Tuesday, 28 August 2012

Body condition score ewes ahead of flushing


"There is plenty of grass about generally, but it's been so wet and the ground conditions are not very good," said SAC sheep and beef specialist Rhidian Jones.

"When the grass is wet, it takes a bit more effort for the sheep to get the DM they need and it doesn't do their feet any good - it creates lameness problems, which affects their condition and ability to graze."

This was backed up by EBLEX beef and sheep scientist Liz Genever, who recommended producers to sort their ewes into three different groups - thin, all right and fat - dependent on body condition score.
"The biggest thing to think about is body condition scoring sheep - flushing generally only works when sheep are on a rising plane of nutrition, and it's the most effective when the sheep's body condition score is slightly below target," she said.


"Post-weaning, some thin sheep might be that way because they are young or because they have done a great job with their lambs," added Dr Genever.


She said producers should continue to cull any sheep, post-weaning, which have bad teeth or udders. "If they are not in the right body condition score by flushing and tupping, you are always going to be chasing your tail."