Lambing finished up around the second week of May and we have 589 lambs on the ground. In total, we lambed 388 ewes indoors that scanned 138% and 150 ewes outdoors that scanned 121%.
Since lambing finished, we have been busy getting field work up to date, as well as sorting out other jobs like vaccinating animals and castrating male lambs.
As we both work off-farm, most of these bigger jobs are carried out on a Saturday when we have more time and help available.
Lambs were vaccinated with Covexin 8 in batches depending on age. All animals have now been treated with the primary shot and a follow-up shot will be given later in the summer.
Hill grazing
After lambing, ewes and lambs are grazed on our improved grassland for a short period before moving up to the hill.
As we both work off-farm, most of these bigger jobs are carried out on a Saturday when we have more time
We moved all of the ewes and lambs to the mountain on Saturday 23 May. The plan is to keep these animals there for the summer.
All ewes and lambs are currently on a grass-only diet, although grass growth has been generally under pressure this spring due to the lack of rainfall in this area.
Ticks
One of the downsides of grazing upland and hill ground is that young lambs can be bothered by ticks.
Normally, we would notice a few lambs carrying ticks every year. But there was a noticeable increase in the problem this spring, with a big percentage of lambs carrying multiple ticks.
The higher incidence of the problem is possibly down to the dry and warmer conditions we have had lately.
Thankfully, lambs did not appear to be too badly affected. This probably comes from having home-bred sheep that are used to the hill and have developed some level of immunity to ticks.
There was a noticeable increase in the problem this spring, with a big percentage of lambs carrying multiple ticks
All sheep were treated with a pour-on drench as they were put to the mountain, so this should keep ticks off animals throughout the summer months.
We will still keep a close eye to lambs to make sure that the ticks are under control over the next few weeks.
Clipping
The next big management task for the flock is to get clipping completed. With a hill flock, we clip towards the end of June most years and are aiming to do the same again, just after first-cut silage has been harvested.
First cut silage
We closed up 40ac of our better grassland for silage. It was closed around the second week of May, just as lambing was finishing up.
Fields were fertilised with slurry, just prior to the start of lambing at the end of March. This was the earliest we could get on to the silage ground this spring.
The results of soil analysis indicate that ground is high in phosphate (P) but low in potash (K)
We followed this with 175kg/ac of 24-0-13 plus 5% sulphur, as the results of soil analysis indicate that ground is high in phosphate (P) but low in potash (K).
In most years, we target the cutting date for around the longest day of the year and this usually works well on for our farm.
Silage
Silage will be precision- chopped and ensiled in a clamp. But if yields are good, we may hold a small area back and bale it.
Second cut
Once first-cut has been completed, we will decide on what to do about second-cut. If there is plenty of bulk with the first-cut, we only need to close off a small area for cutting in late summer and if so, we will go for bales again.
If yields are poor, we will obviously have to close off a larger area for second-cut to make up the deficit.
Late summer is usually a time when demand for grass is high, so this ground is usually needed for grazing.
Lime
We are firm believers in getting soils tested and trying to correct any areas with a nutrient deficiency. The same goes for soil pH levels.
If there is plenty of bulk with the first-cut, we only need to close off a small area for cutting in late summer
The target on the farm is to keep grassland at pH 6.5 to maximise grass growth and the uptake of nutrients applied. Therefore, we would be topping up grassland with lime on a regular basis.
In early May, we spread lime on 100ac of grazing ground, with some fields at pH 6.2 to 6.3 getting 1t/ac, whereas fields at pH 5.9 got 2t/ac.
Making the most of grassland by
measuring growth
As part of the programme, we are starting to measure grass growth on grazing ground.
We are starting off on a smaller block of improved grassland. Once we start to get the hang of it, we will expand it to other areas of the farm.
Karol and Peter McCaughan have started measuring grass on their Co Antrim farm. The prolonged dry spell of weather has hindered grass growth during April and May.
Hopefully, grass measuring will help us to re-focus on grazing management by having figures to compare growth rates and yields for individual fields.
Over the years, we have tried to break up some parts of the farm into smaller, more manageable grazing areas. But water provision is usually the limiting factor.
However, we will look at ways we can overcome these problems if we can see benefits for the farm and stock.
340ha farm consisting of hill, upland and improved grassland.550 mid- to late season hill and upland lambing flock.35-cow suckler herd.
Read more
Beef management: five tips to prioritising cattle during a grazing shortage
Minimising the check in performance from weaning
Lambing finished up around the second week of May and we have 589 lambs on the ground. In total, we lambed 388 ewes indoors that scanned 138% and 150 ewes outdoors that scanned 121%.
Since lambing finished, we have been busy getting field work up to date, as well as sorting out other jobs like vaccinating animals and castrating male lambs.
As we both work off-farm, most of these bigger jobs are carried out on a Saturday when we have more time and help available.
Lambs were vaccinated with Covexin 8 in batches depending on age. All animals have now been treated with the primary shot and a follow-up shot will be given later in the summer.
Hill grazing
After lambing, ewes and lambs are grazed on our improved grassland for a short period before moving up to the hill.
As we both work off-farm, most of these bigger jobs are carried out on a Saturday when we have more time
We moved all of the ewes and lambs to the mountain on Saturday 23 May. The plan is to keep these animals there for the summer.
All ewes and lambs are currently on a grass-only diet, although grass growth has been generally under pressure this spring due to the lack of rainfall in this area.
Ticks
One of the downsides of grazing upland and hill ground is that young lambs can be bothered by ticks.
Normally, we would notice a few lambs carrying ticks every year. But there was a noticeable increase in the problem this spring, with a big percentage of lambs carrying multiple ticks.
The higher incidence of the problem is possibly down to the dry and warmer conditions we have had lately.
Thankfully, lambs did not appear to be too badly affected. This probably comes from having home-bred sheep that are used to the hill and have developed some level of immunity to ticks.
There was a noticeable increase in the problem this spring, with a big percentage of lambs carrying multiple ticks
All sheep were treated with a pour-on drench as they were put to the mountain, so this should keep ticks off animals throughout the summer months.
We will still keep a close eye to lambs to make sure that the ticks are under control over the next few weeks.
Clipping
The next big management task for the flock is to get clipping completed. With a hill flock, we clip towards the end of June most years and are aiming to do the same again, just after first-cut silage has been harvested.
First cut silage
We closed up 40ac of our better grassland for silage. It was closed around the second week of May, just as lambing was finishing up.
Fields were fertilised with slurry, just prior to the start of lambing at the end of March. This was the earliest we could get on to the silage ground this spring.
The results of soil analysis indicate that ground is high in phosphate (P) but low in potash (K)
We followed this with 175kg/ac of 24-0-13 plus 5% sulphur, as the results of soil analysis indicate that ground is high in phosphate (P) but low in potash (K).
In most years, we target the cutting date for around the longest day of the year and this usually works well on for our farm.
Silage
Silage will be precision- chopped and ensiled in a clamp. But if yields are good, we may hold a small area back and bale it.
Second cut
Once first-cut has been completed, we will decide on what to do about second-cut. If there is plenty of bulk with the first-cut, we only need to close off a small area for cutting in late summer and if so, we will go for bales again.
If yields are poor, we will obviously have to close off a larger area for second-cut to make up the deficit.
Late summer is usually a time when demand for grass is high, so this ground is usually needed for grazing.
Lime
We are firm believers in getting soils tested and trying to correct any areas with a nutrient deficiency. The same goes for soil pH levels.
If there is plenty of bulk with the first-cut, we only need to close off a small area for cutting in late summer
The target on the farm is to keep grassland at pH 6.5 to maximise grass growth and the uptake of nutrients applied. Therefore, we would be topping up grassland with lime on a regular basis.
In early May, we spread lime on 100ac of grazing ground, with some fields at pH 6.2 to 6.3 getting 1t/ac, whereas fields at pH 5.9 got 2t/ac.
Making the most of grassland by
measuring growth
As part of the programme, we are starting to measure grass growth on grazing ground.
We are starting off on a smaller block of improved grassland. Once we start to get the hang of it, we will expand it to other areas of the farm.
Karol and Peter McCaughan have started measuring grass on their Co Antrim farm. The prolonged dry spell of weather has hindered grass growth during April and May.
Hopefully, grass measuring will help us to re-focus on grazing management by having figures to compare growth rates and yields for individual fields.
Over the years, we have tried to break up some parts of the farm into smaller, more manageable grazing areas. But water provision is usually the limiting factor.
However, we will look at ways we can overcome these problems if we can see benefits for the farm and stock.
340ha farm consisting of hill, upland and improved grassland.550 mid- to late season hill and upland lambing flock.35-cow suckler herd.
Read more
Beef management: five tips to prioritising cattle during a grazing shortage
Minimising the check in performance from weaning
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