Worm burdens: This week’s rainfall could trigger a significant worm burden on many farms following a long dry spell with mass hatching of eggs possibly presenting lambs with a rapid high challenge.

The rainfall has been sporadic, but it does not take much moisture to stimulate a hatch of eggs or trigger activity in larvae that may have shut down due to drier conditions and higher temperatures.

Farmers should be mindful of this in determining the best course of action over the coming weeks.

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Remember to dose to the heaviest lambs in the group and to calibrate dosing equipment before and possibly during treatment where large numbers are being dosed.

Worm control in dogs: Do not forget to include any working or pet dogs in worm control programmes.

The main threats are from roundworms, which are more prevalent in pups, and tapeworms, which are a greater risk for older dogs.

Veterinary advice generally recommends worming pups every two weeks until they are 12 weeks of age and then every month until they reach six months of age.

For adult dogs the advice is to administer the appropriate worm treatment approximately every three months throughout adulthood.

SIS meal feeding hill lambs: The action of meal feeding hill lambs post-weaning in the Sheep Improvement Scheme requires lambs to be supplemented with compound feedingstuffs containing appropriate mineral and vitamins for four weeks post-weaning.

The terms and conditions do not outline a definitive level of meal supplementation with the only guidance that supplementation should be adequate to provide the required level of nutrition.

Ensure that the date of purchase of concentrates coincides with weaning/sale dates etc.

SWS condition score: Farmers who opted for the body condition score (BCS) action in the National Sheep Welfare Scheme should have carried out the first assessment by 31 July.

The second must take place between 1 August and 15 October. Record the number of ewes at BCS 1 or 2 and the action taken to improve condition.

Dates for diary: There are a number of sheep farm walks taking place over the coming weeks.

Irish Country Meats in collaboration with Teagasc are holding a farm walk on Thursday 6 August on the farm of Bernard Fox, Corballis, Ballivor, Co Meath (C15 EK26) at 6.30pm. Topics covered include: breeding and genetics, flock health, flock performance and store lamb finishing along with a lamb selection demonstration.

There are also three lamb finishing events for organic and commercial farmers hosted by industry stakeholders with the first taking place on 5 August on the farm of Micheal Holmes, Newfield, Mulranny, Westport, Co Mayo, F28 FR50.

The second takes place on 11 August in Kenmare Mart, Co Kerry, V93 R761 while the final event takes place on Wednesday, 12 August at 6:30pm on Joe Nolan’s farm in Fenagh, Co Carlow, R21 CK66.