Sheep management notes: lambing progress and yearling hoggets

Lambing progress:

Lambing is well under way in mid-season flocks. Some have also commenced lambing ewe hoggets, while many hill flocks will begin lambing over the next week to 10 days. This week’s weather has stifled progress in getting ewes and lambs released outdoors and put pressure on facilities where lambing is only getting going. Whatever the stage of lambing, the importance of keeping on top of hygiene cannot be stressed enough. Where time does not allow for individual lambing pens to be cleaned between ewes, applying lime or disinfectant powder on the old bedding followed by a deep bed of fresh straw will help to limit the risk of disease establishing. When a break in weather allows, the aim should be to get individual pens cleaned and disinfected, particularly if a break in lambing occurs. Adopting a similar approach of applying lime or disinfectant around critical areas such as along feed barriers or around water troughs and keeping fresh straw replenished will also help.

Yearling hoggets:

Flocks lambing yearling hoggets report a repeat of last year’s positive litter sizes. Hoggets will in many cases require close attention with management depending on litter size and the condition of hoggets. The aim is to get lambs brought through to weaning without negatively affecting the performance of hoggets and compromising on lifetime performance. Well-grown hoggets suckling one lamb will generally perform satisfactorily on good-quality grass.

Twin suckling hoggets and particularly those that still have lots of growing to do should be viewed similar to mature ewes with triplets. This includes grazing on top-quality grass and supplementing with concentrates at a rate of 0.5kg for the first five weeks of lactation. If grass supplies or quality are deficient, feeding levels will need to be increased with concentrates also introduced to single suckling ewes if facing similar challenges. Where hoggets are in poor body condition or are likely to struggle to rear two lambs, then consideration should be placed on removing one lamb for artificial rearing. Offering lambs access to 300g to 500g creep feeding (rates dependent on grass quality) up until weaning will also help to reduce the pressure.