Early lambing ewes: Ewes lambing in late December/early January require a higher plane of nutrition as they enter the last two months of pregnancy.

Grazing on average to good quality grass will generally suffice in meeting these nutritional demands, but care should be taken where ewes are grazing poor quality grass or supplies are limited.

With the potential for higher demands on an early lambing ewe’s body reserves in early lactation, the focus should be on avoiding weight loss in late pregnancy and having ewes in optimum condition at lambing.

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Where ewes will be housed in the coming weeks, it is important to accurately estimate forage quality, with silage analysis providing the most precise evaluation of feeding quality. This is even more important where ewes will be maintained on a silage-based diet in early lactation. Scanning ewes (80 to 90 days post-ram turnout) is also invaluable to allow feeding levels to be matched to litter size.

Lime application: Ground conditions remain relatively good despite heavy rainfall over the weekend.

There may still be an opportunity to get lime applied to soils with a pH deficit, which will help in achieving an earlier response (in freeing up minerals already in the soil and to applied chemical fertiliser) and increased grass growth rates next spring.

In general, application rates for maintaining soil pH values range from 1t to 2t per acre, applied every three to five years (depending on soil type), while application rates to increase soil pH should be targeted at 2.5t to 3t/acre, with 3t/acre the maximum recommended rate in one application.

Prices range, on average, from €20/t to €25/t applied, with lower prices generally involving applying high volumes.

Soil samples will give an accurate assessment of soil pH and the volume of lime required.

Samples should be taken in advance of lime applications, but should not be taken where organic manures or chemical P or K has been applied in the previous three months.

Samples are recommended to be taken at least every five years. With a sample in most cases costing the same as a bag of compound fertiliser, the cost is returned very quickly.

One sample will cover a maximum area of 5ha where soil type is similar and the area is managed similarly. It is recommended to reduce the sample area where there are marked differences in soil type or management.

Managing clover swards: Swards with a high clover content require more precise management over the winter. These areas should be grazed tightly before closing and it is important not to leave a heavy cover build up over the winter.

Swards can be grazed tightly again in spring to allow light to penetrate down to the clover stolons, which will promote more growth and increased productivity during the main growing season.

Grazing tight should not be confused with over grazing as, like with all swards, areas need a rest period of 100 to 120 days to have a cover of grass in spring.

Also, with the grazing habits of sheep, over-grazing can hamper clover persistency in the sward.