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Improved Ewe Survivability

PRODUCTION ISSUES IDENTIFIED

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  • Ewe losses ~4% 
     

  • Sporadic hogget deaths

RESULTS

  • Already a very high performing farm but ewe losses still reduced from 4% down to less than 1%
     

  • P levels in crops reduced from 0.6 to
    0.42 %DM to reduce dietary risk

Investigations into sporadic deaths in the hogget blocks identified excessive sulphur levels to be the root cause of a diagnosed thiamine deficiency. This allowed proactive management of the copper deficiency present in the ewes at lambing, through the use of copper oxide bullets.
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Changing fertiliser approach reduced metabolic risk and produced higher quality pastures on the hills.

“This season most ewes and all the hogger's have had 4g copper cap plus a shot of iodine. With Pat's background and his science, now looking at our soil and herbages samples we have more confidence in what we are doing."

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- John Heald, Waikato Drystock Farmer

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