Iceberg Disease
Factsheet name: Investigation of thin ewes to determine if poor body condition is due to an iceberg disease Need / Issue: There is a need for information on iceberg diseases in relation to poor ewe body conditionIntroduction: The iceberg diseases that cause poor ewe...
CT Scanning as a Tool for Assessing Body Composition and Carcass Quality
Factsheet name: CT scanning as a tool for assessing body composition and carcass qualityIntroduction: CT scanning is a technology used to assess body composition and carcass traits in sheep. It works using X-rays to produce images of the body based on different...
Does Shearing Lambs Improve Performance?
Factsheet name: Does shearing lambs improve performance? Need / Issue: Lamb managementIntroduction: In Ireland approximately 20% of the annual sheep kill occurs between January and March. Some of these sheep (March born) are housed for a finishing period and offered...
Male lambs – leave entire or castrate
Factsheet name: Male lambs – leave entire or castrate Need / Issue: How best to manage male lambsIntroduction: Traditionally, male lambs are castrated at birth in mid-season grass-based systems of prime lamb production, reflecting practical issues related to...
Biosecurity for the Sheep Flock
Factsheet name: Biosecurity for the Sheep FlockFarm level biosecurity is a series of management practices designed to minimise, prevent or control: The introduction of infectious pathogens onto a farm EXCLUSION Spread within a farm production operation MANAGEMENT...
Managing triplet rearing ewes
Need/issue: Management strategies for multiple rearing ewesIntroduction: As mean flock productivity increases, the incidence of triplets increases. For flocks with mean litter sizes of 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 the incidence of triplets is expected to be 8%, 15% and 25%...
Coccidiosis
Factsheet name: Coccidiosis Need / Issue: To assure lambing conditions indoors and to improve lamb survivalWhat is coccidiosis? Coccidiosis is caused by species-specific protozoal parasites that infect the gut wall, multiply and cause damage, often presenting...
Prevention and control of Bluetongue disease (BT)
Factsheet name: Control and prevention of Bluetongue disease (BT) Need / Issue: Reduce the impact of viral infectionIntroduction. Bluetongue (BT), is a non-contagious viral infectious disease of ruminants, transmitted by bloodsucking insects of genus Culicoides. The...
Managing ewe condition score through the year
Need/issue: The management of ewe condition will depend on the physiological stage (gestation, lactation and dry period) of the ewe and can affect disease susceptibility and/or disease diagnosis. Body condition score influences flock productivity.Introduction: Body...
Managing the transition of breeding replacements
Need / Issue: Whether buying in replacements or transferring them from another holding, the transition can affect their growth rates and subsequently their rearing success. Managing them to minimise stress and transition their diets can reduce or eliminate the growth...
Nutritional Requirements at Key Points in the Ewe’s Production Cycle
Factsheet name: Understanding nutritional requirements at key points in the ewe’s production cycle Need / Issue: Good nutritional management is required throughout the ewes production cycle in order to achieve target key performance indicators. Knowledge of the...
Feeding concentrate to lambs at pasture
Need / Issue: Balance requirements against pasture qualityIntroduction: High levels of lamb performance can be achieved from well managed grazed grass offered as the sole diet. However many producers supplement lambs with concentrate to increase lamb performance. The...
Aminoacid Nutrition
Factsheet name: Aminoacid nutrition Need / Issue: Protein concentration in the diet (concentrate + forage)Introduction: In sheep and goats, amino acid nutrition is essential for the maintenance of health and productivity. Management of amino acids in sheep nutrition...
How to achieve a successful dietary transition when turning out at springtime
Factsheet name: How to achieve a successful dietary transition when turning out at springtime Need / Issue: Digestive disorders and grassland managementWhy implement it: The animals will go from shed ration, often based on dry fodder, to very palatable spring grass...
Live weights at typical ages for ewe lambs
Solution name: Live weights at typical ages for ewe lambs Aim: to ensure ewe lamb fertility at first mating. To sort replacement ewe lambs from live weight references at standard age.Description: Selection of replacement ewe lambs takes place during these three...
Udder evaluation grid for meat sheep
Solution name: Udder evaluation grid for meat sheep Aim: To select ewes on their ability to feed their lambs properly (good quantity/quality milk and easy access for the lamb to the udder). To cull ewes with dysfunctional udders. To identify and predict which ewes are...
Rationing ewe lambs for better udder development
Solution name: Rationing ewe lambs for better udder development Aim: to adapt feed intake to the different growth stages of animal tissues, especially the udder, to encourage growth of secretory tissue and ensure the future productive capacity of ewes.Description:...
Mixed grazing for cattle & sheep to limit parasite infestation
Solution name: Mixed grazing for cattle & sheep as a solution to limit parasite infestation Aim: To limit parasit infestation Proper pasture management can reduce the risk of parasites and the number of parasite treatments required during a production cycle. As...
Performing a coprological examination after an antiparasitic treatment
Solution name: Performing a coprological examination after an antiparasitic treatment Aim: to detect gastrointestinal strongyles resistant to pest control treatments on farmsAs resistance (and multiple resistance) of gastrointestinal strongyles to treatments continues...
Key references for the conservation of fermented forages
Solution name: Key references for the conservation of fermented forages Aim: to produce and store quality fodders (grass and maize) through fermentation.Description: This solution identifies key points to know for producing quality silage and haylage: - Silage quality...
“Feeding the ewe” – feed planning
Solution name: “Feeding the ewe” - feed planning Aim: Identify nutritional requirements of the ewe throughout her production cycleDescription: This solution presents a series of resources available in the UK which set out the ewe nutritional requirements, simplifying...
Lamb growth protocol for performance target
Solution name: Lamb growth protocol for performance target Aim: To determine the lamb performance targets from birth to weaning in order to obtain better results for farmers during growth period Description: Birth to weaning is an important period in sheep production...
The FAMACHA score assessment
Solution name: The FAMACHA score assessment Aim: Anthelmintic use is a big issue in sheep production and there is a need to decrease the costs used for it. With this solution we aim to treat animals towards more efficient parasite control with reduced antibiotic and...
Grazing – what is achievable and how?
Solution name: Grazing - what is achievable and how? Aim:To improve ewe and lamb performance from grazed grassDescription: Effective grassland management involves matching grass supply and feed value with animal requirements As the grazing season progresses grass...
