Sheep management notes: Scald in lambs and water intake in lactating ewes

Water intake:

From time to time, you hear some farmers comment that sheep have a low water intake requirement, with a follow-up remark that their sheep are performing OK without access to a fresh water source. This statement may be somewhat plausible at certain times – for example, dry ewes during the winter months or during periods of regular rainfall and a high moisture content in grass. But in general, performance will be affected by restricted water intake.

Current weather conditions are typical of such cases, with a reducing dry matter content in grass and rising temperatures increasing the water intake requirement of ewes at a critical stage of lactation. Failing to provide access to water can affect potential milk yield and in turn lamb performance. It is also critical to provide lambs consuming creep feed with access to water. Some larger troughs in mixed grazing systems are too high for sheep to drink from and in these cases it is important to provide an alternative water source. Some farmers put a T joint in the water pipe supplying the main trough and use the outlay to feed a smaller trough while another option is to simply fill a water tub from the main trough and protect it from grazing cattle using a single strand of wire.

Scald in lambs:

Many farmers are reporting a greater incidence of scald in lambs with higher covers and hard ground contributing to issues. Once established, scald can spread quickly through lambs and if untreated can open the door for secondary bacterial infection, progressing to footrot. The most straightforward treatment option is footbathing, with the three most commonly used products being copper sulphate, formalin and zinc sulphate. Dilution rates for zinc and copper sulphate are 10% where treating animals. The dilution rate for formalin is 3% and it is worth remembering that while it is relatively cheap to purchase and is effective, it is painful on young lambs and not recommended for frequent use. It is also important to take into account operator health and safety as formalin is a carcinogen that should only be used with the correct protective clothing and in areas of good ventilation. Aerosol sprays can also be used to good effect for spot treatment but are labour-intensive and expensive for using where large numbers are concerned.

Read more

Sheep management notes: Grassland management