Trade Publication Article

How a farmer is better managing shearling ewes

James, Debbie

2021

Overview

\"The shearlings lost condition in the winter and this had a negative impact on the scanning percentage and lamb weights,\" says Mr Hawke, who closely monitors body condition score (BCS) and weights through the AHDBfunded Challenge Sheep project. The management policy has been informed by data taken from the Challenge Sheep project using electronic identification to track the lifetime performance of replacement ewes. THE NUMBERS 80% of mature weight - target tupping weight for shearings 68% Shearing twinning rate 90% Number of shearlings in-lamb in first tupping cycle 3.5 BCS - mature ewe target TIPS FOR MANAGING SHEARLINGS * Manage as a separate group right up to mature age * Use weight to select shearling replacements FARM FACTS * 202ha (500 acres) farmed on long-term grazing licences with additional grazing from short-term lets * 1,000 ewes with Charollais/Texel cross and New Zealand Suffolk rams used * Ewes outwintered on fodder beet * Majority of lambs finished on stubble turnips * Lambs from terminal flock sold deadweight

• Publisher: Mark Allen Group Ltd
• Subject: Farmers / Forage / Grazing / Lamb / Project management / Shearing / Sheep / Stubble / Weaning / Weight