Good nutrition lifts lowland flock’s lambing percentage to 220%

A focus on ewe nutrition and health at a Co. Mayo livestock farm has lifted the scanning percentage in the lowland flock to 220%.

Patrick Mylotte took on Castleille Farm, at The Neale, from his father in 2015, where he runs a runs a flock of Texel and Suffolk ewes and a suckler herd of 45 Aberdeen Angus and Charolais cows. The 200-ewe flock will lamb over three weeks from March 10 in a new shed built last year.

Patrick and Mark Mylotte and nephews Patrick and Thomas

The previous housing was no longer viable so Patrick invested in the four-bay building, which has 16 pens and can accommodate up to 160 ewes.

Ewes are bolused with Allguard 5 in 1, a bolus formulated for ewes and given three to six weeks before they go to the ram. Since Patrick has introduced the bolus he has seen scanning percentage increase, from an average of 165% to more than 220% this year.

“It has been an exceptional year for scanning,’’ says Patrick. “I know this has been the case generally across Ireland but we have had our best results ever.”

‘Great shape, top shape’

Allguard slowly releases cobalt, copper, iodine, selenium and zinc for up to six months.

“We don’t have to worry about mineral deficiencies, they are covered for six months,’’ says Patrick. “The ewes are in great shape, top shape.’’

The ewes are boluses twice a year, boluses are given again four to six weeks out from lambing.

“I like to have all angles covered,” Patrick admits.

Allguard ewe boluses are the highest spec bolus available on the market.

“We don’t overfeed the ewes either so we don’t get prolapses. I want to make life as easy as possible and that means keeping the flock in good shape.”

This attention to detail ensures ewes have high-quality colostrum and a good supply of milk.

“I don’t have to worry about weak lambs or problems with ewe health,’’ says Patrick. “We had some tests done recently for fluke and worms and the results were very good.’’

Patrick also gives ewes Panatec Rumen Proof, a non-antibiotic antimicrobial feed additive. Panatec has recently been trialed in Harper Adams University and had demonstrated vastly superior performance as compared to a control and a market leading yeast.

Patrick gives Rumen Proof to twin and triplet-bearing ewes to guard against cases of twin lamb disease, adding it to the feed for up to five weeks before lambing.

“We don’t have negative energy problems when ewes lamb down,’’ Patrick reports.

He sells his first lambs to a local processor from July, at an average deadweight of 21kg at the start of the season, rising to 25kg for lambs sold later in the year.