JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008 J.P. Hanrahan & Barbara Good Teagasc, Animal Production Research...

JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008

J.P. Hanrahan & Barbara Good

Teagasc, Animal Production Research Centre, Athenry

Organic sheep system

Grazing management,breeding policy and parasite control


Sheep System: Organic farm, Athenry

Flock SizeFlock Size 120 ewes

30 replacements

Lambing dateLambing date

Stocking rateStocking rate

Late Feb to mid March

~ 10 ewes / ha

Grazing SystemGrazing System Ewes and lambs put pasture post lambing on paddocks not grazed by sheep in previous year

Winter periodWinter period Housed, silage, meals

G.I. ParasitesG.I. Parasites Regular monitoring of parasite infection using DIY system (FECPAK© )


Grazing system

Different land block each year -which has meant that basic sward quality differed

substantially between years Paddock system with 5 paddocks for ewes +

lambs Replacements – set stocked from turnout in

spring After weaning (June) ewe flock is used to

clean up paddocks; lambs given priority Silage area- aim is to cut as early as possible

so that regrowth is available for lambs post weaning


Infective larvae


FEC = No. of eggs per gram of faeces


Breeding PolicyBreeding Policy

Use breeds that have inherent resistance to gastrointestinal parasites

Increase ewe productivity and produce leaner lambs

Original ewe flock being upgraded to Belclare

Slaughter lamb - sired by Texel


FEC (eggs/g) in lambs: FEC (eggs/g) in lambs: Research flocks, Teagasc, Athenry Research flocks, Teagasc, Athenry

Breed 14 weeks

Nem. Other

17 weeks

Nem. Other

Suffolk 290 1249 68 830

Texel 177 583 38 307

Nem. = Nematodirus; Other = Other Trichostrongyles

Source: Good, Hanrahan, Crowley & Mulcahy, 2006 ,Veterinary Parasitology vol 136


Breed effects: ewe lambs effects: ewe lambs

Breed FEC

Suffolk 811

Texel 180

Belclare 199

Ewe lambs in September… natural infection

Source: Hanrahan & Crowley, EAAP Proc. 1999


Breed effects: FEC in Ewes Breed effects: FEC in Ewes

Date Age Breed

Suffolk Texel

29 Sep 2-tooth 601 148 P<0.05

11 Nov 2-tooth 601 200

11 Nov 4-tooth 121 20

Flock ’00 to ‘03

All ages 403 83

P<0.001 For Breed & Age

Source: Hanrahan & Crowley, EAAP Proc. 1999Good et al. 2006 ,Veterinary Parasitology vol 136

JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008Organic flock Athenry--- lambing season 2008


Ram FEC data - flocks at Athenry, 2002 and 2003

Purchasing ? Avoid importing Purchasing ? Avoid importing anthelmintic resistanceanthelmintic resistance

2002

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

17th July 1st Oct

FE

C (

egg

s p

er g

ram

)

Belclare Texel Suffolk

2003

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

29th July 7th Oct

FE

C (

egg

s p

er g

ram

)

Belclare Texel Suffolk


Grazing management & parasites

Minimise challenge to lambs from infective larvae


Other Trichostrongyles: Ewes

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

FE

C (

epg

)

2005 2006 2007

Data on Organic flock Athenry


Other Trichostrongyles: Lambs

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

08-A

pr

22-A

pr

06-M

ay

20-M

ay

03-J

un

17-J

un

01-J

ul

15-J

ul

29-J

ul

12-A

ug

26-A

ug

09-S

ep

23-S

ep

07-O

ct

21-O

ct

04-N

ov

18-N

ov

02-D

ec

16-D

ec

30-D

ec

FE

C (

ep

g)

2005 2006 2007



Nematodirus Nematodirus infection: lambs infection: lambs

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

FE

C (

epg

)

2005 2006 2007



Flock performance

2005 to 2007


Ewe performance:Ewe performance: 2005 to 2007

Year No. of ewesLambs reared

per ewe

Joined Lambed joined

2005 124 109 1.40

2006 123 109 1.41

2007 119 111 1.55

Proportion of ewes that lamb: 89 % >>> is below target ( 95 %)



Lamb growth targets

Achieve the growth targets* set for conventional well-managed lowland systems

Growth rate (g/day) targets:

Aim for good clover swards in summer/autumn period

Singles Twins

Birth to weaning 324 276

June / July 210

July / August 190

* Hanrahan, 1999. End of Project Report No. 8


Birth weight (kg)Birth weight (kg)

Year

2005 2006 2007

Singles 5.2 5.4 5.4

Twins 4.2 4.5 4.4

Triplets 3.4 3.4 3.6

Ratio Twin:Singles = 0.81

Should be = 0.85



Lamb growth (g /day):Lamb growth (g /day): 2005 to 2007

Year Birth

type

G_05 G_514 G_014 Post weaning

2005 Single 333 267 291 195

Twin 299 276 284 204

2006 Single 314 312 320 156

Twin 239 275 269 185

2007 Single 368 247 289 -

Twin 280 226 246 -Data on Organic flock Athenry


Breed effects: weaning weight ( kg)

Sirebreed

Year

2006 2007Texel 30.6 29.1

Belclare 31.8 28.6



SummarySummary

Main challenge -- gastrointestinal parasitesBreeding policy should focus on breed

types that have high resistance to parasitesTwo season break from lambs & calves to

avoid Nematodirus challengeGrazing system – requires a plan based

on a 3-year grazing cycle for sheep


SummarySummary cont’d

Treat ewes pre turnout onto new season’s grazing area --- minimise build up of larval challenge for lambs

Quarantine policy for rams - essentialEfficacy of any anthelmintic treatment

should be checkedPregnancy nutrition – important to ensure

good lamb birth weight for all birth types

JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008 J.P. Hanrahan & Barbara Good Teagasc, Animal Production Research...

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