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Sheep - Things to do this Month - July

SHEEP – for a March/April lambing flock:

  • lambs-playingIf you haven’t already ear tagged the lambs, make sure this is done before they reach 6 months of age – be aware of EID regulations when ordering tags (the merchant should be able to advise you if you’re in any doubt) allow plenty of time, and think carefully about the type of tag to order – especially if you have pedigree stock that you will retain, or sell as breeding stock
  • Wean lambs from 12 weeks, if they’re nearing slaughter weight consider leaving them with the ewe up to 16 weeks as following weaning they generally experience a check in their growth
  • Lambs should be weaned onto clean pasture (stress of weaning can make lambs more susceptible to parasites), ideally with a sward height of 6-8cm to avoid them losing condition
  • Carry out an FEC for lambs (a pooled sample will give a good picture of the level of the worm burden) soon after weaning to determine whether dosing is required
  • If you’re in any doubt about your worming/dosing technique, watch this short video featuring SCOPS expert Lesley Stubbings showing Adam Henson the correct way to drench
  • Remember, warm, wet weather can increase the parasitic challenge to lambs
  • It’s less stressful to remove the ewes and leave the lambs in the same paddock, but the lambs must have clean, good grazing – so make your decision based on the grazing you have available
  • Ideally, move ewes and lambs out of earshot of one another
  • Ewes should go onto poorer pasture, to help them dry off quickly, which will help avoid mastitis

Continue to monitor the flock:

  • Lameness – treat promptly to prevent infection being spread on pasture (the bacteria that causes footrot can survive on pastures for 14 days or more, especially in wet, warm weather)
  • If you need to get lambs up to slaughter weight quickly, or if you’re short of grazing, you can give them supplementary feed, but beware feeding excessively, especially to ram lambs that can develop urinary calculi (stones) if overfed
  • Monitor ewes for mastitis
  • Provide shade for all stock if possible, especially rams
  • Continue to be on guard against internal parasites in the lamb flock and carry out FECs on a regular basis: treat promptly with the most appropriate drench if indicated – this regime should pay for itself in reduced usage of drenches, faster growing lambs, and avoidance of resistant parasites on your holding
  • Watch sheep carefully for signs of flystrike and other external parasites – even if you have treated with a long-acting insecticide, you still need to keep alert. Lambs with ‘wagging’ tails is a classic sign that they have been ‘struck’ and may be infested with maggots – act quickly to prevent damage, or in severe cases, death of the affected animal(s).
  • Be aware of ‘Meat Withdrawal Periods’ when giving any medicines or treatments to lambs intended for slaughter
  • The 2nd programme in our DVD series, "Managing Your Flock for Peak Health" describes the management practices you can put into practice on your smallholding to protect your flock from both internal and external parasites.
  • Get used to handling lambs destined for slaughter on a regular basis so that you can tell when they are ready to go. (You can see Adam Henson demonstrating how to do this on our short video)
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