Sheep Nutrition

Question 1

What should be the DLWG of lambs in the first few weeks

Answer 1

250-350 grams at peak
Single lambs grow 80g/d faster than twins

Question 2

When can lambs eat forage and concentrates

Answer 2

> 2 wo
Rumen can digest pasture by 3 wo
Poor growth if weaned < 8 wo

Question 3

What is the average weight of Creep feed lambs at 11 wo

Answer 3

32kg

Question 4

Describe the table in the PowerPoint of finishing the lambs off grass

Answer 4

Pre weaning - grass - 280-300 DLWG (g)
Post weaning - grass - 175 DLWG (g)
Grass and clover - 270 DLWG (g)
Grass and concentrates - 350-450 DLWG (g)
Avg birth weaning target - 250 DLWG (g)

Question 5

When are lambs weaned

Answer 5

12-14 wo

Question 6

Describe short keep store lambs

Answer 6

Winter finished
Lambs 5-7kg off target weight
Rape, turnips, beet tops ect.
70-130g DLWG
25-50 lambs / ha

Question 7

Describe medium/ long keep store lambs

Answer 7

8-12 week store period on grass/stubbles
5-60g DLWG
8-12 week finishing on root/arable by products
75-100g DLWG

Question 8

What is the target finish weight of lambs

Answer 8

1/4 of Sire + Dam weight

Question 9

How much food does a breeding ewe need

Answer 9

250g/head/d, 3w pre - 6w post tupping

Question 10

What are a pregnant Ewes energy requirements

Answer 10

Voluntary intake - max 3% of body weight = 2.1kg Dry matter
Requirement (twin bearing) - maintenance / mid pregnancy 10MJ, 4 weeks pre-partum 15MJ, lambing 20MJ
Energy value of feed - hay 8MJ/ kg DM (2.5kg DM), concentrate 12-13MJ/kg DM (1.6kg DM)

Question 11

What are target body condition scores of Hill, Upland and lowland sheep during tupping, pregnancy and weaning

Answer 11

Hill - tupping (2.5) pregnant (2) weaning (2)
Upland - tupping (3) pregnant (2.5) weaning (2)
Lowland - tupping (3.5) pregnant (3) weaning (2.5)

Question 12

What do we do if sheep thin at 8 weeks after lambing

Answer 12

Wean lambs early

Question 13

What can cause pregnancy toxaemia

Answer 13

Long term underfed
Acute shortage

Question 14

What are the requirements of a Ewe at peak lactation - 4 weeks

Answer 14

ME requirements - min 20MJ
DMI single suckling - 2.5kg
Twin suckling - 3kg

Question 15

How much more milk is produced during twin suckling

Answer 15

30% more milk
Mule suckling twins 3.5 litres milk/day

Question 16

What happens during weaning

Answer 16

Body tissue mobilisation and gain
1kg body weight releases 17MJME requires 65MJME
Same feed but weaned will gain 50g/d BW

Question 17

What can increases chances of hypocalcaemia

Answer 17

Stress
Change in diet
<25% flock

Question 18

What can increase chances of hypomagnesaemia

Answer 18

Lactating Dam
No magnesium storage
Pasture / weather

Question 19

What is the stocking density and sward height for sheep

Answer 19

Lowland - 15 ewes/ha
Upland - 12.5 ewes/ha
Hill - 1.5 ewes/ha
Sward height
4cm in spring/early summer
6-8cm late summer/autumn
Grazing > 9hours / day = sward height is limiting factor

Question 20

What is the target body score of rams at the start of mating

Answer 20

3.5-4

Question 21

What are the meanings of shearling, hogget, gimmer, wether and tup

Answer 21

Shearling - between its 1st and 2nd shearing
Hogget - young sheep either gender slaughtered before permanent incisors have erupted (old season lambs) or sheep between weaning and its first shearing
Gimmer - young female between 1 to 2 years of age that has not born a lamb
Wether - castrated male
Tup - uncastrated male usually for breeding

Question 22

What are the meanings of a draft ewe, 2-tooth, brocken mouth and hefting

Answer 22

Draft ewe - ewe too old for rough grazing, drafted out of flock to move to better grazing on another farm
2-tooth - sheep with first pair of permanent incisors erupted followed by 4/6/8 tooth
Brocken mouth - adult that has lost some or all of its incisors (usually over 6)
Hefting - combined instinct and copied behaviour in some breeds to stay in small local area therefore no fencing needed useful for hill/moorland areas