Level II Agricultural Business Operations - Assessment Booklet Sector Unit Level 2 Unit No Credit Value 5 Sheep Livestock Production Name: Student No Tutor: Centre I certify that all the work in this booklet is my own Student signature Tutor Signature Date submitted Assessment Grid (For office use) Learning outcomes 1. Understand the main elements of a livestock production system. 2. Be able to prepare a breeding or replacement plan. 3. Be able to prepare a feeding plan. 4. Understand performance recording and targets. A Criteria 1.1 & 1.2 2.1, 2.2 & 2.3 3.1, 3.2 & 3.3 4.1 & 4.2 Assessor Date IV Date 1
Assessment Record AC Q Page Tutor initials Complete To Complete 1.1 Describe the production cycle of a livestock A1, A2, 4 enterprise. 1.2 Describe in relation to a livestock C1, C2, 12 enterprise: a) animal husbandry procedures b) key outputs and inputs c) market requirements C3 2.1 Describe with examples the A1 4 breeding/replacement cycle for an enterprise. 2.2 Assess the suitability of breeding/ A3 5 replacement stock. 2.3 Set breeding/replacement targets for own A4, A6 6 enterprise. 3.1 Describe the nutritional requirements of B1, B5-7 selected farm animals. 6 3.2 Compare the nutritional content of available feeds. B2 B4, B6 8, 9 10 3.3 Prepare a feeding plan. B5 B7 10, 11, 4.1. Identify key performance indicators and targets of own enterprise. 4.2 Assess the performance of own enterprise identifying areas for improvement. Feedback to student E1 A4, A6, C3, C4, D1 A5, A7, C4, D2 14 6, 12, 13, 14 6, 13, 14 Action points (If req) Assessor Signature Student Signature Date Date 2
Assessment Record Resubmission 1 (If req) Student signature Tutor Signature Date resubmitted Feedback to student Action points (If req) Assessor Signature Student Signature Date Date Resubmission 2 (If req) Student signature Tutor Signature Date resubmitted Feedback to student Assessor Signature Student Signature Date Date 3
Sheep Production Assessment Introduction You are a farmer with a lowland flock of crossbred ewes lambing in March. The majority of progeny are finished off farm with a proportion of female lambs retained as replacements. Production Cycle A.1. Complete the calendar with the following periods of the breeding cycle for this flock (AC 1.1, 2.1) Weaning Mating Lambing March April May June July August September October November December January February Breeding decisions A.2. Describe two advantages of March lambing compared to Jan lambing. (AC 1.1) 1...... 2...... 4
Suitability of replacement stock A.3. From the breeds listed in the table below select two breeds that would make suitable replacements for the systems below. (AC 2.2) Breed Crossbred ewes Swaledale Scottish Blackface Texel A. Traditional Hill system 1: 2: B. Lowland system 1: 2: State two characteristics which make the selected breeds suitable for that system A. Traditional hill system 1: 2: B. Lowland system 1: 2: 5
Breeding & replacement targets A.4. An upland sheep enterprise consists of 250 crossbred ewes put to a terminal sire expected to lamb mid March. Select a target lambing percentage for this flock (Please circle) (AC 2.3, 4.1) 90% 150% 200% A.5. You have just had your ewes scanned and the scanning result is below target. Give one possible reason for the poor performance. (AC 4.2) A.6. What would be an acceptable replacement rate for this 250 crossbred ewe flock? Tick the correct box (AC2.3, 4.1) 12 ewes (5%) 50 ewes (20%) 125 ewes (50%) A.7. The replacement rate of your flock is 20% higher than normal at the start of the breeding season. Identify two possible reasons for this. (AC 4.2) 1.... 2.... 6
Sheep Production Feeding ewes Nutritional requirements A ewe has different energy and crude protein requirements at various stages throughout the breeding cycle. B.1. Match the dietary requirements to the stage in the ewe s breeding cycle. An example is completed for you. (AC 3.1, 3.2) Pregnant ewe 6 weeks before lambing Maintenance diet Thin ewe pre tupping we pre tupping High energy and protein diet Ewe mid pregnancy High energy diet Give one reason why higher protein content is needed in the diet of ewes in the later stages of pregnancy......... 7
Compare nutritional content of available feeds B.2. The table below contains a list of feedstuffs that are commonly found in various rations that are offered to the pregnant ewe. (AC 3.2) Feedstuff Barley Soyabean meal Rapeseed meal Wheat Soya Hulls Sugar beet pulp Which two feeds from the list above are a high source of: a) Energy 1: 2: b) Protein 1: 2: c) Fibre 1: 2: 8
You are a farmer feeding ewes in the later stages of pregnancy on a silage / concentrate diet. The silage has been analysed with the details shown below. Silage 1 Analysis Silage 2 Analysis B.3. Compare the two silages shown in the analyses above for: (AC 3.2) Energy (ME)...... Protein...... B.4. Which silage would you feed to ewes in late pregnancy and give 2 reasons why? (AC 3.2) Which silage?... Why? 1:... 2:... 9
Feed levels You are a farmer feeding ewes in the later stages of pregnancy on a silage / concentrate diet. The silage has been analysed with the details shown below. A feed report is attached to the silage report B.5. You have hill bred ewes carrying twins. How much concentrate do they require per day in the two weeks prior to lambing along with the above silage? (AC 3.1, 3.3)...Kg/day B.6 You have lowland bred ewes carrying triplets. How much concentrate do they require per day during the period four to two weeks prior to lambing along with the above silage? (AC 3.1, 3.3)...Kg/day 10
Feeding plan A farmer runs a flock of 200 crossbred ewes lambing mid March. They are housed from Mid December until lambing. During the housed period they are fed silage daily and may receive concentrates closer to lambing depending on scanning results and silage quality. B.7. In the table below calculate the amount of silage required for the above enterprise. (AC 3.3) SILAGE REQUIREMENT (Tonnage of silage required to feed livestock) Number of animals (N) Type of stock to be fed Silage required/animal/ month (tonnes) (S)* EWES 0.15 Number of months housed (M) Silage required (tonnes) (NxSxM) TOTAL silage required (A) *Assuming grass silage dry matter content of 22%. Adjust intakes for different silage dry matters. The farmer has 150 round bales of chopped silage. Using the table below calculate the total amount of silage available. Bale Type Number of bales (N) Average weight per bale (tonnes) at 22% Dry Matter (A) 0.5 Round (unchopped) 1.3m diameter Round (chopped) 1.3m 0.65 diameter Square (2.5 x 0.9 x 1.2m) 0.73 Weight of silage in round bales (t) (W) = (N x A) TOTAL silage available (B) SILAGE EXCESS/SHORTFALL (tonnes required by livestock tonnes silage available) (A)-(B) 11
Health and hygiene are critically important to an indoor lambing flock. Good preparation and management are key to a successful lambing season. Animal Husbandry C.1. Give 2 examples of animal husbandry procedures that could be carried out on ewes and/or lambs (lambed indoors) prior to turnout. (AC 1.2a) 1.... 2.... Key Outputs & Inputs A lowland farmer purchases male store lambs to utilise surplus grass in late Summer / early Autumn. C.2. What is the main output that will be sold from the above farm? (AC 1.2b)... Name 2 inputs that are required to ensure good performance on this farm. 1.... 2.... Market Requirements C.3. All finished lambs are marketed through a local abattoir from this farmer. What is the desired carcass weight range for this market? (AC 1.2c, 4.1) 15kg to 16kg 18kg to 22kg 24kg to 26kg Tick correct box) Describe two consequences of carcasses falling outside of the desired weight range....... 12
C.4. Two farmers have the same land area and type. They both have 100 crossbred ewes with all progeny sold as finished lambs. The table below outlines the performance of both farms.(ac 4.1, 4.2) Farm A Farm B Number of ewes 100 100 Number of lambs sold 180 150 Number of lambs meeting market 170 120 specification Number of lambs that did not meet market 10 30 specification kg of concentrates fed/ewe 35 55 Which of the two farms is likely to be most profitable? Give two reasons to justify your choice. 1.... 2.... Suggest two possible areas for improvement on the poorer performing farm 1.... 2.... 13
Sheep Production Soils & Nutrient Management Planning Efficient Grassland production and utilisation is essential for a profitable sheep enterprise. Soil fertility greatly impacts on grass production. D.1. What is the optimum ph level for grassland? (Please circle) (AC 4.1) 4.5-5.0 6.0 6.5 8.0-8.5 D.2. Describe how you would increase soil ph and two benefits of doing this. (AC 4.2) Increased by:...... Benefit 1...... Benefit 2...... Sheep Production Grassland management Grazing systems E.1. Describe two advantages and two disadvantages of paddock grazing (AC 3.3) Advantages 1. 2. Disadvantages 1. 2. 14