Drenching ewes now with an organically chelated supplement boosts profits later on – SAC R&D results
Sheep producers can improve their flock's lamb performance this season and subsequently boost margins by drenching ewes prior to tupping and lambing with an organically chelated trace element and vitamin supplement according to an independent trial carried out by the Scottish Agricultural College on a Stirlingshire based hill flock.
More, faster growing Mule lambs contributed to a potential better return of £10.00 per ewe or £3,000 for the flock of 300 Blackface ewes on trial. In addition, 16% more ewe lambs were sold for breeding purposes introducing further added value to the flock.
SAC drenched 300 Blackface ewes with 20ml of Liquithrive Sheep supplying a balance of essential micro nutrients, four weeks prior to lambing. Their performance was measured against an undrenched control group of 300 Blackface ewes. The same treated group had received 20ml of Liquithrive Sheep four weeks pre tupping and the dose had already boosted flock performance by reducing barrens and tightening up the lambing period with more ewes conceiving to first service compared with the control group.
The ewes receiving the drench got their lambs off to a better start and overall, they lost 27% fewer lambs compared with the control group. In addition, lambs from treated ewes were heavier at marking time despite recording similar birth weights to lambs from untreated ewes. In fact by weaning, twin Mule lambs from treated ewes weighed on average 2.49kg a head more than single Mule lambs from untreated ewes.
Overall, the trial demonstrated clear cost benefits of drenching the flock with an organically chelated trace element and vitamin supplement, according to Agri-Lloyd who sponsored the initiative. The cost of the twin drench totaled £1.92 per ewe, leaving a potential improved overall net return of £8.00 per ewe or £2,400 for a 300 ewe flock.
"Although not covered in the trial, we believe that the supplement influenced a larger volume of higher quality colostrum which could have introduced additional benefits," says Agri-Lloyd's Neil Birkett. "In addition, the earlier born lambs faced less competition, they tended to have a higher daily liveweight gain and were less likely to suffer parasitic infection.
"The drench also introduced the added bonus of more, better quality lambs with the potential to trade through the breeding ring." A total of 67% of Mule ewe lambs from treated ewes were sold for breeding purposes, 16% more than from the untreated ewes.
He adds: "For the third consecutive year trade within the sheep sector is to continue to remain bouyant and farmers are being presented with yet another opportunity to improve their returns by optimising their flock's overall output and efficiency. The SAC results have confirmed that Liquithrive Sheep offers a straight forward cost effective opportunity to do just that."
