Lamb Crop 2022
Farmers can learn how to minimise losses at lambing time thanks to a series of virtual meetings organised by sheep specialists at SAC Consulting – part of SRUC.
Poppy Frater and Kirsten Williams were joined by award-winning farmers and leading SRUC researchers at three webinars which covered different lambing systems including indoor, the hard hill environment and lambing in the uplands.
Indoor lambing - Optimising live lambs
At the first event, Graham Lofthouse, of Bankhouse Farm, explained how he achieves his exceptionally low lamb losses and high rearing rate, and SAC Consulting’s Veterinary Investigation Officer Heather Stevenson will gave an update on the latest findings on Joint Ill and Watery mouth prevention.
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Farmer Focus: Graham Lofthouse, Bankhouse Farm
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Health Focus: Heather Stevenson, SRUC Veterinary Services
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Nutrition Focus: Poppy Frater, SAC Consulting Sheep Specialist
Maximise lamb crop in the hard hill environment
The second event featured presentations by SRUC PhD student Fiona Mcauliffe on investigating the causes of unexplained lamb loss on Highland farms and crofts, along with Bobby Lennox, from Shantron Farm, on Blackface sheep: genetics and management for rearing success.
The final event on 2 March will look at ‘Outdoor lambing in the Uplands’. Sheep breeder and Nuffield Scholar Neil McGowan, of Incheoch Farm, will cover how he achieves cost-effective rearing success outdoors, and Animal Behaviour and Welfare Researcher Cathy Dwyer will discuss considering ewe behaviour outdoors for a positive lambing season.
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Farmer Focus: Bobby Lennox, Shantron & Shemore Farms
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Research Focus: Blackloss in Extensive Hill Grazing
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Nutrition Focus: Poppy Frater, SAC Consulting Sheep Specialist
Outdoor lambing in the Uplands
The final event featured Sheep breeder and Nuffield Scholar Neil McGowan, of Incheoch Farm, covering how he achieves cost-effective rearing success outdoors, and Animal Behaviour and Welfare Researcher Cathy Dwyer discussed considering ewe behaviour outdoors for a positive lambing season.
Related document
Farmer Focus: Neil McGowan, Incheoch Farm
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Research Focus: Cathy Dwyer, SRUC Animal Behaviour & Welfare Researcher
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Nutrition Focus: Poppy Frater, SAC Consulting Sheep Specialist
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