Weaning of 227 lambs suckling mature ewes was carried out this week on Tullamore Farm.
All lambs were weighed and farm manager Shaun Diver drafted 42 lambs for slaughter from this batch, along with four lambs artificially reared.
The lambs achieved positive slaughter performance and achieved an average sale price of €186.14 at a price of €9.20/kg.
Lambs were marketed through the Offaly Quality Lamb Producer Group, with lambs receiving a 40c/kg payment through the group on top of the base quote of €8.80/kg.
The average cold weight was 20.42kg, while the average paid weight (maximum of 21.5kg carcase weight) was 20.24kg, with just 8.3kg of free meat delivered across the 46 lambs.
This stemmed in the main from a handful of lambs which achieved a higher kill-out of 49% to 50% and, as such, went over the 21.5kg paid carcase weight limit.
The kill-out ranged from 41.6% to a top of 50.3% and averaged at 45.8%. This highlights the importance of accurately estimating the kill-out of lambs and especially where drafting lighter lambs.
There was just seven ewe lambs on the batch and these killed from 43.3% to 49% and averaged 46.3% kill-out.
Shaun explains that he selected lambs a bit lighter ahead of weaning with the average liveweight of lambs at 44.3kg and ranging in the main from 42kg to 46kg with a few lambs weighing to a top of 49kg.
Post-weaning management
The fact that lambs were drafted at a lighter weight and weaning has took place means that it is unlikely there will be any lambs drafted for sale for a couple of weeks.
Lambs have been turned out to high-quality fresh grass and will remain for a couple of weeks.
Shaun explains that if grass growth rates continue to fall and farm cover becomes a growing concern, then he may move to establishing a finishing group where forward ram lambs will be offered concentrate supplementation.
Ewes will be tightened up on bare pasture and be used to clean off any swards with lower-quality material at the base of the sward. Ewes will be assessed again after a week to two weeks to have a second look at udders and see if there is any more ewes that need to be identified for culling.
General management
Calves were also weighed this week as part of the normal weighing protocol and to collect weights for the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP).
Shaun is happy with performance, with bull calves achieving an average daily gain since birth of 1.31kg, while heifer calves gained 1.27kg since birth.
Steps are also being taken to conserve grass supplies. Thirty bales of hay were purchased locally at a cost of €28 per bale collected.
The bales are of high quality and Shaun explains they may be used to supplement cows if required to lengthen the grazing rotation.
The weaning performance of lambs will be covered in the next weekly farm update when figures are collated.
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