In the run up to tupping, sheep farmers should ensure ewes’ diets have been supplemented with the right minerals in order for the most successful crop of lambs in the coming spring.
There are some important minerals which should be encouraged in diets at this time of year, explains Alister Davies, UK beef and sheep commercial manager at ForFarmers.
Body condition score has one of the biggest impacts on fertility and therefore scanning results, Alister explains.
He says: “Ewes should be a body condition score of 3.5 in lowland flocks or 2.5 in hill flocks at the point of being put to the tup.”
One of the most important minerals as this stage in the production cycle is zinc for the role it plays in both fertility and lameness. Lame ewes are often in poor condition and will therefore be less likely to get in-lamb.
Alister adds: “Zinc helps to combat footrot so it is important for sheep farmers that pre-tupping ewes have good intake of this mineral. Zinc is also beneficial for ram fertility.”
Sodium is important for pre-tupping ewes, aiding nutrient uptake. Most plants and forages contain low levels of sodium, so supplementation is essential at tupping time to ensure ewes are getting optimum intake of nutrients.
Feeding fish oil can also bring huge benefits to the overall productivity of a flock, says Alister, while also aiding the utilization of high forage diets. Feeding this ingredient can lead to stronger lambs, better colostrum and easier lambing.
He says: “There are multiple benefits of feeding fish oil to pre-tupping ewes starting with fertility and going through to the embryo and newborn lamb stages. The omega-3 contained in the oil helps to get the ewe cycling while also increasing disease resistance.”
With sustainability increasingly at the forefront of our minds, some sheep producers have turned to feeding products which include fish oil with research showing it can lead to a reduction in the methane levels produced by the animal. The long chain omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil (EPA+DHA)1 partly escapes hydrogenation in the rumen. The DHA+EPA is also deposited in the meat, increasing the omega-3 content of the lamb.
In the rumen one of the products from fish oils is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and is deposited in meat and milk. CLA has been shown to protect against cancer, atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases.
Alister says: “ForFarmers’ new pre-tupping bucket is high in Scottish salmon oil, while also containing zinc and sodium. Contact your account manager for more details.”
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