Sheep Farming Management Notes

Blowfly risk: There have been some isolated cases of blowfly reported in the last week, following the damp muggy conditions. The risk is likely to intensify in the coming weeks. Planned control programmes and product choice should take into account the length of protection required, likely slaughter dates, withdrawal periods and associated risk factors requiring treatment, such as ticks.

Monitoring animals closely until preventative measures are put in place will also deliver the advantage of identifying ewes going on their backs.

A breakdown of available products, and their main characteristics, will be covered in next week’s Focus supplement: Golden Shears and Sheep Handling.

Scald in lambs: The changeable weather has also increased reports of lambs suffering from scald-related lameness. Performance in young lambs (aged five to 10 weeks) can suffer rapidly, especially where there are twin lambs suckling and lambs are not actively following their ewe. Running lambs through a footbath solution when weighing or handling will help keep on top of any issues developing. Zinc sulphate, copper sulphate and formalin are the most commonly used footbath solutions. Consider delaying using formalin where very young lambs will be passing through the footbath. Follow manufacturer’s guidelines closely when using these products. Isolated cases can also be treated with a foot spray.

Ewes scouring: Farmers are reporting ewes scouring in the last week. This is most likely due to recent rainfall and a lower dry matter in grass rather than a worm infestation. Veterinary advice recommends against routine worm dosing of mature ewes. Where in doubt, faecal samples can be taken and quickly analysed. This will clarify if ewes are suffering from a high worm burden.

Reseeding grassland: The nature of grass demand on sheep farms means most reseeding is carried out in autumn. However, the strong grass growth in recent weeks has presented a window for some farmers to reseed. Reseeding ground that is earmarked for silage should be avoided, with a decision required to delay reseeding and incorporate into silage cutting or alternate silage ground. Where possible, silage should not be harvested on reseeded ground for a period of 12 months as immediate cutting will reduce grass tillering and negatively impact on clover establishment. Recommended management is to graze lightly with sheep or weanlings.

No matter what reseeding method is used, the advice is to burn off the old sward with glyphosate, 10 days to two weeks before reseeding. Reseeded swards will also not perform to their full potential where soil fertility is inadequate. Getting soil analysed should be part and parcel of the reseeding process, with the cost of analysis low in the overall aspect of total reseeding costs. Where ploughing, it may be worth waiting until the soil is turned to get a more accurate indication of soil fertility. As a general guide, applying 2t of lime per acre will deliver a good response in lifting soil fertility and neutralising the negative acidic effects of decaying organic matter.