Animal Health & Welfare

Ewes in poor condition at lambing time, or that have lost a lot of condition since tupping will have a number of problems, as will their lambs, that can cost in time input and reduce productivity.

Thin ewes:

• are more likely to have difficulty delivering their lambs through exhaustion:
• are more likely to show impaired maternal behaviour towards their lambs
• will have reduced production of colostrum and milk

Their lambs are more likely to be light and weak at birth and slow to stand and suck from their mothers. This will also contribute to a weak bond between the ewe and lamb.

The combination of reduced ewe colostrum and delayed sucking means that lambs are likely to get less passive immunity and may be more likely to succumb to infectious diseases. The lambs will grow more slowly to weaning (a combination of poor prenatal development and low milk production) and are less likely to survive to weaning. They are also more likely to achieve weaning weights by an increase in the amount of fat in the carcass thus incurring penalties at slaughter.

Ewes that have previously been in poor condition at lambing may have reduced fertility in subsequent years. Lambs born to ewes in poor condition may themselves have reduced fertility if kept in the breeding flock, or if ram lambs are used as sires.

Why might sheep lose condition?

• Inadequate feeding or grazing present
• Snow cover or frozen ground so that feed and water are not accessible
• Underlying chronic disease condition
• Broken mouthed so unable to graze effectively
• Lameness causing severe pain so that the animal is reluctant to stand and feed
• Worm burdens causing a reduction in feed intake and less efficient utilisation of feed
• Flystrike and other ectoparasites causing pain, irritation and depression
• Social stress in housed situations causing subordinates to be unable or unwilling to approach feed troughs
• Social isolation e.g. in foster crates or hospital pens, causing animals to stop eating
• Other stresses such as weaning, fear and rough handling causing a reduction in feed intake.

SAC is engaged in research to identify sustainable genetic improvement strategies in hill sheep to allow ewes to maintain condition and reproductive performance whilst producing lean, high quality and healthy lambs.  More information can be found using the links on the right.