Solutions Template

Sub Title

Solution name: Designing proper sheds for lambing

Aim: To assure  lambing conditions indoors and to improve lamb survival

Description:

  • Manage ewes in late pregnancy in small groups, of 20-30 animals, allocating 2 m2/ewe.
  • Design lambing pens (2/1 m), one lambing pen for every 8 expecting pregnant ewe. Allow ewes to spend with their lamb(s) 24-48 hours for a proper dam-lamb bonding. Pay attention especially to primiparous and ewes with twins or triplets.
  • Air drafts should be kept lower than 0.4 m/s at lambing, air temperature between 5 to 18 °C, humidity ≤ 70%, lighting intensity should be higher than 100 lux with at least 8 h of light per day.
  • Use fresh clean straws bedding (0.5 kg) every day, and replace bedding from lambing pens before introducing new ewes.
  • The use of UV bulbs to help thermoregulation in week lambs improves survival rates.

Topic: (health/nutrition/management)

Production:  Dairy / Meat

Animal Category: Adult / Lamb / Replacement

Issue: Parasites

Level of Solution: Knowledge, Practical

Country: Romania

 

 

 

 

 

How to implement it

implementation of the solution……………….

Expected benefits
Expected benefits: Reduction in lamb losses

Prerequisites and/or limits (knowledge, training, capabilities, cost, management, facilities, equipment, etc.)

The use of lambing pens requires extra labor and initial costs with materials.
Some minor investments should be done in UV bulbs, related costs with energy and thermometers to monitor shed conditions.
Aspects such as temperature and humidity inside the shed are hard to control.

Prerequisites and/or limits

The use of lambing pens requires extra labor and initial costs with materials.
Some minor investments should be done in UV bulbs, related costs with energy and thermometers to monitor shed conditions.
Aspects such as temperature and humidity inside the shed are hard to control.

Information Source / Usefull links
Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks Links
Benefit expected Increase productivity:
-less mortality

 

Expected Impact
Benefit
Benefit expected Increase productivity:
-less mortality
System
Is the solution suitable for various production systems Y
If no – for which system dairy & meat
Cost
What are the asset costs <100/lamb
What are the maintenance costs <50/lamb
Any limits to its applicability No
Work Load
Farmers Service provider/tech.-vet-others
How much time is required to prepare and implement the solution >=1week
How many people is needed to implement the solution? 1 person (the farmer)
Timing
How long it takes to get results? >=1week
How long it takes to see  an effect on sheep productivity? current production period
Equipment/Facility
Farmers Service provider/technicians-vet-others
What kind of equipment/tool are necessary? Lambing pens, UV bulbs, bedding materials
Skill/Knowledge-Training (farmer)
Does the solution need any specific skill/knowledge or training? Yes
How much time will be required for training 1 day training
Wider Environment
Is there any particular regulation link to the solution? NO
Does the solution need any particular structure or organisation? NO

 

Users' Evaluation
Country TURKEY, SPAIN
Solution No/Name 41. Designing proper sheds for lambing
Farmer/Service provider/technicians-vet-others Farmers
Why did you select this solution? To improve lamb health and increase survival rate
Was it easy to implement? Yes
If not say what are the identified drawbacks? –
Did you need to adapt it?  Yes
If yes, how? It is necessary to take into account the features of the facilities (square meters of the shed, bedding type and quality, separation by lambing type)
Were you happy with the outcome of the solution?  Yes
What were the outcomes?

98% of the ewes bonded with their lamb(s)

Lower numbers of orphan lambs

Less incidence of diarrhea
Score the solution Interesting and easy to implement
Will you continue to implement it? Yes
If not, for which reasons?  
Comments/Additions Recommend this easy application to everyone