All roads lead to Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, this week and, as I sit down to write this piece, I am planning my annual pilgrimage to the National Ploughing Championships.

I rarely manage to see any actual ploughing when I get there. The event is now so much more than the name suggests, with something of interest for all walks of life.

I have often wondered if a purpose-built facility was put in place would it still thrive as it is or is the idea of a site that moves around the country seen as a test of our very Irish ability to travel and explore.

When we inevitability bump into neighbours among the throngs present, we always compare travel notes. Needless to say, I have my travel route planned and I’m sticking to it.

Getting the harvest finished is proving difficult for many farmers across the country this year and my small operation is no different.

As yet, we haven’t got a window to get in to cut my spring oats which was supposed to be destined for seed. The field is a depressing sight, given how well it had done all year. I really do feel for the guys who are trying to make a living from tillage with all the challenges they must face, especially with the unpredictability of weather.

Back on the sheep end of things, lambs continue to be drafted as they come fit for slaughter. At present, I have about 65% of the lambs sold.

Grass this time of year doesn’t have the same energy levels as it does during the summer so, for those lambs remaining, I have introduced a small amount of rolled barley (300g/hd/day). This is to keep them thriving as from now on I will also be starting to prioritise the grass for the ewes as they head into the mating season.

This year I have invested in a couple of NoMate harnesses for the rams. These will let me use entire rams for the ram effect. They are basically condoms for rams, preventing them impregnating the ewes while out teasing them. Once the ram is introduced to the ewes, some ewes will show heat almost immediately.

Heat

This will be a silent heat, which means that the ewe, although in heat, will not show outward signs of it. The remainder of the ewes will come into heat six days later. This will also be a silent heat. By this stage, the ewes’ reproductive system will have been kickstarted and the target date for joining the rams will be 14 days after the initial ram introduction. About 30% to 40% of the ewes should be cycling at day 17 and the remainder should be cycling six days later.

Another job for the coming week is to administer the second shot of clostridial vaccine to the ewe lambs.

So between the networking, catch-ups and perhaps a small bit of ploughing, there is plenty here on the farm to keep me busy.