Sheep Husbandry (Part 1) Past Paper Oct 23 - University of Surrey PDF

SHEEP HUSBANDRY ( PA R T 1 ) HAYLEY HICKLING BVETMED MRCVS PGCERT VETED FHEA TEACHING FELLOW IN PRODUCTION ANIMAL MEDICINE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe the sheep production cycle Provide brief details on essential management procedures such as shearing and vaccination Recognise...

SHEEP HUSBANDRY ( PA R T 1 ) HAYLEY HICKLING BVETMED MRCVS PGCERT VETED FHEA TEACHING FELLOW IN PRODUCTION ANIMAL MEDICINE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe the sheep production cycle Provide brief details on essential management procedures such as shearing and vaccination Recognise that husbandry requirements change for ewes during pregnancy and lambing #uniofsurrey 2 TYPICAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM Recap: Most British breeds of sheep are seasonally polyoestrus breed when days shorten – late Summer/ early Autumn Melatonin produced by brain in hours of darkness Lambs reach puberty ~ 8 months/old (if diet adequate) Gestation length ~147 days #universityofsurrey 3 LO1: DESCRIBE THE SHEEP PRODUCTION CYCLE Production Cycle Put to Ram Oct/ Nov Lambing Mar/ Apr Birth Lamb Ewe Weaning May/ Jun Weaning Ewe ‘flushed’ Early finish Aug/Sep (fed enhanced diet on grass before tupping) Or Slaughter Older lambs Jan finished on roots through winter #universityofsurrey 5 The Sheep Calendar January February March Address ewe nutrition Scanning for pregnancy/sale of Pre-lambing vaccines for new Bring in for lambing barren ewes ewes Booster vaccine for lambing April May June Lambing usually over 6 Lamb vaccines and worming Shearing weeks Lamb vaccines July August September Lambs weaned Pre-breeding/Post weaning Best lambs slaughtered checks Ewe abortion vaccines October November December Flushing for tupping Tupping 25-100 ewes/ram Lambs weights monitored and Usually 2 ewe cycles sent to slaughter when ready #universityofsurrey 6 The annual sheep cycle Lambs are made in autumn not spring » October: Pre-breeding checks – rams and ewes. Purchase of replacements. Ewe abortion vaccines 4-6 weeks prior to tupping. Flushing of ewes prior to tupping ‘In with a bang and out like » November: fools’ Tupping –25-100 ewes per ram. 5th Nov for 1st April lambing #universityofsurrey 7 #universityofsurrey 8 The annual sheep cycle Quiet period » December: Rams removed (after 6-8 weeks with the ewes, 2 ewe cycles) » January: Scanning for pregnancy -presence and number of foetuses. Sale of barren ewes. » Last years lambs weighed and sold when reach slaughter weight continues through winter #universityofsurrey 9 Scanning » Scanning takes place at 55-100 days after the removal of the rams. » Barren ewes should be removed from the group to prevent them wasting valuable feed that could otherwise go to a pregnant ewe. » The majority of foetal growth occurs in the last 8 weeks of gestation. Ideal= 70-90days #universityofsurrey 10 The annual sheep cycle » February: » Nutrition should be evaluated. Concentrates often from 6 weeks prior to lambing » Administer pre-lambing vaccines to new ewes » March » Administration of pre-lambing ewe vaccines four weeks prior to lambing » April » Lambing - nursing and treatment of periparturient issues. » Colostrum feeding and iodine to navels of new-born lambs. » Recording of any issues with lambs and ewes. » Castration of male lambs and docking of lambs tails. » Ewes and lambs returned to grazing #universityofsurrey 11 The annual sheep cycle Only time you worm as » May: standard Administration of first lamb vaccinations. Worming lambs Creep feeding –lambs Lambs will start to eat properly at 6 weeks. » June: Administration of second lamb vaccine. Shearing of adults and last years lambs #universityofsurrey 12 The annual sheep cycle » July: Some lambs will go direct from weaning to Weaning of best lambs slaughter First batch of this season’s lambs sold. » August: Ewes and lambs grazing separately Lambs continuously monitored for growth and shed off for slaughter » September: Lambs moved to stubble turnips for winter grazing Ewes rest and gain BCS #universityofsurrey 13 LO 3 : R E C O G N I S E T H AT H U S B A N D R Y REQUIREMENTS CHANGE FOR EWES DURING PREGNANCY AND LAMBING #universityofsurrey 14 Care of the pregnant ewe » Conception – 42 days (gestation length ~145 days) In this early phase, feed for ewe maintenance only (grass +/- forage) #universityofsurrey 15 Days 42 – 90 of Pregnancy » Feed for ewe maintenance + 2MJ/day (grass +/- forage) » Considerable placenta development if ewe not fed enough placenta doesn’t grow properly (therefore lamb doesn’t grow properly). » Ultrasound scanning identifies barren ewes, and which carrying single/twins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-pi3H4_M70&list=PLqT0KrGdIqM9_XPtYSnsY8WZKtEDzsl8u&index=4 #universityofsurrey 16  1Kg/head Days 90 - parturition concentrates for twin carrying ewes » Good nutrition is essential during this period Rapid foetal growth Colostrum quality and quantity (mammary development) Preventing metabolic diseases Pregnancy toxaemia (twin lamb disease) » Ewes should be fed 2X maintenance requirements by lambing time Often need concentrates and good quality hay or silage Small rumen size due to foetuses » ~6 weeks prior to lambing, ewes are moved to more sheltered fields or indoors Some people may shear the ewes at this time – see thin ewes, reduced humidity when housing May be problematic due to the weather Keep in groups with similar feed requirements e.g. singles and twins #universityofsurrey 17 Outdoor Vs Indoor lambing Indoor Lambing Outdoor Lambing Reduces risk of lamb Potential disease More Space Harder to monitor and hypothermia spread intervene Less disease spread? Easy to monitor and Risk of mismothering Risk of lamb intervene hypothermia Stressful to move ewes Less stressful for ewe More control on ewe prior to lambing diet pre-lambing Risk of predation #universityofsurrey 18 Housing » Hill sheep: Usually lamb outside, hardy breeds » Supplementary feeding usually provided » Sometimes ewes are moved to more sheltered grazing areas, or areas with better grass to graze. #universityofsurrey 19 Housing » Lowland sheep: Shelter/ housing usually provided for lambing » Protection for ewes in late gestation and during lambing (usually brought in several weeks before lambing to acclimatise) » Housing needs to be well ventilated, ample dry bedding » Ewe + lambs usually penned either individually or small groups – facilitate bonding and individual care #universityofsurrey 20 Lambing #universityofsurrey 21 Lambing Feet appear 1st Head soon follows #universityofsurrey 22 Lambing Lamb rapidly delivered Bonding Check teats and milk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCgb7-zlgOo #universityofsurrey 23 LO2: P R O V I D E B R I E F D E TA I L S O N E S S E N T I A L MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES SUCH AS SHEARING A N D VA C C I N AT I O N #universityofsurrey 24 Ageing Sheep #universityofsurrey 25 Body Condition Scoring #universityofsurrey 26 Sheep tipping 1. Place one hand underneath the jaw of the sheep and stand to the side of the sheep. 2. Ensure the leg closest to the sheep’s head is in line or just behind the shoulder. Your right knee should be touching the sheep’s hip. 3. Place your hand over the sheep’s back, on the hips. Turn the sheep’s nose away from you towards the opposite shoulder your leg is next to. 4. Put pressure on the hips (but not to bruise the animal) to cause an imbalance in the sheep’s hind. 5. Step back with your leg touching the sheep’s hip while continuing to move the head towards the back of the sheep. 6. The sheep’s hind should give way and its back will be leaning against your legs. 7. Place one leg on either side of the sheep so it comfortably sits on its rump between you. 8. Ensure the sheep is not resting on its dock, but rather the sheep’s hip. #universityofsurrey 27 Foot Trimming » Routine foot trimming is not recommended » It is really important to learn how to exam sheep feet and anatomical structures as this will help to identify lameness issues. » Examine feet by tipping the ewe first, then the underside of all four feet are easy to access https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpA04LGie6A #universityofsurrey 28 Shearing »What? The procedure to remove a sheep’s entire fleece in one piece Different to ‘crutching’ – where just wool removed from around tail and between the back legs »Why? Adult sheep are usually shorn every year to ensure they do not overheat, and to reduce the risk of flystrike in the summer months »When? Usually early summer – May marks start of shearing season in UK Ewes may be crutched earlier in season (e.g. before lambing) #universityofsurrey 29 Shearing #universityofsurrey 30 Shearing » How? Some farmers shear their own sheep, but most use a contractor Contractors usually v experienced, and fast: 2- 3mins/sheep (World record 37.9s!) These days, electric cutters used rather than hand shear » Welfare Considerations Inexperienced shearers may cause injury, which can cause stress. Shorn sheep need to be protected from very cold/wet conditions for several weeks after shearing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53KoRxxr1jc #universityofsurrey 31 Vaccination » What? The administration of a vaccine to stimulate the immune system in order to develop adaptive immunity to a pathogen » Why? To prevent the spread of harmful and potentially fatal diseases within and between sheep flocks » Which vaccines? Clostridia spp. Pasteurella (Mannheimia haemolytica) Enzootic abortion and toxoplasmosis #universityofsurrey 32 Vaccination » When? Ewes - 4 weeks before lambing (so lambs can gain protection via the colostrum and milk) Lambs can be vaccinated from 3-4 weeks old » How? Restrain the sheep adequately, part the fleece to the skin. Injection given under the sheep's skin (subcutaneously) » Welfare Considerations Giving subcutaneous injections when fleece is wet can result in abscess formation Careful, gentle handling of pregnant ewes essential #universityofsurrey 33 34