Weather woes continue: Heavy rainfall and below-normal temperatures continue to limit grass growth rates, with farms along the west coast and on more marginal soils most affected. At this stage of the year, the focus should be on switching to building up a supply of grass to prolong the grazing season. Where grass supplies are running behind target, it is important to get fertiliser applied once weather allows. Quantity applied will depend on grass supply and demand. On highly stocked farms, recommended application rates are 25 to 30 units of nitrogen, dropping to 15 to 20 units on lowly stocked farms. Fertiliser applied now will in general deliver a better response than delaying application, until the closing date of 15 September. Targeting drier fields and younger swards with a higher percentage of perennial rye grass will deliver the greatest response.

Where a high percentage of lambs remain on farm and are likely to compete with ewes for reducing grass supplies, it may be worth considering the store trade to reduce grass demand. Some farmers that will be tighter for grass in November and December take the option of moving lighter lambs that will not be finished at that stage and retaining lambs approaching slaughter weight. Circumstances vary between farms, but the focus remains the same to give ewes priority in the run up to breeding, ensuring a grass supply is also available for ewes post breeding. Where opting to trade store lambs, the greatest competition will be generated by grouping lambs on type, gender, size and weight. For those in the market to purchase store lambs, this week’s sheep feature on page 41 covers some of the factors that need to be taken into account when calculating a finishing budget.

Tagging ewe lambs: Many mart managers I spoke to when writing the sheep trade overview for this week’s Livestock Marts supplement commented that a high percentage of buyers sourcing ewe lambs of breeding potential are willing to compete harder for lambs possessing an EID tag set. They say that many want to avoid the hassle and paperwork of retagging lambs and are willing to more than cover the cost of the tag. The decision obviously boils down to the seller on whether you want to apply EID tags, with some specialised sales moving to compulsory EID tagging of females as a condition of their sale to satisfy customer demand. Where you have lambs of breeding potential, it is certainly worth considering investing the extra euro/head cost.

Quality assurance audit: Calls continue in the aftermath of quality assurance audits. Recording of health treatments remains the greatest factor for non-compliance. Where recording treatment of animals, it is important to state the number treated, a reference to their identity, such as “ewe lambs with blue spray marking on head” for example, with the date the withdrawal period passes, rather than the withdrawal of the product recorded.

TAMS deadline: As we go to press, I hear there has been a two-week extension to the closing date of Monday 31 August for TAMS sheep fencing and mobile handling equipment grant aid. It is important that all relevant paperwork submitted before close of business on Monday 14 September.