Maximising profit on farms is all about having a good spring.
Having ewes in good condition so they can withstand what comes their way needs to be our target at this time of year – and ensuring there's feed available during the hard six weeks they face (four weeks before lambing and two weeks after).
We’re seeing a lot of poor drench performance, with major issues showing up on local farms. To combat this, we need to farm in a way that reduces the need for drenching. Acheiving well in spring is an important part of this. Getting lots of lambs off the farm at weaning opens the gate for modifying lamb production in a way that relies much less on drench.
Two key focus areas for now are:
1. Condition of ewes
Some farmers aren’t always sure about the recommendation to have ewes well-conditioned. But we’re only meaning a body condition score (BCS) of 3-3.5 – not a beach ball!
You only have six weeks after shearing to assess condition by sight. After that, you’ll need to get your hands on them.
A sheep with BCS 3 will have full muscles, a smooth, rounded spine, and smooth, rounded short ribs that can be counted with effort.
Ideally, you'd do individual BCS and treat accordingly, but doing a few races will give you a general idea.
2. Planning feed
By now you’ll have a handle on your winter feed supply. If it’s not ideal, have you got a Plan B underway? It’s a good idea to have Plans C and D lined up as well.
Having enough feed for your ewes in the month before lambing can be one of the biggest challenges, but it’s a vital driver of ewe performance. If this is always a pinch point, look at your system and ask yourself where changes could happen to ensure peak ewe performance.
Would hoggets out grazing be an option? What about adjustments in winter feeding or trying different crop options? Reducing stocking rate? Getting lambs off earlier to carry more feed into winter? There are plenty of advantages to be gained from that one.
Hopefully you’ve got a support team around you to discuss these things with. If not, ask us - we’re happy to work with you to help build a plan that suits your farm and situation.
