Planning Spring/Summer 2018

Transcription

1 Planning Spring/Summer 2018 Poppy Frater Sheep Specialist SAC Consulting is a division of Scotland s Rural College Leading the way in Agriculture and Rural Research, Education and Consulting

2 Outline 1. Soil structure after Ewe nutrition: late pregnancy- lactation 3. Minimising stress at lambing 4. Sustainable health planning 5. Lactation

3 Compaction does it matter?

4 AHDB Dairy Compaction Experiment The compaction experiment 2011 to Three main treatments: Trampling Mechanical load No compaction SRUC Crichton (Scotland) and Harper Adams University (England)

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6 Dry Matter Yield Reductions (t/ha) Yield Reduction (t/ha) Trample d Tractor SRUC Percent reduction (%) Trample d Tractor Yield Reduction (t/ha) Trample d Harper Adams Tractor Percent reduction (%) Trample d Tractor All Years

7 Compaction does it matter? Yes what an we do?

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10 Structure Signs of poor soil structure?

11 Structure: action required? Target compaction with correct kit 0-10 cm aerator cm sward lifter Timing Autumn if conditions allow, otherwise Spring

12 Prevention controlled traffic 9 m triple gang mower (9 m working width)

13 Results of Experimental Work Silage Cut Normal Traffic Controlled Traffic Difference (t DM ha -1 ) P- value 1 st Cut (t DM ha -1 ) nd Cut (t DM ha -1 ) rd Cut (t DM ha -1 ) < nd + 3 rd Cut <0.05 Total silage

14 Why is all this important? Leaf 11.5 MJ ME/kg DM Stems 10.5 MJ ME/kg DM Dead leaves <8 MJ ME/kg DM

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16 kg DM/ha Use feed to fill deficits Pasture growth Animal Demand - April lambing Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

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18 Weight as % of weight at parturition Late pregnancy Placenta Fluids Only 25% of final weight with just 6 weeks to go! 20 Foetus Weeks pre-term Not a time for low quality feeds when intake is constrained

19 Late pregnancy last 6 weeks In addition: - Udder development - Colostrum production - Maintain immunity Increasing requirement with decreasing appetite!

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21 A nutritional issue

22 Protein ENERGY Degradable protein Microbial protein Rumen bugs DUP DUP stands for Digestible Undegradable protein; it is protected from degradation by the rumen microbes and is absorbed through the intestine

23 Options for late pregnancy Target BCS is 3 Grass (grass>4cm) Silage (10.5 MJ ME/kg DM) plus 100g soya/lamb or 50g protected soya/lamb Silage (<10.5 MJ ME/kg DM) plus sugarbeet pulp/oats/whole barley plus soya

24 Pre lambing Check energy of ration 4 weeks prelambing: -Blood test beta hydroxybutyrate

25 Are they getting enough?

26 Stress

27 Maternal behaviour Pregnancy Age/experience Genetics Labour Birth Lamb signals

28 Stress around birth Sheep like: Calm, quiet and predictable environment Familiarity Sheep don t like: Mixing with other unfamiliar sheep Unpredictability e.g. at feeding Dogs Loud and extravert handling Novelty

29 Competition - Stress

30 Preventative health measures

31 Proactive worm control Source:

32 The other side of the coin Source: AHDB Beef and Lamb Worm Control for Better Returns

33 Strongyle count Strongyle counts Gimmer triplets Gimmer twins Gimmer singles Ewe triplets Ewe twins Ewe singles Body condition score

34 Key message: Leave a proportion untreated to reduce selection pressure Singles >CS 3

35 Antibiotics A tale of two lambs - #Colostrum Is Gold A lamb charged with sufficient colostrum early enough can cope with a few bugs & a healthy population establishes Flock Health Ltd 2017

36 Consider risk Low risk Single lambs Lambs that were born unassisted Sufficient colostrum Born early in lambing season Healthy mums on target BCS No disease within the season Higher risk Triplets+ Difficult birthing Insufficient colostrum/artifical colostrum Born mid-late in season Thin, lame, dirty mums Disease prevalent

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38 Early lactation Poor feeding and low BCS risk factors for teat lesions Cheapest ration: Grass If below 4cm supplement with concentrates or energy licks Magnesium licks and/or hay/silage

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41 Late lactation Quality and quantity pasture, forage or creep

42 From soil to lamb