©AWJAC 2016

Meat Sheep Scenario

Prepared by J. Siegford & R. Ehrhardt

©AWJAC 2016

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)

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Farm W

Farm N

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Farm W

Farm N

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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

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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

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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