Quarantine programme: A good quarantine programme is critical to reduce the risk of disease being introduced into a flock. Animals should be quarantined on arrival and remain sperate from the flock for at least 21 days and ideally longer.

The main aspects of concern in terms of parasites is the threat of introducing worms that are resistant to anthelmintics, liver fluke and external parasites.

Lameness is another area where great care must be taken while clostridial disease vaccination is relevant to all animals and vaccination for enzootic abortion and toxoplasmosis should be considered for breeding sheep.

This level of a quarantine programme is not cheap and can cost in excess of €15 per head for breeding sheep. It is a good insurance policy, however, given costs can run into a multiple of this where disease is introduced into a flock.

It is worth noting that products for enzootic abortion and toxoplasmosis are prescription only, meaning they must be ordered through your vet. There is some disruption to the supply of Enzovax while an alternative vaccine has also been granted a special licence.

In terms of guarding against introducing resistant worms, the advice is to treat animals with a moxidectin-based product along with Zolvix as Startect is still unavailable. It is worth contacting your vet in advance as some practices may not have it in stock and may need to order it in.

Farmers also question if it is advisable to use Zolvix if there is confirmed cases of resistance to some of the other wormers on your farm.

Veterinary recommendations are to only use Zolvix (and Startect when it is back on the market) strategically and not as a routine dose as routine usage will also increase the risk of resistance occurring.

If the product is to be used then it should be used at a time that is likely to get the greatest response, for example with store lambs on the farm and not the general ewe flock.

The other two pieces of advice that vets are keen to convey is the importance of getting an accurate assessment of the weight of animals being treated and to ensure dosing guns are calibrated to deliver the desired volume.

Reseeding and clover: With grass growth rates recovering and less pressure on farms, there is an opportunity for reseeding to be carried out. Capitalising on the opportunity now will greatly increase the volume of grass grown before year end. Incorporating clover in a reseed is highly advisable in light of its potential to fix nitrogen and ability to increase animal performance.

The big dilemma on incorporating clover at the point of reseeding is if there is a significant weed problem in the sward and if this is likely to be sufficiently addressed before reseeding.

If this is not likely to be the case and there is a high likelihood of persistent problems with docks, thistles or rushes after reseeding, then delaying incorporating clover and as a result widening the range of herbicides available for post-emergence spraying may be the best route to take.

In terms of clover selection, small and medium leaf varieties will achieve greater persistency in swards grazed by sheep and cattle.

The Department of Agriculture and Teagasc’s Pasture Profit Index should be used when selecting the most appropriate grass seed or clover seed variety.