Grass supplies: The last day for spreading fertilizer is fast approaching on Sunday 14 September (the closing date is 15 September). With a rise in temperatures forecast, earlier application is advised to get the best response in terms of volume of grass grown. Application rates will depend on current grass supplies and stock demand.

On highly stocked farms, many farmers will be applying 25 to 30 units on grazed paddocks to build a supply of grass for extending the grazing season.

Lowly-stocked farms can apply a lower application rate of 15 to 20 units of nitrogen. Even where grass supplies are relatively good, applying a low rate of nitrogen will help to maintain quality.

The aim at this stage should be to build a supply of grass that will provide adequate grazing throughout the breeding season and also carry ewes until December or January, depending on the stocking rate. The option can also be taken at this stage of targeting an area for extended grazing late in the year. This is only an option where there is a drier area that will withstand some rainfall and allow high levels of grass utilisation.

Fluke in lambs: Teagasc BETTER farm sheep programme adviser Ciaran Lynch reports Fecpak samples analysed from participants in Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Tipperary and Kerry showing a level of fluke eggs in samples taken from lambs, confirming the presence of adult live fluke (laying eggs). Farmers should be wary of the threat, especially if farming on heavier soils or where there is a history of liver fluke.

One of the best indicators of a liver fluke burden at this stage of the year is to follow lambs or ewes going to the factory and check the health status of livers. Some plants are automatically reporting on liver fluke presence, while it is necessary in other plants to ask for the vet on the line to check livers and report back. This will give a good indication if treatment of lambs is required. Where the risk of liver fluke is deemed a threat, it is advisable to treat ewes before the start of the breeding season to minimise flock disturbance during breeding. It is also important to alternate treatments with products possessing a different active ingredient to reduce the rate of resistance developing.

Ewe lamb vaccination: Vaccination use on farms will depend on farmers’ choice and the prevalence or risk of disease. The most common vaccines administered in ewe lambs destined for breeding, or purchased onto farms, are clostridial disease vaccine, toxoplasmosis and enzootic or Chlamydia abortion. Breeding will not dictate the administration of clostridial vaccine, apart from the fact that it should be timed so that the booster can be administered before the start of the breeding season to prevent disturbance of animals during breeding. Toxovax (toxoplasmosis) should be administered at least three weeks before the start of the breeding season, while Enzovax must be administered at least four weeks before the start of the breeding season. Both vaccines can be administered together. It is important to follow manufacturer’s guidelines closely with vaccines.