Speaking at Monday night’s information meeting on the new Sheep Welfare Scheme at the Breaffy House Hotel in Castlebar, Co Mayo, Teagasc sheep specialist Frank Hynes advised farmers to look carefully at the measures and select the ones that will deliver the greatest benefits.
“Selecting measures should not be a box-ticking exercise. The measures are designed to improve animal welfare and reduce mortality but they will also indirectly improve productivity of the enterprise. Look at the ones that are most practical for your farm and in particular the ones that have the potential to put money in your pocket over and above the €10/ewe that you will receive”.
Frank gave a brief rundown on the measures, highlighting some key points farmers should bear in mind in their decisions.
Mineral supplementation of ewes post-mating: Frank said mineral deficiency and in particular cobalt deficiency is an issue in the western half of the country and in many other marginal land areas. He advised farmers to explore if mineral supplementation would bring about improvements on their farms. “If minerals are not an issue, look at another option. Minerals are a big business but don’t let a sales representative convince you that minerals are a problem on your farm,” Frank said.Meal feeding hill lamb post-weaning: The level of meal required is quite small and Frank says this measure has big potential in improving the attractiveness of store lambs if that is the system of trading operated on the farm. He advised farmers to consider how the four-week meal feeding period may affect forage supplies and make a decision that complements their current system.Faecal egg count: This measure was highlighted as being similar to that many farmers may have already experienced in the Sheep Technology Adoption Programme (STAP). As well as saving farmers money, it is also vital in reducing the rate of anthelmintic resistance. “It is actually much simpler to carry out than the FEC in STAP. We learned from these that a lot of money was being wasted by farmers dosing when they didn’t need to and, likewise, productivity was lost by lambs needing a dose and not getting it. It is not enough to dose on lambs being dirty or clean as this is totally inaccurate.”Scanning: “This is only useful if use is subsequently made of information. It has a questionable benefit in low litter size flocks (less than 1.2 lambs per ewe) unless use is being made in culling decisions. That said, where use is made of the information it has huge potential to reduce lambing-related issues.”Flystrike: ‘‘You can see straight away why this is included in the scheme, it is very practical,” Frank said.Minerals pre-weaning: “The level of benefit is representative of the level of deficiency on the farm. Like the measure with ewes, look and see if it will benefit your farm.”Frank concluded by advising farmers to take a close look at the biggest measures for their flock. He said that paperwork for the scheme is simple and straightforward and that this shouldn’t be a reason to put farmers off joining. “If farmers need help, contact your adviser who will be glad to help you out,” he said.
Only select two measures
The Department of Agriculture’s Geraldine Howard told farmers to only select one measure from Category A and one measure from Category B. “We have received applications where farmers have ticked up to five measures. These applications will need to be returned to farmers to get measures selected reduced down to two. You can do all the tasks but the Department needs to know the two tasks that will ensure you get paid €10/ewe,” she said.
DAFM meetings continue at the venues listed below:
23 January: Lawless Hotel, Aughrim24 January: Ballymacscanlon Hotel, Dundalk25 January: Newbitts Hotel, Ardara, DonegalThe IFA is also holding sheep information meetings next week. The sheep scheme will be the priority focus, with speakers from DAFM, but there will also be an update on market prospects and advice on utilising the latest sheep technologies.
The first is at the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co Offaly, on Monday 23 January, following by another at the Millrace Hotel, Bunclody, Co Wexford, on Tuesday 24 January at 8pm. The last is on Thursday 26 January at 8pm in the Ard Rí Hotel, Tuam, Co Galway.
Speaking at Monday night’s information meeting on the new Sheep Welfare Scheme at the Breaffy House Hotel in Castlebar, Co Mayo, Teagasc sheep specialist Frank Hynes advised farmers to look carefully at the measures and select the ones that will deliver the greatest benefits.
“Selecting measures should not be a box-ticking exercise. The measures are designed to improve animal welfare and reduce mortality but they will also indirectly improve productivity of the enterprise. Look at the ones that are most practical for your farm and in particular the ones that have the potential to put money in your pocket over and above the €10/ewe that you will receive”.
Frank gave a brief rundown on the measures, highlighting some key points farmers should bear in mind in their decisions.
Mineral supplementation of ewes post-mating: Frank said mineral deficiency and in particular cobalt deficiency is an issue in the western half of the country and in many other marginal land areas. He advised farmers to explore if mineral supplementation would bring about improvements on their farms. “If minerals are not an issue, look at another option. Minerals are a big business but don’t let a sales representative convince you that minerals are a problem on your farm,” Frank said.Meal feeding hill lamb post-weaning: The level of meal required is quite small and Frank says this measure has big potential in improving the attractiveness of store lambs if that is the system of trading operated on the farm. He advised farmers to consider how the four-week meal feeding period may affect forage supplies and make a decision that complements their current system.Faecal egg count: This measure was highlighted as being similar to that many farmers may have already experienced in the Sheep Technology Adoption Programme (STAP). As well as saving farmers money, it is also vital in reducing the rate of anthelmintic resistance. “It is actually much simpler to carry out than the FEC in STAP. We learned from these that a lot of money was being wasted by farmers dosing when they didn’t need to and, likewise, productivity was lost by lambs needing a dose and not getting it. It is not enough to dose on lambs being dirty or clean as this is totally inaccurate.”Scanning: “This is only useful if use is subsequently made of information. It has a questionable benefit in low litter size flocks (less than 1.2 lambs per ewe) unless use is being made in culling decisions. That said, where use is made of the information it has huge potential to reduce lambing-related issues.”Flystrike: ‘‘You can see straight away why this is included in the scheme, it is very practical,” Frank said.Minerals pre-weaning: “The level of benefit is representative of the level of deficiency on the farm. Like the measure with ewes, look and see if it will benefit your farm.”Frank concluded by advising farmers to take a close look at the biggest measures for their flock. He said that paperwork for the scheme is simple and straightforward and that this shouldn’t be a reason to put farmers off joining. “If farmers need help, contact your adviser who will be glad to help you out,” he said.
Only select two measures
The Department of Agriculture’s Geraldine Howard told farmers to only select one measure from Category A and one measure from Category B. “We have received applications where farmers have ticked up to five measures. These applications will need to be returned to farmers to get measures selected reduced down to two. You can do all the tasks but the Department needs to know the two tasks that will ensure you get paid €10/ewe,” she said.
DAFM meetings continue at the venues listed below:
23 January: Lawless Hotel, Aughrim24 January: Ballymacscanlon Hotel, Dundalk25 January: Newbitts Hotel, Ardara, DonegalThe IFA is also holding sheep information meetings next week. The sheep scheme will be the priority focus, with speakers from DAFM, but there will also be an update on market prospects and advice on utilising the latest sheep technologies.
The first is at the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co Offaly, on Monday 23 January, following by another at the Millrace Hotel, Bunclody, Co Wexford, on Tuesday 24 January at 8pm. The last is on Thursday 26 January at 8pm in the Ard Rí Hotel, Tuam, Co Galway.
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