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Saving Next Springs Lambs - SAC Advice for Worried Highland Shepherds

SAC News Release Ref. No: 10N108
Published: 03 Dec 2010

Shepherds across the Highlands and Islands fear the present appalling weather will threaten the lamb crop next spring and produce a poor harvest from the hills. In some parts the rams are still out mating with the ewes but in many more cases “Tupping” time is over. However the resulting embryo’s are very vulnerable just now, especially when the ewes under stress.

According to SAC Sheep specialist Dr John Vipond there is every reason to be concerned.

“In many cases whatever food is available is under at least a foot of snow. Meanwhile silage, hay and straw are selling at high prices and transport costs are crippling. However there are different options like feed supplement blocks available”.

What worries John Vipond is that if a ewe is put under stress or threat in the very early stages of pregnancy she can reabsorb the newly developed embryo’s as a survival strategy.

“At this stage the embryo is about the size of a mouse”, he says “over the next three weeks the placenta will be attached to the uterus where the new lambs will grow and develop prior to lambing next April. Loss of embryos now, means fewer lambs next Spring. If the ewes get severely stressed and are already in poor condition then the hormonal messages that maintain signalling between ewe and foetus get swamped by stress hormones”.

Dr Vipond suggests that if ewes are in fit or condition (condition score 2.5 - 3.0) they will be less prone to losing lambs than thinner ewes. As the embryo is so small just now, most of the nutrition will be used by the ewe, so he recommends a diet to maintain them.

“A 55kg Blackface ewe will need about 8-9 MJ /day with a bit extra added for the cold weather. That can be provided by feeding hay they can clear up in an hour or two, or one small bale per 30 ewes per day. If only low quality fodder is available then use supplement mineral blocks and a compound feed ration. I would say 0.2 kg /day of a compound with an ME of 12.5 and CP% of 16%”.

John Vipond realises it may not always be possible to reach some ewes with hay every day. In which case he suggests spreading supplement blocks out on the hill.

“Hopefully if farmers and crofters take this advice then when they come to scan the ewes they will find they are all carrying lambs”.

SAC’s advisory work with farmers and crofters is supported by Scottish Government.

Contact John Vipond via the details below.

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Dr John Vipond
Senior Sheep Consultant
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC Consulting, Sir Stephen Watson Building, Bush Estate,
Penicuik
EH26 0PH
TelWork 0131 535 3215
MobileWork 07989 863 874
Fax 0131 535 3121

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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