Sheep Newsletter - June 2025

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In this month's edition:

• Grassland management
  Grass covers grew rapidly during May. On many farms, we have seen grass covers rising fast and in many situations the days ahead, which is a simple measure of how many days of grass is on the farm (if grass stopped growing), have risen well above the target of 12-14 days. If grass on the farm is getting ahead of stock, it is important to react swiftly and remove surpluses as they arise.
• Silage harvesting
  Good silage from a sheep perspective is leafy grass that is well preserved. To achieve this the following steps should be taken:
  • harvest grass at a leafy stage before it starts heading out;
  • avoid soil contamination by raising the mower blades if ground is uneven or wet;
  • wilt the grass by tedding – ensure tedder tines are set so they do not dig into the soil and contaminate the silage;
  • for baled silage, take care during transport to prevent damage to the wrap and patch any holes/tears as soon as possible; and,
  • store bales in a location away from livestock and protect from vermin.
• Preparing for weaning
  The optimum time for lambs to suckle ewes is approximately 100 days or 14 weeks. Leaving lambs suckling for longer is counterproductive, as the ewes will compete with the lambs for grass, while not adding much to the diet of the lamb in terms of milk.
• Shearing
  Where shearing is yet to happen, consider the following steps to make life easier and improve the quality of the fleece harvest:
  1. Sheep must be dry for shearing.
  2. Fast beforehand and separate lambs from ewes before shearing.
  3. Remove dags.
  4. Ensure there is no straw or shavings in the holding pen, as this can stick to the fleece and more than halve returns.
  5. Keep coloured fleeces separate when packing.
• Stomach worm control
  In June, we start to see a notable increase in midseason round worms. These are the parasites that significantly reduce animal performance and it is with these parasites that we see the big issues with anthelmintic resistance.
• BETTER Farm Update - Growth and mortality improve
  Frank Campion, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway looks at lamb and grass growth on the BETTER sheep farms. The first look at lamb performance this year is currently underway, with the seven-week weights being collected from the lowland flocks. Lamb growth rates and lamb mortality rates are better than this time last year at first look, but a detailed analysis will take place.
• Research Update - Sunshine during a busy May
  Anne Biggins, PhD student, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway tells us about the latest from the INZAC and breeding flocks. Since my last update in April, grass growth has increased, with an average growth rate of 80kg DM/ha throughout May. As a result, we cut 17% of each farmlet as baled silage in early May. All lambs received a dose at six weeks for nematodirus.
• Date for your diary – Sheep 2025
  Sheep 2025 takes place at Teagasc, Athenry on Saturday, June 21. Gates open at 10.00am. This will be the largest dedicated sheep industry event on the island of Ireland in 2025. It is a great day out for anyone with an interest in the Irish sheep industry. The event is free to attend and there is no requirement to book. 
  
• Health & Safety - Expanded wear and tear scheme
  The expanded Acceleration of Wear and Tear Allowances for Farm Safety Equipment Scheme was launched recently. Farmers can avail of capital allowances of 50% per annum to be claimed over an accelerated two-year period for listed investments.