Couple's new strategy boosts sheep production.A NORTHUMBERLAND couple are seeing the results of a new strategy to boost production on their sheep farm. Neil and Poppy Hindmarsh introduced the strategy after taking over the tenancy of Rowhope, a 2,500- acre hill unit carrying 1,600 ewes on the MoD estate, near Harbottle at Morpeth. Mr Hindmarsh said: "We are aiming for 100% lambs reared per ewe. However some of the hefts had too many barren ewes and we decided we had to take action." Concerned that Rowhope may be suffering a mineral deficiency Mineral Deficiency Definition The term mineral deficiency means a condition where the concentration of any one of the minerals essential to human health is abnormally low in the body. , the Hindmarshes arranged for a forage analysis. It confirmed deficiencies in copper, iodine, cobalt and selenium selenium (səlē`nēəm), nonmetallic chemical element; symbol Se; at. no. 34; at. wt. 78.96; m.p. 217°C;; b.p. about 685°C;; sp. gr. 4.81 at 20°C;; valence −2, +4, or +6. . Mr Hindmarsh said: "Last backend we split the ewes into three groups and introduced each to a different trace element supplement. When we compared the results we found that the group drenched drench tr.v. drenched, drench·ing, drench·es 1. To wet through and through; soak. 2. To administer a large oral dose of liquid medicine to (an animal). 3. with a nutritional supplement showed a clear benefit in terms of scanning percentage and barren rate: scanning rate was 109% compared with 96% and 101% for those ewes treated in the two other groups with different trace elements, while the barren rate of those ewes treated with Liquithrive Sheep was only 4% compared with a respective 13% and 8%. "That improved performance is clearly demonstrating cost benefits in terms of extra lambs and we've used the same top drench drench 1. to give medicines in liquid form by mouth and forcing the animal to drink. See also drenching. 2. medicines given as a drench. this season." The Hindmarshes have also changed the flock's breeding strategy. "We took over a flock of Blackface ewes located in seven different hefts and agreed that the unit was suited to carrying ewes producing higher performing lambs," Mr Hindmarsh said. "So we decided to introduce the Cheviot. Buying in replacements was far too expensive at the time, so we agreed to breed our own." Four years on, and 800 ewes are put to the North Country Cheviot and 600 ewes to the South Country Cheviot with all gimmer gimmer a ewe that has not yet borne a lamb. lambs retained to cross back to the Cheviot, the wether WETHER. A castrated ram, at least one year old in ark indictment it may be called a sheep. 4 Car. & Payne, 216; 19 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 351. lambs sold store, while 200 Blackface ewes are kept pure. "The plan is so far working well and we're looking forward to our breeding flock achieving purebred purebred progeny derived from at least several generations of animals of the same breed. purebred herds herds (or flocks) composed of purebred animals. Not necessarily registered animals. Distinct from crossbred herds. Cheviot status, at which point we plan to maintain a pure flock and improve our farm's overall output by selling added value Cheviot gimmer lambs". CAPTION(S): IMPROVED PERFORMANCE Neil and Poppy Hindmarsh are enjoying the fruits of their labour. |
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