Overview Farm W
Sheep station in Western Australia with 9,000 Merino ewes Crossbred lambs sold for meat
9,000 acres (3,642 ha) of pasture Planted with annual cool season grass
and wheat (crop residue is grazed)
Summer Avg. temperature = 31°C (88°F) Avg. precipitation/mo = 0.01 in (0.2 cm)
Winter Avg. temperature = 12°C (54°F) Avg. precipitation/mo = 5 in (13 cm)
Farm N Sheep farm in upstate New York with
3,600 ewes Focused on market lambs
900 acres (364 ha) of pasture Planted with white clover and cool
season perennial grasses
Summer Avg. temperature = 21°C (70°F) Avg. precipitation/mo = 5 in (13 cm)
Winter Avg. temperature = 1°C (34°F) Avg. precipitation/mo = 4 in (10 cm)
©AWJAC 2016
Personnel Farm W
Manager 18 years sheep experience At this station 10 years High school degree Did ewe management
training course 3 years ago
Full-time stockperson 7 years experience At this station 1 year High school degree
Farm N
Farm owner 35 years sheep experience, Parents had farm before him BS in agricultural economics Hires and works with specialist
consultants (industry and extension)
2 full time stock people Each with 5 years experience,
all at this farm 1 currently in ag. tech.
program at local college
©AWJAC 2016
Breeding Farm W
Ewe body condition at breeding was 2.7/5
Merino ewes bred naturally on pasture to White Suffolk sires 1 ram per 200 ewes Rams stayed with ewes for
35 days
Farm N
Ewe body condition at breeding was 2.9/5 Ewes flushed with elevated
plane of energy nutrition for 3 weeks before breeding
Dorset x Finn ewes bred naturally on pastures to Ile de France sires 20 rams per 900 ewes Rams stayed with ewes for 60
days
©AWJAC 2016
Ewe Management Farm W
Ewes maintained on crop and pasture land as one large group
Ewes received booster vaccinations 4-6 weeks before lambing
All ewes received a drench for parasite control in both autumn and winter Rotated treatments of
monepantel and moxidectin No fecal egg counts done
before or after drenches
Farm N Dry ewes managed in 3 groups
on pasture for 6 months Fecal egg counts performed on
dry ewes during peak season for Haemonchus contortus. Treated if > 1,000 eggs/g.
4 weeks prior to lambing, ewes brought indoors Fed TMR* indoors Received booster vaccinations 90% of ewes drenched with
moxidectin and levamisole (10% with no clinical signs of parasitism left untreated)
*TMR = total mixed ration made of silage and grain
©AWJAC 2016
Lambing Farm W
Lambs born on pasture during late winter
Ewes checked 2-3x/wk Checked fence and water
90 lambs per 100 ewes Average ewe body condition
score = 2.5/5
6% ewe mortality during parturition & lactation
Farm N Lambs born in indoor facilities
over 30-day period in February
Ewes checked every 2 hours All afterbirth removed from
lambing pens All dead stock quickly
collected and composted
185 lambs per 100 ewes Average ewe body condition
score = 3.5/5
< 1.5% ewe mortality during parturition & lactation
©AWJAC 2016
Lambing Farm W
Lamb mortality was 20% in first 3 days after birth Mainly due to
starvation/exposure and predation (foxes)
Average birth weight of lambs was 8 lb (3.6 kg), mostly singletons
~75% of lambs stood and suckled in the first hour 80% of lambs received
adequate colostrum
Farm N
Lamb mortality was 7% in first 3 days after birth Mainly due to placental
insufficiency
Average birth weight of lambs was 8.8 lb (4.0 kg) , mostly twins
>90% of lambs stood and suckled in the first hour 95% of lambs received
adequate colostrum
©AWJAC 2016
Castration & Tail Docking Farm W
Castration and tail docking were done together at 2-6 weeks of age Performed using a gas
heated blade No mulesing of lambs
intended for market Lambs also received 6-in-1
clostridial vaccine
4 weeks after procedures All tail lesions fully healed 92% of scrotal lesions fully
healed
Farm N
Castration and tail docking were done together at 24-36 h of age Performed using a rubber
ring (banding) applied with an elastrator
4 weeks after procedures 98% tails fallen off 60% lesions fully healed
52% lost scrotums 33% lesions fully healed
©AWJAC 2016
Castration & Docking Responses
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
Pre 30 min 1 hour 2 hour 3 hour 4 hour 2 days
Aver
age
Rat
ing
Scor
e
Time Relative to Castration and Tail Docking
Farm WFarm N
0 = no behavioral response, indicative of no pain 3 = severely abnormal behavior, indicative of intense pain
©AWJAC 2016
Weaning Farm W
Prior to weaning, lambs and ewes were grazed on small grain pasture and/or grain stubble Supplemental wheat and
lupin grains were given intermittently
Weaned at 12-16 wk of age as pasture growth ceased Lambs averaged 50% of
mature weight at weaning
Farm N
Prior to weaning, ewes and lambs remained indoors Fed a TMR* Lambs given access to
unlimited creep feed
Weaned at 8 wk of age Lambs averaged 40% of
mature weight at weaning
*TMR = total mixed ration made of silage and grain
©AWJAC 2016
Weaning Health Care Farm W
At weaning lambs were given a booster of 6-in-1 clostridial vaccine
Lambs were drenched for internal parasites using moxidectin
Breech (tail area) sprayed with flystrike preventive
Farm N
At weaning, lambs were given primary immunization with 3-in-1 clostridial vaccine Booster given 3 weeks later
Breech (tail area) of lambs evaluated at weaning Dirty wool trimmed away Insecticide applied to lambs
as needed (~10%)
©AWJAC 2016
Weaning Method Farm W
Lambs were moved to a new pasture Lambs could sometimes
hear and smell dams
For 48 h after weaning, ewes and lambs: Walked 15% more Vocalized 20% more Grazed less 13% less
Lambs showed a 2 week growth check after weaning
Farm N Ewes were removed from
pens to another barn Ewes out of hearing distance Lambs remained in same
pens for 2 weeks
For 48 h after weaning, ewes and lambs: Walked 10% more Vocalized 20% more Ate 6% less
Lambs showed a 3 day growth check after weaning
©AWJAC 2016
Moving Sheep Farm W
On pasture, sheep were moved by manager and stockperson in trucks or on 4-runners Two kelpies were used; they
sometimes worked on the sheep
Sheep moved away in a tightly packed flock at a trot or run Sheep bleated while moving Flight zone = 21 ft (7 m)
Farm N In indoor confinement, sheep
were moved by owner and stock people A border collie helped muster
and drive ewes on pasture
Sheep moved away at a walk or jog, quickly settle down Few vocalizations were heard Flight zone = 6 ft (2 m)
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©AWJAC 2016
Handling Sheep Farm W
2 dedicated handling yards for the 9,000 acre property
Farm N 2 covered, dedicated
handling yards 1 for sheep on pasture 1 for sheep in confinement
Covered handling area with cradles for restraint during castrating & tail docking
Handling system on pasture
Handling system in confinement
©AWJAC 2016
Finishing Farm W
Lambs were finished on pasture planted with a fodder crops (lupin or wheat) Lambs reached main market
endpoint* by 7.5 months
Farm N
Lambs were finished in a barn with mechanical and natural ventilation Plane of nutrition optimized for
stage of growth Lambs reached main market
endpoint* by 6 months
©AWJAC 2016
*Main market endpoint = 70% of mature weight
Finishing Farm W
Mortality = 7% between weaning and market
Main causes: Parasitism Flystrike Predation
Farm N
Mortality < 1% between weaning and market
Main causes: Enterotoxemia (overeating
disease) Pneumonia
©AWJAC 2016
Transport Farm W
Lambs were loaded onto a quad-level trailer by the driver and his dog
From the station to the slaughter facility = 14 h First 2 h on a dirt and gravel
road, then paved
No food or water during transport or in 12 h prior
1% of lambs were dead or ‘down’ on arrival
Driver is paid by the load, no incentives for handling
Farm N Lambs were loaded onto a
double-decker trailer by the owner and driver
From the farm to the slaughter facility = 4 h Paved road and highway that
travels over hills
No food or water during transport
No lambs were dead or ‘down’ on arrival
Driver is paid by the hour, docked for lamb loss
©AWJAC 2016
Abattoir Farm W
Off-loaded by plant personnel upon arrival
Lambs placed into pens by trailer load Pens have water
Lambs inspected immediately upon arrival 3% lambs considered
compromised; pulled for immediate slaughter
Lambs held for < 6 h before slaughter
Farm N
Off-loaded by driver upon arrival
Lambs placed into large pens, may be mixed with lambs from other farms Pens have water
Lambs inspected ~2 h after arrival < 1% compromised lambs
Lambs held for 24-36 h before slaughter
©AWJAC 2016
Movement to Slaughter Farm W
Electrical prods were used on < 5% of lambs
0.25% of lambs fell during movement into lairage
Farm N
Electrical prods were used on 20% of lambs
2% of lambs fell during movement into lairage
©AWJAC 2016
Slaughter Farm W
Electrically stunned (head only) prior to shackling and hoisting
Single cut across throat > 99% within 15 s of stun 0.01% lambs regained
consciousness before cut
< 0.5% required second cut
Farm N
No pre-stunning
Lambs restrained on side 5% of lambs struggled
vigorously
Single cut across throat 3% required second cut
©AWJAC 2016