Conversion to organic sheep farming
In terms of the most suitable holding to produce organic lamb, a mixed livestock and arable farm works well, Eamonn Dempsey, Teagasc Advisor, tells us more.
The performance benefits of co-grazing of cattle and sheep are long established but where a beef enterprise runs along with a sheep enterprise there is the added benefit of diluting the worm burden for lambs and reducing the reliance on anthelmintic treatments. The breed of choice will very much depend on land type and must be suitable for finishing lambs on a mainly grass based diet.
The target should be to breed replacements from within the flock but under derogation, up to 20% ewe replacements can be bought in from non-organic sources. Rams may also be sourced from non-organic breeders. Many of the conventional production grassland management technologies apply to organic production with the obvious exception being the use of chemical fertilizer.
Soil analysis and applying lime to optimize pH is the first step. Targeted use of slurry and FYM is important to maintain P & K indices with the option to import slurry from non-organic sources. Other minerals such as ground rock phosphate and certain Sulphate of Potash (SOP) products can be used to improve soil fertility. Incorporating white and red clover into the sward will fix nitrogen naturally but it is critical to have the fencing infrastructure to allow rotational grazing and to correctly manage these swards post establishment.
For hill sheep farms, commonage can be grazed by sheep once they are not mixing with non-organic sheep. The commonage area is not however eligible for payment under the OFS. The preferred option for housing organic ewes is straw bedding – straw can come from non-organic growers. Sheep slats can only be used where an equal or greater sized area of straw bedded lie back is also available – this can mean substantial modification and cost in some cases.
Outwintering is permitted once carried out extensively at less than 1 LU per hectare whilst ensuring that no poaching takes place. In consultation with a veterinary surgeon a flock health plan is prepared as part of the organic conversion plan outlining a system that is less dependent on veterinary medicines. Routine use of antibiotics is not permitted but in clinical cases they may be prescribed by a vet.
The use of zinc sulphate and copper sulphate is permitted on organic farms for preventative foot bathing of sheep but use of formalin is prohibited. Other preventative treatments such as pour-ons for blowfly and other external parasites are allowable as are the use of dipping products except for those containing organophosphates.
Control of stomach worms in lambs can be challenging and the use of anthelmintic treatments should be based on faecal egg counts and veterinary advice. On farms with known history of liver fluke infection treatment is permitted again following veterinary consultation. As feedstuff must come from 100% organic sources, the production of high quality silage offers the opportunity to reduce the level of expensive concentrates required by ewes in late pregnancy. It is critical that all feedstuff purchased is certified for use on organic farms.
It is important to make contact with other organic producers and meat processors about potential markets. Currently in Ireland, Irish Country Meats (ICM) are the main processor of organic lamb. Even though organic lambs can be sold to the conventional market every effort should be made to develop linkages with organic lamb finishers.