A new column from our local vet
This month we are discussing all things tupping!
Before putting tups out with ewes and gimmers it is well worth putting your tup through a full MOT. Ideally you want to carry out these checks 6 to 8 weeks before tupping. This is to allow for any management changes to be made or replacement tups to be bought but also allows for sperm to be replaced. If your tup was in poor condition, unwell (on antibiotics) or was presenting with a high temperature 6 to 8 weeks ago, it can have a detrimental impact on the quality of sperm produced, in turn that would have an impact on the quality of his sperm today. Proper ram management and a focus on nutrition will improve your chances of more ewes being impregnated.
It is important to body condition score your tup; ideally you want him to be between 3 and 4 out of 5 (changes according to breed) at the start of tupping season, this means he will have enough condition on him to maintain energy levels. Tups can come out of tupping season looking a little worse for wear – who knew it was such hard work only having to work for a few weeks each year! Ensure he has access to good grazing and supplementary feeding where necessary.
Check teeth, as any missing or broken teeth can impact his ability to graze and feed properly, which in turn might cause him to lose condition. His hooves should be in good condition as any lameness will greatly impair his ability to follow and mount ewes. Daily checks should be made to pick up any lameness or sores. Check his eyes for signs of cloudiness or weeping. At this time of year we see an increase in sheep suffering from blindness; examine his eyes carefully and give us a ring if you have any concerns. Testicles should be checked for any lumps, bumps and irregularities. They should be measured and ideally have a minimum scrotal circumference of 30cm. You can get your tups semen tested 6 to 8 weeks prior to tupping, where we look at the sample under a microscope to check a range of things including motility and morphology. From doing so we can detect if the tup is ‘firing blanks’.
Traditionally, many crofters put their tups out with ewes or gimmers during the first week of November. The typical gestation for sheep is between 142 and 152 days, or 5 months, which means lambs will be born during the month of April, normally when the spring grass is making an appearance and the weather is milder. This gives new-born lambs a good start in life. Although over the past few years we have seen a trend of crofters putting their tups out slightly later due to the poor spring weather we have had.
Ewes also need to be on a management plan pre, during and post tupping. It is well worth weaning lambs 6 to 8 weeks prior to tupping to allow ewes time to recover and gain condition after feeding one (or multiple!) hungry mouths over the past few months. A general rule of thumb is you want ewes to have a condition score of 3 to 3.5 out of 5 (again this varies between breeds). Good grazing, supplementary feeding and vitamin/mineral lick buckets are all essentials.
You can check ewes in a similar fashion you do tups, the main things to look out for are teeth, toes and teats! As with the tups, any ewes that are missing teeth, sometimes described as ‘broken mouth’, will struggle to gain and maintain any condition, so it is worth considering culling any sheep that are broken mouthed to ensure a healthy flock. Foot sore or lame ewes will struggle to stand for the tup and may not graze properly due to only being able to cover a small area. Udders and teats should be checked carefully for any lumps or bumps, heat or signs of previously having mastitis. Ewes with a partially functioning udder might struggle to raise twins but may just manage a single. It is worth considering if you want to breed from her as it could mean you end up with some pet lambs come springtime!
Abortion in ewes can be caused by several factors – stress (e.g being worried by dogs – keep them on leads around livestock!), poor condition and illness. We have seen several cases of Toxoplasmosis in flocks locally over the past few years. Toxo is one of the most common causes of infectious abortion in sheep and is caused by a protozoan parasite. The main source of infection is via cat faeces, so those with barn cats please be aware of this and don’t allow cats to toilet near feed sources, bales of hay or straw. Toxo is zoonotic, which means it can be passed to humans. It can cause serious illness and infection of a pregnant woman could seriously damage her unborn child so extreme caution must be taken. Pregnant women should avoid, if possible, all involvement with lambing ewes and should not come in to contact or handle clothing or equipment of those who work with sheep. There is a vaccine that can be given to ewes prior to tupping to avoid abortion via toxo however, due to disruption in supplies, production has stopped for now. We are waiting on updates from the manufacturer so please keep in touch if you are on a waiting list.
We stock dosing, spot on treatments, vitamin and mineral boluses, raddle and crayons – all your tupping needs are covered! Pop in, give us a ring or email us with your order. If you have anything specific you would like ordered in please let us know and we will get a price from our wholesalers.
If there are any particular topics readers would like us to cover, please email us at southernisles@hotmail.com.
