Lamhokke
By Dr Mackie Hobson BSc(Agric),BVSc

1. Reproduction

Lamhokke

There are many different models to raise kids intensively. The ‘lamhokke’ may vary from single pens with the ewe and its kid/s measuring 1.8 X 1m to small camps with multiple ewes.

Paul Broeksma an experienced Angora farmer in the Aberdeen district has developed a model that has been very successful which can form a basis for farmers wanting to use the ‘lamhok’ system for intensive kidding.

Paul’s management system involves.

A: Before ‘lamhokke’

• Scan the ewes at 90 days and mark twin ewes
• About 3-4 weeks before kidding the ewes are:
• Shorn
• Vaccinated (Multivax P)
• Treated for internal parasite
• Given a Vitamin and mineral treatment
• 2 weeks before kidding ewes are introduced/adapted to ewe pellets (increased to 300g/day)
• Before the ewes start kidding they are put into smaller camps of about 4ha per 30 ewes and continued to be fed pellets each day
• Each morning and evening the 4 ha camps are checked and ewes that have kidded and their kids (twins) are marked and loaded onto bakkie and taken to the ‘lamhokke’
• Weak kids not able to suckle are often stomach tubed and are soon strong enough to suckle.

In ‘lamhokke’ (5 days)

• When kids brought to lamhok;
• Umbilical cords are sprayed with antibacterial spray
• Ewes udders are checked
• Check kids stomach is full and has suckled
• Feed ewe pellets
• Ewe and kids are tagged
• Ewe and kids in single pen
• Ensure shade and protection from the elements (zinc sheets).
• Ensure kids anus is clean, no pugs.
• Hokke are cleaned every day
• Water bowls cleaned alternate days
• Hokke disinfected with CLC lime
• Kids/ewes not eating are marked with sign on gate and monitored closely
• Ensure shade and protection from the elements in the hokke.

After 5 days open gates of 3 ewes and their kids to mix

After hokke

1. Ewes are placed in larger groups (20 ewes and their kids) in a small camp. (About 5 days)

• They are fed twice a day
• Monitor that mother/kids healthy

2. Ewes are then moved to bigger camps (50 ewes and their kids)

• Continue to feed Ewes. After 3 weeks close so only creep feed for kids (kids learnt how to eat pellets)
• These camps are packed and electrified for Vermin
• Kids are Vaccinated with Multivax P twice (4-6 weeks apart) First vaccination can be given when kids 4-6 weeks old when mothers have been vaccinated.

The system has the advantage of increasing weaning %, identifying fertile ewes and bad mothers. It does however take supervision….especially weekends! Increased labour and chance of disease increases with any intensification.

Example of feed

 Full feed for ‘lamhokke’

Ewes can eat 2.5-3.0% of body mass in late pregnancy and 3-4% in early lactation. Feed intake can then be calculated.Start ewes  about 4 weeks before kidding starting with 200g/day and double every 3^rd day

Example: 35kg ewe requires750g- 1kg a day in late pregnancy and 1.0 – 1.2kg a day in early lactation.

If ewes fed in groups then lucern hay needs to be offered as some ewes will not eat the ration