Livestock Matters
farm animal veterinary consultancy
Sheep Services
With the value of the individual animal relatively low, the "vet and med" budget on sheep farms is usually best invested at flock level. Livestock Matters can advise on flock health issues such as parasite control, nutrition, lameness and infectious disease. Our aim is to
- increase number of lambs sold per ewe put to the tup
- increase the value of each lamb
- reduce overall disease costs.
Nutrition
Ewe nutrition is of the utmost importance in maximising number of lambs sold. Many people are aware of the “flushing” response to an increased plane of nutrition at tupping, but much greater gains are to be had by feeding in the run up to lambing.
Ewe nutrition in late pregnancy has a huge effect on
- lamb birthweight
- lamb growth rates via milk production
Until lambs start eating creep they are entirely dependent on ewe milk production and many lamb losses are a direct result of underfeeding lactating ewes.
Livestock Matters can advise on body condition scores, metabolic profiles and feeding throughout the year.
Parasite control
Many sheep farmers use unnecessary amounts of wormer, which is both a drain on finances, and may lead to development of resistance (see SCOPS). Livestock Matters can help you rationalise your wormer use, and also advise on control of other parasites such as liver fluke and sheep scab.
Infectious disease
Infectious agents are commonly involved in outbreaks of
- abortion
- deaths in young lambs
- lameness
- mastitis
- skin disease
Many of these are preventable by vaccination and good shepherding. A flock health plan from Livestock Matters can assess areas of concern in your flock and work with you to reduce losses from disease.