Surplus lambs demonstrate good margin in research trial

摘要

Research trials have shown rearing surplus lambs on milk replacer could clear a margin of ￡40 a head in a strong market.Two simultaneous trials were carried out last spring to monitor lamb weight gains and assess cost-effectiveness and efficacy of the practice.At Harper Adams University (HAU), 13 surplus Suffolk Mule ewe cross Texel lambs were fed Lamlac via a thermostatically controlled Volac Ewe2 milk bucket, and weighed weekly.On a commercial farm in Lancashire, 100 surplus lambs out of Abemeld/Mule cross ewes were fed milk via a computer-controlled Eco Feeder - 51 of these lambs were weighed at birth, two weeks of age and again at weaning.