Lamb Rearing Issues

Efficient finished lamb production needs careful management and issues tackled quickly.  This section looks at problems that may come up from time to time on your farm.

Severe Strike

Blow Fly

This year has seen real pressure on products preventing blow fly – it is important to be vigilant especially if it remains warm throughout September. Remember: Application of a preventative.. read more

Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is caused by a parasite that multiplies in the intestinal wall. As it progresses through its life cycle this parasite reproduces in the cells that line the intestine, leading.. read more

Vaccinate your ewes to protect your lambs

A recent post mortem study at a Fallen Stock Collection Centre (FSCC) has shown that sheep producers are still losing too many lambs to pasteurellosis and clostridial diseases like pulpy.. read more

Coccidiosis in lambs

Coccidiosis can become a problem of intensively-reared lambs occurring primarily indoors where stocking densities are high but may also occur in lambs at pasture where there is heavy contamination around.. read more

Lambs

White muscle disease

White muscle disease develops in calves and lambs of dams that received selenium-deficient feed during or before gestation.  Areas where selenium is low in the forage may suffer from this.. read more

Urinary calculi (stones) in lambs

Urinary sediment forms initially in the kidneys. It usually passes, via the ureter to the bladder. Fine sediment may pass harmlessly through the urethra, or may aggregate as larger particles.. read more

Breeding from ewe lambs

It is estimated that up to about 55% of the lowland flock replacement females could give birth at one year of age. One advantage of lambing ewe lambs is that.. read more

Artificially reared lambs

As finished lamb prices continue to firm, artificially rearing lambs remain a viable financial option, with gross income estimated to be £82/lamb, with variable costs of £47.  Artificial rearing does.. read more