Know How / Sheep

Whether you run a sheep flock that numbers in the dozens or the thousands, keeping your rams, ewes and lambs healthy and productive is the key to achieving maximum production.

Regardless of your sheep breed, location or system, these pages give you the important health, welfare, nutrition and genetic advice to help make your flock profitable and sustainable.

Key focus areas:

Breeding to suit your system
Grassland management and nutrition
Improving flock health
Finishing lambs to suit market requirements
Reducing your cost of production

Latest Know How

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Steps to mitigate a winter forage shortfall after drought

Beef and sheep farmers are advised to measure grass and count silage stocks now to establish their feed position and determine whether they can meet their farm’s feed demand this…

LIVESTOCK

How funding boost improved performance in two flocks

The farmers I work with are inquisitive, knowledgeable and strive to improve their productivity. Each year brings about its own challenges, commonly in the form of weather or disease, but…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Vaginal prolapse in ewes: How big an issue is it?

Vaginal prolapse is well managed on many sheep farms, but vets should give guidance on the use of antibiotics, pain relief and retention methods to improve animal welfare and antimicrobial…

HOUSING AND HANDLING

How updating slats helped sheep farm cut lameness and labour

A purpose-built slatted lambing shed that was put up in the 1960s on a Monmouthshire farm has reduced labour and straw while keeping flock lameness below 1%. Over this time,…

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