Sheep Newsletter - February 2023

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In this month's edition:

• Grassland management
  The relatively high rainfall experienced over the last number of months has left ground conditions challenging on many farms. Application of fertiliser or slurry when conditions are not suitable is costly, can cause water pollution and will lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions.
• Planning for lambing season
  The key focus in the run-up to lambing should be having a plan in place to minimise the level of lamb mortality within your flock. Along with the obvious benefit of ending up with more lambs on the ground, less time spent caring for sick or weak lambs is a welcome labour saver, while reduced antibiotic usage is another plus.
• BETTER Farm Update - Scanning time
  Frank Campion, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway reports on scanning results on the lowland flocks and upcoming scanning on the hill farms of the BETTER sheep programme. The lowland farms in the programme completed pregnancy scanning of the mature ewes in late December/January. The hill flocks will be pregnancy scanning this month.
• Research Update - Lambing season is fast approaching
  Fiona McGovern, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway reports on scanning and the preparation for lambing on the INZAC flock at Athenry. All INZAC ewes were pregnancy scanned in early January to assist pre-lambing management decisions.
• Sheep census deadline
  The closing date for submitting your sheep census by post was January 31, 2023. Online submission is still possible up to February 14, 2023 by logging into your www.agfood.ie account and submitting your sheep number details online.
• Upcoming event
  The Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference 2023 takes place on Wednesday February 15, at 7.00pm in the Westlodge Hotel, Bantry, Co. Cork, P75 N978. Full details available through Teagasc social media channels and on our website at: www.teagasc.ie/sheepcon23