Following on from the successful Smart Phone Survey, Farming Online is launching a survey of lambing rates. The survey, which aims to build up a picture of the sheep sector’s health over the busiest period of the lambing season, is quick and simple to fill in.

The results will be used to develop Smart Phone apps for livestock producers and form an overall picture of the industry, as 2012 reports estimate lambing rates will fall this year, despite reported increases in ewes being retained in Wales, suggesting farmers want to grow their flocks in response to increased profitability. 

There are concerns over the threat posed by Schmallenberg in large parts of the UK and rising input costs impacting on returns, but also steadily rising profitability in the sheep sector, from both lamb and wool. A temperature check of lambing rates could therefore provide useful information on sentiment within the sector going forward.

Farming Online would like to hear your 2012 lambing rates, compared with last year’s rates; in return we will provide you with free access to regional and national data. The survey can be filled in here.

Although all data will be collected & displayed anonymously, we are only able to accept data from validated visitors to the site. This survey is the second of a series of surveys that will be conducted with a view to developing Smartphone Apps to aid livestock farmers over the next six to nine months.

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