Taking note of lambing records while the iron is hot

At this stage of the year, lambing is coming to an end in later-lambing flocks, those lambing yearling hoggets and hill flocks.

For early lambing flocks, the attention is turning to drafting lambs and for mid-season lambing flocks the attention is most likely focused on drenching lambs where nematodirus is a concern.

Review lambing season

It is worth taking some time to review how the lambing season went and identify if there are aspects that you would like to change or that worked well and can be improved upon for next year.

The mild winter should have served to reaffirm the importance of closing up paddocks in autumn, with those that closed on time well set with a good supply of grass and reduced labour this spring.

Other aspects worth reviewing include if the feeding programme delivered

This winter was as kind as could be asked for, so if this was not the case, then you need to ask yourself if the timing of closing paddocks was wrong or if the lambing date is in the optimum position to have a sufficient supply of grass to sustain ewes and lambs in early lactation.

Health programme

Other aspects worth reviewing include if the feeding programme delivered in having ewes lambing down with a good supply of colostrum and giving birth to optimum-sized lambs.

The health programme implemented will continue to come under greater scrutiny in the context of reducing antibiotic usage – is there any changes that need to be implemented ahead of next season’s lambing?

One area some flocks will be reviewing is preventative control for abortion-causing agents.

The spread of enzootic abortion appears to be ongoing, while last summer’s weather led to ideal hay making conditions, which some flocks think could have triggered a rise in toxoplasmosis with greater volumes of hay fed.

Another query is whether there are ewes that received a temporary identification to denote plans to cull that need to be permanently marked now.

Facilities

Another big area that many flocks are looking at is housing and straw usage.

Straw supplies ended up not being an issue, but the increased cost of straw is leaving some farmers considering their options.

Some that are not highly stocked have seen the benefit of good grass supplies later into the winter and are already planning to target a system of extended grazing.

For others who normally have a long winter, there is a realisation that while straw prices may ease on the back of a carryover in supply, they are likely to stay at a higher level.

Some are looking at the option of carrying out some alterations to housing

As such, some are looking at the option of carrying out some alterations to housing and, in cases, installing slatted areas to cut down on bedding.

This is a task that should not be put on the long finger and a good option is to visit systems of interest to get a first-hand experience of how it is working for others.

For others who took advantage of relatively good weather and grass supplies and lambed outdoors this is something that may work better with some refinement and mobile handling equipment to better deal with issues.

Reviewing SWS ewe numbers

For farms participating in the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS), it is also timely to take stock of sheep numbers to ensure that you are compliant with the reference number set at the outset of the programme.

Remember, 2018-born hoggets can be used in the calculations and do not need to have lambed in 2019 to be included.

Where numbers are falling below the reference number or are likely to do so with the sale of cull ewes, for example, then there are two options – purchase replacements in advance of a reduction in numbers or notify the Department of the shortfall in numbers.

The latter will lead to the payment being based on the lower number.

Farmers wishing to notify the Department of ewe numbers falling below their reference number can do so by sending a note outlining the change in numbers to the Sheep Welfare Scheme Section, DAFM, Government Offices, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co Laois, or by emailing sheepscheme@agriculture.gov.ie.

Payment will then be made on the lesser number recorded.

The reduction in numbers for this year will not affect subsequent years, with the facility to increase ewe numbers and raise payment rates to the farm’s reference number.

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