Economic and physical performance

The LAMBS Initiative (Learning Advances in Management and Breeding with Suffolks) was a partnership between the Suffolk Sheep Society (NI Branch) and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The five-year initiative launched in 1999, was designed to demonstrate new technology, assess ewe performance and determine early lamb production costs.

Dr Lewis McClinton, Sheep Technologist, Greenmount College.

Suffolk rams were selected with high Signet index scores and used over the two commercial flocks amounting, in total to 120 ewes - Suffolk Cheviots at Greenmount, and at Enniskillen, Rouge x Texel. In total five Suffolk rams were used, two sourced at Penrith, from the top 10 percent of recorded rams produced by Suffolk Sire Reference Scheme members and three from the top 10 percent of rams recorded within flocks in Northern Ireland.

Early lamb production requires a greater usage of concentrates to ensure lambs are ready for the higher priced Easter market. No benchmarking data is available for specific Early Lambing flocks as they are usually a part of other flocks that lamb later. Hence, the benchmarking data presented is for lowland sheep flocks.

NB Forage costs are calculated using the expenses incurred for fertiliser, sprays, silage covers and any reseeding. Liming is not included.

* Direct costs include variable and replacement costs

Benchmarking information for the Top 25 percent of lowland sheep flocks found variable costs for a 21 KG carcase weight to be 53p/kg and fixed costs 49p / KG. LAMBS initiative variable costs were higher due to the extra cost of AI in year 1, more reseeding than benchmarking farms, lower carcase weight, higher vet and med costs and lower lamb output per ewe. Overall Gross Margin (Sales – Variable costs) was £49.21/ewe in this project compared with £75/ewe for the Top 25 percent of lowland sheep flocks.

Average ewe performance in terms of the number of ewes lambing was lower than the target set. This is directly attributable to the poor conception rates experienced in Year 1 (66 percent). If this year was excluded the average number of ewes lambing in the first two cycles was 87 percent. Lambs born and reared were close to the target set but are still lower than the Top 25 percent of lowland sheep flocks.

Lambs grading

E, u & R at Fat Class 3     Target = 95 percent    Actual = 80.25 percent

E, U & R    Target = 100 percent     Actual = 100 percent

Lamb growth rate exceeded the targets set by 26 percent (6 weeks growth) and by 4 percent (birth to slaughter). There was also a 14 percent higher carcase weight obtained than had been targeted for. This increase in carcase weight explains why there were 15.5 percent of lambs falling outside the target E, U and R carcase conformation target at fat class 3.

Total = £97.22, less Flock replacement £10.12

The higher return for the Top 25% of benchmark farms can be attributed to a higher carcase weight and also a higher return for lambs sold/ewe.

Projects involving the use of sire reference scheme rams in CAFRE flocks have also demonstrated a financial benefit and agrees with the findings of ARINI that the progeny of top recorded rams grow quicker, finish sooner yielding heavier carcases for their age than the progeny of non-recorded rams and yield a financial benefit in excess of £1.50/lamb.

Students have been involved throughout this project in the flock management, collation of data and in marketing of produce. It is however unfortunate that there has been little interest shown by industry other than a group from the Suffolk sheep society. No farmer groups visited the project since its initiation.

The most important factors that influence the profitability of early lamb production are:

Benchmarking and LMC data shows that the number of lambs reared was responsible for 79 percent of the extra benefit of excellent producers compared to poor producers. At the actual lambing proportion reared in this initiative £2.04 / KG was required to cover variable and fixed costs, excluding labour and conacre.

Lamb value is directly responsible for 11 percent of the extra benefit of excellent producers compared to poor producers. The Easter price peak cannot be missed if maximum profit is to be obtained. Average sale price of £3.50 / KG carcase is required by early lamb producers to place them in the same bracket as excellent producers with lowland sheep flocks.

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) acknowledges the support and guidance provided by the Suffolk Sheep Society (Northern Ireland Branch) and Intervet (UK) in organising and co-ordinating this project. Thanks are also due to staff and students at both Greenmount and Enniskillen campuses that assisted in data collection and analysis