5. Previous studies at Athenry have shown (Table 4) that each 0.5 kg increase in lamb birth weight increases subsequent weaning weight by 1.7 kg. h�bbd``b`Z$SA�8�`��e �tk Macro and micro minerals are required for proper skeletal and nervous system function. 0.35 pounds per day. Roughages have high levels of calcium and low levels of phosphorus, while many protein supplements and most grains are low in calcium and moderate to high in phosphorus. Just measuring the feed out with a coffee can is not recommended. Be sure male lambs have been castrated correctly. However, you want to make sure that you select a lamb that will have enough finish (target backfat between 0.16 to 0.25 inches) when it reaches the target weight. This will usually result in a more desirable carcass. ����ea���q C� �20|�Ҽ@�y �7��7ְ-}��8���XɎ�Ή��10|�Ҍ@|�ف�P�Y �b`d��� �� the same manner, their carcass weight, hogget weight and ewe performance are all enhanced. Symptoms of coccidiosis are diarrhea, loss of weight, and depression; lambs sometimes die. Market lambs are typically considered correctly finished when they achieve a yield grade in the “twos” or low “threes”. This is required for all lambs that go through commercial processing plants to fulfill the requirement for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). Also, don’t set your target weight as the minimum weight for the fair because you might not make weight and you most likely will not have a lamb that is not adequately finished. On farms where coccidiosis is a problem, lambs should stay on a coccidiostat regimen until they are about 6 months of age when most seem to become immune to damage caused by coccidia. Never skip a feeding. A very young milkfed lamb weighing less than 7.5kg. The first step in producing a quality end product is the selection of a young, healthy lamb with plenty of growth potential. jx�2y?�L���� �X����Ă�(uR)��2!�W�5A�x@�PR ����}�}{�x�p�z���"�6�ykD��� �`��;D�GܽF�]�����˹��.��N�/ܘ; 7Ŋ���5��)�h`��:��M �v�fͺ�[���֕!�[D�ʬ���Z#�!������E*� Diets high in phosphorus levels compared to calcium may cause urinary calculi, formation of blockage stones in the urinary tract. endstream endobj 30 0 obj <>stream At this rate, it will gain a total of 63 pounds … During the finishing phase of a feedlot program, an average feed conversion of 6 to 1 is assumed. The level and ratio of calcium and phosphorus are also important for proper growth and health of lambs. Effective prevention can be achieved by feeding low levels of a coccidiostat either in the feed or mineralized salt mixture. However, fast growing lambs that are properly fed a high quality concentrate (grain) diet and managed properly should average at least 0.75 pounds of gain per day. For those not experienced with lamb feedlotting, the following document is suggested reading: Feedlotting lambs; Technical requirements Take these measurements in inches and apply the following formula:  Heart girth x heart girth x body length ÷ 300 = weight in pounds. MILK PEAKS AT ABOUT FOUR WEEKS Four weeks after lambing, a ewe’s milk production (36252) 20% Starter - B27.2 (39453) Cleaning the area and treating it with a disinfectant will help clear up the infection quickly and minimize the loss of ear tags. Some pre-mixed lamb diets have ammonium chloride added at the rate of approximately 10 pounds per ton of feed to aid in the prevention of urinary calculi. Therefore average daily gain for the larger framed leaner type of lamb would be higher at a constant weight comparison (Figure 2). If you choose this method of slowing your lamb’s rate of gain, consider doing this mid-way in the feeding period and finishing the lamb on a concentrate finishing ration with a higher energy or higher protein level, during the last three weeks before the show to give it a trimmer toned appearance. Milk Yield and Lamb Growth Milk DM : Live Weight Gain in young lamb = 1:1 Sheep’s milk about 20% DM, Therefore:-Single lamb GR x 5 OR Twin lamb GR x 10 (5 x 2) Ewe Milk Yield (90% accuracy) e.g. This can also cause condemnation of the carcass and loss of payment, as well as jeopardize the safety and quality of the food you are producing. Keep lambs in a dog proofpen. the label. resulting in similar annualised liveweight gain per ha (1 800 kg) and net carcass weight (800 kg/ha) on both pasture treatments. • If finishinglambs on an all concentrate diet, ensure diet is formulated for this purpose, initially offer 300 g/lamb/day and increase by 200 g/lamb/days every unshorn lambs. If you can use the same or similar feedstuffs when you first bring your animal home, you can minimize the stress the animal experiences. To determine the estimated average daily gain to achieve the desired target weight, use the following formula: Target Weight - Initial Weight = Total Gain Total Gain / Days On Project = Estimated Average Daily Gain An example would be a large framed lamb that weighs 65 pounds at the initial weigh-in. Your lamb’s performance will be improved by providing it with plenty of pen space, shelter with good ventilation, and protection from the sun and bad weather. Calculate the 90-day adjusted weaning weight of a Katahdin ram lamb with a birth weight of 10 lbs. Additionally, the proportion of the gain that is derived from dry feed vs. milk increases. Remember to feed your lamb the proper amount so it will grow at the rate needed for the fair. >> LAMB GROWTH RATES UP TO 6 WEEKS (a) Single lamb @ 340g/d = 1.7 kg milk/ewe/d (b) Twin lamb @ 250g/d = 2.5 kg milk/ewe/d References to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that nondiscrimination is intended and no endorsement by WSU Extension is implied. Make sure the trace-mineral salt provided is formulated for sheep because they are more susceptible to copper toxicity than other species of animals. Therefore, if you must give an intramuscular injection, it should be given forward of the front shoulders in the neck region because this is a lower value area of the carcass. H��U���0�G�?�[���� 9�Ъ�����b�4�g�Y�RO�"p����x� `��_p��nY��u�;�zV��k�.ymy/�4M�#�>-_��g���ˏ�.+� ��~E(ՀdC�+V�\��`a`?9�\����w`Ex���~�Ճo;|���� �)%4MȹX�Y)��ʖ����`5؞C�&�Oy&Y��&7=��)J�QM̳6 |vs��Z�ل"��V< ��и�ɉ���/����DHT���)���%����3l��F�[�ku0Uz$������x�30i{=w=���y���U�C�F�)�F=Y�,(m��#0G(pI(Ib-*l�y �5T�=��� 0�Z+��\� ��Ƃ���Gh]o�y��[��o�Q�$[ʦ�W�b�d����yT��ə��aiI�M�,VA�Ū��g���1֢��9a�Н1�kϸp{���.�����!T�r͕2f��� Projected feed intake and average daily gain of the typical show lamb.”][/table]. 2 AVERAGE DAILY GAIN 1.2 .---- … If the lamb has reached the desired weight, reduce the feed intake to about two-thirds of the normal intake two days before the fair. When you make changes in the diet, make them very slowly to avoid digestive upset that can sometimes lead to the death of the animal. When feeding show lambs, the calcium:phosphorus ratio should be approximately 2:1. 135 – (0.5 x 100) = 85. When you purchase your feeder lamb, be sure you ask for and write down critical information pertaining to the animal you have selected. Bloat and acidosis can be life- threatening conditions when a lamb has had more than his share of a growing or finishing ration. The days prior to the fair and during the fair can be a stressful time for a lamb with the added activities. 6. Four to five days prior to the show, feed the lamb in the pan that will be used at the fair. Depending on breed and frame size of the lamb, most animals will achieve the desired level of back fat or finish (between 0.16 and 0.25 inches) at a live weight between 125 and 145 pounds. Record the lamb’s weight and date on a chart. 6:�y,�e��,6,�M� ۜ� The farmlets apparently utilised 10 000 kg DM/ha/yr of the 16 000 kg DM accumulated. 7. But they have 10% higher maintenance requirements which is a cost. Only provide lambs with salt formulated for sheep because they are very sensitive to certain minerals, such as copper. Then measure the length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the point of the rump, or pin bone (distance a –  b  in Figure 1). It may be a simple matter of making a minor change in the facilities to minimize the stress on the lamb; it may require changing the amount of feed given or the energy level of the ration; or it may require addressing a health related issue. Differences in weight and nutrient content need to be factored into these calculations. These programs should not be treated as separate subjects, particularly when feeding market lambs. endstream endobj 29 0 obj <>stream Under normal conditions, lambs will gain approximately 1/2 pound per day. Most or all of the ration can come from hay or pasture, but this may lead to an animal with a “hay belly”. It is important to avoid selecting a lamb that is too big or too old and consequently might be too big or too fat at show time; or one that might have to be held back too severely at the end of the feeding period, resulting in an undesirable carcass. ���T�G*�'Q�6�{�9�������������|� That means that you should select a lamb that weighs between 55 and 105 lbs to start the project. Feed on the same time schedule each day. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local WSU Extension office. And, this can result is less hearing aggravation for the shepherd and better weight gains in the lambs. Regardless of the age of the lamb at the time of the injection, it not only causes lesions in the form of abscesses or scars, but it results in the surrounding muscle tissue, up to three inches from the injection site, being unacceptably tough. The USDA yield grade 1 represents lean, muscular animals and USDA yield grade 5 represents extremely fat, wasty animals. 32 Fig. Therefore, caution must be used when formulating show lamb diets with little or no roughage. When increasing the amount of grain fed, do it gradually. Also, many of you will be exercising and working with your lambs to enhance muscle tone and prepare for showmanship, which requires energy use and decreases average daily gain performance. When you arrive at the show do not feed the lamb immediately upon arrival. When giving your lamb any medications or animal health products, always follow the label directions. • Aim to maximise weight gain from autumn grass. Divide the total ration into two. Meat price (/kg) * If this price is per kg carcass weight then the appropriate dressing % should be filled in. at 100 days of age. expressed as average daily gain, favors a leaner animal since the conversion of feed to lean weight gain is higher than for fat weight gain. 5. Continue to add electrolytes to water until the lamb becomes accustomed to the water. Providing feeds early will enhance the lambs’ acceptance to these coarser feeds. Humane care is essential in providing a quality, wholesome product for the consumer. Shy feeders and sick lambs should be identified during this period and removed from the feedlot. Starting/Ending Weights and Average Daily Gain (ADG) Requirements Sheep Start Weight End Weight lbs. 90 days x 1/2 lb per day = 45 lbs. Grain rations can vary in weight even between bags of the same diet, so it is important to weigh out the feed at each feeding to avoid digestive upsets. Achieving high lamb growth requires an all-encompassing view of management, as well as planning, to achieve pre-set goals. Spring born lambs shown in the fall can be fed to gain at a slightly slower rate over the summer than winter born lambs that must be pushed to finish for a spring show, because the feeding period is longer. Using the measurements from steps 1 and 2, calculate body weight using the formula HEART GIRTH x HEART GIRTH x BODY LENGTH / 300 = ANIMAL WEIGHT IN POUNDS. held the first week in September will have about 105 days to reach market weight. H��TM��0�#��J+ �[��V�Z�U���%vjp Lambs will often grow at a slightly slower rate during the summer because they tend to eat less during extremely hot weather. It is difficult even for experienced producers to determine the exact date a lamb will be ready to go to market. Large lambs can also be limit-fed a normal energy ration with a higher protein amount (CP% between 18-22%) in conjunction with an exercise program to hold the lamb’s weight gain to a minimum. Before you bring your lamb home, it is always wise to ask questions of the producer you purchased it from about what type of feed the lamb has been consuming. The yield grade for lambs is determined by multiplying the adjusted back fat (between the 12th  and 13th  rib)  by 10 and adding 0.4. and bone meal at any time. A systematic These products are feed additives and must be fed as directed on. �� b�XM V�"瀄��X�����d#V�?��� � With this in mind, it is beneficial for you to prepare your lamb for the setting of the fair prior to the actual event. The misuse of drugs, vaccines, pesticides, and various other medications in meat animal production can have serious legal consequences, including civil and/or criminal prosecution. If the animal will be drinking chlorinated water at the fair, add an approved sheep electrolyte to the water to mask the odor and taste. a single lamb) can gain weight. b. Your spring born lamb can be fed to gain about 0.6 pounds per day during the summer. www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/sheep/facts/12-021.htm 39 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<28BF4E5E4E758A4164004E56FFFA0108>]/Index[24 23]/Info 23 0 R/Length 79/Prev 38963/Root 25 0 R/Size 47/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream Lambs can easily gain 1 pound per day in their first 70 to 80 days. 135 – (0.7×100) = 135 – 70 = 65. Sheep are susceptible to severe digestive upsets with any sudden change in diet. While there are a number of different Hispanic groups, many of them use lamb or sheep regularly in their diet. In the Pacific Northwest, you need to pay close attention to selenium. Be sure to part, or compress the wool to ensure an accurate heart girth measurement. Hubbard ® Life Sheep Product: Feeding Directions: 20% Starter - non med. When you use any type of medicated feed, always read and follow any withdrawal time. Not all lambs can be fed to the same final weight because not all lambs have the same size of frame. Your lamb should also be dewormed as it is moved from a pasture diet to a concentrate diet if it hasn’t been treated for internal parasites within the last month. The lamb should be fed the same time each day. This information given herein is for educational purposes only. Best liveweight gains are achieved in August to end of October but grass quality must be good and well managed at all times. It is a polled breed of domestic sheep which was developed in Australia from Wiltshire Horn Sheep with the infusion of Border Leicester, Poll Dorset, Poll Merino and Perendale.. Today the breed is raised mainly for meat production and very suitable for heavy lamb production. Water the lamb in the water bucket that will be used at the fair 5-7 days prior to arrival at the fair. ��QA����*� ���Y�fϱ �YO�t�:�F8��t��.ětp|2>�)��1A����Y�ڨ�����&h�J��)�K�$yt�7�zT�a�p;�Ph��djZ?|�cw��gD>5�#* �.��K*p!���� The web based gross margin Feedlot Calculator enables the user to enter different real time production, economic and feeding scenarios to estimate likely profit for a lamb feedlotting enterprise. Be sure to get your Scrapie tag from your breeder. do not use feed or treats formulated for pigs, horses, poultry, rabbits, dogs, etc.). Slaughter weight (kg) Enter the target weight at which the animal will be sold from the feedlot. One of the most difficult things in the selection process is to predict how fast your lamb will gain because of the many variables that influence rate of gain. If you are a new lamb project member, you may want to give yourself a little more leeway. The most efficient conversion of feed to weight gain occurs during the first 100 to 120 days of a lamb's life. Minimum weight = 90 lbs They interfere with the life cycle of coccidia in the intestine, preventing a buildup of coccidia, which can cause the disease. So they might be finished at 90 lbs. It is important to remember each fair may have different weight limits and many have either a minimum or maximum weight limit or both. Some simple steps prior to weaning can greatly reduce the stress for both ewes and lambs. Pasture is a source of parasites for your lamb. * If the carcass price also include the value of the skin, head and … To use the formula method:  measure the heart girth, or circumference of the lamb around the foreribs just behind the elbow, (distance C of the figure below). Two doses of Clostridium perfringens type D or type C & D toxoid bacterin, given according to label directions, will effectively protect these lambs against overeating disease. 46 0 obj <>stream endstream endobj 31 0 obj <>stream Keshavarz (1984) reported the effects of different protein levels at various bird ages (18% at 0-6 weeks of age, then 15/12%, 12/12% or 12/15% at 6-14, 14-20 weeks, respectively). t�PL�5$�i@�������1cP����)r��J@�p��N�9� e�! Selecting a lamb in the right weight range for your market lamb project is critical. The lamb is meaty and it is ‘finished’ – meaning it has just the right fat cover. Lasalocid, marketed under the trade name of “Bovatec”, and Decoquinate, sold under the name of “Deccox”, are approved as a feed additive for use in sheep. A properly balanced diet should contain approximately 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. Therefore, you may want to project only a 0.4 to 0.5 pound per day of gain with a target weight of 135 pounds. Failure to follow withdrawal times can result in illegal residues in the carcass. Keywords: lamb finishing, annual productivity, farmlets Introduction The increasing demand for heavier lambs on a more endstream endobj 25 0 obj <>/Outlines 15 0 R/Pages 22 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 26 0 obj <>/ProcSet[/PDF/ImageB/Text]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0 0 612 792]/Type/Page>> endobj 27 0 obj <>stream intramuscular, always choose the subcutaneous route. Increase the amount of grain you feed by 1/8 to 1/4 pound per day over a 3-4 day period. Refer to the Producer Affidavit & Market Lamb Health Record (WSU Publication C1052E) for critical information to ask the producer. @��m0aR��A�e���!t��_ �,�� The primary meat in the diet of these individuals is lamb or sheep (older animals). In 2018, the average weight of slaughtered sheep and lamb carcasses per head was 19.4 kilograms, a weight that has remained stable over a number of years. Pre-weaning ADG = (90 - 10) ÷ 100 = 0.80 lbs/day; Age Corrected weaning weight = (0.80 x 90 d) + 10 = 82.0 lbs Fast growing animals put a bit more growth into meat a while longer. If your feeder lamb hasn’t been vaccinated, it is important to vaccinate it before it is put on a high energy feed ration. limits of the show or fair. Intramuscular injections do affect the quality of the food product you are producing. If the average lamb gains 1/2 pound per day and your feeding period is 90 days then you should expect a lamb to gain approximately 45 pounds over the feeding period. %PDF-1.5 %���� Carefully follow withdrawal time requirements for all market lambs because they will enter the human food chain. As the lambs get to 4-6 weeks of age and older, coarser feeds become more palatable. endstream endobj 28 0 obj <>stream a. Lamb carcasses having minimum conformation qualifications for the Prime grade tend to be thickly muscled throughout, are moderately wide and thick in relation to their length and have moderately plump and full legs, moderately wide and thick backs, and moderately thick and full shoulders. should weigh at show time, estimating how much it will gain, and then doing a simple calculation. When you have a market project animal, you must also remember you are raising a food animal and your goals should include producing a safe, wholesome and high quality product for consumers. and a weaning weight of 90 lbs. Animal growth: How much feed does an animal require to gain a specified amount of weight each day? In well-managed flocks of efficient, fast-gaining breeds, it is common for lambs to reach weights of 110 pounds at 120 days of age. For ruminant animals (animals with a four compartment stomach such as sheep) the Food and Drug Administration regulation, Title 21 Part 589.2000 of the Code of Federal Regulations (effective August 4, 1997), prohibits the feeding of ruminant meat. When purchasing lambs for project animals, be sure that they have a USDA or Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) scrapie flock identification tag. Sometimes lambs that are too big early in the feeding period need to be held to a lower rate of gain for a period of time to prevent them from exceeding the proper show weight. Weaned lambs on pasture alone often average 0.25 to. This takes into account how much weight the animal is gaining, the size of the breed and their stock class. The lamb was born and raised as a triplet out of a 10 year old ewe. ;�|���b!_q�&��G�)� l��.i���#��^�C4���M��\e������lݿ] ]����?T�'��AZi����O zd�C��È��X��Zxm���U�'L���Z�b vG��h��8��� �� �Y+����۫� ;WRt8���ýf��#}�_�襹8���F��,_x.��<8��&$O�Cw�*��(��@�ET����~47'�W��I���ED�%�=V��Ͻ�H.���)gϖ�BJ��Ѫ׬�fL�?��_?�@�ʚ�5����^W�82�����Y�Q��@p����Ez{)`�'P54�={Sq���hf>_�W� Hg{� Therefore, when selecting your lamb, check with the sheep producer to see if a scale is available to help take the guesswork out of selecting a lamb of appropriate weight. For example, if your target weight is 125 lb (processors prefer lambs in the 110-140 lb range), the starting weight is 65 lb and the fair is in 120 days, you have 60 lb to gain over that time, or 0.5 lb/day. A desired final weight could be 124 pounds. In addition to the initial vaccination, most lambs will receive at least one or two booster vaccinations for this disease because of its prevelance in fast growing lambs on concentrate diets. This is calculated by multiplying the number of days, times the expected gain and subtracting that. Many lambs receive protection through the colostrums if the ewes in the flock are vaccinated 30 days before lambing, and then the lambs should receive a booster shot just prior to weaning. Also make sure you have the producer fill out or complete the Producer Affidavit portion of the Producer Affidavit & Market Lamb Health Record (WSU Publication C1052E). 24 0 obj <> endobj %%EOF Treatment may prevent death loss, but if a lamb recovers from coccidiosis it will often become a “poor doer” and gain slowly on feed because of the permanent damage that occurs in the digestive system. Hubbard® Life Sheep Feeding Chart. The first show feeding should be one-half to two-thirds of the normal feed intake to help reduce stress symptoms; gradually increase feed to pre-show amount over the next couple of feedings. Large frame lambs may be correctly finished at 140 pounds, while small frame lambs may be correctly Once you know how many days until the show or fair, what the target weight or weight limits are for the show, and you’ve predicted a reasonable expected weight gain, you can calculate a good weight range for selecting your feeder lamb. WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. You should provide your lamb fresh, clean, cool water (water should be kept out of the direct sun so it stays cooler) and a loose trace-mineralized salt at all times. For example, if a sheep has a heart girth equal to 35 inches and a body length equal to 30 inches, the calculation would be (35 x 35 x 30) / 300 = 122 lbs Knowing the health care history will help you design a health program of your own, including: when and what booster vaccinations you need to give your lamb; how soon to treat for internal and external parasites; and if medication is needed (such as a coccidiostat) in the feed. It would be best if the lamb was fed alfalfa hay, rather than pasture. during this period, but are unlikely to gain much live weight. Probiotics (a mixture of different bacteria beneficial to rumen function) and/or bicarbonate of soda are good to have on hand when feeding high grain diets to show lambs. However, once the lamb reaches a weight well above 90 pounds and starts reaching 100 pounds, that ratio starts changing. Lactating ewes use feed 20% more efficiently to put on LW than dry ewes. If the lamb’s daily gain has fallen off, ask a knowledgeable adult for some help in determining why. endstream endobj startxref This can be done by providing a lower energy ration using whole oats as part of the diet. However, you must remember show lambs are being fed for a particular date, rather than weight and finish (like in the commercial sheep industry).