Better Farm Update: Weaning complete on lowland flocks

Dr. Frank Campion, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, outlines the post-weaning grazing plan on the BETTER farms.

On the lowland BETTER sheep farms, weaning has just taken place and the grazing plan for the next couple of months is taking shape. Lambs will graze swards to 5.5-6cm, with ewes, once dried off, following behind to clean out paddocks to 3.5-4cm.

A lot of the farmers cut silage in late May / early June so have good quality after grass available for the lambs at weaning time. Depending on flock performance and grass demand later in the year, some of the farms are setting up a ‘finishing group’ from weaning time onwards. Lambs >38kg that are not being retained as replacements will be offered ~500g/day of concentrates until finished/sold. The lighter lambs will remain on grass only and as lambs hit approximately 38kg weight, they will be drafted into the finishing group.

The lowland flocks are also starting to faecal sample lambs and are dosing for stomach worms to monitor egg counts. Lambs will be dosed once faecal egg counts reach 500 eggs per gram or higher. Grass growth rates have been good for most of the flocks in recent weeks and weaning will drop grass demand, so careful management will be required to maintain grass quality for lambs.

The above article first appeared in the Teagasc Sheep Advisory newsletter (PDF) for July.

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