Search

There is a growing interest in the influence of vitamin D on ovine non-skeletal health. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between pre-mating vitamin D status, as assessed by serum concentrations of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D; comprising D 2 and D 3 ] and subsequent reproductive performance of genetically unimproved Scottish Blackface (UBF), genetically improved Scottish Blackface (IBF) and Lleyn ewes kept under Scottish hill conditions. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 (25(OH)D 2 ) and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25(OH)D 3 ) concentrations were determined in serum samples harvested in November from ewes grazed outdoors. There were no significant differences in 25(OH)D 2 concentrations amongst the 3 genotypes. Lleyn ewes had significantly higher 25(OH)D 3 and 25(OH)D concentrations than both Scottish Blackface ewe genotypes, whereas these vitamin D parameters did not differ significantly between the UBF and IBF ewes. Concentrations of 25(OH)D 3 and 25(OH)D were positively associated with subsequent birth weights of singleton and of twin lamb litters. No significant associations between vitamin D status and number of lambs born or weaned per ewe were found. This study demonstrates that concentrations of cutaneously-derived 25(OH)D 3, but not of orally consumed 25(OH)D 2 , differed between breeds. The positive association between ewe vitamin D status and offspring birth weight highlights the need for further investigations.

Extensive farming systems form an integral part of sheep production systems across Europe. However, with innate production handicaps, declining sheep numbers and narrow economic margins, production is becoming increasingly challenging threatening the future sustainability of the industry. Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are a significant cause of production losses to the global sheep industry, with well-established resistance to the major anthelmintic groups. Traditionally, extensive farming systems are not thought to have a significant parasite challenge compared with intensive farms, but there is a need to identify the scale and importance of GINs on extensive farms to inform the need for sustainable control strategies. In this study, a questionnaire of extensive farmers (n=34) was conducted and parasitological data were collected from nine study farms to investigate the perceived versus actual GIN and anthelmintic resistance challenge faced by extensive farms. The results showed a production-limiting challenge on most farms, with a higher GIN challenge observed on improved pastures. Furthermore, over half of the extensive farmers perceived anthelmintic resistance to be a greater problem for intensive farmers, with only 20% of respondents reporting known anthelmintic resistance. However, all study farms had evidence of resistance to at least one group of anthelmintics. Consequently, this study has demonstrated that despite the traditional perception of parasitism on extensive farms, there is a need to increasingly consider its impact and take a proactive approach to sustainable control, with solutions tailored to their unique management. • Few surveyed extensive farmers perceived an anthelmintic resistance issue. • All study farms demonstrated evidence of anthelmintic resistance. • Improved grazing tended to have a higher parasite challenge than rough grazing. • Farm management differences will need to be considered for future parasite control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep liveweight and liveweight change are important data both for research and commercial farm management worldwide. However, they can contain errors when procedures in collection are not standardised, including when weighing occurs around other husbandry tasks resulting in varying time delays between removal from grazing and weighing. This research had three stages with different objectives: 1) a liveweight loss study, to quantify liveweight and liveweight change over three and six hours of delay prior to weighing within a handling facility, and to develop a correction equation for delayed liveweights; 2) a validating process, to examine the correction ability of the equation by using it on a different set of delayed liveweights collected under a range of situations; and 3) a management simulation, to explore what impact delayed and corrected delayed liveweights could have when liveweight change was used to assign ewes to feeding levels. Results from each stage showed that: 1) ewes lost a significant amount of liveweight after three (1.8 ± 0.5 kg or 3.5 ± 0.8% liveweight) and six (2.9 ± 0.6 kg or 5.6 ± 1.0% liveweight) hours delay during a practical handling operation ( p < 0.001). The following equation was developed to correct delayed liveweights: y = 100 ( x/ (100 + (-0.9301 t + 0.07106))) where y , x and t are corrected liveweight (kg), delayed liveweight (kg) and time delayed in decimal hours, respectively; 2) the correction equation provided a more accurate and precise estimate of liveweight than a delayed liveweight alone; and 3) use of delayed liveweights, to determine liveweight change over a two month period, resulted in significantly more animals being assigned wrongly to higher feeding levels ( p < 0.001), than if the delayed liveweights had been corrected by time elapsed since gathering from grazing fields. To conclude, a short-term delay prior to weighing associated with a practical handling operation significantly reduces the numerical liveweight recorded for each sheep. Using variably delayed liveweights in research and on commercial farms will have significant consequences for research results and management practices globally. Therefore collection of liveweights should occur without delay. However, when this is not feasible delayed liveweights should be corrected and in the absence of locally formulated correction equation, the one presented in this paper could be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent renewed drives to maintain farming activities on extensive areas have been encouraged at the EU level, which previously had witnessed a phenomenon of partial abandonment and reduction in flock sizes. Successful restocking with naïve animals from outwith the farm is a challenge, as these animals are not familiar with the landscape and may lack the social interactions and ‘hefting’ qualities their homebred counterparts develop. This paper presents results from an experiment where young ewes from different origins (homebred and bought-in) were reintroduced onto a mountain range grazing area. Focal animals of both types were monitored using GPS tracking collars over a one year period whilst performance was recorded for the whole flock over a two year period, to gauge whether or not their origin had an influence on ranging behaviour and performance. Although initially the bought-in animals developed their own home range and interacted little with the main flock, after one summer grazing period they appeared to learn from and socially interact with their homebred counterparts, developing a knowledge of the grazing landscape. Despite initial weight change differences, later performance results of the animals were not affected by their origin. Provided that animals are encouraged and given opportunity to socially interact with the main homebred flock, this study indicates that it is feasible to restock extensive farms with animals from different origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In North-western Europe, most of the land mass is classified as Less Favoured Area (LFA) under European designation and hill farms in these areas are a major contributor to the rural industry. Scotland alone is no different, as its rural land-based industry is fragile and has been dependent for many decades on high and continued levels of support payments. With recent agricultural policy reforms and changes in support for hill farmers, the future of these farming businesses is uncertain, and one purpose of this paper is to understand how they have already responded and might respond to further policy changes. This is not only important for the land use economy but also for the wider Scottish rural community and environment. Data from three regions, typical of hill farming areas in mainland Scotland, was collated in 2007; firstly from a postal survey with 47 respondents, followed by 30 face-to-face on-farm interviews. Farmers were asked to consider three time periods (2001–2005; 2005–2007; 2008–2013) and to detail any changes they had made, or planned to make, in their management and livestock numbers. During the interviews, additional questions regarding their motivations, drive and constraints were also asked. Fifty-three percent of the farmers surveyed had made major management changes in 2001–2005; 49% made changes in 2005–2007 and 53% projected to do so in 2008–2013. The main reported change was a decrease in animal numbers, due to economic factors, such as costs of labour and feed, and loss of subsidies. Multivariate analysis (Principal Coordinate and Cluster Analysis) of the results identified 3 clusters of farmers. Subsequent ANOVA and Chi-square analyses on the clusters showed that age, education, impact on farm labour, and impacts of neighbouring farms and their livestock reductions, were the most important factors that separated these clusters. Cluster 1 (adaptive farmers) broadly represented extensive sheep farms with farmers, who could and did diversify their income; they were also older and had the highest level of education. It was found that their animal management was greatly influenced by their neighbours’ decisions. Cluster 2 (focused farmers) was reflective of relatively more intensive sheep and beef farms, with no direct interest in farm diversification. Cluster 3 (resource constrained farmers) comprised very large extensive sheep and beef farms, which were also limited by their resources. Most ‘adaptive’ and ‘focused’ farmers planned to further modify their management in 2008–2013. Declining stock numbers in the study farms were consistent with trends in agricultural census data following the latest CAP reforms. However, the typology gave more insight of the differing farmers’ motivation and constraints when faced with reforms; this indicated that policy development should rely on multi-faceted data sources. The interdependency and fragility of these varied hill systems was highlighted by this study, pointing out the value of more targeted delivery of policy mechanisms to reflect such diversity. This is not unique to Scotland and reflects similar experiences elsewhere in Europe''s marginal agricultural areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study was to examine the use of Happy Factor™ weight based targeted selective treatment (TST) on several commercial farms in Scotland in combination with findings from a long term trial on a research farm to assess the potential for TST use in varying farming operations as an alternative to the current regimen of whole flock treatment. Lambs on each farm were regularly weighed and climatic conditions and pasture availability measured for inclusion into the Happy Factor™ model to calculate weight targets. Half of the lambs were allocated to TST treatment and any failing to reach the weight target was treated with the anthelmintic of choice on that farm, while the remaining half of each flock was treated with anthelmintic as per normal practice on that farm (routine treatment, RT). The research farm (farm 1) hosted a long term trial using four anthelmintic treatment regimes over 6 years, and data from two regimes are presented here, alongside findings from three further farms: two commercial enterprises (farms 2 and 3) and a research farm operating as a commercial analogue with two breeds (farms 4a and 4b). The effect of TST strategy on lamb productivity and the number of anthelmintic treatments was investigated. There was no evidence ( p > 0.300) that mean bodyweight or growth rate was different between TST and RT groups on any of the farms and 95% confidence intervals of TST and RT groups generally suggested that TST had negligible unfavourable effects on the average growth of lambs for most of the farms. Growth rates ranged from 97.39 to 189.16 g/day reflecting the varied nature of the farms. All commercial farms used significantly less (1.34 RT versus 1.14 TST treatments per animal, p < 0.05) anthelmintic in lambs following TST, with a reduction from 1, 1, 1.03 and 1.14 to 0.77, 0.57, 0.82 and 0.81 in the number of treatments per animal for farms 2, 3, 4a and 4b respectively. This study suggests that TST is a viable means of controlling parasitic disease without incurring production losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]