Scanning operators are reporting very good results for mid-season lambing flocks, but the peak of the scanning season is yet to kick in as many scanners report farmers pushing back lambing by a week or two.

The poor weather in recent springs has led to a lack of grass, hampering the ability of farmers to get stock out. This has led to increased meal feeding, subsequently increasing costs. This increase has pushed farmers towards a later lambing season in a bid to coincide lambing with grass growth.

Many scanning operators are reporting an increase in scanning rates in flocks. If the weather is favourable, then it could be a positive start to 2017 for mid-season lamb producers.

The scanning season has really kicked off for Charles O’Shea, scanning in Cork and Kerry, in the last week with mid-season flocks averaging 1.5 to 1.8 lambs/ewe. He has seen this go up to 2.1 in high-producing flocks. He said the high scanning rates are in part due to the excellent start ewes got in October with the good weather and he reports ewes in good body condition at scanning. He expects lambing to be approximately two weeks later this year, with poor spring weather over the past few years to blame. The bulk of the lambs are expected towards the end of March.

Similarly, Patrick McManus, who scans throughout Fermanagh, Cavan, Leitrim and parts of Sligo, has seen an increase in scanning rates this year. He reported good lowland flocks readily achieving scanning rates of 1.8 to 2 lambs/ewe with ewes in good condition.

Mountain flocks

Mountain flocks will generally have a lower scanning rate than their lowland counterparts, with Patrick having only recently scanned a mountain flock at 1.2 lambs/ewe.

Scanning results in Galway are very good with an average of 1.8 lambs/ewe, and as high as 2.1 lambs/ewe, according to Craig Finnerty, a scanning operator in the area. He notes that farmers are very pleased with the results this year and, coupled with news of the animal welfare scheme for sheep, will be a help to keep farmers in the sheep industry.