Thirty years ago New Zealand sheep breeders were desperately trying to get more lambs out of their mainly Romney flocks, as the national lambing (docking) percentage stuck on 90%. The problem was low litter size measured by the number of lambs born for each ewe lambing (LB/EL). Farmers were well pleased if every ewe had a … Read more
Cattle, farming, husbandry, breeding, genetics, principles, normal distribution, genetics & environment, heritability, selection differential, generation interval, genetic gain By Dr Clive Dalton Some important basic geneticsUnderstanding the basic genetics behind what goes on in the cattle yards and paddock has always been difficult for many people to appreciate.The underlying mathematics seem to be the bit … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton PART 2 Dag-Free & Worm-Free sheep – where to start?Commercial sheep farmers have two options if they want to get rid or drastically reduce dags and worms: Option1. Buy in the genetics (as rams) needed from established ‘stud breeders’.Option 2. Start a breeding programme in their own flock, which includes breeding their own … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Francis William Dry ‘Daddy‘‘Daddy’: FW Dry lived and worked in the days of formality when from school onwards, we males were only addressed by their surnames. In some schools, girls got their surnames too, but more often these were preceded by ‘MISS’, said with cutting emphasis if they were in trouble. … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton. The story starts at Leeds This bit of Australian agricultural history has turned out to be a fascinating tale – and it’s necessary to tell it backwards! This is because it developed from my lecturing years at Leeds University Department of Agriculture, when some funny looking sheep arrived at the University … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton PART 1 Introduction Dagging and drenching What a prospect to have to clean up this sheep’s rear end! Major mind change needed Sheep are never keen to cooperate This advert in a 1970 New Zealand Farmer was certainly convincing.Back then, nobody thought about long-term implications of thenew wonder chemicals! Breeding is … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton PART 4 Selecting female replacements from the A team Docking ewe lambs Weaning ewe lambs Polled Dorset weaned lambs being picked for slaughter Drenching NO drenching at weaning, unless you have a crisis confirmed by a veterinarian. Tapeworms Developing natural immunity It’s an easy enough job running hoggets through the yards … Read more