“Knowing the Growth Efficiency Potential in the

Lamb Crop ”

Dr. Jeff HeldSouth Dakota State

University

Flock Management Goals

High ewe reproductive efficiency genetics, nutrition and health

Lower unit cost of production reduce feed cost – ewe flock

feed efficiency (F/G) and cost of gain – lamb performance

Lower labor requirementfacilities and feeding managementmore mechanical applications

Risk/marketing management enter marketing agreementsutilize wool LDP and LRP-Lamb

Lamb Feed Efficiency and Cost of Gain

• Growth performance (ADG)

• Optimum economic finished weight (YG2/3)

Growth Performance (ADG)

• Genetics / Frame size– Growth trait selection– Crossbreeding (hybrid vigor)

• Sex of animal – R>W>E

• Age

• Health status

AVERAGE DAILY GAIN

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Dai

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ain

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Live Weight (lb)

Large Frame

Small Frame

Ave Wt = 91 lb

Sire and Dam were a Wool Breed

No Crossbreeding

Ave Wt = 99 lb

-Terminal Breed Sired

-Heterosis (6%)

Heritability of Selected Traits

Lambs born per ewe lambing 10

Pounds of lamb weaned per exposed ewe 20

120 Day weight 20

Post Weaning Gain (60-120 days) 25

Weight of trimmed retail cuts 45

Loin eye area 35

How do you select the the best terminal sire?

Terminal SireFarm Flock Performance Information

Individual Sire Performance - Hampshire

ID B Date B Type W Type WW 120- D Wt

WDA PW ADG

301 1/24 S S 110 199 1.66 1.48

201 1/24 TW TW 61 138 1.15 1.28

0.51 0.20

Exp Diff. 0.13 .05

*Pipestone LW Sire Evaluation

Terminal SireFarm Performance Information

Hampshire Sired Progeny Performance

ID WW Adj. WW Market Wt

Rate of Gain

Days to Market

301 59.4 56 130 0.92 141

201 57.2 54.7 128 0.82 147

*Pipestone LW Sire Evaluation

Lamb Feed Efficiency (F:G)

Feed

Efficiency

Pounds of

Feed Intake

Cost/

Lamb

Average Daily Gain

Days to Market

4.5:1 270 27.00 1.00 60

5.0:1 300 30.00 0.90 67

5.5:1 338 33.80 0.80 75

6.5:1 387 38.70 0.70 86

7.5:1 450 45.00 0.60 100

9.0:1 540 54.00 0.50 120

Assume Feed Intake 4% BW @ 4.5 lb/hd/d

Feed cost = $0.10 per pound ($200/ton)

Pounds gained = 60 lb (80 lb feeder lamb fed to 140 lb)

Cost of Gain (CG)

Expression 1 = cents/pound of gain

Expression 2= (feed cost(cents/lb)) * (daily feed intake, lb)

average daily gain (ADG), lbExpression 3

= feed cost(cents/lb) * feed efficiency (F:G)

*CG=Economic Expression For Feed Efficiency

Key Variables in Cost of Gain

• Feed Costs– Price ingredients on nutrient basis (E, CP)– For every 1% CP + $10-15 per ton– Nutritionally sound and palatable

• Feed Efficiency (F:G)– Ad lib feed intake at 4% of body weight– Growth performance (ADG)

**CG equally affected by $15/ton = 0.1 ADG

Standard - Corn and Protein Pellet

Mixed Ingredient Finishing Diet

Mixed Lamb Finishing Diet - DDGS

Mixed Diet with DDGS

High Forage Lamb Diet

Whole Corn

MDGS

Liquid Supplement

Relationship of Cost of Gain and Optimum Finished Weight

USDA Lamb Yield Grades

Yield Grade % Cutability Adj. Fat Depth

1 51.0 0.00-0.15

2 49.7 0.16-0.25

3 48.4 0.26-0.35

4 47.1 0.36-0.45

5 45.8 over 0.45

USDA YG 2

USDA YG 4

Predicting Optimum Economic Lamb Finished Weight

• Following graph illustrates the relationship of dam weights on predicting lamb finished weight at constant lamb carcass merit.

USDA Yield grade 1 (0.15 in. adj. fat depth)

• Average mature weight of the dams for both the ewe and sire breed multiplied by 64 %. (mature body size)For example: Suffolk = 210 lb Hampshires = 190 lb Suffolk-Hamp cross lambs would have a predicted finished weight: ((210+190)/2) x 0.64 = 128 lb

**For every 10 lb increase = 0.1 in. more fat depth

Using Dam Frame Size to Predict Lamb Finished Weight

Sire Breed Mature Ewe Weight (lb)

Ew

e Breed M

ature Ew

e Weight

(lb)

220 200 180 160 140 120

220 141 135 129 123 117 111

200 135 129 123 117 111 105

180 128 122 116 110 104 98

160 122 116 110 104 98 92

140 115 109 103 97 91 85

120 109 103 97 91 85 79

110 106 100 94 88 82 76

LAMB PROFIT POTENTIAL

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Cost of gain

Cost of gainSmall frame

Large frame

Live Weight (lb)

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YG 2/3

Frame size

2007 SDSU She ep S ale Educati on Pr og ra m

LAMB PROFIT POTENTIAL

Live Weight

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ai n

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Live Price

CG 09 LgFrameCG 07 LgFrame

Large Frame

YG 2/3 YG 2/3

Profit

Feed Cost

LAMB PROFIT POTENTIAL

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Price 09

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YG 1-2

Live Price

YG 2-3

Key Points:Lamb Profit Potential

• Optimum profit – when live price and cost of gain are equal!!

• Profit – CG less than live price

• Loss – CG greater than live price» ADG less than 0.6 lb/day

Lamb Profit Summary

• Degree of finish (YG) is an indicator for optimum economic finished weight – 0.25-.30 in. fat depth (YG 2/3)

• Frame-size is the most significant factor to determine the optimum finished weight– Impact on average daily gain

• cost of gain

Overall Summary

Feed efficiency (F:G) is the profit generator. Growth performance (ADG) is the key variable

in F:G. Select superior growth genetics. Utilize hybrid vigor for growth performance. Recognize the relationship between growth

efficiency, cost of gain and carcass merit. -”Lamb Profit Potential”

Lambs are not created equal!!!

Questions???????