Extensive research has shown that the Scottish Blackface breed of sheep is particularly responsive to achieving target body condition score (BCS) and liveweight at joining with rams.

Increasing from a BCS score of two to three has the potential to lift the lambing percentage by some 13.5%.

This is achieved through a combination of an increased litter size and a reduced barren rate.

The improvement in body condition to a desired score of 3 to 3.25 will also deliver in tightening the lambing spread.

Achieving these targets is dependent on sheep reaching weight targets at key timelines. For example data collected from the Teagasc BETTER farm sheep programme and findings from Teagasc research highlights the following weight targets.

Ewe lambs should weigh at least 61% of mature weight at breeding, hoggets should weigh 84% of mature weight and 30 month old sheep should weigh at least 91% of mature weight with mature sheep hitting their potential weight to optimise breeding performance.

There is significant differences in the mature weight of sheep depending on the terrain in which they are being run and also between different breed strains.

The typical mature weight of smaller-framed sheep on harder hills ranges from 47kg to 52kg while larger-framed ewes on more productive lands can weight up to 60kg to 65kg mature weight.

Part and parcel in ensuring priority can be given to ewes to improve condition ahead of this year’s breeding is having a finishing policy in place for moving lambs off the farm.

Lambs should be weighed at weaning and the percentage of lambs split between weight divisions – for example those less than 25kg, lambs weighing 25kg to 30kg, lambs from 30kg to 37kg and lambs above this weight. This will help to gauge performance and allow a plan to be put in place on how best to market lambs.

Opportunity for crossbreeding

The level of output in a hill ewe flock will have a major bearing on the breeding programme which can be implemented.

As reflected in Table 1, where the number of lambs reared is relatively low at 0.8 lambs per ewe joined, then the focus in the flock will need to remain on pure breeding to be in a position to replenish the flock.

Whereas if the number of lambs reared is in the region of 1.10 lambs per ewe joined it provides much more scope to implement a crossbreeding programme if desired or alternatively to produce surplus hill replacements with a strong market also opening up in recent years due to the increase in crossbreeding taking place.

The Teagasc guidelines have been calculated for a hill flock with a replacement rate of about 24% while also allowing for 10% of any potential ewe lambs to be deemed unsuitable for selection.

The breeding policy should also focus on breeding the type of ewe and progeny that can excel in the terrain in which they are run as maintaining land to good agricultural and economic condition has a major influence on direct payments and adherence to environmental schemes.

This has become an important consideration in recent years with payments on hill and marginal areas increasing through the practice of convergence.

For example there is no point chasing the crossbreeding market and significantly altering the breeding profile of the flock if it will lead to issues in managing hill vegetation and sustaining a ewe type that is not suited to the environment.

The lambing date should also match the natural trend of spring forage availability.