Sheep

The college currently has a flock of 68 ewes. The flock begin lambing from February until mid April. This year 64 ewes had 98 live lambs - 1.5 lambs/ewe. All lambs are drafted at slaughter weights from mid-June until September. Shearing takes place in late May/ early June every year.

Breeding

We purchase replacement mules hoggets each Autumn. These ewes have an excellent lambing rate and mothering abilty. The flock is assembled for breeding in early September with the flock being sponged for managment reasons in mid-September. A team of rams are hired in for the synchronised breeding window in late September. Two college rams are used to mate the repeats and hoggets during October.

Grazing

The flock are mixed-grazed with the beef herd on 29 hectares of land at a stocking rate of 2.75 LU/ha.

The Sheep Enterprise

  Quadruplet lambs born Spring 2021

Grazing

The flock are mixed-grazed with the beef herd on 24 hectares of land at a stocking rate of 2.75 LU/ha.  The farm is walked over 30 times during the grazing season with budgeting decisions based on PastureBase data.

System

The College's 2020 flock consists of 54 lowland ewes.  The flock began lambing on February 16th.  The 54 ewes had 100 live lambs - 1.85 lambs/ewe.  All lambs are drafted at slaughter weights from late-June until September.  Shearing takes place in late May.

Breeding

We purchase replacement mule hogest each autumn.  These ewes have an excellent lambing rate and mothering ability.  The flock are assembled for breeding in early September with the flock being sponged for management reasons in mid-September.  A team of rams are hired in for the synchronised breeding window around 27th Sepgember.  Two College rams are used to mate the repeats adn hoggest during October.

Finishing digures (2019)

Average days on farm                       150 days

Carcase weight (kgs)                         19

Carcase Grade                                  R-4-

€/kg                                                 4.75