Sheep Newsletter - April 2021

View newsletter here: Sheep Newsletter - April 2021 (PDF)

In this month's edition:

• Grassland management
  Where fertiliser has been applied in late February/early March, grass will hopefully be growing. Farmers who have not yet applied fertiliser, in particular on heavy ground, should do so at the first opportunity. View some guidelines to help maximise grass supply and consequently animal performance.
• Grass tetany
  When it comes to grass tetany, prevention is much better than cure, as very often affected ewes die very quickly. Key points when it comes to controlling grass tetany are outlined.
• Silage 2021
  Aim to cut concentrate costs and improve animal performance by making really good quality and highly digestible silage for your sheep this year.
• Lambing review
  “What’s measured is managed.”
  Measure the lambing/health performance of your flock by carrying out a lambing review when lambing is finished and the information is fresh in your mind.
• BETTER Farm Update - Lambing underway
  Frank Campion, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway reports on lambing and performance recording on the BETTER sheep farms.
• Parasites
  In April we usually see the emergence of the first two parasites on sheep farms. These coincide with the time that young lambs usually start to eat grass (five to six weeks of age). These parasites are nematodirus and coccidiosis.
• Research Update - Lambing 2021
  Edel O'Connor, PhD student, AGRIC, Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway reports on the latest from the INZAC and breeding flocks at Teagasc Athenry.
• Early-lambing flocks
  At the time of writing (mid March) we are experiencing historically high lamb prices. For early-lambing flocks, it is important to draft lambs regularly as they come fit.