Recording performance: In our sheep feature this week, Edward Egan, Teagasc discusses the use of scanning results as a starting point for monitoring flock performance. It also raises the wider question of what recording protocols are in place to identify the best performing animals in a flock.

Lambing is the busiest period on most farms so adding another layer of recording which raises labour may not be a palatable subject.

The labour involved, however, will deliver a multi-fold payback. The Rolls Royce of recording is utilising electronic tagging and capturing data via a handheld device at lambing.

This will not be a runner for the average smaller-sized flock but there are still lots of measures that can be easily implemented.

Permanently identifying problem ewes that have large udders or teats and eat up time helping lambs to suckle can be easily done by ear notching, applying management tags or recording tag numbers.

Ram performance can also be gauged at lambing by assessing aspects such as the level of intervention required and lamb vigour.

Likewise, identifying potential replacement ewe lambs through the same avenues as mentioned above will help greatly in advancing flock performance.

Some farmers do not like to tag or ear notch at birth and some get around this by having a whiteboard or chalkboard above individual lambing pens or number pens to take a temporary record.

This can also be useful in flocks where help is available as notes can be left for the person following up on tasks.

Clean livestock policy: The number of sheep falling foul of the sheep clean livestock policy has been reduced by the low rainfall levels and favourable ground conditions in recent months.

However, last week’s rain and wintry showers have raised the issue again in certain instances.

Dirty tail ends are the obvious visual aspect farmers concentrate on and, while sheep with daggings have a greater risk of being rejected entry, a soiled fleece and dirty underbelly region are equally important contributors.

It is important to be mindful of this when drafting and transporting lambs.

The potential for factories to intervene with category B lambs is greatly curtailed by wet fleeces, particularly those that have become soiled.

This can be minimised by ensuring areas where lambs are being handled are dry underfoot, by fasting lambs in advance of transport and only loading clean lambs, drafting when lambs have a better chance of having a dry fleece and using appropriate absorbent materials on the floors of trailers.

Conference reminder: The Teagasc lowland sheep conferences take place next week with the first in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co Offaly, on Tuesday 29 January followed by the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, on Thursday 31 January.

A hill sheep conference will take place at a later date on Tuesday 19 February in the Glendalough Hotel, Co Wicklow.

The lowland sheep conferences are Department of Agriculture KT approved events with sign-in commencing from 5.30pm and presentation from 6pm sharp.

Topics include mineral supplementation, late pregnancy nutrition, learnings from the EU SheepNet project and succession and inheritance planning.