Sheep Scanning

[An ancient git]

If I ran at 140-160% then I would scan and split ewes up . Generally @185%+ , so not too many singles in system . I'd ideally like to run @ 175ish , and reduce the 3s .... On my system , there is a tendency for the extra lambs to not really increase the £s margins .

 

[Woolless]

If I ran at 140-160% then I would scan and split ewes up . Generally @185%+ , so not too many singles in system . I'd ideally like to run @ 175ish , and reduce the 3s .... On my system , there is a tendency for the extra lambs to not really increase the £s margins .

Maybe scanning would help with that? Triplets separate for a bit more feed/supervision/TLC?

 

[Kip]

Just a few of the innovations introduced by so-called experts, and which have been to the immense benefit of sheep farmers


Feeding whole grain to sheep (Rowett Research Institute & SAC)

Scanning (Rowett Research Institute, Animal Breeding Res. Organisation & SAC)

Winter shearing of pregnant ewes (SAC)

Flat-rate feeding of concentrates (SAC)

Clean Grazing (SAC)

Discovery of bi-pass protein in late pregnancy (Rowett Research Institute)

Importation of Texels from France ( Animal Breeding Research Organisation)

Vaccination against Clostridial diseases and liver fluke control (Moredun Research Inst. & Hill Farming Res. Org.)

Administration of colostrum by stomach tube & treatment of hypothermia in lambs (Moredun Research Inst)

Correction of Copper and Cobalt deficiency in ewes and lambs ( Moredun, HFRO & SAC)

I think all these organisations etc are very very important nowadays for farmers if not for improving their income herd/ flock etc but giving them access to other farms and letting them see how others do things. The thing that really annoys me is when you get consultants, feed salesman etc coming onto your farm trying to tell YOU what to do after they have had made an arse of their own farm or couldn’t be arsed taking it on.

 

[neilo]

Maybe scanning would help with that? Triplets separate for a bit more feed/supervision/TLC?

As a big outdoor lamber said to me once, and the reason I don’t treat triplets any differently in that system, the odd trip that gets missed by the scanner is always just fine, so why make the work?

On a forage diet, triplets seem to manage to eat more and compensate, whereas with concentrate based systems, they don’t have that option, they only get what they’re given. In my indoor lambing mobs, I try to house the trips a few weeks early, in order to get extra feed.

 

[An ancient git]

In 50 years , haven't had a prob with 3s fed as 2s , so won't change now ! Agree with Neilo on this totally . Hey folk , we got on fine before scanning ! Reckon if I scanned I'd start to over-feed against results and screw job up . It's stockmanship and using ones eyes that matters !!!!!

 

[unlacedgecko]

I think all these organisations etc are very very important nowadays for farmers if not for improving their income herd/ flock etc but giving them access to other farms and letting them see how others do things. The thing that really annoys me is when you get consultants, feed salesman etc coming onto your farm trying to tell YOU what to do after they have had made an arse of their own farm or couldn’t be arsed taking it on.

Sounds like I need to become a consultant!

 

[Greythundercloudys]

Yes, l agree with nithsdale, upland /hilly ewes need a bite of cake from six weeks to go, it's pretty much impossible to cut cake altogether, maybe in England that's total different from wet/bare upland places in Scotland, the ewes would be as lean as wood come lmbing time. I would bolove to cut concentrates down abit but what to feed in there place??

 

[Highland Mule]

Scanning for me is all about identifying the singles and >2s to keep them close by - then when I get a set of triplets I can wet foster it on to a known single as soon as possible, and hopefully never have any pets or ewes feeding three. Last year, I achieved the ultimate of using no powdered milk and avoided any ewes turned out with more than two lambs.

 

[neilo]

Yes, l agree with nithsdale, upland /hilly ewes need a bite of cake from six weeks to go, it's pretty much impossible to cut cake altogether, maybe in England that's total different from wet/bare upland places in Scotland, the ewes would be as lean as wood come lmbing time. I would bolove to cut concentrates down abit but what to feed in there place??

I certainly couldn’t do it here on just grass, although could probably go some way if I was willing to leccy fence up into daily cells (around the many footpaths).
It’s not about cutting out feed, just replacing it with a much cheaper option, in my case root crops.

 

[Ysgythan]

Having mine scanned in a couple of weeks- just wondering how it’s going for people so far this year.

Earlier lambers scanning well up, later about average is what I’ve heard. Our Texels have scanned over 200% for the first time ever. They’re normally no more than 185%

 

[Ysgythan]

a Scottish scanner on Facebook

 

[texelburger]

Suffolk x Mule due 4th Feb on 205 %,

 

[Jim75]

Yes, l agree with nithsdale, upland /hilly ewes need a bite of cake from six weeks to go, it's pretty much impossible to cut cake altogether, maybe in England that's total different from wet/bare upland places in Scotland, the ewes would be as lean as wood come lmbing time. I would bolove to cut concentrates down abit but what to feed in there place??

When do you lamb? Too early and no grass or chewed it off in the winter and not shut up early enough = management

 

[Guiggs]

View attachment 852104

a Scottish scanner on Facebook

Jesus... sod that!

 

[firther]

My (very small) flock 243% 10 twins 5 trips 1 quad and I’m glad I don’t have several hundred lambing at that percentage

we know were to come for cade lambs then

 

[Wishful Thinker]

58 ewes lambs......
38 empty
12 singles
8 doubles.

That went well. [emoji30]
3 weeks and a beltex ram lamb that must have been too small obviously was a bad call. Knew he couldn’t cope with them all but thought that he would have got at least half of them.

 

[Wishful Thinker]

58 ewes lambs......
38 empty
12 singles
8 doubles.

That went well. [emoji30]
3 weeks and a beltex ram lamb that must have been too small obviously was a bad call. Knew he couldn’t cope with them all but thought that he would have got at least half of them.

 

[Wishful Thinker]

58 ewes lambs......
38 empty
12 singles
8 doubles.

That went well. [emoji30]
3 weeks and a beltex ram lamb that must have been too small obviously was a bad call. Knew he couldn’t cope with them all but thought that he would have got at least half of them.

 

[Wishful Thinker]

58 ewes lambs......
38 empty
12 singles
8 doubles.

That went well. [emoji30]
3 weeks and a beltex ram lamb that must have been too small obviously was a bad call. Knew he couldn’t cope with them all but thought that he would have got at least half of them.

 

[Nithsdale]

To make sure I took it in... I had to read it 4 times!!




Brave call using a midget. Miracle he tupped anything, IMO