Lamb Loss and Artificial Rearing

ANS262 Farm AssesmentMichigan State University

Ana Karla de Lima SilvaFabiana Oliveira Notário

1.State of the ProblemBackground:● Indoor, intensive, accelerated

lambing system ● Breeds: Suffolk, Commercial and

Dorset● Commercial flock: 3-way crosses

produced from a Rambouillet, Suffolk and Dorset crossbreeding plan.

● Lamb loss and artificial rearing → winter birth period

Problems?Artificial rearing● 20 lambs in total● Actually a solution, but:

❏ Milk replacer: -$$❏ Labor ❏ Rejection

Starvation and exposure● Improvement in installations

Problems?Suffolk ewes● Trauma losses● Lose more lambs overall

Dystocia● Biggest common loss

cause● Lamb weight?

Assuming one lamb as worth in average $ 157, 15 (Slaughter lambs 90-115 lbs ) a total loss of $ 5028, 8 occurred for that season.

2.Improvement Strategies3 approaches for improvement

Grafting

Selection*

BarnBuilding

2.1 Grafting● Also known as “Fostering”● Match the number of lambs with the total ● amount of milk produced by all lactating ewes.

❏ Avoid artificial rearing ❏ Avoid the waste of milk

Grafting: step by stepPredict Milk Yield

Assess lamb milk demand

Assess lamb vigor

Enhance maternal bond

Prevent lamb rejection

2.2 Barn• Exposure is one the biggest sources of loss• Indoor birthing system→modify the barns with

better insulation and ventilating systems • Maternal bonding factor• Feed and water are very important as well.

A barn project - 16X24, GABLEROOF W/TIED RFTRS, VENT DOORS

2.3 Selection● Suffolk ewes: smaller % of the

flock● Heritability for bith weight: 15%● Prolificity of the ewes ↑ : lamb

weight ↓o Rate of survival: ↓

● However...↑ of lamb weight can ↑

occurrence of dystocia, which is also an issue at the MSU sheep farm.

3. Cost Benefit Analysis• Out of 279 lambs on the analyzed

period, a total of 247 remained alive.

• 8% were artificially reared. Artificial rearing is expensive in terms of milk replacer and management time.

Cost Benefit Analysis - ReplacerEx. “Sav-A-Lam” milk replacer costs $61.95 for 25 lbs. 4 oz (0.25 lbs) is needed for one preparation (1 pint, or 2 cups)– one bag is

worth 100 preparations.

Grafting is a time and money saving alternative.

20 lambs to feed6*20= 120

feedings(30*1d) 5*20=100 (25*3d) 4*20=80 (45*10d)3*20=60 (40*16d)2*20= 40 (1*1d)Total=1235 p

1 bag – 100 X bags – 1235 X= 12.35 13

$805.35

Cost benefit- Barn• Building a barn: Cost of ~ $

3.504,excluding labor

• 384 square feet, roughly~ $10.000 including all costs.

• Again, assuming 1 lamb= $ 157, 15 and a total loss of $ 5028, 8…

2 years pay the barn investment.

4. Summary● Reducing artificial rearing with grafting will reduce labor

and investment on milk replacer;● A well-constructed barn is a high investment initially, but

housing and management are proven to be critical for lamb survival~ can pay itself in up to 2 years;

● Maintain less Suffolk ewes in the flock if focus is on lamb survival

● A selection program is important to balance lamb weight and avoid dystocia

Thank you! Questions?

Reference ListEhrhardt, R. – Interview: http://www.todaysfarmer.ca/2010/11/25/critical-control-points-for-lamb-survival

Iowa State University Extension - Ag Decision Maker, Historic Hog and Lamb Prices https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/livestock/pdf/b2-

10.pdf

North Dakota State University Extension – Building Plans - http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension-aben/buildingplans/sheep. Referenced plan

in bigger view: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/aben-plans/5019.pdf

Fisher, M. - Lambing management in New Zealand: ethics and welfare considerations. Surveillance 28(3) 2001. New Zealand.

Ehrhardt, R. – Critical Points for Lamb Survival, Optimizing indoor lambing management and Grafting lambs: an opportunity to increase flock

productivity

Neary, M. - Increasing Lamb Survival. The Shepherd in 1996, Vol. 41:12: http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/sheep/articles/incrlamb.html

Life time wool website: http://www.lifetimewool.com.au/Ewe%20Management/lambsurv.aspx

Valley vet - Milk replacer price reference: https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html

Barn price estimative - http://www.fixr.com/costs/build-barn

http://aces.nmsu.edu/sheep/selection_breeding/selection_breeding.html