A5 Q2 Torch Summer Magazine 2024 - Flipbook - Page 15
By eight weeks of age, the lamb’s main energy source is switching from milk to
grass.
Target growth rates for lambs up to eight weeks of age should be greater than
250g per day.
A lamb with a 4 kg birth weight, at 56 days of age would weigh:
Growth date
Weight
Points to consider when reviewing your 昀椀ndings
• Ewe BCS; aim to wean 90% of the ewes on or above targets (see table above)
• Lamb DLWG; Poor growth should trigger early weaning and lambs moved
onto be琀琀er quality pasture.
• Forage availability; if limited, will the lambs be compe琀椀ng with the ewes for
grass?
• Have parasites been adequately controlled?
• Have trace elements needs been met?
• Is there an underlying issue/disease a昀昀ec琀椀ng ewe milk supply (see below)?
Grass and ovaries
Nutri琀椀on and BCS have both short term and
long term e昀昀ects on proli昀椀cacy. The ewe’s
ovary has cycles of follicular development
and matura琀椀on. There is a longer-term, underlying four to 昀椀ve monthly matura琀椀on
cycle. Superimposed on this are shorter-term waves of ac琀椀vity.
Flushing u琀椀lises this shorter-term e昀昀ect.
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