Sheep Newsletter - June 2021

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In this month's edition:

• Managing grassland
  Grass intake in March-born lambs will be approaching 1-1.2kg dry matter (DM) per day by June and they will be actively competing with the ewe flock for high-quality forage. Aim for a short residency period in each paddock during June – three to four days maximum to avoid grazing poorer-quality lower covers for long periods.
• RESEARCH UPDATE - Increasing grass growth after a slow start 
  Edel O’Connor, PhD student, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway reports on the INZAC and breeding flocks. After a challenging spring, good weather conditions in recent weeks have allowed for increased grass growth levels and optimum conditions for silage harvesting.
• UPCOMING EVENT - Let’s Talk Sheep webinar
  Join us at 8.00pm on June 3 for part of the Let's Talk Sheep webinar series, as we sit down with BETTER sheep farmer Shane Moore in an hour-long interactive webinar to discuss infrastructure required for flock expansion on your sheep farm. Register at www.teagasc.ie/shanemoore
• BETTER FARM UPDATE - Grass growth rates
  Frank Campion, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway reports on conditions at the BETTER sheep farms. Grass growth for the BETTER sheep farms has been variable during the month of May, with supplies behind where they were last year when a number of the farms had silage made in early May.
• Precision livestock farming for sheep – have your say
  Tim Keady of the Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway outlines how the Sm@rt project is aiming to address the challenges to increasing EU flock profitability. The survey is available at the following link and will be open to responses for one month https://bit.ly/3sI0Eni
• Blowfly
  Blowfly strike affects the vast majority of flocks each season and needs to be addressed by implementing protective measures in time, before strike occurs. Early application of the chosen product will also help reduce the fly population on your farm.