Thursday January 23, 2014

Day 41..

Back to the learning..

This morning we accessed the library resources to enable us to work on our machinery presentations. Following on from our visit to the LAMMA show, we now have to collate our information and create a power point presentation ready for a class talks next week. Mandy and I got to work (while Harry enjoys a work experience break!) So we will leave him something to do upon his return. Mandy got to work on the John Deer GPS systems, following our discussion with the representative at the show, and I got further ahead with GPS and Steering system information pages. Andy was on hand to help advise how the presentations should flow, for example using bullet points instead of long, multiple sentences, and with the addition of some pictures here's hoping the class are kept entertained!

Our first livestock lesson looked at sheep housing, the importance of it - the advantages and the disadvantages. Some sheep farmers are restricted by facilities, such as hill farmers, but there are still ways to maintain sheep health during harsh weather conditions - such as building zig zag wind shields with bales of straw, where you will find sheep often retreat to get out of really windy conditions as well as blazing hot sun. With housing comes additional costs that need to be factored in according to your sheep production program. However, if you have the buildings it is beneficial to sheep to utilise the space as long as it is very well ventilated at all times and draught free. During lambing the ideal requirement is 1.3m2 per in lamb ewe, increasing to 2.3m2 per ewe with twins.

During our next lesson we moved on to parasites. Not a particularly nice topic but something that can have a significant affect on a sheep herd. In most sheep production methods, internal or gastro-intestinal parasites (i.e. worms) are the most common disease to affect sheep and lambs. Sheep are more susceptible to internal parasites than almost all other types of farm livestock, largely due to the fact that their small faecal pellets disintegrate easily thus releasing the worm larvae onto pastures.
Then the sheep graze closely to the soil surface and subsequently their faeces. They are slow to acquire immunity. It takes 10 to 12 months for most lambs to develop immunity to parasites. Sheep also suffer a loss of immunity at the time of lambing, which does not restore itself until approximately four weeks after lambing. Carry out regular worming and always treat a sheep as soon as you discover that something is wrong.