EweWastageUdderHealthL12

• Longevity

  Ewe's survival and productivity until culled for age
• Wastage

  Ewes not meeting longevity criteria, prematurely culled (6-7 yrs of age) or die on-farm
• What does culled (cast) mean?

  Farmer sells ewe based on looks or non-pregnant, or sold because farmer didn't want to keep as replacements (not good mothers), doesn't necessarily mean slaughter
• What's required with higher ewe wastage rates?

  A higher number of ewe replacements
• Cash Operating Surplus (COS)


  Total financial surplus reduced by NZ$1,069 per 1% increase in ewe wastage
• Annual Stock Reconciliation

  Used as a proxy for ewe wastage due to lack of accurate data
• Ill-thrift


  Primary cause of thin ewes, leading to reduced longevity
• When do ewe deaths from pregnancy diagnosis to weaning?

  Most occur between set stocking and weaning - period over lambing is most important because that's when ewes are under a lot of metabolic stress
• Why ewes leave the flock?

  30-60% of ewes are prematurely culled because they're either non-pregnant, didn't display top marks for breeding, wet/dry at docking, pregnancy diagnosis
• Ewe wastage is a large problem on many farms, this is a combination of premature culling and ewe deaths/missing
• High wastage impacts overall flock performance and profitability
• What can farmers do to reduce wastage?

  Ensure ewes are in good condition and have good nutrition
• Which ewes are large drivers of premature culling?

  Non-pregnant ewes and those that fail to rear lambs successfully
• Ewe Udder Health


  Critical for lamb survival and growth, impacts flock productivity
• What are some udder issues that would be considered for culling?

  Hard core within teat if 4-6 weeks post-weaning/pre-breeding, burst abscesses on udder
• Udder defects are relatively common in mixed aged ewes (2-7% affected)
• Best to examine udders 4-8 weeks post-weaning than at weaning
• Most palpable udder defects are associated with production losses