Fewer triplets expected

11-08-2010 | Not Specified

Fewer lamb trios will be born in Marlborough this spring.

Pregnancy scanning results to the end of June are showing that the number of triplet-bearing ewes is well down on average. Scanning percentages have come back 10 to 15 points on 2009 figures. For example, a crossbred flock scanning 175% in the cracker 2009 year is scanning closer to 160% this season.

Farmers seem relaxed about it, though, says Jeff Sewell, of Animal Scanning Marlborough.

Fewer triplets will ease the stress of finding enough feed pre-lamb. Feed supplies during tupping were tight and Sewell estimates ewes are at least one to half a condition score lighter than usual. Underweight triplet-bearing ewes are prime candidates for metabolic problems.

Some farmers fed supplements over tupping, he says, and those that looked after their ewes were rewarded. "Some flocks still had less than 2% dry."

Hamish Hall, Sewell's Scottish offsider at Animal Scanning Marlborough, is about half way through his scanning list. He has noticed that the number of hoggets pregnancy scanned (and by inference joined to the ram) has fallen again. This follows the trend. Mixed-age ewe numbers have also fallen a shade, although nowhere near the drop-off seen in 2008 where 15% fewer ewes were booked in for scanning.

"No one is thinking about adding more sheep," he says. "They are trying to increase lambing percentage and production instead."

All-up he says farmers are reasonably happy with their scanning results given the lack of autumn feed. The Merino flocks will be scanned from July onwards.

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