Switching to a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) has delivered significant benefits for flock health and efficiency.
Scottish sheep producer Jack Shaw is gradually increasing his sheep flock from 200 to 800 ewes over a five-year period. He has also moved from a hill-based system to low-ground grazing at Lochfer Farm, of Inverdunning Farms, in Bridge of Allan.
Mr Shaw’s most recent focus has shifted towards improving in flock nutrition. The sheep operation at Lochfer currently consists of 550 breeding ewes, although this has been increased, with 800 due to be lambing in March 2024.
The flock is made up of Scottish Mules and Texel Cross ewes, with Texel and Beltex being the breed of choice for tups. A Texel tup is used over Mule ewes with any ewe lambs kept for replacements, and the resulting cross put back to a Beltex tup.
Having scanned at 210% last year, nutrition management was key. Ewes are brought inside eight weeks prior to lambing – with sufficient space for ewes to be split into feeding groups, allowing for a TMR to be tailored to each group.
Working with animal nutrition specialists East Coast Viners, the farm trialled a series of blends and pellets until they found a formula with great results.
“We changed to a blend form of ration, and it worked almost perfectly. Very quickly we found that feeding the TMR was a less stressful experience for the ewes as having adequate feeding space for each pen meant there was less fighting with ewes having constant access to their mix.
“It also proved to be a lot less labour intensive. I found I could feed the 600 ewes in an hour in the morning, allowing me more time in the day to get on with everything else, which was a great help once lambing really kicked off.”
