Improving performance - sheep

[spark_28]

ive never tested for anything on my Croft, the grass or the sheep. Is it worth doing? Im not overly concerned at the lamb quality but I’m always looking for ways to improve performance.

Would blood testing the sheep/lambs be worthwhile? T

 

[andybk]

I would blood test half dozen sheep ,2 best, 2 worst, 2 middle to see any deficiencies , we were ticking along fine except a few issues nothing obvious , turns out we were v short of selenium , after boulsing sheep really gained ground , lambing was easier with less problems more lambs , all from a £ bolus . If no shortages nothing lost and not expensive . Best money we spent in long time

 

[Woolless]

I consulted Trevor Cook ( (QMS kiwi expert) about this when we moved farm. He recommended testing spring grass, then ewes a month before tupping. He reckoned that if a deficiency in the grass was reflected in the sheep then it really needed sorted. He also recommended liver samples off la!be but I don't know how easy that is? On the back of my results, ewes boluses twice yearly and lambs boluses at weaning.

 

[spark_28]

I consulted Trevor Cook ( (QMS kiwi expert) about this when we moved farm. He recommended testing spring grass, then ewes a month before tupping. He reckoned that if a deficiency in the grass was reflected in the sheep then it really needed sorted. He also recommended liver samples off la!be but I don't know how easy that is? On the back of my results, ewes boluses twice yearly and lambs boluses at weaning.

Have you noticed a difference?

I’ve had sheep on the same land for 15 years and they’venever been tested for anything.

Grass is old pasture that’s only ever saw sheep and never been treated with anything. I want to try and produce rams (sheep are Lleyn) so want to cover all basis.

 

[spark_28]

I would blood test half dozen sheep ,2 best, 2 worst, 2 middle to see any deficiencies , we were ticking along fine except a few issues nothing obvious , turns out we were v short of selenium , after boulsing sheep really gained ground , lambing was easier with less problems more lambs , all from a £ bolus . If no shortages nothing lost and not expensive . Best money we spent in long time

What time of year

 

[andybk]

i did mine post weaning (june) , to give time for pre tupping bolus if needed .took about a week , was about £20 a test iirc plus vet time, colbalt is usually a limiter in weaned lambs

 

[clod hopper]

As you are a crofter, I imagine you have 50acres or less and fairly remote. Transport for fertilizer is high. I'd not bother with grass samples but do bloods. Will be more cost effective to bolus or monthly mineral drench I'd have thought. I graze a few smaller blocks of land here and there I find it works best for me.

 

[spark_28]

As you are a crofter, I imagine you have 50acres or less and fairly remote. Transport for fertilizer is high. I'd not bother with grass samples but do bloods. Will be more cost effective to bolus or monthly mineral drench I'd have thought. I graze a few smaller blocks of land here and there I find it works best for me.

yeah i think grass samples wouldnt help me much.

what about a couple of horses like eriskay ponies grazed in small blocks over my crofts a few weeks ahead of the sheep in the summer months. would that help grass growth?

 

[clod hopper]

yeah i think grass samples wouldnt help me much.

what about a couple of horses like eriskay ponies grazed in small blocks over my crofts a few weeks ahead of the sheep in the summer months. would that help grass growth?

You're grass growth will improve if you graze all your livestock in small cells/strip grazing (don't forget to back fence) no shorter than 21 days from last grazing

 

[Global ovine]

yeah i think grass samples wouldnt help me much.

what about a couple of horses like eriskay ponies grazed in small blocks over my crofts a few weeks ahead of the sheep in the summer months. would that help grass growth?

If it reduces seed heads and returns grasses back to a vegetative state, then grazing with ponies would work a treat. But that will not fix any TE deficiencies that may be present.

 

[Woolless]

Have you noticed a difference?

I’ve had sheep on the same land for 15 years and they’venever been tested for anything.

Grass is old pasture that’s only ever saw sheep and never been treated with anything. I want to try and produce rams (sheep are Lleyn) so want to cover all basis.

Yes, well worth doing.

 

[Highland Mule]

Lime and fences. Every area of grass should be sharply bared off at least once a year, and that needs fencing to mob the stock.

 

[spark_28]

Lime and fences. Every area of grass should be sharply bared off at least once a year, and that needs fencing to mob the stock.

i try and do that, have a few hebrideans which i use to follow my own lleyn sheep to 'clean up' and hoping to up their numbers too. have hill grazing right next to us so if im ever under pressure growth wise that eases the burden.

I think ill try and borrow a couple of ponies next summer to see what improvements they make.

 

[andybk]

i try and do that, have a few hebrideans which i use to follow my own lleyn sheep to 'clean up' and hoping to up their numbers too. have hill grazing right next to us so if im ever under pressure growth wise that eases the burden.

I think ill try and borrow a couple of ponies next summer to see what improvements they make.

be a good idea , will help remove some worm burden as well , some of the best grazing i ever had , was grazing with horses on a stable , horses wouldnt eat the clover but kept the grass short and allowed light in . Lambs / ewes came off that place like they had been on ad lib concentrate yet was only very poor pasture .