Sheep - Things to do this Month - September

• Continue to monitor lambs’ growth and select for slaughter: for lowland breeds aim for a ‘liveweight’ of 42kg to make an 18kg carcase
• Our DVD "Sheep for Business, Enterprise & Profit" fully explains how to select lambs for slaughter, with Adam Henson and Meat Consultant, Jim Sharrrock, describing the unique characteristics of a variety of rare breeds, as well as commercial-type lambs
• Consider selling surplus lambs as ‘stores’, if not ready for slaughter and you don’t have enough grazing/forage to over-winter at home
• Decide on your breeding strategy for the year ahead, based on particular characteristics you wish to strengthen in your flock – if you’re purchasing a new ram for the season (and remember, the ram contributes 50% of the flock genetics), this exercise will help you decide what to look for
• Next, study this year’s lambing records – this will help you decide which ewes to retain in the flock:
- ewes that lambed easily
- ewes that milked well and raised two good twins
- ewes that maintained condition, and are sound in udder, feet and teeth
• Select the best ewe lambs to keep as replacements
• Purchase replacement breeding stock, and quarantine in line with your Flock Health Plan
• Towards the end of the month, prepare rams for tupping and ‘flush’ ewes on best pasture in readiness for tupping (allow 6 weeks before you plan to introduce the ram) – and prepare for a successful lambing with our DVD "The Breeding Flock"
• The very wet summer across most of the country has both increased the likelihood of Liver Fluke (fascioliasis), and made its appearance earlier in the year than usual, so be aware of the symptoms of the acute stage of Liver Fluke. Any sudden loss of condition or unexplained death should be investigated. Signs of sub-acute disease include lethargy, poor body condition, poor fleece quality and reduced grazing. Chronic fascioliasis, usually seen in January onwards, can be detected in faecal samples; acute and sub-acute disease is diagnosed though blood samples that will show raised liver enzymes, and should be treated strategically in line with your Flock Health Plan. If sheep graze wet pastures, consider dosing, and choose your drench carefully to make sure it is effective against the early immature fluke stage of the disease. For a complete explanation of the complex lifecycle and treatment of this disease, (click here) to watch a video presented by Michaela Strachan
• If you find yourself inundated with post-its and reminders of stock tasks needing to be done, treat yourself (or your shepherd!) to one of our handy combined Flock Management & Breeding Flock Planners