Field day highlights winter feed

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The benefits of a good winter feeding schedule that leads to ewes having better body conditions scores (BCS) at the start of lambing was highlighted at a field day last week.

More than 200 farmers attended the Meat & Wool New Zealand Southern South Island sheep and beef council field day at the Woodlands research farm on Wednesday.

Dr David Stevens, of AgResearch, said it was clear poor winter feeding affected several aspects of production before, during and after lambing, and it was essential for good lamb growth, particularly multiples, to have ewes in good condition.

"You're no longer expecting one lamb and 5 kilograms of wool."

Most farmers were achieving lambing rates of 130 per cent and some were reaching 160 per cent so losing one BCS during the winter was the equivalent of between 5kg and 7kg of liveweight, he said.

Working out a feed schedule and feeding ewes evenly throughout winter would mean they would have higher BCS through winter, giving them a better chance to produce more lambs that were heavier, so they could achieve higher weights at weaning.

The loss of an average of one BCS in the lambing flock could mean between 6 and 10 per cent fewer lambs on the ground, up to 5kg lower lamb weaning weights, and up to 4 per cent more ewe deaths, Dr Stevens said.

"If you add all of these up, it's a big cost to you."

Ewes in good condition could produce lambs with birth weights up a kilogram, giving lambs the best possible start.

His comments were echoed by farming consultant Graham Butcher, of Rural Solutions, who said creating a full feed budget was simple.

Farmers needed to determine on May 1 how much grass there was, what hay, baleage or silage was available, what the winter crop levels were, and consider the growing grass.

They also needed to know stock levels and what they would need each day, and then it was simple to work out whether there would be a shortage or extra supply.

"It's not complicated to work out. You do need to know your kilograms of dry matter, swede yield and paddock sizes to work it out. You also need to know you sheep weights, because they heavier they are, the more they'll need to maintain that."

Dr Stevens said if the ewes were in good condition at lambing, lambs had a greater chance of going to the works at weaning.

"The earlier you can get them away, the more time you have to get the ewes building back up again."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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