It has been a very busy weekend on the farm. The progesterone sponges were removed from the ewes on Saturday morning after been in place for 14 days. I then injected them with 350 international units of PMSG or 1.5ml.

I had originally intended going with 400 units but after consultation with my vet we agreed this could be still on the high side, considering ewes would be already ovulating. An over dose of PMSG at this stage in the breeding season could cause ewes to have too many lambs (4 and 5 lambs per ewe in some cases).

While the ewes were in the race, they also got a trace element, mineral and vitamin drench. Some would say they see little benefit from this type of supplementation, but at a mere 50c per ewe, I think it would be foolish not to give some form of mineral supplementation at this key period of the breeding season.

It will be difficult to make a judgement if it affected the lambing percentage because I’m artificially managing lambing percentage. But I would be hopeful that there should be a reduced number of repeats.

Introducing rams

The rams were introduced 30 hours after I injected the ewes with the PMSG. To make life easier at lambing and to monitor conception rates, I am raddling the rams. I have started with green. I intend changing the colour after five days.

The ram power consists of three rams, one Charolais and two Hampshire down. The ewe flock are quite an exotic bunch; amixture of Suffolk x, Hampshire x, Belcare x, Charolais x and some crossbred mule type ewes that were purchased this year.

For a small flock I have a very varied mix. This is because I grew the flock through my own ewe lambs and bought replacements. They all have their pluses and minuses but I find the Suffolk a very consistent performer.

I have very few lambs left to finish so I’m reasonably pleased with the performance of the flock this year. The increasing lamb price is pleasing as lambs at top dead weight of 22.5kgs are touching €110. Who said sheep were the poor relation in the farming world?