By Dr Clive Dalton
Every sheep farm is different and there are enormous differences between districts and regions within New Zealand. The biggest difference is between North and South Islands where events on South Island sheep farms run at least a month later than North Island farms. Use these notes as a “memory jogger” so that if you are not sure what needs to be done on your property, then seek advice. It’s usual to start the farming year off in June which is mid-winter in the Southern hemisphere.
JUNE
Livestock
- All non-productive sheep should be off the farm so that feed is allocated to high priority stock that need it.
- Check liveweight and condition score targets.
- Check that rams are being well cared for.
- Start planning for lambing – get equipment and lambing paddocks ready.
- Check all records are ready for lambing.
- Ensure you have a disposal method for dead stock.
- Do a feed budget to check pasture covers and supplements.
- Check feed allocations to ewes.
- Build up pasture reserves for lambing.
- After grazing, residual pasture should be around 2-3cm high.
- Avoid pugging pastures in really wet weather.
- Check management of any new grass paddocks. Consider strategic use of N fertiliser provided soils are not too wet and temperatures are above 6°C.
- Plan your animal health programme for next season with your vet.
- Check blood profiles for minerals and trace elements on vet advice.
- Carry out pre-lambing vaccinations on vet advice.
- Treat and clear up any foot problems made worse by wet weather.
- Watch for early abortions and get them checked with your vet.
- Update animal health records.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Complete all farm maintenance before lambing.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Depending on your balance date, book a date for your farm business review with your banker, accountant and farm consultant.
- Pay accounts monthly.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check OSH and farm safety policy for the property.
- Attend any farmers’ conferences, field days and vet clinic training days.
JULY
Livestock
- Draft ewes into lambing mobs to control their feeding levels.
- Put late lambing ewes on short feed and keep checking for signs of lambing as things can change quickly.
- Separate ewes that are clearly barren and put them on short feed or dispose of them.
- Watch for sleepy sickness in any ewes obviously very heavy in lamb, or that have been scanned as carrying multiples.
- In drafted-off early lambing ewes, watch for abortions or mastitis.
- Be prepared for ewes that lamb before the expected date.
- Have good feed and shelter ready for all ewes immediately after lambing.
- Keep a regular check on pasture growth and feed supplements if needed to maintain body condition.
- Consider the strategic use of N fertiliser to boost feed for lactating ewes.
- Update animal health records.
- Check the growth and health of young stock – hoggets.
- Don’t drench hoggets unless they need it - check with vet.
- Vaccinate ewes before lambing with 5 in 1 vaccine – check with vet.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
AUGUST
Livestock
- Lambing should be in full swing (North Island).
- Fully feed lactating ewes, especially those with multiples.
- Keep sorting ewes by lambing date into groups to control feeding levels.
- Try to save every lamb if shepherding system allows it. Watch for “bunged-up” lambs with sticky tails.
- Check the so-called late lambers for lambs – some will surprise you!
- Watch for sleepy sickness especially in ewes that are clearly carrying multiples.
- Check daily for cast ewes.
- Check pasture growth and feed reserves are building up ahead of the stocks’ needs.
- Feed supplements wisely with no waste.
- Consider some strategic use of N to stimulate growth for the next grazing round if soil temperatures are above 6°C.
- Review your soil testing programme and fertiliser requirements.
- Update animal health records.
- Check that all lambs are doing well.
- Plan for docking and castration before lambs are 3-4 weeks old.
- Check with vet to check if lambs should be drenched at docking.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
SEPTEMBER
Livestock
- Lambing in full swing (South Island). See advice for North Island in August.
- Ewes will be nearing peak lactation in North Island so make sure they have the best feed on the farm.
- Docking should be well through in the North Island. Check for cast ewes.
- Ewes may start growing dags so watch for early blowfly.
- Do regular checks on feed supply and demand as ewes will be at peak lactation and lambs will be starting to graze.
- Use supplements wisely.
- Consider strategic use of N fertiliser.
- Update animal health records.
- Check on lambs’ growth and health, especially for internal parasites.
- Check all lambs’ tails have dropped off cleanly and watch for any infections and early blowfly.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
OCTOBER
Livestock
- Plan for hogget shearing (North Island).
- Check for cast ewes.
- Consider dipping or pour-on treatment of hoggets 2-3 weeks after shearing or leave until whole flock are dipped after main shearing.
- Never dip any sheep for at least 6 weeks before shearing.
- Provide good feed and shelter immediately after shearing if weather deteriorates.
- Keep lactating ewes and lambs on the best feed as the lambs will be eating a lot of grass by now.
- Make sure pasture growth is building up ahead of the stock’s needs.
- Feed supply should be starting to get ahead of feed demand (in North Island).
- Identify pastures that will be taken out of the grazing round for silage.
- Update animal health records.
- Check that lambs are growing well and not scouring. If they are, check the cause with your vet as it could be worms and a drench may be needed.
- Check health and growth of replacement hoggets. They should be at maximum growth rate/day after shearing.
- Watch for blowfly on daggy ewes and lambs.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Maintenance fertiliser could be applied.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
NOVEMBER
Livestock
- Fully feed the ewes and lambs. The lambs will be eating large quantities of pasture by now.
- Identify some good feed for lambs after weaning.
- If growth slows, open up any paddocks saved for silage as the lactating ewes are top priority.
- Early-born lambs will be ready for the premium market.
- Shear rams.
- Check for cast ewes.
- Check the feed situation and the demands of the stock.
- Consider strategic use of N to boost feed for December.
- Keep watch for any pastures that have got out of control to make into silage.
- Check with vet about a drenching programme for weaned lambs.
- Check the rams for any health problems.
- Watch any new rams purchased for health problems.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
DECEMBER
Livestock
- Shear all ewes and lambs if on annual shearing.
- Don’t dip or pour-on at least 6 weeks before shearing.
- Dip or pour-on the flock 2-3 weeks after shearing.
- Have good feed for ewes after shearing and shelter if weather gets rough.
- Wean lambs and have good pasture available for them. Check with vet if they should be drenched and which product to use.
- Let the lambs settle after weaning only checking them for blowfly. Check they have plenty of good water and some shade.
- Put weaned ewes on short feed until their milk dries up. Don’t deprive them of water. Keep a watch for mastitis.
- Once they are over weaning, then plan to feed them to replace lost body weight. This applies especially to ewes that reared multiples.
- Start to sort out which ewes to keep and which to cull before mating in March.
Feeding/pasture management
- Check the feed situation and the demands of the stock.
- Consider strategic use of N fertiliser to boost feed for December.
- Keep watch for any pastures that have got out of control to make into silage.
- Check the hoggets and decide if you want to put them to the ram.
- Don’t drench any stock until you have checked with your vet to see if they need it based on faecal egg counts.
- Check for blowfly.
- Regularly check rams and make sure they are not getting too fat through lack of exercise.
- If weaned lambs are not thriving check with your vet to test for mineral deficiencies (cobalt or selenium) or internal parasites.
- Plan for facial eczema prevention to start in January.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
JANUARY
Livestock
- Check all stock have adequate water and shade if it gets really hot.
- Give weaned lambs the best feed.
- Make sure ewes are recovering and gaining weight.
- Get rid of all culls.
- If you really want some very early lamb in the North Island, it may be worth joining a ram to some ewes in very good condition to see what happens.
- Check feed supply and feed demand.
- Feed quality will be falling rapidly.
- Any pastures cut for silage should be re-growing. They may benefit from a strategic dressing of N fertiliser but it will need rain to be effective. Don’t apply N if it’s too dry.
- If pastures get out of control and are long and stalky, either make hay or graze with cattle. Don’t leave the dead litter on the paddock.
- Paddocks cut too low for hay will burn off if it’s hot. They may need N to get them going again but only if there is sufficient rain.
- Update animal health records.
- Start facial eczema protection and check the dose rate is correct.
- Check growth rate of lambs and hoggets. Only drench if an internal parasite problem has been identified. Discuss this with your vet.
- Check rams are in good health and have not developed feet problems.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
FEBRUARY
Livestock
- Ewes should be on a rising feeding plane gaining weight for mating next month (North Island). This may be hard if there has been no rain for a while.
- Rams should be in top condition. Isolate them from sight of the ewes.
- Crutch ewes ready for joining with the ram.
- Sell all culled stock as weather gets dry.
- Consider shearing two-tooths before joining.
- Feed quality will be falling rapidly which will make flushing ewes difficult.
- Consider feeding some good quality silage if feed is very short.
- If you cut any paddocks for hay don’t cut down too low or it will make regrowth more difficult as soil will dry out faster.
- Identify any pastures that need renewing. Don’t start any work on them if it looks like a long dry spell is coming.
- Update animal health records.
- Continue facial eczema prevention.
- Check lambs (now hoggets) for growth and general health.
- If you are tempted to drench any young stock, check with the vet and do a faecal egg count and then get advice on which product to use.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Lime and maintenance fertiliser can be applied but make sure there’s a good chance of rain to wash it in to avoid animal health problems.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
MARCH
Livestock
- Time to join the rams to ewes in the North Island.
- Ewes should have been flushed to be on a rising plane of nutrition. Dry weather often prevents this as pasture is too dry to produce high quality green feed.
- If hoggets are to be mated, join them with the ram 2 weeks before the main flock.
- If ewes are shorn before mating, do it at least 3-4 weeks before joining with the ram.
- Stock need water and shade if it’s still hot weather.
- Hopefully the autumn rains will have arrived to produce some new green growth.
- With the rains, the dead litter in the pasture will have rotted in a couple of days so there could be very little for stock to eat until the grass gets going again. It’s a good time to feed out some good quality silage.
- Consider some strategic use of N fertiliser to boost growth for later autumn.
- Start any pasture renewal work.
- Update animal health records.
- Continue facial eczema protection.
- Check health of hoggets and only drench if faecal egg counts prove they need it. Check with your vet about which product to use.
- Check mineral and trace element status (e.g. selenium) if young stock are not thriving.
- Watch for any late flystrike.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Carry out a soil test if needed and get a fertiliser recommendation from a consultant. The soil test does not tell you how much to put on – a consultant needs to calculate this.
- Apply any autumn fertiliser but wait until rain is imminent to wash it in.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
- If 31 March is your balance date, lodge your books with an accountant by 1 May.
APRIL
Livestock
- Rams should be well through their work (North Island).
- Use ram harnesses to see if any ewes are returning. Because marks fade, put another more permanent small raddle mark on the head of the first ewes to lamb.
- Use a different breed of “tail-up” ram at the end of mating so you’ll be able to identify their lambs and not keep them as replacements.
- Get rid of any rams not needed for next season and any that have had health problems.
- Hopefully there should be some good autumn feed by now if the rains have been reliable.
- Give the ewes the best feed on the farm. It’s a critical time when the embryo is being established.
- Finish any pasture renewal work.
- Consider strategic use of N fertiliser to boost pasture growth for winter.
- Update animal health records.
- Continue facial eczema protection.
- Check health of hoggets and only drench if they need it. Check with your vet about which product to use.
- Check mineral and trace element status (e.g. selenium) if young stock are not thriving.
- Check that any rams being kept have recovered from mating.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
- If 31 March is your balance date lodge your books with an accountant by 1 May.
Livestock
- Check rams have done their job in the South Island and take care of any that you are keeping for next season.
- See North Island notes for March/April.
- Accept that it’s well into autumn (North Island) and that feed growth will have slowed considerably.
- Tighten up the grazing round and feed supplements if the feed budget shows they are needed.
- Check the progress of autumn sown pastures. Give them a light grazing when ready.
- Check the growth and health of hoggets.
- Only drench stock not thriving if your vet has checked the FEC and advised on the correct product to use.
- Update animal health records for annual review with your vet next month.
- Keep your daily farm diary up to date.
- Check electric fences, water supply and farm vehicles.
- Check financial budget and cash flows.
- Finalise cashbook.
- Contact accountant/banker to check GST payments.
- Check cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors.
- Pay accounts monthly.
- If 31 March is your balance date lodge your books with an accountant by 1 May.
Disclaimer This material is provided in good faith for information purposes only, and the author does not accept any liability to any person for actions taken as a result of the information or advice (or the use of such information or advice) provided in these pages.
No comments:
Post a Comment