1. Science support for practical innovations
WP2: Cathy Dwyer, Antonello Carta, Fabien Corbière
SRUC, AGRIS, INRA

2. Gestational Efficiency
Reproductive Efficiency
Improving lamb survival

3. Knowledge Reservoir – our role
Provide the latest scientific knowledge to address our key themes
Produce background factsheets
Generate new ideas about practical strategies to improve productivity
Produce technical factsheets
Respond to ideas generated in workshops
Identify research gaps

4. Reproductive Efficiency AGRIS, Italy
Management factors affecting ewe and ram fertility
Risk factors for poor fertility:
Timing and management of mating/AI
Poor health of ewe or ram
Inadequate nutrition
Physical or psychological stress at mating
Presence of sufficient males for the number of ewes
Risk factors for poor prolificacy
Nutrition
Age and maturity

5. Reproductive Efficiency AGRIS, Italy
Management factors affecting ewe and ram fertility
Risk factors for poor fertility:
Timing and management of mating/AI
Poor health of ewe or ram
Inadequate nutrition
Physical or psychological stress at mating
Presence of sufficient males for the number of ewes
Risk factors for poor prolificacy
Nutrition
Age and maturity
Key areas identified in Needs survey (National Workshops):
Nutrition/Grassland management
Body Condition Score
Flock Health Status
Ram Management
Ewe:Ram ratio
Ewe lamb Management

6. Gestational Efficiency INRA, France
Risk factors for early embryo mortality
Genetic factors (e.g. abnormalities)
High ambient temperature
Stress and management
Nutrition
Risk factors for poor development, abortion and stillbirth
Infectious agents (biosecurity)
Nutritional management
Stress and handling
Coming Soon!

7. Gestational Efficiency INRA, France
Risk factors for early embryo mortality
Genetic factors (e.g. abnormalities)
High ambient temperature
Stress and management
Nutrition
Risk factors for poor development, abortion and stillbirth
Infectious agents (biosecurity)
Nutritional management
Stress and handling
Key factors from Needs Survey:
Nutrition
Abortion control and prevention
Pregnancy diagnosis
Animal Handling

8. Improving lamb survival SRUC, Scotland
Causes of lamb mortality have been identified
Risk factors for lamb mortality
Ewe nutrition, especially in late gestation
Litter size
Ewe inexperience
Ewe and lamb breed
Stress
Lambing environment
Practical measures to reduce the risks

9. Improving lamb survival SRUC, Scotland
Causes of lamb mortality have been identified
Risk factors for lamb mortality
Ewe nutrition, especially in late gestation
Litter size
Ewe inexperience
Ewe and lamb breed
Stress
Lambing environment
Practical measures to reduce the risks
Key issues from Needs Surveys (National Workshops)
Lamb vigour at birth
Colostrum issues
Lamb birth weight
Ewe lamb bond
Litter size
Lamb health

10. Improving lamb survival SRUC, Scotland
Causes of lamb mortality have been identified
Risk factors for lamb mortality
Ewe nutrition, especially in late gestation
Litter size
Ewe inexperience
Ewe and lamb breed
Stress
Lambing environment
Practical measures to reduce the risks
Key issues from Needs Surveys (National Workshops)
Lamb vigour at birth
Colostrum issues
Lamb birth weight
Ewe lamb bond
Litter size
Lamb health

11. Technical factsheets All partners
Minimum of 21 factsheets will be produced as part of the project
These will provide scientific guidance on practical solutions
Top down – solutions that are already out there
Bottom up - responding to solutions from practice
Some possible examples:
Ultrasonography and management
What you should vaccinate against and when
Lambing management
Other communication methods (e.g. YouTube)?