Forbes yardings dropped significantly, down 44pc on sheep and 50pc on lambs, which was most likely due to the recent cheaper prices. MLA says the large price falls suffered over recent weeks may have also contributed to producers holding onto stock. All centres experienced reduced numbers with the exception of Goulburn and Tamworth which witnessed increases of 44pc and 17pc, respectively. A good sign though, was that the majority of the lambs offered were trade and heavyweights. Many lines...

Breeding ewes need to stay in the hills over the winter to ensure lambs for next year, and they will not have enough to eat if this year's lambs are not removed quickly. The move follows restrictions imposed during the latest foot and mouth disease outbreak and a similar cull of up to 250,000 lambs now taking place in Scotland. Article continues The welfare problem has arisen because foot and mouth movement restrictions have left lambs trapped on the hillsides, and as winter approaches the...

Accelerated lambing uptake uncertain Oct 24, 2007 11:32 AM An accelerated lambing programme run by Massey University shows that year-round lambing can work, but falling lamb prices may mean farmers are in no rush to implement the scheme. Some ewes in the high-fertility flock were able to sustain 15 pregnancies over three years in the accelerated trial, producing 26% more lamb weight than the traditionally lambed ewes. The three-year project investigated a system of using five breeding...

The farms that were hit were only three-quarters of a mile apart, he said, but he would not name the farms. At first, because the sheep had been slaughtered indiscriminately and only partially eaten, biologists assumed that the predation was being carried out by a large dog. SHELBURNE -- A wolf that killed at least a dozen lambs and sheep in western Franklin County was slain by a farmer on Sunday, and the animal's rare presence locally is now being investigated by state authorities. The...

You are in: Home>News Welsh Assembly agrees to calls for lamb disposal scheme 25/10/2007 11:39:00 FWi The WelshAssembly has agreed to fund a light lamb disposal scheme for producers affected by foot and mouth restrictions after pressure from the principalitys farming unions. You are in: Home>News Welsh Assembly agrees to calls for lamb disposal scheme 25/10/2007 11:39:00 FWi The WelshAssembly has agreed to fund a light lamb disposal scheme for producers affected by foot and mouth...