Sheep Newsletter - November 2024

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In this month's edition:

• We need your views on labour
  There are many aspects of sheep farming that require hard graft, but equally there are opportunities to significantly reduce the labour involved in managing a sheep flock. With more and more sheep farms being managed on a part-time basis, labour efficiency is more than ever a critical element of future-proofing our sheep industry. Teagasc is conducting a major study around labour on sheep farms, and reaching out to sheep farmers for assistance. The study aims to identify the major labour issues sheep farmers encounter, as well as highlight the areas where labour-saving improvements can be made. Take the survey here
  
• Grassland management
  The aim for November is to continue to clean off pastures to a cover of 3.5-4.0cm. If you are dealing with heavy covers, allocating three- to four-day blocks using temporary fencing is good practice. It may also be an option to merge mating groups after the first cycle, aiming to get paddocks grazed out quicker while limiting any negative impact on ewe reproductive performance.
• Monitor breeding progress
  Last month’s publication advised on raddling the ram. It is important to follow this task through to the end of the breeding season. After the first cycle, watch closely for over marking of the initial raddle mark – 15% or more of repeats are indicative of ram infertility/sub-fertility issues.
• Liver fluke
  The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issues an annual liver fluke forecast, usually in late November, based on weather records for the year, as well as information coming from slaughter plants. If unsure on appropriate fluke treatment, seek veterinary advice to devise a farm-specific control programme.
• BETTER Farm Update - Weight and BCS at mating
  Frank Campion of Teagasc’s Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (AGRIC) looks at ewe liveweights and body condition score (BCS) at mating across the lowland BETTER sheep farms. The results are mixed, with some of the flocks on target (average 3.5, under 10% <BCS 3.0), while others are below these targets. It will be important that care is taken with the thinner ewes in flocks up to and after lambing.
• Research Update - Mating and closing
  Philip Creighton of AGRIC, Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway reports on mating, forage crops and closing on the Sheep Research Demonstration Farm. Rams were turned out to ewes on October 11. Ewe BCS going to the ram averaged 3.4, which is up nearly 0.25 of a condition score on last year. Up to mid October, approximately 76% of lambs from the grass-only, 80% of lambs from the grass plus white clover, and 87% of lambs from grass plus white clover plus plantain treatments had been drafted. This includes lambs finished from their main forage treatments plus some lambs which were removed and finished on the hybrid brassica forage crop since mid September.
• Health & Safety - Be winter ready
  It is very important to think about how severe weather might impact your work and take action to mitigate this. The Irish Government’s Be Winter Ready campaign focuses on helpful ways to minimise disruption to farming activities during severe weather events.