertile rams go out - Increase ram power to 1 ram to 30 ewe

Question 26

Describe ewe management in early pregnancy.

Answer 26

Avoid routine treatments, such as foot trimming, drenching and vaccination. Very high energy detrimental to embryo survival, avoid rapid changes in diet and separate thin ewes that may need more feed. Day 0-30

Question 27

Describe ewe management in mid-pregnancy.

Answer 27

Day 31-90 Crucial period for placental growth and severe underfeeding will reduce placental size. If ewe is in poorer condition, there is low colostrum production and low mothering ability. Nutritional demands of the fetus are very low Aim to maintain body condition, so Hill and upland flocks most at risk.

Question 28

How should ewes be housed in pregnancy?

Answer 28

- Well ventilated but draught free - Enough space and trough space - Dry bed - Adequate water to meet 4.5 litres of water a day in late pregnancy and 9 litres a day in lactation - Group sizes are best at 30-50

Question 29

What are the advantages and disadvantages of winter shearing?

Answer 29

``` + Reduce heat stress + See body condition of ewes + Increased lamb birth weight + Lying area reduced (but not trough space) + Lambs find ewes udder more easily ``` - Consume 10-15% more forage - May have to restrict singles - Need 8 weeks wool growth at turn out - Provide shelter at turnout

Question 30

Describe ewe management in late pregnancy.

Answer 30

Day 91 - 147 - 70% of foetal growth takes place in last 6 weeks of pregnancy - High demand for energy and protein - Use high quality supplements - Ensure she can access them all - Start feeding 6-8 weeks before lambing - Optimal forage keeps costs down and ensures good rumen function - Supplement high energy concentrate – minimum 12 MJ of metabolizable energy kg DM - Cheaper to use home mixes but needs more labour and needs advice - Blocks and liquid supplements – important for hill flocks, intake is variable and still need to monitor body condition scoring. Mineral vitamins and trace elements available as salt licks. - Rumen capacity severely reduced at late stages

Question 31

Describe stepped feeding.

Answer 31

- Matches the requirements for energy and protein in increments - More suited to flocks where feeding further from lambing is difficult (outdoors) - Can compensate for lack of information about forage - Often leads to large amounts of concentrate in one feed - Complicated where there are different raddle groups and litter sizes

Question 32

Describe flat rate feeding.

Answer 32

- Amount of concentrate fed s even for periods of 4 or more weeks - Minimises stress due to changes and reduces risk of acidosis - Encourages good forage intake sup to lambing but must be based on accurate forage analysis - Not suitable for thin ewes - Easy

Question 33

Describe trough feeding.

Answer 33

- Suitable for all ratios - Allows all ewes to feed at once provided the space is adequate - Shepherd can check all ewes at the trough and spot any hanging back - Space restrictions leads to pushing and smaller, weaker animals losing out - Troughs add to costs and can be difficult to install in existing buildings - Can involve carrying concentrate into pens or up passage ways, increasing labour requirements

Question 34

Describe floor feeding.

Answer 34

- Not suitable for home-mixed ratios, 6mm minimum pellets indoors - All ewes can feed at once and with more even intakes - Slower consumption of concentrate reduces acidosis - Less risk of ewes being pushed out but any shy feeders may be less obvious - Requires a clean, dry bed so may increase straw usage. Thrown feed may lodge in fleece of unshorn ewes - Can reduce labour required but may take ewes a little while to become accustomed to the system

Question 35

What are the health conditions associated with late pregnancy?

Answer 35

- Twin lamb disease to an energy deficit - Hypocalcaemia – hard to differentiate between this and twin lamb disease - Infectious abortion – any ewe lambing prematurely should be suspected of having aborted - Nearly all the agents of infectious abortion in sheep are zoonoses - Vaccinations – Heptavac P protects against clostridial disease and Pasteurella infections. Inject ewes 4-6 weeks prelambing then this will produce high levels in colostrum and protect the lamb - Vaginal prolapse

Question 36

How does management affect the ewe-lamb bond?

Answer 36

Ewes maternal response is triggered by oxytocin. - Oxytocin release is reduced in under nutrition - Oxytocin release is reduced in cases of dystocia

Question 37

Describe the colostrum requirements for lambs.

Answer 37

50ml in first 3-4 hours | 210ml/Kg in first 18 hours

Question 38

Describe mastitis in ewes.

Answer 38

- Physical damage to the teat through vigorous suckling, head butting and biting will help to cause infection. Good ewe nutrition will ensure a good milk supply and reduce physical damage - Dirty floors and hands will spread infection. Cleanliness is an essential part of lambing - Cold, wet, windy conditions cause chapping, soreness and reduced milk production. Provide shelter and avoid wet muddy areas where possible - Orf is a common precursor to mastitis - Select breeding stock with good udder conformation. Mark problem ewes for culling and do not keep ewe lambs from ewes culled

Question 39

Describe homebred and purchased replacement ewe management.

Answer 39

Homebred - Lower risk of disease - Quality (control over rearing management) - Keeping separate group - Need good records Purchased - Higher risk of disease - Quality (no control over rearing management) - Can buy in shearling so no ewe lambs to manage - Greater choice

Question 40

What are some diseases at risk from replacement ewes?

Answer 40

* Sheep scab/luce * Anthelmintic resistant worms * Fluke * Footrot * Caseous lymphadenitis * Orf * Enzootic abortion * Border disease * Any disease endemic in the flock * Clostridial disease * Pasteurella pneumonia

Question 41

When are ewes culled?

Answer 41

* Barren * Aborted (sometimes better to keep) * Prolapsed * Mastitis * Broken mouth * Poor body condition * Chronic footrot

Question 42

Compare and contrast entire and castrated lambs.

Answer 42

Entire: - Higher liveweight gain - Greater final liveweights - Greater carcass weights - Leaner carcass Castrated: - Easier to manage - Easier to sell at stores - Ram taint?

Question 43

Describe docking.

Answer 43

Rubber ring within 7 days of life. Other methods within 3 months. Tail must cover anus in male Tail must cover vulva in female

Question 44

Describe castration requirements in lambs.

Answer 44

Rubber ring within 7 days of life After 3 months must be by vet with anaesthetic

Question 45

Describe management of growing lambs.

Answer 45

- Lambs graze from 3 weeks of age - Optimum performance on grass with a short leafy sward which has a high nutrient value - Set stocking/rotational grazing

Question 46

Describe worm control in growing lambs.

Answer 46

Per-parturient rise in ewes provides parasites for young stock. Traditionally worm control based on “Dose and Move”. Unfortunately, misuse of anthelmintics has led to anthelmintic resistance.

Question 47

Describe shearing of lambs.

Answer 47

Shearing is usually done June onwards, often done by contractors and lambs are not shorn in their first year.

Question 48

What is the best practice to treat footrot?

Answer 48

- Treat early - Use antibiotics injections and spray 4 feet - Record and cull non-responders - Consider vaccination - Do not focus on routine trimming, as trimming affected feet delays healing

Question 49

Describe fly control for growing lambs.

Answer 49

- Blowfly strike season April to October depending in altitude - Various dips Ops and pyrethroids - Pour-on products - Larval inhibitors (pour-on) inhibit chitin

Question 50

Describe the legislation for identification of sheep.

Answer 50

- For traceability - To stop the spread of animal diseases - If no correct ID, will not go into the food chain - With no ID, there is no subsidy and no movement - Must be tagged before 9 months old or before being moved from holding - All animals double tagged, unless animal is being slaughtered under 12 months of age, then one tag only

Question 51

Describe the legislation concerning movement restrictions.

Answer 51

- 6 day standstill of stock after sheep bought in - Ram sales etc exempt during beginning of august to end of November - Keep up to date on DEFRA’s web page

Question 52

Describe the legislation of the Fallen Stock Scheme.

Answer 52

- No longer allowed to bury dead stock - Must be incinerated - Burial or burning is not permitted and fallen animals must eb collected by an approved transporter and transported for disposal or an approved treatment to a knacker, hunt kennel, maggot farm, incinerator or renderer. - Arrangements for this can be made via the national fallen stock scheme.