Overview of lamb finishing systems for early and mid season lambing flock

Overview of store lamb finishing systems

Be aware of the range of feeding options for store lambs

Be aware of the market requirements for finished lambs

Intensive indoor finishing – concentrate fed

Grass finished early or March born lambs – straight off ewe or weaned

Short keep store lambs

Long keep store lambs

System selected depends on land and resources available

December/January born lambs/triplets or pet lambs Males left entire Weaned early and fed all concentrate diet Slatted floors or well strawed lying area Target premium market - April/May Wean at 6 weeks if eating 400-500g/day Lambs consume 50-60kg creep feed Encourage lambs to creep early Ad-lib water Troughs off floor to prevent fouling - coccidiosis Rock salt to prevent urinary stone

Lambs born December/January Ewes and lambs outside when sufficient grass If grass limited ewes fed concentrates Lambs creep fed from early age Growth rates of 450g/day possible Lambs finished pre-Easter/May Select lambs carefully to hit target specifications

Lambs finished straight off their mother – usually singles and lambs born in first lambing cycle

Lambs should only be creep fed if grass supply is limited

Good grass quality and grazing management vital Lambs weaned at 12-16 weeks and moved onto silage

aftermaths (clean grazing/low worm burden) On a typical lowland system March born lambs

should be finished by end September off grass Desired daily growth rate of 250 + g/day

Pre grazing - Grass cover 2100 kg dry matter/ha

Post grazing - Grass cover 1600 kg dry matter /ha

Creep feeding can compensate for poor grass supply/quality

Creep feeding 300 grams/lamb/day◦ Increases lamb performance◦ Reduces age at slaughter by 28 days◦ Increases price received for first draft of lambs◦ Small effect on average carcase price for total flock

For mid season lamb producing flocks - Increased lamb performance does not cover cost of concentrates.

To improve financial margins focus on better grassland management

Depends on many factors

◦ Weight of lambs

◦ Length of time/feed required to finish

◦ Availability of grass or concentrates

◦ Market trends

Grass supply can fall substantially◦ Lambs face declining sward heights and lower quality

swards

Releases grass for ewes at tupping

Provides grass to go into winter with

Can reduce need to feed ewes

Take advantage of good store trade?

Mop up surplus grass in summer/autumn/winter without poaching the land

Improves sward quality

Sell into high market price

Buy stores at a competitive market price

What is a competitive price?

Length of time to finish

Make the most of resources available◦ Grass◦ Feed◦ Forages

Feed costs

Have a plan

Margins can be tight

Know your market

Current NI lamb prices

Length of keep

Weight of lamb (kg)

Weight of lamb (kg) half weight

Typical weight gain per week (Kg)

Length of finishing period

Finishing system

Short 36+ 18+ 0.9 – 1.1 6 weeks or less

Good quality grass or grass and concentrate

Medium 30-35 15-17.5 0.6 – 0.8 6-10 weeks Grass and concentrate

Long Below 30

Below 15

0.5 – 0.7 10 weeks+ Grass and concentrateForage cropsAd Lib/ indoor finishing

Select lambs free from Orf /scab

Little or no feet problems/ lameness/joint-ill

Avoid mixed groups of lambs

Similar breed type and sex

Keep entire ram lambs away from ewe lambs

Dose with ‘an effective wormer’ and house/yard for 12- 18 hrs

Keep separate from own sheep

Footbath and keep on clean concrete for 1 hour

Vaccinate with clostridial / pasteurella vaccine

Dip if necessary or apply pour on depending on season.

The better a lamb is fed the quicker it will grow, depends on◦grass supply◦grass quality◦lamb growth potential◦geographic location,◦type of production system ◦marketing options◦cost and availability of feed

Ideal for lowland Dairy / beef farms

Surplus grass on silage aftermaths or cattle grazing swards

Lower worm challenge – clean grazing

Grass quality will depend on management during the summer

Keep a good grass supply going into fields of 7 cm (2200 kg DM/ha and coming out of fields at 3cm (1600 kg DM/ha)

Block graze fields - helps to avoid poaching /compaction

Aim to finish lambs within 6 - 8 weeks

Utilise 50% of the sward in all fields available – grazing tight may restrict intakes and performance

During favorable conditions can gain 1 kg/head/week

Pastures with high clover content (10%) can increase lamb growth rates by 50 g/day compared to grass alone

Makes most sense when grass quality/quantity is low

Help to stretch resource allows higher stocking rate

Feed a high energy, low protein concentrate along with good quality grass

Concentrates can be fed at 0.25 – 1 kg per day in troughs, level depends on ◦ Grass quality/quantity◦ How quickly lambs need to be finished◦ Lamb/conc. price

Where reasonable grass is available feed 0.25 - 0.45kg above this level

feed will replace grass

Troughs◦ Where every lamb can feed at the same time◦ Groups start eating and finish at the same time

Hoppers◦ Can be placed out in fields but are more suitable for feeding ad-

lib concentrates than a restricted quantity

16% Protein12.6 MJ/KG DM

10% Fibre

Barley 250

Maize 250

Maize gluten 100

Soya 125

Soya hulls 150

Citrus pulp 100

Mins + Vits 25

40 -50 kg per tonne of chopped straw can be added if the lambs are fed ad lib.

Silage quality is critical to ensure good intake and determine concentrate intake◦ Quality 68-70 D value◦ 11.5 ME kg/DM◦ 25-30% dry matter

Don't feed poorly fermented or

contaminated silage to avoid listeriosis

Silage D value Concentrates required Kg/Lamb/day

69+ 0.30

67 0.37

65 0.40

Below 64 Not suitable

Expensive, useful to achieve necessary finish on lambs and meet target market

Viability depends on lamb and meal prices

Can take up to 8kg meal to support 1kg of liveweight or 0.48kg of carcass (FCR 8:1)

Lambs can get excessively fat especially ewe lambs

Don’t exceed the payable carcase weight (21 or 22 kg)

Monitor performance on a regular basis and check does it pay

Cost = 1.60

Meal

7 kg @ 200 per tonne =£1.40

8 kg @ £200 per tonne = £1.60

10 kg @ 200 per tonne =£2.00

Return = 1.68

Lamb 1kg of liveweight x 48 % kill

out = 0.48 kg carcase

0.48 kg carcase @ £3.50 = £1.68

Build up gradually on meal

Generally lambs are housed

Ensure good supply of water

Provide straw in the ration to ensure good rumen function

Clipping / shearing pre housing may help performance – helps in increase intakes

NEVER use ewe minerals in lamb rations

Up to 4 lambs per expanded metal (mesh) slat 0.7 m2/lamb

On restricted feeding allow 350-400 mm trough space per lamb

On Ad lib feeding allow 125 mm trough space per lamb

Adequate air inlet and outlet – to prevent sticky housing/damp bedding

Forage rape - can graze in 100 days after sowing. ◦ Sow April- Aug : Use June – Feb

Tyfon – Can be grazed after 60 days a re-growth after grazing

Kale- High yielding but may be better suited for use as a forage crop for cattle

Requires a grass lie back Strip graze

Kill out % Grass fed Heavy meal

feeding

43% 50%

Liveweight Expected carcase weight

50 21.50 25.00

43 18.49 21.5

Effect of diet on kill out %Effect of diet on kill out %

Grass only fed lambs will have a lower kill out percentage compared to concentrate fed lambs

Purchase price 18 + kg £65Keep for 6 weeks

Variable costs Grass cost (50 p per week) £3.00 Concentrates (30 days 0.45 kg per day) £3.00 Vet and med £2.00 Transport £1.00 Market/fees £1.50Total variable costs £10.50Require £76 at time of sale ( 21kg @ £3.62/kg)

Weigh lambs regularly

Assess flesh/fat cover by handling the lambsa. Around the tail root or dock - The fatter the

lamb the wider the dock.

b. Check the prominence of the backbone over the loin.

c. Over the ribs.

d. The backbone over the shoulder.

e. Along the breast bone

Females will fatten at lower liveweight

Don't allow lambs to go over weight or over fat

Market requirements for lamb carcases can Market requirements for lamb carcases can be described in terms of the following 3 be described in terms of the following 3 areas:areas:

1. Carcase conformation

2. Carcase fat class

3. Carcase weight

Finishing system depends on the resources you have available

Grass is your cheapest feed and most valuable resource Sell lambs as stores if keeping them on is likely to affect

performance of ewes Purchase store lambs similar in size and free from disease Plan what feed you have available and when lambs will

be at slaughter weight Weigh lambs on a regular basis Read the market trends If intensive feeding check your costs