FARM AND STATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 22, 7 January 1928, Page 12

FARM AND STATION

WEANING AND FATTENING LAMBS

Preparations for the Weaners

Different Treatment For Fats and Stores

By

“Sundowner"

(Writtau for the Tribune. AU Rights Reserved.)

JJUBING this month or at the beginning of February, most Aaep farmers will have to attend te weaning, and though there would appear to be little more in .weaning than separating the lambs from their mothers, there are still one or two points which may be worth bringing again to the farmer's mind. EARLY WEANING FOR FATTENING LAMBS. Where the fat lamb trade is being catered for all the Blackface lambs and the Romney wether lambs which have not gone fat off the mothers should be weaned as early as available feed will allow. If it is intended to finish these fambs off on rape, they will naturally be weaned so soon as the crop n ripe, but if this shows prospect of being delayed owing to weather conditions, steps should now be taken to close up the best paddocks available to carry them on between weaning and rape feeding. A paddock with plenty of clover or trefoil amongst die grass will give best results, and the other grasses comprising the pasture should be as short and succulent as possible. Rank and coarse pasture causes scour amongst weaned lambs very quickly. It is inadvisable to put newlyweaned lambs on to young-strongly-growing pasture or on to rape that is not thoroughly ripe, as both are liable to cause scald.

ISOLATION OF WEANING PADDOCK. In choosing a paddock to close up for the weaned lambs arrange, if possible, that it is some distance away from the one in which the mothers will be put. If the lambs are within hearing of their dams, they will make every effort to get through fences and over other obstacles to rejoin them, or, if the fences are secure, will spend much time wandering along the fence lines looking for weak spots with a consequent neglect of feeding and loss of condition, WEANING TIPS. Lambs should never be weaned direct on to rape, they should be given a few days at least on a grass paddock to settle down before being turned on to either ■ape or lucerne, and will do much better and fatten quicker if a runoff out to grass from the fattening feed is provided. If no run-off is possible a change should be provided hv sowing a little mustard through the rape field about a fortnight after the rape has been drilled. An occasional bite of mustard will keep the lambs’ appetitite keen, while it will also serve, to some extent, to counteract the heating effect of the rape. FEEDING OFF IN BREAKS. If the rape has been sown in breaks, as it certainly should have been, it will be a simple matter to feed it off in breaks as the rape ripens. Much more economical use of the fattening feed can be made if this system is followed than where the lambs are allowed access to the whole area at once. Trampling and soiling by sheep which are full-fed but restless makes unattractive and waste a large amount of fodder. In grazing rape sown in breaks, there is •Iso much less risk of crop loss from blight, as any affected area will be comparatively small and can be rapidly fed off and the blight’s spread to other more backward areas prevented.

WEANING, AS IT AFFECTS THE EWES. As it is the rule to use the oldest ewes of the flock to breed Blackface lambs, it is a great help to wean their lambs early that advantage may be taken of late summer and early autumn growth to fatten them off- With younger ewes which it is intended should be kept in the breeding flock, early weaning is not of such importance provided the sheep are in fair store

condition. In fact, the lambs will do better without causing any injury to the ewes, if weaning is delayed to the end of January or first half of February. TREATMENT OF EWE LAMBS. Ewe lambs which are intended for flock replacements should receive somewhat different treatment from the rest of the lambs. Be sides later weaning, these, when separated from their mothers, should be put on a block where they have plenty of scope, abundance of exercise in climbing about the hills, and short, clean pasture. If these ewe lambs are turned out with the wethers on the farm for some time at least, they will soon learn to forage for them selves, but the best treatment which they can receive is to be turned on to hay stubble or a block which has recently been well cleaned up by cattle. Young lambs are much more susceptible to infection by parasites, both internal and external, than older sheep, and consequently fre quently develop the cough indicative of stomach or lung-worms if weaned on to country recently grazed by grown sheep. DANGERS OF LONG GRASS On no account should lambs be weaned on to long grass. The hogget block should always be kept short and cattle will here do their most useful v.ork. Many thousands of lambs have died in N ew Zealand in the past through a mistaken notion that they required long feed. Digestive troubles, scour and worms follow in sequence as a result of feeding these comparatively delicate young animals on coarse, rank, in-nutritious grass.

ADVANTAGES OF HILLY HOGGET BLOCK. Hilly country has been suggested earlier in this article as ideal loi flock ewe lambs on account of the exercise the animals get in work ing for their food. Mills also have added advantages in that they provide shelter from cold winds, and on their tops or slopes can always be found dry camping sites for the sheep. Botn of these are essential for young sheep and if the contuui of the country does not ensure adequate shelter, plantation shelters, hedges, or even artificial wind-breaks made of brush hurdles should be provided. TREATMENT AFTER WEANING. An ample supply of fresh water, readily accessible, should be pro vided on the hogget block, as should also rock salt, if the lattei is put near the water troughs or other drinking places, much more use will be made of it than when put on hill tops as 1 have fre quently seen done. The hogget block should, inreality, be comprised of at least two paddocks and changes of the lambs from one to the other « Wiese should be regular and fre quenl. As the ewe lamb of this year is to be the breeding ewe for five <. six years to come, too great care cannot be taken to see that she gets a good start when she is turned out to get her own living, but healthy development and freedom from disease will be attained by following the foregoing sugges tions rather than by ‘ coddling” the youngsters.