Finishing the remaining lambs this autumn

Date published: 19 August 2024

Grass and grass clover swards can produce very good growth rates when a good grazing system is in place. However, 2024 has been a difficult grass year with recent reports indicating only 80% of normal production so far. As days shorten going into the autumn both grass quality and quantity are reduced.

Careful grass management will be required to ensure lambs get finished and ewes can be effectively flushed. Ewes going to the ram at one body score less than the optimum could result in 0.28 less lambs/ewe, currently worth around £38.

On lower stocked farms if grass is plentiful the remaining lambs at 35-38kg can be finished off grass, with typical weight gains of around 150 -200 grams per day. Target grass covers of around 2200 kg DM /ha - preferably silage aftermaths - to maximise performance. Most of these lambs could be finished within a 6-8 week period. If grass is of poorer quality the finishing period will increase significantly.

On heavier stocked farms lambs that are around 35-38 kg should be offered good grass and introduced onto 0.5 kg/day of concentrate. It is best to feed from troughs as opposed to creep feeders as all lambs can feed at one time. Meal feeding will improve the lamb weight gain, reduce the finishing period and significantly and improve kill out percentage. However, it will cost somewhere in the region of £6 -£ 7 per lamb on this system. Offering concentrates at higher levels may finish the lambs more quickly but will add significant cost and results in little performance from the grass.

A modest application of nitrogen now will boost grass supplies before going into the autumn. Alternatively, it could be beneficial to obtain autumn/winter grazing to increase the grazing area if supplies are tight or if there is a significant number of lighter lambs. This will ensure a good grass supply for the lambs and grass to flush the ewes on.

Weighing lambs regularly will give an indication of lamb thrive. The most common causes of poor thrive in lambs are feet related problems and internal parasites. July and August are the two months where worm pasture larvae tend to be at their highest levels. Regular faecal egg counts will give a good indication of this. Coccidiosis although more common in the spring can occur at this time of year and cause serious issues requiring detailed veterinary intervention to identify the most effective treatment options.

For additional information on lamb and sheep management, visit the CAFRE websitet.