Worm drenching ewes: This week’s sheep feature on pages 46 and 47 details topics covered in the recent ASA sheep technology training day held at the UCD Lyons Research Farm. Also covered on the day was a presentation by Dr Theo de Waal, of the UCD Veterinary School, on the increasing problem of anthelmintic resistance in sheep.

Advice given to reduce the rate of resistance developing includes the correct administration of products, avoiding unnecessary treatments and alternating product choice. Regarding drenching ewes post-lambing, the recommendation is to avoid a blanket treatment of ewes. The only ewes that should be considered for treatment are those that are thin or those under excessive stress, as well as in-lamb yearling hoggets. Faecal egg counts are recommended to identify the worm burden. A faecal egg count reduction test is recommended during the grazing season to establish if resistance is an issue on the farm.

Teagasc sheep conferences: Teagasc is holding two sheep conferences next week; the first is on Tuesday 2 February in the Shearwater Hotel, Marina Point, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, with the second taking place in the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey, Co Wexford, on Thursday 4 February. Both events start at 5pm and are free to attend. Topics covered include accelerating genetic gain, the effects of stocking rate and prolificacy on the profitability of lowland sheep production, clostridial and pasteurella vaccination of sheep and an experience from a Welsh sheep farmer on setting up a profitable sheep farm. A hill sheep conference will be held on Wednesday 17 February at Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey, Co Donegal, at 5pm.

In-lamb yearling hoggets: The first scanning results being reported from yearling hoggets are on average higher than previous years with flocks incorporating prolific genes scanning up to between 1.5 and 1.6 lambs per hogget in-lamb. The higher litter sizes will put more pressure on animals in late pregnancy and early lactation. As such, it is vital that a feeding plan is put in place that meets the nutritional demands of the growing foetus(es), maintenance demand and an animal’s energy requirement for growth.

Teagasc sheep specialist Ciaran Lynch reports that many flocks in the Teagasc BETTER farm sheep programme introducing supplementary feeding at an earlier stage to ensure that condition is not lost in late pregnancy. Flocks can work on a rising supplementation plan, similar to ewes, or introduce a flat-rate feeding rate for the initial stages of late pregnancy feeding. Flocks progressing down this route are offering 0.3kg to 0.5kg concentrate supplementation, along with access to good quality silage. This will be covered in greater detail in next week’s sheep pages.

Ewes and lambs: Where turning out ewes and young lambs, do so early in the morning and in small groups. Where concentrates are being fed, offer early in the day to allow animals time to settle and avoid mismothering.

Sheep census reminder: Friday 29 January is the last day for submitting your sheep census. Hard-copy returns should be sent to Sheep/Goat Census Unit, Direct Payments Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House 6E, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, while applications can also be submitted online through the Department’s Agfood facility.