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343 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Colostrum intake is essential for health in the first |
2 to 3 months of life |
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Colustrum intake protects against |
All major causes of mortality and morbidity for the young calf |
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The most important aspect of calf health is |
Receiving adequate colostrum |
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Colostrum is |
Enriched milk, extra plasma proteins and vitamins |
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Proteins in colostrum |
Lactoglobulins / Abs - IgG1;
Passive immunity transfer;
Protein declines over the first few days (18 - 3.5%);
Calf absorbtion - best in first 6 hours;
> 24 hrs unable to absorb |
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Vitamins in colostrum |
5 times greater then milk;
Depends on vitamin status of cow |
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Colostrum concentration in comparison to milk |
Greater in total solids, fat, non-fat solids, protein, non-casein, antibodies, and ash;
Lesser in Casein, and lactose |
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Colostrum as disease protection |
Consume 3 liters of colostrum in first 2 hours;
Calf normally suckles within 3 - 4 hours of birth;
Store colostrum in freezer for emergency use |
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Failure of passive transfer of immunity due to colostrum quality caused by |
Cows running milk pre-calving;
Heifers reared on out farms;
High yielders may have poor colostrum quality;
Feeding of four to five day 'transition milk' as colostrum |
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Failure of passive transfer of immunity due to |
Inadequate colostrum intake;
Calf born unattended;
Inadequate animal husbandry on farm;
Poor health of cow or calf: difficult calving / mastitis pre-calving;
Poor colostrum handling - thawing at incorrect temperature / feeding too late in the calf's life |
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Feeding Colostrum |
Feed 3 liters within the first 2 hours of life;
Feed 3 more liters within the first 12 hours of life;
Little IgG absorption after 24 hours;
Colostrum in the first 5 days may continue to supply local immunity in the GI tract |
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Colostrum feeding assessment of calf:
Has the calf suckled of not? |
Dam mammary reduced quarter;
Saliva on teat;
Lethargic vs active;
Pass faeces or not;
Visual of abdomen;
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Colostrum feeding assessment of calf:
Colostrum quality |
Refractometer;
IgG test |
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Colostrum feeding assessment of calf:
Passive transfer tests |
Zinc sulphate turbidity;
Total protein, albumin, globulin |
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Storing Colostrum |
Freezing - thawing temperature important, common and suits small herds;
Commercially available dried products;
Better to give colostrum from own farm because matches the Ig's needed for the farm better |
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Starting the artificially reared calf on a milk diet |
Teach the calves to suck from fingers and then to suck from artificial teats;
Have to teach to drink from a bucket - artificial teat preferable |
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Feeding milk to calves: Oesophageal groove |
Reflex - allows for milk to bypass the rumen to the abomasum;
Helps if calf is excited (need to learn to become excited when teat is present);
Helps if lots of saliva production;
No closure can lead to bloat or scour; |
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Feeding milk to calves: Clot formation in the abomasum |
Formed with the enzyme renning and HCL;
Important in the abomasum - slows passage of nutrients to SI;
Poor clot will provide lots of nutrients for bacteria in SI to live on and lead to scour;
Commercial acidifiers available for adding to whole milk |
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If the milk gets into the rumen |
The rumen is not acidic so no milk clot forms, milk enters the small intestine and provides lots of feed for bad bacteria = scours |
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Practical aspects of milk feeding |
Routine in milk feeding is very important;
Essential that milk is consumed warm and soon after offered;
As a general rule 15% of body weight of milk should be fed per day (20% if cold conditions); |
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Milk replacer |
Normally used on farms when milk quota is an issue;
Important to closely follow mixing guidelines;
Can be fed from 3 - 4 days old but may be better to feed from 14 days;
Temperature critical for the formation of a proper clot in abomasum;
Usually give around 90% the performance of whole milk |
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Skim based milk replacer |
Skim milk + animal fat;
Similar in composition to whole milk;
Easily digested by calf, clots in abomasum;
Zero skim: little of milk constituents often recommended for older calves;
Crude protein should be 25% |
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Acidified Milk Powder |
Same contents as skim based milk replacers but with organic acids (citric, fumaric acid) to reduce pH to 5.7 to increase keeping quality - ok for 24 horus |
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Milk replacer milk additives |
Milkshake;
Once-a-day;
Usually used to acidify whole milk so it can be fed once a day;
Improves abomasal clot formation;
Reduces susceptability to scouring |
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Target calf growth |
At least 500g/day from birth to weaning;
Capable of growing 700g/day |
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Calf weight at 2 months or weaning |
On average 75kg;
Weaning should be based on weight not on age |
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Group housing of calves from |
5 to 10 days old onwards |
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Feed group housed calves usually by |
Milk bar or automated feeder |
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If large amount of milk are fed |
Restrictions must happen before weaning can take place |
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High levels of milk will prevent |
Proper development of rumen in preparation for breaking down forages |
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Introduction to solid feed |
The rumen must be working well at weaning;
Solid feed should be introduced from 2 - 3 days old;
Palatable calf starters should be used (molasses, locust bean);
It is fermentation of carbohydrate that develops the ruminal epithelium (particularly proprionate and butyrate from starch);
Water should be available ad-libitum;
Early calf starter intake should be 100-200g/d;
It is important to keep fresh feed in front of calf;
Calf should be eating 1kg of feed per day at weaning |
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Implications of poor calf housing |
Air quality --> respiratory disease;
Hygienic standards --> disease especially diarrhea;
Morbidity, low performance, welfare implications |
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Aim to provide suitable environment to |
Optimise health, welfare, and productivity |
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Problems with intensive calf rearing |
Artificial environment;
Increased stocking density;
Lack of social contact |
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Poor environment increases likelihood of |
Disease outbreaks |
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Environmental Requirements: Temperature |
Friesian calves start to shiver at:
Well fed: 5 - 13 degrees C Poorly fed: 12 - 19 degrees C
Concrete vs. dry straw adds 9 degrees C to critical;
Wet vs dry straw adds 2 degrees C to critical temperature;
Jersey calved temperature reqs. 4 degrees higher |
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Temperature |
Sick calves and calves at birth may benefit from increased temperatures;
Sick calves often provided when heat lamps;
Calves at birth usually not provided with an elevated temperature;
Critical to ensure they are: well-fed, on dry beds, not subjected to draughts |
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Effect of housing temperature on feed required |
As temperature goes down feed requirements go up;
As body body weight goes up the difference in the amount of feed needed for different temperatures decreases (less susceptable to temp changes) |
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Relative humidity (RH) |
The amount of water vapour that exists in a gaseous mixture of air and water;
70-85% ideal;
No condensation present on walls or ceiling; |
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Minimize increases in RH by |
Adequate ventilation;
Avoid spoilage;
Good drainage;
Moisture must not accumulate in the environment |
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Air speed |
> 0.3m/sec = draught (bad)
Want no draughts at calf level |
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Air Space (Cubic Air Capacity) |
> 6 m^3 per animal (pre-weaning);
>10 m^3 per animal (post-weaning);
4.5 - 5.5 m^3 if mechanically ventilated |
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One of the most common diseases found in calves in Ireland |
Pneumonia |
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Duration of housing for dairy calves |
Spring born: 2-4 months;
Autumn born: 6 months |
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Duration of housing for suckler-beef calves |
Spring born: 0-3 months (with dam);
Autumn born: 6 months (with dam) |
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Design of calf housing |
Well drained site;
Consider closeness to other facilities (dairy, power, water supply);
Closeness to other buildings - allow for expansion;
Orient at a right angle to prevailing wind is best |
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Type of calf houses |
Climatic house (group or individual pens);
Monopitch shed (free standing lean-to);
Patterson house (open fronted pens);
Calf hutches (individual plastic pens open yard);
Temporary arrangements (sometimes not so temporary);
Choice will be dependent on economics |
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Calf housing walls |
Plaster finish to allow for ease of cleaning and disinfection (power-hose);
Durable;
Inlets for ventilation (+ outlets for monopitch sheds) |
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Calf housing roofs |
High enough to allow adequate air space;
Duopitch shed should have ridge for ventilation;
No insulation required if good ventilation |
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Calf housing floor/bedding |
Non-slip floor - concrete, wooden slats on concrete base in lying area;
Require clean dry bed with good hygiene - calves spend 60-80% of time lying each day;
A damp bed increases heat loss and predisposes to health problems;
Drainage important: 1:20 slope to channel; 1:60 slope in channel - avoid bedding blocking drainage |
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Calf housing entrances and exits |
Access for animals, personnel, and machinery;
Avoid draughts close to doors |
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Calf housing internal partitions |
For individual and/or group housed pens;
Everything should be completely removable for ease of cleaning;
All surfaces should be easily cleaned;
Wooden / gates / metal;
Solid partitions decrease draughts; |
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Calf housing pen covers |
Back 1/3 in order to decrease draughts |
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Calf housing floor space:
Individual pens ( < 8 weeks old) |
Width at least equal to height at withers;
Length 10% longer than calf from nose to pin bone;
No solid partitions - have visual and tactile contact with other calves |
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Calf housing floor space:
Group pens ( > 8 weeks old) |
1.5 m^2 up to 150kg;
1.7 m^2 150 - 220kg;
1.8 m^2 >220kg |
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Calf housing ventilation |
Removal of water vapour, toxic gases;
Reduces levels of air borne pathogens;
Natural ventilation |
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Calf housing: Natural ventilation |
Inlets and outlets;
Dependent on stack effect on calm days, wind effect on not so calm days;
Control air flow using space boarding;
Orient at right angels to prevailing wind |
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Calf housing: Mechanical ventilation |
Allows for increased stocking density;
Seldom used in Ireland;
Usually house with history of problems (building that hasn't had good natural ventilation in the past);
Expensive and risk of failure |
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Calf housing internal layout |
Pens - useful if adaptable for both individual and group pens;
Individual pens allow for individual attention and better disease control - feeding and lying area combined;
Group pens for groups of 5 to 10 calves (best < 16) - feeding, water, milk away from lying space |
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Replacement rate of heifers |
Ireland > 20%;
N. Ireland > 25%;
USA 30% |
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Reasons for culling cattle |
Infertility ~ 25%;
Mastitis ~ 12%;
Limb / Foot problems;
Surplus ~ 12%;
Low production ~ 12% |
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Farmers aim to sell replacement heifers to |
Increase income = 1500+ euro |
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Selection of suitable calves: Cow factors |
Heifers from heifers have higher milk yield;
Choose heifers from fertile cows;
Cows which have no calving difficulty; |
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Selection of suitable calves: Calf factors |
Select largest heifers - Height at shoulders and length of body;
Front legs - set wide apart;
Hind legs - straight from pastern to hock;
Adequate width at pin bones |
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Targets for heifer breeding |
Produce first calf at 24 months:
Reduces feed costs;
Increases milk output in lifetime;
Decreases land usage;
Reduces labour input |
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Key stages in heifer rearing |
Birth to weaning;
3 to 10 months (pre-puberty);
10 months to breeding (Puberty 40 - 50% mature body weight);
Breeding to calving (Breeding 50 - 60% mature body weight);
Management near calving (Parturition 80 - 85% mature body weight) |
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Mammary development |
Foetal life;
3 months to 10 months old (puberty) - rapid mammary growth, development of fat tissue;
Pregnancy - extensive secretory tissue development |
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Rapid weight gain between 3 and 10 months old |
Leads to decreased milk yield due to increased fat deposition in mammary gland pre-pubertal heifer |
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Mammary gland development - at puberty |
Mammary gland 2 to 3kg:
10 - 20% epithelial cells (mammary ducts);
40 - 50% connective tissue;
30 - 40% fat cells |
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Mammary gland development - at calving |
Mammary gland 25kg:
40 - 50% epithelial cells (ducts and alveoli);
15 - 25% lumen;
40% connective tissue;
Fat cells should be close to 0% |
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Pros and cons of calving heifers first |
Pro - Heifers tend to have the longest anestrus, so earlier calving means earlier rebreeding;
Con - Heifers need to be taught to milk and there's no experienced cows to fallow to the milking parlor |
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Low prepubertal growth rates |
Delays puberty;
Late breeding;
Under-developed at calving;
Puberty occurs at about 40 - 50% of mature body weight - puberty can be at 9 or 20 months of age;
Calving at older then 24 months just increases costs |
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Post pubertal growth: Low growth rates during pregnancy |
Less than 80-85% of mature body size at calving gives less than optimal skeletal development and decreases 1st lactation milk yield;
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Post pubertal growth: High growth rates in pregnancy |
Positive or absent effects on milk yield;
Body condition score at calving very important |
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Post pubertal growth at breeding |
Flushing effect pre-service to increase chance of ovulation; |
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Calf - rearing strategies |
Colostrum: first hrs up to 3 days
Milk replacers / while milk (15-20% of body weight): Day 1-23;
Milk replacer / whole milk (10% of body weight): Day 23 - 40;
Hay and concentrate ad-libitum: Day 1 onward |
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Turn out weights for spring and autumn |
Spring: 75 to 100kg;
Autumn: 150 to 180kg |
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Stocking rates for grazing season |
25 calves and 25 in-calf heifers;
4ha spring;
5.5ha summer;
8.0ha autumn |
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Supplementary feed |
At turnout: 2kg/day for 3 -5 weeks;
Mid-sept to first housing: 1kg/day;
Actual values dependent upon grass growth and supply |
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Critical calf weights at housing |
Autumn: 260 to 300kg;
Spring: 220 to 240kg;
Average daily gain needed = 0.6 to 0.7kg/day |
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Winter target mating weight |
330 to 360kg |
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Autumn calvers need |
AI in December or January |
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Spring calvers need |
AI in April or May |
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Breeding replacement heifers |
Use of high genetic merit bulls;
Use of easy calving bulls;
Heat detection is critical - use of heat detection aids;
Synchronization of oestrus may be needed if reared on out-farms;
Conception rate at first service should be 70% |
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Maiden heifers should have a minimum BCS |
of 3.25 to ensure at least 90% are cycling at MSD;
360kg weight is ideal but hard to reach, breed at 330kg |
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Seting up for calving |
Up to 3/4 weeks before calving:
Silage ad-lib;
1+kg concentrates / day depending on silage quality;
Ensure adequate levels of trace elements;
BCS at calving critical
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Prevention of heifer calving dystocia |
Rearing regime - make sure heifers are the right size;
Bull selection - known small calvers;
Supervision - be ready to aide;
Longer calving interval in 1st lactation cows |
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Heifers Cows post partum |
Still growing - pay attention to BCS;
Feeding management to manage growth grain very impotant |
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Introduction to milking herd:
Palour training |
In order to reduce frequency of kicks and movement, and allow for calm feeding at the stall; |
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Introduction to milking herd:
Housing training |
Learn to use cubicles, water troughs, feed troughs; |
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Introduction to milking herd:
Introductions |
Introduced in groups 2-3 weeks pre-calving or 5 days post-calving;
Cows introduced to heifer group |
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Beef cattle concentrations |
Half from beef herd half from dairy herd |
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Dairy calves for beef production |
All male calves - 50% beef breed (early maturing, continental), 50% dairy breed;
50% female calves (beef) - 44% continental, 56% early maturing |
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Target for slaughter |
Slaughter weight: 615 - 650kg
Carcass weight: 315 - 350kg
Carcass weight generally about 50% of slaughter weight |
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Days from arrival at 75kg to slaughter |
750 days |
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Average daily gains of calves |
670g/day |
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Average daily gains of yearlings |
900g/day |
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Most popular beef breed bulls for dairy heifers/cow |
Hereford and angus bulls - small easier calving and good meat if go to beef |
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Finishing age of spring born calves |
From Grass - 18 months;
From House - 24 months |
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Finishing age of autumn born calves |
From Grass - 24 months;
From House - 18 months |
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Breed most likely to finish early |
Aberdine angus - hit maturity at a younger age, and reach fattening age much earlier than other breeds |
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Turnout of calves to grass |
Minimum weight for turnout: 70kg;
Continue to feed meal at grass for 2-5 weeks (1kg/day);
Target gain: 0.6 to 0.7kg/day |
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Concentration of supplementary feed |
Rolled barley: 82%
Soya Meal: 15%
Minerals/Vitamin: 3% |
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Calves during first grazing season require |
Continuous supply of high quality grass with wide selection;
Best to provide paddock with some shelter in first few weeks;
Leader follower grazing system: +25kg in calves, -5kg in older cattle |
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Supplementary feeding |
At turnout 2kg/day for 3-5 weeks;
Mid-spet. to 1st housing 1kg/day;
Depends on grass growth and supply |
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Other grazing options |
Set stocking systems commonly used;
Rotational paddock grazing |
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Stocking rate per 25 calves and 25 followers |
4ha spring;
5.5ha summer;
8.0ha autumn |
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First winter at housing weight |
220kg |
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Target weight at start of second grazing season |
250 - 300kg (suckler calf 50-70kg heavier) |
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If cattle are kept out on pasture for too long |
To December: Grass growth reduced by 25% next spring;
To January: Grass growth reduced by 50%;
Best to take off land in November |
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Feed for first winter |
Grass silage (or hay) +/- concentrates |
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Amount fed in winter based on |
Forage quality, eventual market, initial weanling weight;
The better the feed quality the less that needs to be fed |
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Silage requirement for beef |
2kg DM /100kg body weight / day;
Silage DM requirement approximately 2% live weight; |
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2-year calf to beef |
Out at 270kg in second spring;
In at 440kg 2nd year |
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Grass-based beef production |
Advantage - Grazed grass is cheap, welfare, better image to consumers;
Disadvantage - Animals are older at slaughter and carcass fat has a yellow color |
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Finishing at Grass:
Intensive summer grazing |
Spring: buy 5 animals /ha;
Mid-july: Finish heavier animals at 600kg, younger ones at 450kg;
September: Finish younger ones at 550kg, more weight gain due to compensatory growth, may require some concentrate feeding |
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Finishing at Grass:
Extensive summer grazing |
Spring: Buy 2.5 - 3.25 animals /ha (450 - 500kg); High average daily gain at spring grass;
July: Sell heaviest at 600 - 740kg live weight;
Sell at least 20% of animals each month
Advantages: Low input, no stock in winter;
Disadvantages: Buy price very high, sell price can be low |
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Concentrate feeding at pasture |
As year progresses, average daily gain decreases
Feed concentrates at the end of the grazing season to offset loss;
Finish animals near slaughter and sooner, conserve grass;
Adds value to cattle - better finish, better conformation;
Faster reduction in stocking rate |
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Winter finishing |
Aim to sell beef in Jan - April;
Feed grass silage;
Must gain 0.9kg/day over 150 day winter;
Feed prices higher than grass but weigh gain and price rise |
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Silage requirements for beef |
2kg DM /100kg body weight /day |
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Protein for fattening cattle |
Barley + Good silage = OK for protein;
Use relatively low CP concentrations (12%);
Alternative supplement: Non-protein nitrogen (eg. urea) |
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Aim of suckled beef production |
High growth rates in cattle at reasonable costs;
High value cattle as weanlings or finishing beef;
Minimize feed costs;
Heifers have their first calf at 2yrs old;
Calving interval not exceeding 365 days |
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Time of calving: Spring |
Feb - April
Utilise grass;
Max 3 month calving season;
Minimise winter feed requirements;
Heavy weanling in November;
Indoor calving - disease build-up |
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Time of calving: Autumn |
Aug-Oct
Calving at pasture;
Higher than desired BCS pre-calving (increased calving difficulty);
Lactating in winter - more feed (expensive) |
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Time of sale of Progeny |
Retain for finishing on farm;
Sale as weanling animals;
Very often dependent on the price of weanling animals and market for weanlings;
Sell weanlings to other finisher farms with proper facilities - supply contracts (quality assurance and traceability) |
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Main beef dam breeds |
Charolais and limousine;
Others: Angus, hereford (early maturing), semetal |
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Majority of farms are |
Crossbred beef in small numbers ( >24 total beef);
Average size of herd is 14 |
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Calving patterns on beef farms |
For both beef bull and dairy bull born calves, greatest number of births during spring (March to April) |
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Best breeds for beef sires |
Continental type breeds |
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Preferred beef dam characteristics |
Friesian crosses for good milk production and docile temperment |
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Crossbreeds lead to |
Hybrid vigor advantage (pedigree breeders miss out on this) |
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Carcass conformation: EUROP |
Rating of carcass conformation - E is best, P is yuck (P likely from culled cows);
Continentals have the best conformation, dairy only breeds have the worst |
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Best muscle and carcass by breed |
Belgium Blue has best muscle, Charolais has best carcass;
Aberdine angus and hereford have good taste but low muscle and carcass growth |
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Management of herd during grazing season |
Grazed grass - cheapest feed;
High weight gain at grass;
Possibly restrict feed at other times so high intake occurs on the cheap grass feed;
Let spring calves get nutrients from grass;
Restricted feed for pregnant cows so they dont get too fat |
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Creep feeding calves at pasture |
Meal supplementation in situations of pasture scarcity;
Feed barley at grass last 4-6 weeks to achieve high meal intakes early in winter;
Periodic seperation of calves from cows can help get cows cycling again |
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Spring calving cows feeding |
Usually fed wholly on silage (5-6 tonnes per cow)and minerals;
May lose BCS in winter pre-calving;
Loss in BCS will reduce feed costs and calving difficulties however, feed should not be overly limited;
Compensatory growth on grass in spring |
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Recommended BCS |
Calving: 2.5 (late spring calving);
Mating: 2.0 minimum;
Mid-pregnancy: 3.0 (weaning); |
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At Grass (lactating) |
Grass, cheap nutritious feed;
Flush of milk;
Beware of grass tetany (hypomagnesia);
Paddock grazing to adapt to grass supply, or for silage |
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Autumn calving cows |
Important to avoid BCS > 3.0 at calving;
Autumn calvers require better quality silage and more silage in the winter period;
May be necessary to supplement with concentrates if suckling in the winter (Lactation increases feed requirement by 150% for suckler cows) |
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BCS Targets for Autumn Calving Suckler Cows |
Calving: 3.0;
Mating: 2.5 (january / february);
Mid-pregnancy: 2.0 (turnout);
Most suckler cows in Ireland are spring calving |
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Suckling systems: Spring Calving |
Cows calving indoors /outdoors;
To pasture in April;
Wean calf from cow in autumn - creep-grazing, removal of some cows, very stressful |
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Autumn Calving |
Calve August-October, common in UK;
Heavier calves - sale at 9-10 months;
Calving outside in September - avoid scour problems;
Progeny can be finished at 18 months;
Cows milked over winter - high plane of nutrition;
Breeding - indoors, facilities, heat-check and AI |
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Seven key measures for animal welfare recording and breeding scheme for suckler herds |
Calf tagging and registration;
Disbudding (strict guidelines);
Castration;
Minimum calving age;
Weaning procedure;
Animal events;
Training (end yr 2) |
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Measures for Dusbudding |
Must be done within 3 weeks of birth;
Requires local anaesthetic is > 2 weeks;
Late eruptors and naturally polled breed are exceptions |
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Measures for Castration |
Cannot be done within the period 4 weeks pre or 2 weeks post weaning;
Do not want to increase stress levels during weaning |
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Minimum calving age |
Average age of heifers at first calving: 24 months;
Heifers that calve at less than 22 months get no payment |
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Weaning procedure |
1kg meal for 4 weeks pre and 2 weeks after weaning;
Graduated weaning - removes the cows but leaves the calves together - if more than 10 cows, must be removed in more than one group;
Cannot sell until 2 weeks after weaning |
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Strict records kept for pre-weaning events |
Date of disbudding/dehorning;
Date of castration;
Date of meal feeding introduction;
Form must be submitted within 7 weeks of meal feeding introduction |
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Records kept of post-weaning events |
Date of weaning;
Docility score and Calf quality score;
Weight (if accurate weighing is possible);
Form will have to be submitted within 28 days of weaning |
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Cons of Bull beef production |
Lower carcass fat;
Dome processors wont take them - very intermittent demand for bull beef |
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Pros of bull beef production |
Better carcass conformation;
Extremely feed efficient |
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Advantages of Bulls (vs Steers) |
8 - 18% better average daily gain;
High feed conversion efficiency (5 - 10%);
Later maturing - less fat at given weight than steer;
Can reach a higher weight before fat conversion ratio drops, higher weight per age;
Better conformation than steers |
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Bull of the same breed as heifer or steer |
Will have much greater efficiency and carcass quality |
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Breed differences |
Better lean meat carcass int he continental bull than in the friesian bulls |
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Behavior of bulls |
More restless & aggressive than steers;
Particular risk of injury during feeding times |
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Bulls should be housed outdoors in groups of |
40 or less;
Should be managed as one group from weaning to finish; |
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Animals removed from group for more than 1 week |
Should not be returned (fighting);
Dont mix groups of bulls - minimal disturbance |
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Once at grass it is best to |
Leave alone as long as possible - set stocking so no need to move around paddocks (dangerous) |
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Problems of bull beef kept indoors |
Need suitable handling facilities;
Small group sizes (15 -20 max);
High risk of riding injuries if floor is too hard (wires overhead to discourage)
Electric wires overhead and fencing if outdoors |
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Problems of bull beef at market |
New product;
Small quantities;
Lack of finish;
Require handling facilities to reduce dark-cutting meat at slaughter |
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Friesian Bull Calves |
Target gain: 1.0kg /day;
Target carcass: 285 kg at 16 months;
Very good silage +2 kg conc to 13 months;
Very good silage +4kg conc from 13 months to slaughter;
Animals kept indoor throughout;
Small at slaughter - not suckler calves |
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Red/Pink Veal |
Not the same thing as veal;
12 month old dairy bull calf cereal fed;
Markets in Spain, Portugal, and Italy - require carcass of 250kg |
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Red/Pink Veal Calves prepared |
Fed ad-libitum concentrates plus 1.0kg of hay or straw /hd/day;
Feed input from 3 to 12 months |
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Red/Pink veal Calves Performance |
Initial weight: 110kg;
Slaughter weight: 450kg;
Carcass weight: 240kg;
Average daily gain: 1.25kg/d |
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Continental bulls from suckler herd |
Intensive 6-9month finishing after weaning at 6 months;
High average daily gain of 1.4 - 1.6kg/day using high intake high quality diet;
Carcass: 330-380kg;
Different from previous calves, fed on dam for 6 months, much higher carcass weight than most other breeds |
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Continental bull from suckler herd diets |
Grass silage (75% DMD) + 4.5kg concentrates;
Maize silage (good intake) + concentrates;
Ad lib concentrates (eat 9-10kg) + straw |
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16 Month Old suckler beef production |
Young suckler bulls from spring calving herd;
Management normal up to 6 months - after this point seperate from heifers;
Weaned at 8-9 months;
Finished as bull beef after 240 days |
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16 Month old suckler beef production Performance |
Initial weight: 300kg;
Average daily gain 8-16 months, 1.25kg/d;
Slaughter weight: 600kg;
Carcass Weight: 350kg |
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12 to 15 month cereal suckler bull beef |
Spring born suckler bulls;
Concentrates fed ad-libitum (1kg of forage) from weaning to slaughter;
For slaughter at 12 months: 1.45 ton concentrate, 0.11 ton straw;
For slaughter at 15 months: 2.25 ton concentrate 0.18 straw;
Can have carcass weight of up to 325kg at 12 months because of how great gain is;
High risk these animals will be under finished (not enough fat padding to them) |
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Dark-cutting meat |
Glycogen depletion from excitement pre slaughter, stress, fatigue:
Increased carcass pH;
Poor appearance of meat;
Quality ok, shorter shelf-life, lower price |
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Avoid dark-cutting meat by |
Moving bulls quietly;
Dont mix bulls before slaughter;
Rest for 24 hours before slaughter;
Slaughter within 2 hrs of leaving farm |
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Marketing of 12 to 16 month beef |
Lack of finish;
Marbling not so great;
Insufficient carcass fatness;
Carcass fat score 2 and 3 in high proportion of bulls;
Difficult to market such beef; |
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Problems with intensive concentrate feeding:
Part 1 |
1. Acidosis - lactic acid production in the rumen - up to 40% of deaths (5% of deaths in the system)
2. Bloat - gaseous accumulation due to insufficient fiber and rapid fermentation in diet, feed hay or straw each day;
3. Pneumonia
4. Preparation of cereals - rolling better than grinding, exposes starch and leads to rapid fermentation (bloat) |
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Problems with intensive concentrate feeding:
Part 2 |
5. Urinary Calculi - magnesium crystals: blockage --> surgical bypass; feed < 2% Mg
6. Liver damage and rumenitis: 25% of cattle can have liver abscesses at slaughter - no clinical signs; acid condition of the rumen which can be avoided by adding fiber to diet
7. Riding/mounting injuries/trauma |
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Why house cattle in doors |
Allows for intensification;
Seasonal housing - avoid damage to land: Poaching, compaction, management over winter (eg. at calving for supervision) |
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Cattle housing |
Provide shelter from sun and heat stress;
Shelter from wind and rain;
Extreme cold avoidance;
Provide suitable environment to optimise health, welfare, and productivity |
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Environmental requirements: Temperature |
Thermonuetral zone +5 - +25 degrees C;
Require good feeding at lower temps;
Above 25 degrees C get heat stress; |
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Environmental requirements: Relative humidity |
Also is a factor of heat stress |
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Environmental requirements: Air speed and space |
Good ventilation needed but daughts are bad;
Require 18m^3 per animal of air space |
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Water use in preventing heat stress |
Misting of animals with water to help keep them cool - water usage in dairies in saudi arabia astoundingly high - not needed in Ireland |
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Floor space for housing |
Depends on age and size of animal and type of housing;
Straw bedding shed (10m^2 for dairy cow);
Cubicle shed: at least 1 per cow but ideal if 5% more cubicles than cows;
Slatted shed (~2.2m^2 for 550kg bovine; beef usually) - more risk of mastitis and mammary damage |
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Ventilation for housing |
To ensure air quality;
Usually natural ventilation (inlets and outlets) |
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Lighting for housing |
Sufficient to ensure ease of inspection of animals and environment |
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Unprotected inlet |
Essentially eaves of the building |
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Adjustable Inlet |
Can open and close to adjust the amount of air coming in |
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Protected Inlet |
Porous cover such as in lyons farm, can see through all the punches in the metal |
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Curtain side covers |
Can be moved up and down to open or close the side of the window;
Open on a still day;
Close on a windy day |
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Types of houses |
Slatted sheds: Beef, Dairy passageways
Cubicles: Mainly dairy, some suckled beef;
Loose straw bedded: Beef and dairy
Sloped floor shed: beef; |
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Slatted sheds (beef only) |
Ventilation inlets and outlets;
Concrete central feeding passage;
Slats non-slip, grooved concrete, rubber covered;
Pen divisions: latches on feed barrier, gates that are animal proof |
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Internal layout |
Central passageway, pens either side with feed barriers onto passageway and at outside;
Pen size dependant on number of animals of different ages |
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Internal fixtures |
Water troughs / water bowls;
Feed barriers - help prevent animal from bringing feed into the pen |
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Housing suckler cows with calfs |
Make sure slats are suckler slats and safe for calves;
Properly gated house and yard that can contain calves;
Creep areas for calves with solid floor and straw with proper barriers to prevent cow entry;
Hospital area for sick calves |
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Sloped floor shed (beef only) |
Similar pen layout to slatted but solid floor with sloped channels with scrapers;
Slurry stored in outside bunkers - must be protected because have big health and safety risks |
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Loose straw bedded housing (beef and dairy) |
3m^2 per 550kg beef animal or 10m^2 per dairy cow;
Versatile building;
No special fittings required;
Labour intensive (change bedding often);
Require bedding +/- seperate lying and feeding/drinking areas;
Problems occur if poorly maintained |
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Important to have a step between slurry passage and bedding to |
Help prevent defecation from being pushed up into the bedding area |
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Dry cow cubicles |
Cows spend 10-14 hrs lying per day;
Have to lie down often, want them comfortable to reduce lameness issues;
Need headspace so animal can get up and lie down correctly;
Side bar is better higher to reduce likelihood of hip and hock injuries |
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Brisket board and neck rail in cow cubicles act to |
Keep the cows from walking forward or lying to far forward in the cubicle (could invade cubicle in front or defecate in the lying area) |
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Ideal passage width between cubicles |
3m between rows of cubicles;
4m seperating cubicles and feeding troughs |
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Correct cubicle size |
Width: 1.1 - 1.2m
Length: 2.45 - 2.75m
Forward lunge space: 0.7 - 1.0m
Neck rail: 1.7m from the kerb
Slope: 5cm per 1m;
Kerb/Mat/Matress Height: 0.15 - 0.22m |
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Cubicle base design |
Free-draining;
Comfortable - longer lying time;
Easily cleaned |
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Bedding options of cubicle: inorganic vs organic |
Straw - mastitis problems;
Sawdust - mastitis problems;
Wood shavings - mastitis problems;
Sand - best option for animal but labour intensive;
Lime - too much can be corrosive; |
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Crossover points for cubicle type systems |
Dont want more than 20 cubicles between crossover points - shy cows may avoid travel if too far;
Water as crossovers; |
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Management of cubicle |
Scraping frequently;
Slatted passages required less frequency of scraping;
Slurry handling;
Type and quantity of bedding;
Additional cleaner (automatic vacuum) |
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Kennels |
Like cubicles, often made of timber, sides help support the roof, cheap;
Roofs often too low and divisions to harsh |
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Open cubicles |
No cover from the elements, good for mild weather climates but not for areas of extreme cold, heat, or weather;
No protection of slurry from rain - environmental concerns
Used to reduce capital investment |
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Waste management |
Straw bedding: muck out to dungstead;
Cubicles + Slats: bedding type and slurry management, chopped straw with slats, un-chopped ok if no slats;
Cubicles + solid pasageway: Automatic/manual scraper, Problems with sand seperation if used |
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Feeding system: Self feed systems |
Cattle feed from face of silage pit (More common in beef cattle);
Open yard to silage face;
Barrier with electric wire which is moved 2xs per day;
Pollution |
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Feeding system: Easy feed ystems |
Feed brought to cows;
Along feed passage with barrier;
Or into ring feeders in yarded areas |
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Self-locking headgaits |
Can be used to trap animals to do basic handling treatments;
Can cause abrasions on the shoulders |
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Set forward bars along the areas of feed |
Helps prevent rubbing on the withers when cows are eating;
Painted floors helps feed from getting caught in the concrete - allows easier pushing of feed |
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Water requirements |
Needed for body maintenance and production requirements;
Influenced by lactational state;
Trough sizes: 0.5m^2 for 30 cows;
Have water troughs at regular spacings, or dominant cows will occupy at all times;
Unimpeded access, not in blind alleys, not in bedded areas (minimise fouling);
Must cater for peak demand |
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Calving areas |
Group and or individual;
Floor non-slip, easy to clean (slats not suitable);
Straw bedded best;
Hygiene very important;
Restraining area +/- gates for calving;
Water and feeding area - both kept fresh |
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Housing associated problems |
Lameness;
Mastitis;
Oestrus detection;
Other injuries |
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Lamness |
5th most common dairy farm problem;
Increased intensification;
Increased meal feeding;
Long poorly maintained roadways;
Overwintering on concrete |
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Losses caused by lameness |
Decreased milk yield;
Decreased fertility;
Premature culling;
Inconvenience / cost;
Loss of milk supply when cows on antibiotics |
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Control Lameness |
Caused by contact with slurry;
Rough road/ yard surfaces - keep clean and non-slip;
Weekly foot-bath to ensure comfort in lying area;
Treatment - pairing; shoe unaffected claw in severe cases |
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Three main types of mastitis:
Spread at milking |
Staph. aureus;
Strep. agalactiae;
Strep. dysglactiae |
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Three main types of mastitis:
Summer mastitis |
Actinomyces pyogenes |
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Three main types of mastitis:
Environmental |
Strep. Uberis;
E. coli;
What we thought were environmental may now have contagious factors |
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Source of infection for environmental mastitis |
Environment, teat and udder skin and genital tract;
Especially pre and post calving |
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Method of spread for environmental mastitis |
Dirty bedding or contamination from infected vaginal discharges |
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General control of environmental mastitis |
Good hygiene;
Avoid any slurry contact with teats - clean cubicles and bedding - avoid accumulations in passage;
Clean underfoot conditions especially after milking;
Prevent moisture accumulation on cubicle bed;
Clean calving boxes and bedding |
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Losses caused by clinical mastitis |
Discarded milk, antibiotics;
Financial losses due to chronic / subclinical - reduced yield, poor milk quality, premature culling |
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Oestrus Detection / Expression |
Decreased when animals housed;
Decreased with lameness and sore feet;
Decreased more on concrete than straw;
Decreased with restricted height (prevents mounting and obvious signs of oestrus) |
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Overcoming Decreased Oestrus detection |
Allow plenty of space at end of cubicle rows;
Increase in visibility - open fronted cubicle rows with plenty of daylight;
Plenty of standing room at feed passage with possibility of rubber covered flooring;
Runner floor coverings to make mounting behavior less painful |
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Bull pen primary concern is |
For the safety of farmer, children, cows;
Areas designed to allow for interaction with bull while maintaining a wall between workers and bulls at all times |
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Bull Box |
Area for bull to eat, sleep, drink;
Insulated concrete floors;
Escapes for emergencies |
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Service area |
Smooth interiors;
Non-slip floors;
Maintain good visibility of area to see bull and people present |
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Bull pen/run sliding door |
Noteworthy, swinging doors can catch someone, bull could push and injure someone caught behind |
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Tubular columns in the bull pen / service area |
Allow people to squeeze through but not the bull - can escape if caught in the run with the bull; |
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Safety with bulls |
Minimise boredom;
Feeding and husbandry always form outside the pen;
Adequate restraint;
Escape slits;
Discourage dogs and children from the area |
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Herringbone |
Cows stand at an angle with butts to the center aile;
Can hold many animals;
Milk between the legs |
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Rotary milking parlor |
Milking parlour circle which rotates;
Apply milking machine and give feed and hope cow finishes before she makes her way around;
If not done when she gets around she goes around again;
Time when animals can receive special supplements |
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Rapid Exit |
Cows come in - sides come up when done and all cows walk out to go down a side passage;
Problems with the number of workers required for this system (leads to variation in quality of milking and cleaning) |
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Robotic milking |
The cow decides when she wants to be milked;
Uses lasers to determine teat location and automatically milks the teat;
Amount of info from the robot is huge (weigh every day); robot can auto sort cow which needs more attention from farmer |
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Differences in sheep from other animals |
Thrive in area unsuited to other stock;
Utilize herbage that will not support other stock;
Have lower water requirements to cattle |
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Trends in lamb prices |
Expensive to breed/raise sheep outside of season;
Patterns cause crash in lamb prices at some times of the year |
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Critical periods of feeding of lowland ewe |
Flushing --> mating;
Pregnancy especially late pregnancy;
During lactation;
Weaning |
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Largest increase in sheep weight occurs |
At the end pregnancy, mainly due to foetal weight but also corresponds to increased intake of energy |
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Objective of lowland sheep development |
High lamb output per ewe (want 2 each but no more than 2);
High output of finished lambs per Ha;
High quality finished lambs for high price markets;
Need prolific ewe flocks to max number of lambs
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Flushing 3 to 4 weeks prior to mating |
Liveweight and BCS at mating;
Affects fertility and number of lambs born;
% of twins increases by 6% for each 4.5kg increase is liveweight;
BCS 3.0 to 3.5 at mating |
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Flushing achieved by |
Reducing stocking rates;
Transfer onto reserved grass or feed concentrates if grass is not suitable |
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Pregnancy 1st Month |
Over feeding or under feeding increases embryo mortality, decreases litter size;
Need to maintain body weight;
Good grass - 16 to 20 ewes /ha |
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Pregnancy Months 2 to 3 |
Growth of foetus is slow;
Maximum of 5 - 7% loss in body weight is acceptable;
10% loss is excessive, placental insufficiency |
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If fat when mating /
Gain during months 2-3 /
No weight loss from mating to lambing |
Higher incidence of twin lamb disease;
Reduced feed intake in late pregnancy (when demands are increasing);
Pre-mature lambing;
Increased lamb mortality;
Less lambs born |
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Most of foetal growth (85%) occurs |
In the final 8 weeks of pregnancy;
Twin bearing ewes: gain 1.0kg/ewe/week;
Single bearing ewes: gain 0.5kg/ewe/week |
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Relationship between mortality and birthweight |
2kg birth weight - 10% survival (too small);
4.0 - 4.5kg - dystocia problems;
Mortality is high when lamb is either to small or too big |
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Steam up |
Increase feed leading up to lambing;
Leads to strong healthy lambs;
Prevent twin lamb disease;
Body reserves for lactation;
Roughage intake declines in late pregnancy;
About 80% of lactation is from feed, rest is body reserves |
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Daily rations - twin bearing ewes |
Dependent upon:
Body weight and BCS;
Litter size;
Roughage quality;
Stage relative to lambing |
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Feeding amounts |
Ewes with singles feed less;
Ewes with triplets feed more;
If silage is poor then increase concentrates |
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Single bearing ewe feed |
Start feeding concentrates 3 - 4 weeks pre lambing;
Peak at 0.4kg /ewe /day during week of lambing |
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Triple bearing ewe feed |
Start concentrates 8 weeks before lambing;
Increase to a peak of 1.0kg /ewe /day during week of lambing |
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If you do not scan for pregnancy |
Feed all ewes as if have twins or more and monitor BCS to adjust accordingly |
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Silage vs Hay |
Ewes have preference for hay;
Higher DMI on hay;
Less supplement;
Good silage is better than poor hay;
Amount on fresh weight basis is 2 - 3 times higher because lower DM;
Feed ad lib and supplement |
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If pre-lambing diet is inadequate |
Weak lambs born;
Higher lamb mortality;
Lower milk supply;
Poorer maternal growth rate;
Higher incidence of prolapse |
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Intensive lowland production requires |
Prolific ewes to give high litter size;
Increased pasture production (fertilizer);
High stocking rate;
Controlled grazing systems;
Conservation of adequate feed;
Resting of pasture over winter;
Early spring grass for lactating ewes |
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Mid season lamb production |
12 ewes /ha;
50% of lambs sole by the end of July;
70% lambs sold by the end of August;
90% lambs sold by the end of October;
19kg carcass |
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Mid-season Main system |
90% of ewes lamb after mid february;
95% of feed requirements come from grass;
Rest from concentrates |
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Grass growth vs flock requirement:
February lambing |
Deficit post lambing;
Surplus summer and autumn;
Produce finished lambs |
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Grass growth vs flock requirement:
March lambing |
Fits grass growth curve best;
Produce finished lambs;
Optimal for mid season plans |
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Grass growth vs flock requirement:
April lambing |
Surplus spring and early summer;
Deficit at year end;
Produce store lambs only |
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Growth rate |
Not as critical in mid season versus early lamb;
270g /lamb /day = acceptable (achievable by serious producers);
Many producers only achieve 170 -190g |
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Ewe selection |
Any breed (not black faced mountain);
Cross-breds;
Need: good udder, mouth, no disease problems, wool quality, conformation, prolificacy, no history of prolapse, barren or dystocia |
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Ram selection |
Pure breed!
Suffolk - common;
Texel - good option, better carcass, finish at heavier weight, French and home market;
Vendeen, Charollais, Berichon du Cher, Beltex, Rouge de l'Ouest all have potential;
Crossbred suffolk-type rams used - mix in quality |
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Grass Tetany |
Care needed with grass fertilizers;
Luscious rapidly growing young gass and cold night;
K may interact with Mg making it unavailable;
Prevention: ensure P and K applied in autumn |
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Option to prevent grass tetany |
Mg in water supply;
Mineral (Mg) licks with molasses;
Dusting of pastures with calcined magnesite;
Boluses;
Feed Mg rich concentrates - not economical |
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Weaning |
Ideally at 12 - 14 weaks;
Increase stocking rate of ewes post weaning;
Release grass for conservation / lamb finishing;
Expect 25 - 35% of lambs finished by weaning date;
Early weaning not commonly practiced in mid-season |
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Post weaning |
Increased stocking rate
OR
House and feed straw / water (4 days max);
High risk of grass tetany if grass to lush
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Pasture management |
Dense carpet of fresh short grass;
Old permanent pasture - proper fertilisation;
Rotational grazing;
10 ewes/ha : 80 N/ha;
15 ewes/ha : 160 N/ha |
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Lamb drafting |
Slaughter at uniform conformation and weight;
Aim for 40 - 42 kg (19kg carcass weight)
At factory 60% within 16.5 - 20.5 kg;
On farm drafting is very poor |
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Factors affecting growth rate and carcass quality (non-disease, non-genetic) |
Growth rate: Single vs twins; pre vs post weaning; Year to year variation especially post weaning;
Carcass quality: Ram vs castrate (wether); Ewe vs wether; weight affects both conformation and fat score |
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Mid season - annual cycle |
February: steam up;
March: Lambing;
April - June: Lactating;
June - September: Lambs finishing;
September: Flushing;
October: Mating;
November: Maintenance |
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Mid season - Routine chores |
Start of February: Vaccines;
March: Castration, Tail docking
May: Shearing; Monthly worming dosage
August - September: Breeding soundness exam, foot-paring;
November: Fluke dosing
December: Winter shearing, housing |
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Mid-season Summer Sheep Dipping |
To prevent cutaneous myiasis (fly-stike, fly-blow /maggots) and Blue bottle fly Lucilia sp. |
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Mid-season Winter sheep dipping |
To prevent sheep scab; Psoroptic scabies is notifiable; alternatives to dips: pour-on, ivermectin injection |
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Hill Sheep Production |
28% of Irish land - rough grazing; |
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Difficulties of hill sheep production |
Low fertility soils, harsh climate;
Small farms, small flocks;
High proportion of land - commonage;
Poor reproductive performance and growth rate - low demand for lowland finishers |
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Hill sheep breeds |
Ewe: 3/4 black faced mountain, 1/4 Cheviot;
Ram: Generally black face mountain (BFM) x BFM, and Chev x Chev |
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Production of breeding stock for lowland farms |
Ideally this would be the normal practice;
BFMtn x Border Leicester (produce greyface / mule ewes);
Cheviot x Border Leicester (True half bred) |
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Aims / Targets for Hill Sheep |
1 lamb weaned / ewe / yr;
Increase productive life of ewe, decrease replacement costs;
Increase lamb weaning weight (BFMtn 27kg; Chev 31kg);
Provide better grass prior to mating and at lambing |
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Hill sheep lambing date |
Aim: April 1st to mid April; Join ewes with ram on Nov 5th and withdraw mid Dec;
March unsuitable - Fine for lamb but ewe pregnant and lactating in period of scarce food;
May - Ewes have grass but lambs need to be weaned at younger and light - poor BCS at mating; |
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Hill sheep weaning date |
Grass growth and quality deteriorates end of July - Aug;
Wean lambs during this deterioration;
Allow ewe to build up BC before mating;
Maintain lamb growth otherwise poor conformation;
If in short supply of grass, sell lambs to decrease demand for grass |
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Hill sheep Weight at weaning |
Targets: 27kg for BFMtn, 31kg for Cheviot;
Influenced by breed, weaning date, single/twin, food supply, parasite control;
Lambs unfinished at these weights - wether lambs and small ewe lambs sold;
Most ewe lambs kept as replacements (25 - 30 /100) |
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Lowland Targets 20 ewes /ha |
Ewe at mating: > 3.0 BCS; 50kg; BFMtn x BFMtn/Chev/BL
Weaning rate: 120 lambs / 100 ewes;
Weaning weight: 30kg, 16 weeks; |
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Lowland Targets Land Usage 20 ewes /ha |
Wintering of hill, indoor preferably;
Ewes fed silage for winter;
0.3kg /day concentrates pre-lambing;
Post lambing on lowland grass 6-8 wks;
Flock to hill in summer, silage on lowland |
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Lowland Targets Production 20 ewes /ha |
BFMnt ewe lambs retained, x-breeds sold;
Wethers fattened on silage after-grass;
Cull ewes up to 33% per year |
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Lowland targets 40 ewes /ha |
Ewes at mating: >2.5 BCS; 40kg; BFMtn x BFMtn;
Weaning Rate: 90 BFMnt lambs / 100 ewes;
Weaning weight: 25kg, 16 weeks |
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Lowland targets land usage 40 ewes /ha |
Wintering on hill, except thinnest ewes;
Move to lowland for lambing;
Post-lambing on lowland grass 6-8 weeks |
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Lowland targets produce 40 ewes /ha |
Ewe lambs retained;
Wethers sold as stores or light hill-lamb for niche markets;
Cull ewes up to 33% per year |
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Finishing store lambs |
20-25kg hill lambs;
30-40kg lowland stores
Movement: Store-producing to finishing farm;
Intensive high stocking rate, specialist store lamb production |
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Store-lamb production |
Marginal areas: Lowland --> Lowland-x stores; Hill --> BFMnt and BFMnt-x;
Part-time farming;
Intensive, specialist production, high stocking rate |
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Store lamb sale of lambs |
Batch into uniform groups (weight / breed / sex);
No ram lambs (Castrate at birth);
Ideally August |
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After purchase of store lambs |
Do not release lambs immediately to fresh pasture;
Allow to rest post-transport;
Relatively bare pasture (1-2 days), water supply |
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Autumn pasture store lambs |
30kg (LWT) lambs from early Aug - Oct;
Slaughter wt. of 40-45kg = carcass wt of 18-20kg;
Lambs gain 1kg /week at 30 lambs /ha;
Half stocking rate in mid spetember to maintain growth of lambs;
Hill lambs - if on lowland by early Aug and >30kg |
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Profitability of store lamb finishing:
Main factors |
Price at purchase;
Price at sale;
Weight gain;
Cost of feed;
Duration of keep |
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Profitability of store lamb finishing:
Ancillary costs |
Transport;
Dipping;
Dosing;
Vaccination;
Fence maintenance;
Mortality ( <3%) |
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Early lamb production |
Out of season breeding;
Problems: Getting ewe in lamb, Feeding over winter, Meeting marketing targets;
Mainly on grassland / tillage farms;
Grass, silage, hay, roots, concentrates |
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Early lamb production - lamb prices |
Highest at Easter;
Varies with time of Easter;
Aim to sell at high price;
Small window mid-march to early May |
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Early lamb production growth rate |
36 - 38kg at 12 - 20 weeks (mean date 16 wks);
Sell at 36 - 40kg, KO 47 - 49%;
Mean growth rate 270gm /day (min target);
Best lambs grow at 430 gm /day |
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Targets for early lamb production |
1.5 lambs sold / ewe to ram;
15 ewes /ha;
12 weeks - first lamb sales;
20 weeks - 90% sold;
System ideally based on roots / early grass;
Hay and concentrates / silage and concentrates - costs high;
Poor farms - only 50% sold by end of may rest sold at low prices and high costs |
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Early Lamb Ewe Selection |
Lowland breed crosses - Halfbreed, suffolk X cheviot, texel X, etc.
Hill crosses - High litter size advantage, but slower growth rate |
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Early Lamb Ram Selection |
Suffolk ram on white faced ewes;
Dorset ram on suffolk X ewes;
Dorset & Vendeen - useful as very active out of season |
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Early Lamb Flushing and Breeding |
Prior to mating: prevent ewes from getting too fat;
Mating: BCS at 3.0 - 3.5;
Breeding: Progestagen pessary (12 - 14 days) + eCG (at pessary removal) |
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Early Lamb Flushing and Breeding Part 2 |
Insert progestagen pessary so lamb 16 weeks before Easter (avoid lambing during Christmas week);
Mate July /early August;
Flush on good pasture while pessary inserted;
Pasture rested in June - supports 15 ewes /ha for flushing in July;
Rams let in 36 -48 hrs;
Ram:Ewe --> 1:10 |
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Conception rates in Early Lamb:
Where done well |
Min CR at 1st service = 70-80%;
1/2 of rest will hold to repeat twice;
Expect 85% CR to 2 mating |
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Conception rates in Early Lamb:
With high eCG dose |
High litter size to controlled oestrus;
Low litter size to repeat cycle |
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Housing for Early Lamb |
Where winter feed is based on forage crop - flock wintered outdoors;
Housing only required at lambing - eases management |
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Winter feeding of Early Lamb |
Saved grass - poor quality, grass growth curve and flock requirements do not match, ewe req max when grass growth min;
Other options - Roots: best is swedes, kale, stubble turnip, and fodder beet |
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Feeding Systems Early Lamb |
Indoor (silage, fodder beet) / Outdoor (rootcrop);
1. Root crops + supplementation; 2. Saved grass or Italian ryegrass; 3. High quality silage + supplementation 4. +/- Early weaning - ewes get hard rations post-weaning
All systems involve ad lib concentrates for lambs (creep feed) |
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Early Lamb Creep Feed |
From 2 weeks to slaughter;
Offer creep from 10-14 days old;
Lambs eat more creep feed with ewes on hay/silage vs roots;
Roots: Lambs require 25 - 35 kg creep;
Hay/Silage: Lambs require 50 - 70 kg creep |
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Conventional Early Lamb Weaning |
Lambs sold dirrectly off ewes;
Seperate weaned ewes, high stocking rates, hard-rations |
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Selling of conventional Early Lamb |
Dependent on available market and price (supply competition);
Weight and finish of lambs;
Breed / cross involved;
Sex of lamb and single or twin, age;
Drafting weights for suffolk x lambs;
Single ewe lamb - 35kg
Single male lamb - 38kg |
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Lambing in Early Lambing Systems |
Ideally indoors;
Alternative - clean field;
Twin bearing ewe: 45 minutes variation between 1st and 2nd lamb - risk of mis-mothering;
Indoor lambing - supervision to avoid mis-mothering |
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Lamb Mortality of Early Lambing |
Most of the deaths in the first 3 days (80%);
Up to 20% of all lambs born (target should be <8%);
Born dead - 6%;
Starvation - 10%;
Accidents - 2%;
Various infections - 2%;
Disease is not the biggest killer |
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Reducing starvation of lambs in early lambing |
Wool free udder;
Removal of wax seal on teat;
Mastitis?
Direct weak lambs to teats;
Triplets / quads - remove lambs -foster/bottle rear |
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Hypothermia of Early Lamb lambs |
IR lamp, hot air box;
Provide glucose first or lamb will warm up brain dead;
Brisk rubbing / warming;
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Two big housing issues of sheep |
Respiratory disease and lameness |
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Advantages of Sheep housing |
Not traditionally used - more common with higher stocking rates, intensive sheep production on lowlands;
Advantages: Eliminates poaching, more early grass;
Allows increased SR and higher returns;
Eases management at lambing;
Pen ewes according to age, BCS etc to feed accordingly;
Decrease lamb mortality |
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Disadvantages of Sheep Housing |
High capital cost;
More supplementary feed needed (hay, concentrates, etc);
Risk of disease spread;
Indoor finished lambs tend to have sweaty greasy wool - taste more like American lamb |
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Housing consideration siting |
Dry, Drainage;
Road access, central location;
Shelter - 5 ft adequate;
Electricity / water |
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Housing consideration ventilation |
Pneumonia problem if ventilation is poor;
Inlet at eaves, 2x outlet;
Over ventilate rather than under ventilate;
Reduce daughts;
Dont house when wet - takes weeks to dry |
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Dry bedding |
Wet bedding increases incidence of foot rot;
Gravel or earth under straw better and cheaper but now illegal;
Concrete better pollution control - control e. coli;
Straw - 3 to 4 bales / ewe / 90 day winter on concrete;
Slats /expanded metal - good but expensive |
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Bedding -Straw |
Advantages - cheap, comfortable, limited feed value, dung easily managed, building can be used for other purposes;
Disadvantages - High labour requirements, clean out each year, more foot rot |
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Bedding - Slats |
Advantages: No additional bedding, deep tanks only need to clean 3-4yrs, less labour, clean sheep, less space req / ewe, less feet problems, less infection from bedding;
Disadvantages: Expensive, hay may block slats, broken slats = injury, sheep sometimes uneasy |
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Housing costs |
Must be kept as low as possible;
100 euro / ewe for plastic house;
180 - 200 euro /ewe for lyons type house;
220 euro / ewe slatted unit |
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Floor Space per Animal |
Depends on layout, type of flooring, animal type etc.;
Lamb 45 kg: 0.55m^2 on slats 0.62m^2 on straw;
Ewe 70 kg: 1.2m^2 on slats 1.3/1.4m^2 on straw;
Ewe+2 lambs: 1.7-1.9m^2 on slats 2.0m^2 on straw;
Winter shearing reduces space requirements bu 20% |
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Forage trough/ silage barrier |
Better to have horizontal bar than vertical barriers;
Timber troughs ideal;
25-50cm above ground level |
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Width of Pen |
Wider pen means more sheep can fit but cannot eat - therefore have a maximum width in relation to trough space;
More trough space means more room for more animals |
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Group Size |
Convenient divisions - grouped by BCS, time of lambing, ewe lambs, mature ewes;
25 ewes /pen at lambing, 40-50 at other times;
Mis-mothering at lambing if group is too big;
Disease spread;
Finding individual sheep |
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Water Requirements |
If fed silage / root - will consume very little water;
Sheep preference for open trough vs nose operated bowl;
Raise trough to prevent fouling, prevent lambs drowning |
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Light Requirements |
Dim light, rather than off - allows for nighttime husbandry without disturbing the other ewes by turning the lights on |
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Design of housing:
Unroofed slatted platform |
Slats outdoors, does not affect performance;
Sheep may look poor especially when wet;
Surrounded by 1.5m windbreak;
Dung removed annually;
Expensive, poor farmer comfort, need care with slats for young animals |
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Design of housing:
Slatted roofed house with feed passage |
Specialist building, types of slats;
Timber - unsuitable for lambing ewes;
Expanded Metal - More expensive than timber, can be used for calving |
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Design of housing:
Straw bedded house |
If straw is available then its best;
Can incorporate silage bunker rather than hay rack - tractor access |
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Design of housing:
Plastic covered housing |
Similar to horticulture buildings;
Central passage for feed/ access;
Polythene renewed every 2 - 3 years, mesh ventilation at sides;
Relatively expensive |
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Alternative to new Housing |
Sacrifice paddock - takes sheep off pasture, good on free draining land;
Winter paddock/ strips;
Open unroofed yards - messy if high rainfall, foot rot in wet, lot of straw used, need good drainage;
Conversion of building - biggest problem is ventilation, cheap is suitable building available |
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Sheep Handling Facilities:
Principles of handling sheep |
Prefer to follow rather than be driven;
Prefer to move up hill and towards horizen;
Move away from buildings, toward open spaces;
Move towards other sheep;
Move better around slight corner vs acute corner
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Siting |
Near centre of farm;
Extensive farm may need > 1 unit;
Near winter housing;
Easy access for transport;
Sheltered site, well drained, near water supply |
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Holding Pens |
Should not be too big - use adjacent small paddocks to reduce requirements for pens;
Ideally should hold all sheep at once;
Cone shaped pens better than square - assist sheep movement;
Facility to re-cycle sheep for additional treatment |
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Race |
Must have smooth sides - narrow enough to present the sheep singly;
Sloping sides help accommodate mixed sizes;
Or walk through race (more than one side by side);
Breathing holes at base to prevent suffocation;
Length 3m minimum |
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Footbaths |
Normally sited in narrow race;
May be portable, metal /plastic;
Or in-situ concrete;
Longitudinal ridges on base, important to open sheep feet;
Two stages: 1st water wash, 2nd treatment |
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Dipping tank |
Sheep must be kept in dip for 1 min;
1.0 - 1.3m deep;
Swim bath straight or circular;
Long bath, continuous flow of sheep - expensive uses a lot of dip;
Entry to dip tank - should be disguised if possible, enter sheep forward/backward, side entry slip-way (+ decoy pen);
Care with disposal of dip - toxic pollutant |
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Draining Pens after Dipping Tank |
Large enough to allow sheep to drain for 5-10 min;
Allow sheep to drip in pen near tank then move to 2nd draining pen;
Full fleece may carry 35L fluid;
Concrete tank and forcing pen;
Timber and metal divisions okay elsewhere, otherwise concrete |
