Pentre Farm Project Introduction
There is a great deal of pressure when trying to finish lambs ready for market and there are numerous factors which can result in delays. Trace element status of growing lambs is an aspect which should not be overlooked as deficiencies and toxicities will lead to reduced productivity.
Before considering supplementation, blood samples will be taken to test copper (Cu), cobalt (Co) and selenium (Se) levels to ensure that supplementation is necessary before assigning lambs for treatment. If deficiency has been identified careful consideration is needed to choose the most appropriate way of supplementing the necessary trace elements to growing lambs. Often, the most cost-effective supplement is one that is given directly into the animal, e.g. bolus or drench; however, varied results are shown of the effectiveness of each product on lamb performance, therefore it is hard to know what treatment of supplementing trace elements is the best. If supplementation is required, it is always worth comparing treatments to see what works best for various farms and their animals.
The Parry family at Pentre Farm, Llansoy, purchase hundreds of store lambs each year to finish. By purchasing lambs from different farms and locations, trace element levels in the lambs can vary significantly. Finding the most effective and cost- efficient way of supplementing trace elements would prove invaluable to the long-term lamb performance and welfare as well as the overall financial performance of the business.
Timeline and Milestones:
November 2019
150 store lambs split into three groups of 50 (using random number generator).
November 2019
Blood samples will be taken from 5 lambs from each group to test their copper (Cu), cobalt (Co) and selenium (Se) levels.
November 2019
- Group 1 receive a monthly commercially available oral trace element supplement.
- Group 2 receive a Download Essential lamb bolus.
- Group 3 receive a Carrs Billington Ovi-trace lamb bolus.
January 2020
Blood samples will be taken from the same 5 lambs of each group to see if their trace element levels have increased/maintained in line with what is claimed by the products.
November 2019-March 2020
Liveweights from all lambs in the groups will be monitored fortnightly
March 2020
Blood samples will be taken from the same 5 lambs of each group to see if their trace element levels have increased/maintained in line with what is claimed by the products.
November 2019-March 2020
Lambs will be closely monitored throughout the duration of the trial for any related or unrelated health and welfare issues.
April 2020
All data collected throughout the trial will be analysed, with DLWG of all lambs compared and contrasted.
28 May 2020
Open day event at Pentre Farm to disseminate trial results.