Maximising lamb growth

Having our lambs grow quickly is an important pointer for lifting profitability and creating options for our farming systems.

Important components to growth are feed quality, feed quantity and minimising the effects of internal parasitism as lambs progressively move from milk to a pasture/crop diet.

For the last two seasons, we have been highlighting the importance of cobalt and Vitamin B12 in the growth of lambs from docking through weaning and beyond. Cobalt is a trace element that is utilised by the organisms in the rumen to produce Vitamin B12 and this vitamin is essential for the production of energy in lambs.

Of all the species and age groups, lambs have the highest requirement for Vitamin B12.

Locally we are recording significantly higher weight gains even when these farms are in the normal cobalt range. These gains are as much as 100 gm more per day in lambs treated with the long-acting B12 Smartshot®.

In the period between docking and weaning gains have ranged from an additional 1kg bodyweight to 3kg.

Smartshot® was initially formulated by AgResearch and is now manufactured and distributed by Virbac NZ from their base in Hamilton.

To build up more evidence we are providing a Vit B12 monitoring service in flocks which wish to utilise Smartshot® at least on some of this year’s lamb crop if not all of their lambs.

If your farm system is one where lambs are sold quickly onto finishing operations, we recommend 0.5 mL dose at docking which will provide a consistent source of B12 for 3 to 4 months. For your replacement lambs, 1 mL dose will provide 6 to 8 months cover.

Smartshot® is sold in two forms, a B12 only injection or B12 plus long-acting selenium, another important trace element for young stock.

We know costs are important, but we are seeing such consistent returns that this makes a recommendation to treat easy; 0.5 mL dose of Smartshot® B12 only is 58c and Smartshot® B12 plus selenium is 67c (GST incl)*.

If you want more information, please talk with one of our commercial managers (Roy 027 5243636, Cameron 027 240 2062 or Alby 027 229 5162) or speak with one of our vets.

The offer of free B12 monitoring is limited and is allocated on a first in, first served basis.

*Pricing as at August 2024 and subject to change without notification.