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Demand for store lambs has started positively with plenty of interest from repeat buyers and new customers.
For purchasing, one of the most important aspects is identifying the most suitable type of lamb for your circumstances.
For example, if there are surplus grass supplies for a two-month period, then a forward store lamb that will finish within this time frame should be the focus.
Page 36 details typical weight performance on autumn grass and this should be taken into consideration.
The main costs in a budget are direct input costs, grass costs and concentrate costs.
Direct costs include the cost of buying and selling, transport and veterinary medicines.
These typically amount to €4 to €5 where lambs are purchased through a sale and sold through a mart sale/factory and treatment is administered for at least worms, blowfly strike, lameness and liver fluke.
Grass costs
Grass costs are variable. Some farmers with surplus grass do not put any charge against lambs as they see it as an aid for grassland management while others use a cost of 5c/day to 7c/kg, amounting to €5 to €7 over 100 days.
The other cost that can quickly influence potential budgets is concentrate. A daily allocation of an average of 300g over 100 days amounts to €7.50 to €8.50 at concentrate costs of €250/t to €280/t. This reinforces the importance of purchasing the type of lamb that best suits the system.
Dates for the diary:
A sheep farm walk focusing on breeding is being held on the farm of John Brooks, Taughmaconnell, Ballinasloe, Co Roscommon on Tuesday 8 August from 6pm to 8pm. The year two Knowledge Transfer (KT) event is being run by Teagasc, QualEUtex and Kepak, with KT registration from 5.45pm. The Ulster Grassland Society (UGS) is holding a sheep farm walk on the farm of John and Eoin McCambridge, 75 Cushendall Road, Ballyvoy, Antrim BT54 6QY on Thursday 10 August at 6.30pm. The 500-ewe farm also has a willow enterprise and is generating electricity from an adjacent river. To attend, contact the UGS on 07920 037 910 by 7 August.
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