Sheep Newsletter - March 2025

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In this month's edition:

• Grassland management 
  March grass is the best possible feed for ewes after lambing. Target pre-grazing grass height should be 7-8cm. On many farms this is not possible because ground was not closed up in time and rested over the winter period. Once grass height remains above 4cm, the ewes should be able to consume enough to meet their daily needs. 
• Fertiliser 
  Fertiliser nitrogen (N) takes time to work. There will be a time lag of four to six weeks between spreading and additional grass growing from that application. Chemical N in the form of protected urea should be applied regularly throughout the spring period to keep grass growing during March and April.  
• Grass tetany
  Grass tetany is a condition that affects lactating ewes. It is caused by a lack of magnesium (Mg) in the diet or an inability to absorb sufficient Mg due to low grass dry matter. Prevention is better than cure.
• Lambing 
  Every lamb saved is an extra lamb that is available for sale. Infections and starvation/ exposure are the biggest factors causing lamb mortality on Irish sheep farms. 
• Research update -  Lambing due in early March
  Philip Creighton of AGRIC, Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway looks at the scanning results and nutrition as lambing approaches on the Sheep Research Demonstration Farm. Ewes were scanned in early January. Preliminary analysis shows an overall scan rate of 2.01 lambs per ewe put to the ram. Barren rate was 2% after a five-week mating period. The breakdown of singles, twins and triplets across the flock is 22%, 55% and 23%, respectively. Lambing is due to commence on March 7.
• BETTER Farm Update - Scanning and fertiliser
  Frank Campion of Teagasc AGRIC, Athenry, Co. Galway reports on fertiliser plans on the lowland farms and scanning of the hill flocks. On the lowland flocks presently, grass supplies look on track. The plan is for the
  first round of fertiliser on most of the farms to go out once weather and ground conditions allow, with the intention to apply 15kg and 25kg N/ha in the form of protected urea. The Teagasc BETTER hill sheep farms pregnancy scanned their ewes during February.
• Health & Safety - Safety at calving and lambing 
  Almost one third (32%) of farm fatalities involving livestock are from cows with calves, and over 50% of nonfatal farm injuries are associated with livestock handling. Good facilities and good underfoot nonslip conditions are all essential requirements.