L3 Animal Production Module 2 Unit 3 Rearing Practice for Ewes and Rams

NATIONAL CERTIFICATE (VOCATIONAL) PRIMARY AGRICULTURE SUBJECT: ANIMAL PRODUCTION LEVEL: 3 LECTURER: MBHELE M.L MODULE 2 UNIT 3 REARING PRACTICE FOR EWES AND RAMS Downloaded from hlayiso.com

INTRODUCTION • With extensive sheep farming, sheep kept on the natural veld. In the sweetveld (dryer) areas, sheep can stay on the veld without any significant supplementary feeding. In the higher rainfall (sourveld)regions, supplementary feeding is necessary. Feeding and care of ewes and rams is associated with semi-intensive to intensive sheep farming. Under these conditions an intensive fat-lamb production programme(every 8 months)can be maintained. Feeding and care of ewes and rams can then become economically feasible. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

FEEDING AND CARE OF EWES • DRY EWES • Wethers and dry ewes require feed to keep them in fairly good condition. It is essential for merino sheep to be in good condition if they are to produce wool, Since wool birbes are very sensitive to a lack of adequate feed. Poor feeding results in breaks or tenderness in the wool. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

FEEDING AND CARE OF EWES • During normal years in the Karoo, sheep do not experience any real nutrient deficiency, but in the grassland areas, a sharp decline in the nutritive value of the grazing is a regular occurrence at certain times of the year At these times farmers must provide supplementary feed in the form of cultivated pastures. e.g: winter cereal, grass-clover mixtures or Lucerne. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

EWES IN LAMB AND EWES IN MILK • THE FIRST 107 DAYS OF GESTATION • No nutritional deficiencies can be permitted to occur after the ewe has been mated because this could result in the death of the embryo. • In addition, any setback the ewe suffers as a result of nutritional deficiency during gestation can generally only be made up after weaning. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

THE LAST 1 MONTHS OF GESTATION 1 2 • The normal gestation period of ewes is approximately 147 days, ranging from 144 to 152 days. The medium-wool breeds and meat-type breeds ordinarily have a shorter gestation period than do the fine-wool breeds. High temperatures and high nutrition levels may shorten the gestation period two or three days. Ewes bred to white-faced, wool-breed rams may have a slightly longer gestation period than those bred to black-faced, meat-type rams. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

THE LAST 1 MONTHS OF GESTATION 1 2 There are three main possibilities with regard to feeding during gestation 1. There may be sufficient spare veld of good quality available for the required growth to take place without supplementary feeding. 2. There may be sufficient grazing available but the quality might be poor. In case , a good energy or protein lick generally serves as an adequate supplement 3. There may be too little or no veld available .The ewes must be withdrawn from the veld and kept in small camps with sufficient shade. Balanced rations are then supplied. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

THE LAST 1 MONTHS OF GESTATION 1 2 • The composition of these rations depends on the type of feed available and cost. • The ewe’s nutritional requirements rise, especially with regard to energy during the last stage of pregnancy. • A shortage of energy causes domsiekte (Domsiekte definition is - a pregnancy disease of sheep in southern Africa). This is something that does not happen when the farmer supplies the nutritional requirements of his ewes. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

FEEDING AND CARE OF RAMS • FEEDING AND FETUS DEVELOPMENT • At six weeks before birth, is when the eventual growth potential of the fetus can receive the most damage due to incorrect feeding. Apart from the lost potential due to malnutrition, it can also result in low birth mass (2kg to 3kg) and mortalities. • The feed requirements of a pregnant ewe are 3,5% of her body mass. Well balanced nutrition is necessary for the production of good colostrum, which determines the immunity of the ram over his lifespan. Maintain a good ratio of 68% energy to 16% protein in respect of her nutrition. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

FEEDING OF THE RAM LAMB AFTER BIRTH In order to optimally feed the ram lamb, the lactating ewe requires 4,5% of her body mass as daily feed. Creep feeding must be set up from 10 days after birth and is essential since it will determine the ram's eating pattern over its lifespan. The ability of the ram to adjust to its feed, is essential since rams often change owners and feed patters as a result. Feed changes can result in infertility since it takes approximately 21 days for the micro-organisms to adjust to the next ration. Every ram requires approximately 25 kg of creep feeding until it is weaned at 100 days. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

FEEDING OF THE RAM LAMB AFTER BIRTH • Good feed management requires monitoring of the ram lamb's progress by the farmer. Decide what the weight of your rams should be at two-tooth selling stage, draw up a table and monitor by weighing on a monthly basis. • Should the ram lamb weigh 40 kg at weaning age and its target weight is 88 kg, its weight has to increase by 48 kg over 12 months (365 days). Monitor if it grows by approximately 4 kg per month or 110 grams, as required. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

CARE OF THE RAM LAMB CARE OF THE RAM LAMB • The next guidelines are valuable in ensuring good ram management from weaning to auction. • At +42 days, take fecal samples and dose if necessary. This is also a good time to do trace element and vitamin A supplements to strengthen mucous membranes. • At 80 days, inject against pulpy kidney and pasteurella(Pasteurellosis is a devastating condition affecting sheep of all ages. It is one of the most common causes of mortality in all ages of sheep. It is most often associated with stress) to limit mortalities after weaning. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

CARE OF THE RAM LAMB • Wean at 100 days and weigh the ram. Performance measurement starts her and is also required for BLUP selection later on. Weaning selection is done and 15% to 20% of the poorest ram performers are rejected. It is important to record the descendants which do not grow in order to discriminate against the parents. Sell poor performers. The birth register and weaning record must be sent to SA Pedigree. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

CARE OF THE RAM LAMB • After weaning, rams can do the so-called libido course. Approximately 30 poor performing ewes are put in a pen with the ram lambs and they continuously mate with the ewes. It improves libido and mating skills, which makes them top performers in respect of future reproduction. • Ram lambs are also shorn at this stage. Fleece is weighed to assist with the decision as to whether other lambs should be shorn or whether they should be sold with their wool. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

CARE OF THE RAM LAMB • During this period, Rev 1 can be administered to increase immunity against brucella ovis.(Brucella ovis in sheep is transmitted venereally from infected rams with epididymitis and is shed in semen). • Rams must get a lot of exercise - being fit improves fertility. The mating ability of overweight and unfit rams is usually not very good. • 180 days after having been shorn, the performance of the lambs is evaluated. They are weighed, a 30-gram wool sample is taken from the midrib areas and sent to the SA Wool Testing Bureau for analysis. The ram is also shorn and the fleece weighed. Performance forms must be completed scrupulously and accurately and sent to SA Pedigree. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

CONCLUSION • Every ram requires approximately 25 kg of creep feeding until it is weaned at 100 days. Good feed management requires monitoring of the ram lamb's progress by the farmer. Decide what the weight of your rams should be at two-tooth selling stage, draw up a table and monitor by weighing on a monthly basis. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY 1 • COMPLETE THE TABLE BELOW ON THE SUPLEMENTARY FEEDING PRACTICE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHEEP. TYPE OF SHEEP TYPES OF FEED SUPPLEMENT 1. DRY EWES 2. FISRT 107 DAYS OF GESTATION 3. LAST 1.5 MONTHS OF GESTATION 4. RAMS Downloaded from hlayiso.com