It has been a very busy few weeks on the farm recently.

The unseasonal weather is making job completion hard to keep on top of. We were lucky to get the shearing done mid-July on a good sunny day. We like to leave shearing as late as possible so that at housing next December ewes have a smaller fleece on them. Ewes shored off in massive condition this year, and from speaking to the shearer and other sheep farmers this seems to be the general trend, which is a bit strange considering the cold, damp weather we have had from May right through to this month.

Lambs

All lambs are now well weaned and separated into males and females, but in one group there are males and females together.

All these male lambs were castrated at birth with the rubber rings. We have tried this on some male lambs the last two years, and it has been such a success that we plan to ring the majority of males next year once lambing goes beyond 1 March.

Ram lamb kill out percentage from the last few batches of entire rams killed was disappointing but lambs killed today that had rings attached had far better returns from the factory.

It is also a huge saving from a management point of view.

We only have a very small amount of entire rams left and they will be let grow on for a few weeks before killing. They are only on grass and won’t receive any meal.

We have purchased 150-odd store lambs so far at 31-38kg. They cost from between €58 and €84, with the majority around €72.

We would not normally buy a lot of them, but we have an abundance of grass and enough fodder in store.

And what with the price of making extra bales to sell and what they may be sold for, we felt it better to let store lambs eat the grass.

Solid performing heifers

Some solid performing heifers have also been sold.

They were bought last October right through to 1 May. Financially, we were happy with the results. Some of these heifers cost from €650 to €750 last October and came into €1,200 to €1,300. Some cost €925 in January and came into €1,500 and some cost €1,040 in April and came into €1,390.

Which left the most profit?

The ones purchased in autumn/winter got silage only, one dose post-housing and grass to killing. The ones purchased in April got grass only, no dose or anything. They ranged in age from 18 to 28 months and carcass weights of 274 to 330kg.

Some store heifers have been purchased in the west at €2.60/kg for 400kg, mainly charolais types.

Hoping for some good weather

As I write this, between watching some of the races from Ballybrit, it is still raining and unseasonally cool outside, but we are promised a few good days - so here’s hoping.