Where grass supplies were tight in recent weeks and swards were grazed relatively bare (3.5cm to 4cm), quality remains very good. The greatest risk in hitting lamb performance is where swards were not grazed out tight and there is an increasing volume of poor-quality material at the base of the sward. Where this is the case, post-grazing heights should be increased to 4.5cm to 5cm in a rotational grazing system and possibly to 5.5-6cm in a set stocking system.

Quality can be improved by using dry hoggets to graze out paddocks or if there is no lower priority stock on the farm it can be controlled by topping. If swards are being topped there is little point in topping at 4.5cm to 5cm, this will only serve to waste money. Instead, the height should be reduced to 3.5cm to 4cm to promote better-quality regrowth.

Increasing group size and grazing out areas quicker will also allow swards to be grazed that little bit tighter, as animals can be forced to graze down tighter for a half a day and compensate when turned into fresh swards. Where facilities allow, forward creep grazing lambs will also deliver a boost in lamb performance.

Critical week for grass management on sheep farms

Watch: transformed grass-based system in Co Westmeath

Feeding the soil for maximum sheep performance

Sheep management: welfare scheme

Sheep management: clean livestock policy

Sheep management: grazing heights

The lift in grass growth rates is presenting more challenges in controlling grass quality.