A growing number of farmers who lambed in February are finding grass supplies starting to run tight.

This is not surprising, given growth rates are running anywhere from an average of 5kg to 8kg DM/ha in the northern half of the country and 6kg to 10kg DM/ha in the southern half.

This is less than 50% of normal growth rates for the time of year. On farms where soils are saturated, grass covers have actually diminished in recent weeks.

Ration supplies

It is important that these flocks take steps to conserve and ration remaining supplies, while there may still be time to do so.

Ewes in good body condition can generally be supplemented with 0.8kg to 1.2kg concentrates (offered in two feeds), which in turn will reduce grass demand by 40% to 50%.

Ewes in poor body condition will need a higher allocation. Where ewes are lambed six to seven weeks and have reached peak milk yield, then there will be a greater economical return from offering lambs creep feed if feasible.

Where grass supplies have been depleted entirely, then supplementation rates will need to be increased along with introducing forage supplementation, as detailed in Table 1.

Challenging circumstances

Flocks lambing at present are also facing significant challenges. This is likely to continue, with further heavy rain forecast in the west of the country in particular over the coming days.

For farmers retaining ewes and lambs indoors, feeding levels will be influenced by the stage of lactation, forage quality and ewe condition, along with the projected length of the feeding period.

It is important not to overfeed ewes in the first 24 hours after lambing, as this can put ewes off their feed.

Lower levels of supplementation can be fed, as per Table 1, for the first week after lambing, but after this, feeding levels should be increased in line with an increasing feed demand of ewes.

Supplementation rates for ewes and lambs released outdoors will be influenced by grass supplies

Supplementation rates for ewes and lambs released outdoors will be influenced by grass supplies and ground conditions.

Where utilisation levels are poor or the dry matter of the grass is low, supplementary feeding will deliver a response, despite ewes having sufficient grass supplies.

In a case like this, feeding levels can be targeted at similar levels to those listed in Table 1 for scarce grass supplies.

Access to hay or silage

Scarce or depleted grass supplies may also occur at present where farmers have a supply of grass but are retaining animals in the driest area of the farm until ground conditions improve.

This approach will deliver longer-term benefits and is likely to reduce the volume of supplementary feeding required.

There will be merit in such situations in providing access to hay or silage and running animals in smaller groups to prevent excessive poaching and soiling of belly wool and udders of ewes.

Troughs should be placed in dry areas of the field and moved regularly to prevent ewes' teats and udders from becoming wet and dirty.

Feeding troughs should also be placed in the drier areas of the field, with ewes fed early in the day and before nightfall to minimise the risk of mis-mothering and give ewes and their lambs time to find shelter.

Feeding factors

The high demand for protein in the final two weeks of pregnancy continues and actually increases in early lactation.

Access to adequate supplies of spring grass is sufficient in normal conditions to meet this demand. However, where ewes are supplemented indoors, it is important to continue to feed an 18% to 20% nut or ration.

Where ewes are supplemented on average to limited grass supplies, it may be worth continuing to offer a similar feed as in late pregnancy, as the overall saving in feeding a lower protein content feed will be small.

On better-quality grass supplies, the protein content can be reduced to 14% to 16%.