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
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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© )
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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 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
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
Grazing management & parasites
Minimise challenge to lambs from infective larvae
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
Other Trichostrongyles: Ewes
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
FE
C (
epg
)
2005 2006 2007
Data on Organic flock Athenry
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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
Data on Organic flock Athenry
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
Nematodirus Nematodirus infection: lambs infection: lambs
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
FE
C (
epg
)
2005 2006 2007
Data on Organic flock Athenry
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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 %)
Data on Organic flock Athenry
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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
Data on Organic flock Athenry
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
Breed effects: weaning weight ( kg)
Sirebreed
Year
2006 2007Texel 30.6 29.1
Belclare 31.8 28.6
Data on Organic flock Athenry
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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
JP Hanrahan & B Good; Dec 2008
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
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