increase font size
Dr Sue McCoard is a senior scientist for AgResearch.
Lambing is now well advanced around much of New Zealand, including in areas where drought-like conditions are presenting real challenges for farmers, on top of a poor run of prices for their product.
Dr Sue McCoard is a senior scientist for AgResearch who has spent much of her career researching livestock rearing, survival and nutrition, including lambs raised for the meat and dairy industries. With AgResearch colleagues, Sue has produced a Lamb Rearing Guide that is available as a free resource to farmers.
Here, McCoard identifies what the research shows are the five key focus areas for farmers to achieve successful lambing, and good outcomes from early life as those lambs are raised:
It starts with Mum
The research shows that having good nutrition and body condition score for the pregnant ewe is critical to support ewe lactation, lamb survival and growth. Nutrient requirements increase substantially in mid-late gestation and early lactation. Body condition scoring and pregnancy scanning are great tools to support nutritional management to target the right feed to the right animal at the right time.
Environment and shelter
Well-fed ewes have greater reserves to cope with stressful condition (e.g. poor weather) and have stronger more vigorous lambs. Young lambs, especially in the first few weeks of life are particularly vulnerable to environmental factors that can influence their ability to survive and thrive. Requirements vary for lambs that are naturally reared outside to those artificially reared in housed systems (e.g. orphans or lambs in dairy sheep systems).
Nutrition
Good nutrition is one of the easiest strategies to support health, production and welfare of lambs. Many factors influence growth performance and health of lambs including breed, litter size, colostrum/milk/solid feed quality and quantity, hygiene, and rearing environment (e.g. ambient temperature). Undernutrition, or inadequate nutrition, can impair growth and development including immune function, with lifelong consequences for health, productivity and welfare.
Weaning
In much of the New Zealand, farmers now have lambs on the ground and are turning their attention to weaning (the shift to food other than the mother's milk). The success of transition from milk to solid feed is inextricably linked to both solid feed intake as well as weaning methods. Key driver of weaning success are supporting a well-developed rumen prior to weaning, maintaining high feed quality and quantity, and minimising stress during this important dietary transition.
Animal Health
Healthy lambs start with healthy ewes that are well-fed during pregnancy and lactation. Lambs are born with no natural immunity and therefore rely on colostrum (first secretion from the udder) to provide defence against external pathogens. Implementation of best practice animal health protocols (e.g. vaccinations) and good nutritional management of ewes and lambs are fundamental for good health and productivity. A number of animal health issues can arise in lambs, especially in housed systems. Proactive management to reduce the risk of disease and being prepared to manage if/when they arise is important.
Access AgResearch's Lamb Rearing Guide at: www.agresearch.co.nz/our-research/lamb-rearing-guide/
Healthy, well-grown calves are the building blocks of any future dairy herd. Giving them the best start to life is crucial, and the primary strategy to reduce the burden of disease caused by rotavirus infection is vaccination.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is reminding farmers with lucerne stands to graze them hard over the next few weeks in preparation for a winter weed control programme.
Animal welfare improvements as well as reduced costs for dairy farmers are at the heart of a new move which could help cut back on the waste of unused vet drugs.
Last night saw the winners of the 2026 Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Awards named at a gala dinner at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.
New research suggests sheep and beef farmers could improve both profitability and emissions efficiency by increasing lamb weaning weights, with only marginal changes in total greenhouse gas emissions.
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.
Yesterday the Government used the opening of Fieldays to announce a major investment, as part of its Land Use Flexibility package, to support a more productive and sustainable future across six sectors including dairy.
Dairy farmers need to be high quality partners to the beef industry, says Prem Maan, the co-founder and executive chairman of the dairy corporate Southern Pastures.
The regions that will host clinical training for the University of Waikato's new medical school from 2028 have been confirmed, alongside a new nationwide approach to clinical placements for medical students.
The bumpy road you travel on teachs you a lot, believes Don Watson. And that’s the message he and wife Kirsten, supreme winners of the Auckland Ballance Farm Environment Awards, aim to pass on to their three sons.
New Zealand’s food and fibre sector is on track to deliver record export earnings, with export revenue forecast to reach $64.3 billion in the year ending 30 June 2026.
OPINION: While we're on the topic of lumberjacks, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has no doubt used a chainsaw hundreds of…
OPINION: To a chorus of crying greenies, and not a minute too soon, the Government has moved to put the…
