Article for Samoa Observer (Sunday 25th April 2010)

Sheep Management Schedule – Tools for Better Farming

The establishment of smallholder sheep farms around the country is a good indicator of progress
into livestock and crops integration, and thus supports the nation’s insight into enhancement of
food security.

With the first shipment of live sheep from Fiji in August 2004, MAF has since been able to
multiply that initial flock (40 ewes and 4 rams) under the sheep breeding program. Today the
sheep population stands at 370 wherein 49% are located on the 25 private farms (15 on Upolu and
10 on Savaii).

Mortality has been an issue from the beginning and preventative measures are taken to reduce the
challenges posed to the flock in terms of improving farm management skills (such as repairing any
damages to the security fence to avoid predation, replace rotten floor boards to avoid injury), and
follow the recommended healthcare program already in place (rotational grazing to reduce worms
infestation).

Application of the Management Schedule:

The life of the ewe-

The ewe, after successful mating, becomes pregnant for five months and produces her lamb(s). The
best ewe should lamb at least three times within two years. That is, pregnancy for five months,
should feed her lamb(s) for the next two months, be given the following month off to restore her
body (with nutrients and vitamins) before she is mated to the breeding ram in the next round of
mating, and the cycle continues. On average, in two years’ time, the best ewe should have had
fifteen months in total of pregnancy (62.5% of her time), six months of feeding of lambs (25% of
her time), and three months off for body nourishment (12.5% of her time).

Cycle of mating for the ewe – two year period (24 months)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 16 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 24
0 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 0 1 2 3
Pregnancy Lact Reco Pregnancy Lacta Reco Pregnancy Lacta Reco
a- n- - n- - n-
tion ditio tion ditio tion ditio
n n n

This can be achieved mainly through sufficiently feeding the ewe with supplements prior to
mating, and during lactation to boost her estrus cycle, plenty of water during lactation also, and for
the farmer to practice proper rotational grazing so that she will not be infested at any point in time
with worms; among other normal practices as recommended. The average life expectancy rate of a
good productive ewe is eight years thus depending on her genetic makeup, the type of management
practice undertaken, and in particular the daily care she is given.

The life of the ram-

The breeding ram, under controlled mating system, usually mates three times to the females within
two years. That is, two months of mating four months of segregation from the flock, and another

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two months to recondition its body for the next mating round, and the cycle continues. On average,
in two years’ time, the breeding ram should have had six months of mating (25% of his time), a
total of twelve months of segregation (50% of his time), and six months of building up body
reserves (25% of his time).

Cycle of mating for the breeding ram – two year period (24 months)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
Segregation Reco Matin Segregation Reco Matin Segregation Reco Matin
n- g n- g n- g
dition dition dition

It is important though to carefully choose the breeding ram. It should be a healthy and sexually
active animal and be given supplementary feeds prior to mating as this will increase sperm
production and vitality of the animal. Husbandry also contributes to its performance therefore it is
critical to practice dehorning, hoof trimming, and deworming. MAF provides such services and
these are imbedded in its strategy for the distribution of sheep. Its farm monitoring program covers
these husbandry services that can be performed by MAF staff. The average life expectancy rate of
a breeding ram on any private farm in the country is one year and should be replaced every year to
avoid mating back to its female offspring. Also under the strategy for distribution the exchange of
breeding rams can be done under strict arrangements, depending on the circumstances, but usually
the farmer is required to dispose of the existing breeding ram and purchase a new one from MAF.

The life of the lamb-

The lamb when it is born should be taking milk from its mother for the first two months of its life
before it is weaned or taken off its mother’s milk. By then, it should have already been tail docked,
castrated if it’s a male, and be given an ID tag. Drenching for worms can start when it is three to
four months old because it is already grazing at this stage.

Puberty in males begin earlier at around eight months of age, than their female counterparts which
is later at around eleven months of age.

The selection of replacement stock should be given careful consideration and depends on the
farmer’s sound judgement. He should be able to choose which males are not suitable for mating
and therefore castrate and save one as replacement. The practice on the MAF stations is that all
males born with a birth weight of three kilograms and under (<3kg) is castrated, and those with a
birth weight of three and a half kilograms and more (>3.5kg) is spared and are earmarked as
replacement; these are the breeding rams made available to the farmers under the distribution
strategy.

Wethers (castrated rams) cannot produce offspring so are generally not useful for breeding but
they are on high demand in the local meat market. Although small in quantity in the meat market,
wethers are favoured for BBQs because of their taste and good meat texture.

The selection of females as replacement is not an issue at the moment because of the strategy for
distribution that is in place under the authority of MAF. These should remain on the farm together
with any half sisters that come later on and it is only the males that come and go.

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For more clarification on any of the points stated above, contact APHD on 21052 or 26529 or visit
our website: www.maf.gov.ws