Supplying a Growing Demand
In my lifetime, there have never been better markets for Texas sheep and goat ranchers. Based on prices at Producers Livestock Auction in San Angelo, lightweight slaughter lambs and meat goat kids have roughly doubled in the last 10 years. Plus, wool prices are at historic highs and mohair prices are strong.
So, what is driving up the markets? I am not an economist, but to me, it appears to be simple economics. The supplies of lambs and meat goats to market have been decreasing for years, if not decades. Yet, both traditional and nontraditional demand for lamb and goat meat has been increasing over the last decade. Imports of lamb and goat meat have been increasing to keep up with the increase in demand. Worldwide demand is high; so, prices continue to remain strong. The outlook is great! Lets hope something major doesn’t happen to change this.
How do we get the most from a good situation? To me, the answer is simple. RAISE A LARGER LAMB AND KID CROP. According to USDA, Texas typically produces an 80 percent lamb crop and 100 percent kid crop. Sheep and goats are prolific animals and can rear two or more offspring per year. But doing so is much easier said than done.
First and foremost, we must not allow predators to steal our profits. Again, this is easier said than done but with the high value of these animals, it is cost effective to employ a number of predator control tools. As many of you know, I am a big proponent of livestock guardian dogs. A good LGD program can be tough to get started but invaluable once it has been implemented.
In most cases, ranchers need to improve their flock/herd’s genetic potential to produce and wean a larger lamb/kid crop. While, reproduction is a lowly heritable trait, selection for prolificacy is imperative for efficient lamb and goat production. Selection of twin-born lambs and goats is a first step. But it is not very efficient for a couple of reasons. First, the ewe may have given birth to twins but only raised one lamb, which defeats the purpose. Second, the dam is responsible for giving birth and rearing twins, yet half the genetic potential of her offspring come from the sire.
The most efficient method for selection of prolificacy is the use of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) through the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP). An EBV for number of lambs born or weaned is derived from data on the lamb, ewe lifetime production, and all related offspring compared to flock averages. It is complicated but it works. If you don’t believe me, ask any sheep rancher who has used the program. Unfortunately, you’ll have to call someone from another state because Texas seed stock breeders have not adopted this technology. Included is a graph of breed average EBVs for Katahdins within NSIP who have used this technology. A positive 10 percent EBV relates to a 10 percent increase in weaning rate above average. Any breed can use this technology to make genetic progress.
We, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, will host a ram and ewe sale at the conclusion of the Texas Sheep and Goat Expo on August 18. There will be dozens of rams and ewes for sale from breeders using this technology to improve prolificacy, along with other traits such as parasite resistance, growth rate, wool production, etc.
The next step to higher lamb/kid crops is to ensure the flock/herd has adequate feed resources to reach their full genetic potential. Ewes/does rearing twins have a 10-20 percent higher nutritional requirement on an annual basis than those producing singles. Most of this added nutritional demand occurs during the last month of gestation and first two months of lactation. Therefore, targeted supplementation for three months of the year can have a substantial return on investment.
The easiest method to determine if supplementation is needed is to use body condition scores. For sheep and goats, the scoring system is from 1 to 5. With 1 being very thin and 5 being very obese. Ideally, animals should be a body condition of 2.5 to 3.5 depending on season of production. One month prior to breeding season, the body condition score of the flock/herd should be determined. If females are less than 3.0, then supplement one pound of grain or pelleted feed every two to three days for 30 days. It may be advantageous to separate thinner ewes into a separate pasture. Females should remain in a body condition score of 3.0 to 3.5 through gestation, if not continue supplementation. Females that give birth at or below 2.5 body condition score will require additional care, especially those with multiple births. After lambing/kidding, females can lose up to 1 body condition score through lactation without problems, which typically equates to about 15 pounds of body weight. Supplementation of ewes and lambs may be necessary if ewes are losing too much weight.
At the end of the year, be sure to determine what was the lamb and kid crop for each pasture and each management group. Did you reach your short or long-term goal for lamb or kid crop? If not, how do you plan to reach that goal next year?
I coordinated the development of 12 best practices factsheets to help sheep farmers and ranchers improve their lamb crops. These factsheets can be found at: http://lambresourcecenter.com/production-resources/best-practice-resources/. I encourage you to read these factsheets and try to implement one or more of these best practices that you are currently not doing.
I realize many of you still have a lamb or kid crop out in the pasture, but now is the time to start planning for the 2019 lamb/kid crop. Best of luck!!!
To provide feedback on this article or request topics for future articles, contact me at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu or 325-653-4576. For general questions about sheep and goats contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office. If they can’t answer your question, they have access to someone who can.