Tricking Tricky 2-Tooths

When scanning results roll in, we are sometimes requested to investigate poor conception rate results.

Generally, if there are more than 6% dry there is something going on. When 2-tooths scan >20% less than mixed age ewes there is room for improvement somewhere. We find toxo, campy, low selenium, and messing around early pregnancy sheep as low hanging areas to address. But the dull reality is that improvement often lies with the basics of growing out a replacement ewe to a prime weight before the first winter (regardless of breed), then ticking along with moderate 50-100g/day growth to the 2-tooth stage. Lack of adequate feeding/neglect, worms and hogget pregnancy are often stumbling blocks along the way.

But what if you think you’ve done a pretty good job and they still don’t fire-up through the scanning crate? That is not uncommon.

At Charles Hope Farming, Mark and son James Hutton may have found a feeding formula get their 2-tooths ovulating optimally. Disappointed with a few seasons of scraping just over 100% scanning and 8-10% dries in their 1/4brd 2-tooths, they took on an ambitious agronomy plan that involved drilling 15 Ha of Kale with annual grass underneath in November. In mid-April, they put ~ 300 x 2-tooths in each of the three different 5Ha kale blocks for 2-3 weeks, joining them on grass with rams early May. The ewes took the leaf off but left the stalk for regrowth. This also allowed space and light for the grass to start to grow. 150 units of N was applied and this 15 ha, and this became valuable green feed for post shearing twins in late August.

At first, Mark thought he was doing it all wrong scoffing winter feed in the Autumn, but when we scanned the 2-tooths they did 135% and with 3.5% dries. “This was a massive lift and reduced that annoying dry rate that had troubled us… don’t give me any credit for it though it was pretty much Skinny’s idea” [referring to Chris Horn, agronomist for North Otago Pastoral Services].

In October many of you will be talking to agronomists and working ground. From a production perspective there do seem to be some gaps emerging with quality feed at key times, especially as we chase more twinning ewes and trying to improve their lamb survival and milking ability. What are the feed gaps that might lift your breeding unit out of mediocrity? I know most of us think feed for fattening lambs and wintering first.

I recently filled out a beef and lamb genetics survey on the cool sheep project “had I heard of efforts to reduce methane emissions with genetics” yes I had, but my view was that it is largely a farcical distraction from the reality that there are massive production efficiencies to be gained if we just did the basics better: reduce wastage of lambs and calves, have more ewes rearing twins and feed them better during lactation. Perhaps Mark & James should be recognised for their outstanding contribution to the environment for achieving such a productivity and efficiency lift?