How to manage a lambing pen system effectively

Lambing pens offer a multitude of benefits for farmers. Regina Harmse, who breeds Ile de France sheep in Mpumalanga, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the ways in which these pens can add value to any type of sheep production concern.

- Annelie Coleman

For Regina Harmse, who runs the RCH Ile de France Stud on the farm Uitgezocht near Ermelo, improving the quality of her animals is a non-negotiable. With approximately 1 000 Ile de France ewes split 50/50 between stud and commercial herds, she has to run an intensive, hands-on operation in order to turn a profit. And for this to happen, maintaining the highest possible lambing and weaning percentages is essential. For this reason, lambing pens are a key part of her operation.

Common misconceptions about lambing pens are that a farmer can use them to turn bad mothers into better ones, or that the system breeds the mothering instincts out of ewes.

Harmse says the truth is that a lambing pen system is an invaluable tool for growing a flock and increasing revenue, as it enables a producer to boost weaning percentages and lower lamb mortality rates. And while it won’t sort out problem animals, a lambing pen system allows for the easier selection of genetics for better mothering ability. She adds that it is the farmer’s task, after all, to notice those ewes that show poor maternal ability and to cull them accordingly.

CLOSE OBSERVATION

A lambing pen system calls for a short lambing period (a maximum of 35 days) to mitigate animal feed and labour costs.

According to Harmse, the majority of lamb deaths take place in the first three days after birth. Small lambs are ideal prey for predators such as the black-backed jackal and caracal and, in the case of many communal farmers, feral dogs.