Fertiliser application: It is important to capitalise on the relatively good grass growth rates and ensure your farm is in the best position heading in to autumn management of grassland.
The response to chemical fertiliser applied will diminish as you progress through August so the earlier you apply in general, the better the response will be. This of course will be dependent on current grass supplies.
It is also important to take steps to ensure that nutrients removed via the harvesting of silage/hay are replenished. Teagasc analysis shows that on average a standard bale of silage weighing 800kg fresh weight or 200kg dry matter at 25% dry matter will remove in the region of 10 units of nitrogen, 1.6 units of phosphorus (P) and 10 units of potash (K).
A yield of five bales per acre will remove eight units P/acre (10kg/ha) and 50 units K/acre (62.5kg/ha).
Where slurry is available, this is the most efficient way to replenish nutrients with an application of 2,500 gallons/acre of cattle slurry providing in the region of 7.5 units P/acre and 53 units K/acre. Where slurry is not available, then it is important to ensure that you have scope to apply chemical P before purchasing/applying.
In terms of nitrogen fertiliser application to boost growth, the general recommendation for highly stocked farms is 20 to 25 units N/acre (25kg to 31.25kg/ha) and for lowly stocked farms to apply 10 to 15 units N/acre (12.5kg to 18.75kg/ha).
The target days ahead at the start of August is in the region of 15 days, building to 20 days at the end of the month. Any further ground that will be dropped out of the rotation and bales as surplus grass should be identified as soon as possible to get such areas cleaned off and back in to the grazing rotation.
Cobalt deficiency: Characteristic symptoms of an acute deficiency include lambs going dry in the wool or starting to pine away despite being on a good plane of nutrition. Lambs generally have a requirement for about 1mg of cobalt daily and as sheep do not have the ability to store cobalt they must acquire it on a regular basis via their diet or supplementation.
If administering an oral drench then the best balance between labour input and preventing issues is to administer every two to three weeks. Treatment will typically cover two weeks but there will not usually be a major fall off in performance if the repeat treatment extends to three weeks. Where administering a bolus follow manufactures guidelines on correct administration carefully.
Startect availability: The sheep wormer Startect was reintroduced to the market in Northern Ireland in 2024 and is an option for farmers in dealing with anthelmintic resistance. While the product is not available in Ireland it is licensed for use and can be purchased by your vet from a supplier based in Northern Ireland.
Zolvix is the other option available to farmers with known resistance issues or for quarantine treatments for purchased sheep. This is also only available through your vet.
A Parasite Control Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health is available to farmers and is operated by Animal Health Ireland. This provides a free consultation with your vet and is a good option in implementing optimum worm control programmes. Talk to your vet or register via the AHI website at https://animalhealthireland.ie/.
Fertiliser application: It is important to capitalise on the relatively good grass growth rates and ensure your farm is in the best position heading in to autumn management of grassland.
The response to chemical fertiliser applied will diminish as you progress through August so the earlier you apply in general, the better the response will be. This of course will be dependent on current grass supplies.
It is also important to take steps to ensure that nutrients removed via the harvesting of silage/hay are replenished. Teagasc analysis shows that on average a standard bale of silage weighing 800kg fresh weight or 200kg dry matter at 25% dry matter will remove in the region of 10 units of nitrogen, 1.6 units of phosphorus (P) and 10 units of potash (K).
A yield of five bales per acre will remove eight units P/acre (10kg/ha) and 50 units K/acre (62.5kg/ha).
Where slurry is available, this is the most efficient way to replenish nutrients with an application of 2,500 gallons/acre of cattle slurry providing in the region of 7.5 units P/acre and 53 units K/acre. Where slurry is not available, then it is important to ensure that you have scope to apply chemical P before purchasing/applying.
In terms of nitrogen fertiliser application to boost growth, the general recommendation for highly stocked farms is 20 to 25 units N/acre (25kg to 31.25kg/ha) and for lowly stocked farms to apply 10 to 15 units N/acre (12.5kg to 18.75kg/ha).
The target days ahead at the start of August is in the region of 15 days, building to 20 days at the end of the month. Any further ground that will be dropped out of the rotation and bales as surplus grass should be identified as soon as possible to get such areas cleaned off and back in to the grazing rotation.
Cobalt deficiency: Characteristic symptoms of an acute deficiency include lambs going dry in the wool or starting to pine away despite being on a good plane of nutrition. Lambs generally have a requirement for about 1mg of cobalt daily and as sheep do not have the ability to store cobalt they must acquire it on a regular basis via their diet or supplementation.
If administering an oral drench then the best balance between labour input and preventing issues is to administer every two to three weeks. Treatment will typically cover two weeks but there will not usually be a major fall off in performance if the repeat treatment extends to three weeks. Where administering a bolus follow manufactures guidelines on correct administration carefully.
Startect availability: The sheep wormer Startect was reintroduced to the market in Northern Ireland in 2024 and is an option for farmers in dealing with anthelmintic resistance. While the product is not available in Ireland it is licensed for use and can be purchased by your vet from a supplier based in Northern Ireland.
Zolvix is the other option available to farmers with known resistance issues or for quarantine treatments for purchased sheep. This is also only available through your vet.
A Parasite Control Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health is available to farmers and is operated by Animal Health Ireland. This provides a free consultation with your vet and is a good option in implementing optimum worm control programmes. Talk to your vet or register via the AHI website at https://animalhealthireland.ie/.
SHARING OPTIONS