overview of lamb finishing systems for early and mid season lambing flock overview of store lamb...
TRANSCRIPT
Overview of lamb finishing systems for early and mid season lambing flock
Overview of store lamb finishing systems
Be aware of the range of feeding options for store lambs
Be aware of the market requirements for finished lambs
Intensive indoor finishing – concentrate fed
Grass finished early or March born lambs – straight off ewe or weaned
Short keep store lambs
Long keep store lambs
System selected depends on land and resources available
December/January born lambs/triplets or pet lambs Males left entire Weaned early and fed all concentrate diet Slatted floors or well strawed lying area Target premium market - April/May Wean at 6 weeks if eating 400-500g/day Lambs consume 50-60kg creep feed Encourage lambs to creep early Ad-lib water Troughs off floor to prevent fouling - coccidiosis Rock salt to prevent urinary stone
Lambs born December/January Ewes and lambs outside when sufficient grass If grass limited ewes fed concentrates Lambs creep fed from early age Growth rates of 450g/day possible Lambs finished pre-Easter/May Select lambs carefully to hit target specifications
Lambs finished straight off their mother – usually singles and lambs born in first lambing cycle
Lambs should only be creep fed if grass supply is limited
Good grass quality and grazing management vital Lambs weaned at 12-16 weeks and moved onto silage
aftermaths (clean grazing/low worm burden) On a typical lowland system March born lambs
should be finished by end September off grass Desired daily growth rate of 250 + g/day
Creep feeding can compensate for poor grass supply/quality
Creep feeding 300 grams/lamb/day◦ Increases lamb performance◦ Reduces age at slaughter by 28 days◦ Increases price received for first draft of lambs◦ Small effect on average carcase price for total flock
For mid season lamb producing flocks - Increased lamb performance does not cover cost of concentrates.
To improve financial margins focus on better grassland management
Depends on many factors
◦ Weight of lambs
◦ Length of time/feed required to finish
◦ Availability of grass or concentrates
◦ Market trends
Grass supply can fall substantially◦ Lambs face declining sward heights and lower quality
swards
Releases grass for ewes at tupping
Provides grass to go into winter with
Can reduce need to feed ewes
Take advantage of good store trade?
Mop up surplus grass in summer/autumn/winter without poaching the land
Improves sward quality
Sell into high market price
Buy stores at a competitive market price
What is a competitive price?
Length of time to finish
Make the most of resources available◦ Grass◦ Feed◦ Forages
Feed costs
Have a plan
Margins can be tight
Know your market
Length of keep
Weight of lamb (kg)
Weight of lamb (kg) half weight
Typical weight gain per week (Kg)
Length of finishing period
Finishing system
Short 36+ 18+ 0.9 – 1.1 6 weeks or less
Good quality grass or grass and concentrate
Medium 30-35 15-17.5 0.6 – 0.8 6-10 weeks Grass and concentrate
Long Below 30
Below 15
0.5 – 0.7 10 weeks+ Grass and concentrateForage cropsAd Lib/ indoor finishing
Select lambs free from Orf /scab
Little or no feet problems/ lameness/joint-ill
Avoid mixed groups of lambs
Similar breed type and sex
Keep entire ram lambs away from ewe lambs
Dose with ‘an effective wormer’ and house/yard for 12- 18 hrs
Keep separate from own sheep
Footbath and keep on clean concrete for 1 hour
Vaccinate with clostridial / pasteurella vaccine
Dip if necessary or apply pour on depending on season.
The better a lamb is fed the quicker it will grow, depends on◦grass supply◦grass quality◦lamb growth potential◦geographic location,◦type of production system ◦marketing options◦cost and availability of feed
Ideal for lowland Dairy / beef farms
Surplus grass on silage aftermaths or cattle grazing swards
Lower worm challenge – clean grazing
Grass quality will depend on management during the summer
Keep a good grass supply going into fields of 7 cm (2200 kg DM/ha and coming out of fields at 3cm (1600 kg DM/ha)
Block graze fields - helps to avoid poaching /compaction
Aim to finish lambs within 6 - 8 weeks
Utilise 50% of the sward in all fields available – grazing tight may restrict intakes and performance
During favorable conditions can gain 1 kg/head/week
Pastures with high clover content (10%) can increase lamb growth rates by 50 g/day compared to grass alone
Makes most sense when grass quality/quantity is low
Help to stretch resource allows higher stocking rate
Feed a high energy, low protein concentrate along with good quality grass
Concentrates can be fed at 0.25 – 1 kg per day in troughs, level depends on ◦ Grass quality/quantity◦ How quickly lambs need to be finished◦ Lamb/conc. price
Where reasonable grass is available feed 0.25 - 0.45kg above this level
feed will replace grass
Troughs◦ Where every lamb can feed at the same time◦ Groups start eating and finish at the same time
Hoppers◦ Can be placed out in fields but are more suitable for feeding ad-
lib concentrates than a restricted quantity
16% Protein12.6 MJ/KG DM
10% Fibre
Barley 250
Maize 250
Maize gluten 100
Soya 125
Soya hulls 150
Citrus pulp 100
Mins + Vits 25
40 -50 kg per tonne of chopped straw can be added if the lambs are fed ad lib.
Silage quality is critical to ensure good intake and determine concentrate intake◦ Quality 68-70 D value◦ 11.5 ME kg/DM◦ 25-30% dry matter
Don't feed poorly fermented or
contaminated silage to avoid listeriosis
Silage D value Concentrates required Kg/Lamb/day
69+ 0.30
67 0.37
65 0.40
Below 64 Not suitable
Expensive, useful to achieve necessary finish on lambs and meet target market
Viability depends on lamb and meal prices
Can take up to 8kg meal to support 1kg of liveweight or 0.48kg of carcass (FCR 8:1)
Lambs can get excessively fat especially ewe lambs
Don’t exceed the payable carcase weight (21 or 22 kg)
Monitor performance on a regular basis and check does it pay
Cost = 1.60
Meal
7 kg @ 200 per tonne =£1.40
8 kg @ £200 per tonne = £1.60
10 kg @ 200 per tonne =£2.00
Return = 1.68
Lamb 1kg of liveweight x 48 % kill
out = 0.48 kg carcase
0.48 kg carcase @ £3.50 = £1.68
Build up gradually on meal
Generally lambs are housed
Ensure good supply of water
Provide straw in the ration to ensure good rumen function
Clipping / shearing pre housing may help performance – helps in increase intakes
NEVER use ewe minerals in lamb rations
Up to 4 lambs per expanded metal (mesh) slat 0.7 m2/lamb
On restricted feeding allow 350-400 mm trough space per lamb
On Ad lib feeding allow 125 mm trough space per lamb
Adequate air inlet and outlet – to prevent sticky housing/damp bedding
Forage rape - can graze in 100 days after sowing. ◦ Sow April- Aug : Use June – Feb
Tyfon – Can be grazed after 60 days a re-growth after grazing
Kale- High yielding but may be better suited for use as a forage crop for cattle
Requires a grass lie back Strip graze
Kill out % Grass fed Heavy meal
feeding
43% 50%
Liveweight Expected carcase weight
50 21.50 25.00
43 18.49 21.5
Effect of diet on kill out %Effect of diet on kill out %
Grass only fed lambs will have a lower kill out percentage compared to concentrate fed lambs
Purchase price 18 + kg £65Keep for 6 weeks
Variable costs Grass cost (50 p per week) £3.00 Concentrates (30 days 0.45 kg per day) £3.00 Vet and med £2.00 Transport £1.00 Market/fees £1.50Total variable costs £10.50Require £76 at time of sale ( 21kg @ £3.62/kg)
Weigh lambs regularly
Assess flesh/fat cover by handling the lambsa. Around the tail root or dock - The fatter the
lamb the wider the dock.
b. Check the prominence of the backbone over the loin.
c. Over the ribs.
d. The backbone over the shoulder.
e. Along the breast bone
Females will fatten at lower liveweight
Don't allow lambs to go over weight or over fat
Market requirements for lamb carcases can Market requirements for lamb carcases can be described in terms of the following 3 be described in terms of the following 3 areas:areas:
1. Carcase conformation
2. Carcase fat class
3. Carcase weight
Finishing system depends on the resources you have available
Grass is your cheapest feed and most valuable resource Sell lambs as stores if keeping them on is likely to affect
performance of ewes Purchase store lambs similar in size and free from disease Plan what feed you have available and when lambs will
be at slaughter weight Weigh lambs on a regular basis Read the market trends If intensive feeding check your costs