With the exception of a few issues, lambing has generally progressed well on the farms participating in the Northern Ireland Sheep Programme. There was a higher workload on some farms utilising student help, with this avenue restricted for most by the coronavirus pandemic. While a couple of farms had many more hands available to help where children were home from school. In general, mortality was reduced and this should help to boost output later in the year.

The one downside to the weather is that temperatures in recent weeks are falling to freezing point on many nights

The weather had a major part to play in reducing mortality and CAFRE programme adviser Senan White reports it has been particularly kind for the hill flock participants, most of whom are now well advanced and coming to the end of lambing. The one downside to the weather is that temperatures in recent weeks are falling to freezing point on many nights and this, combined with occasional harsh northeasterly winds, has brought grass growth and recovery to a standstill on swards which have been grazed off.

Buying time

Senan reports that as such grass supplies are the main concern on farms at present. The situation understandably varies as there is a wide range in lambing dates. Starting with the most recent, Senan reports that hill flocks are working their way through grass reserves faster than anticipated on semi-improved or in-bye land.

Ewes suckling twin lambs are receiving in the region of 0.5kg concentrates

This land failed to get the normal boost in growth at this time of year and, as such, steps are being taken to conserve supplies and ensure nutritional demands are met.

Some farms are working with a higher number of twin litters and these are being given priority. Ewes suckling twin lambs are receiving in the region of 0.5kg concentrates, with ewes in poor body condition in cases receiving 0.2kg to 0.3kg higher.

Single-suckling ewes are in most cases working away without supplementation, with the good weather also helping to put lambs on the front foot faster and facilitating sheep returning to hill grazing quicker.

Most ewes which lambed in March are on a grass-based diet

There is also variation depending on the lambing date in mid-season flocks. A few flocks which lambed batches of sheep at the end of February are feeding a restricted level of creep to aged lambs to underpin performance and reduce the pressure on ewes.

Most ewes which lambed in March are on a grass-based diet, with supplementation offered in some cases to batches requiring preferential treatment. This is also helping to slow grass demand, while Senan reports good forage reserves on mixed farms provided an opportunity to delay turnout of cattle and buy some extra time.

Promoting growth

Farms are taking all steps available to push on growth once a significant increase materialises: “There are some higher temperatures forecast which should hopefully help sward recovery. All farms have fertiliser applied, with some using protected nitrogen, so once growth improves they should quickly get back on track.

“Dare I say it, but in this regard many of the farms would benefit from some rainfall.”

Soil analysis has identified a high requirement for lime to address low soil pH

Senan says that providing the right environment to enhance grass growth is a focal point identified in all farm plans for 2020. “Every farm in the programme can get more from their existing grassland through a combination of addressing soil fertility and improving grazing infrastructure.

“Soil analysis has identified a high requirement for lime to address low soil pH while there is also room for improvement in terms of increasing soil phosphorus and potassium levels.

Attention is also being placed on balancing application rates with animal health concerns on high-molybdenum soils

“The latter aim will be achieved by taking advantage of the soil P and K released by applying lime, while using compound fertilisers and targeting farmyard manure and slurry to the soils needing it most is the second part of a two-pronged approach.”

The typical application rate is 2t to 2.5t per acre where soil analysis has identified a higher requirement. Attention is also being placed on balancing application rates with animal health concerns on high-molybdenum soils.

Focus on good-quality silage

Another target of farm plans which is topical at present is making good-quality silage. Many farms in the programme house sheep for a significant duration and as such significant savings can be achieved in concentrate supplementation costs along with supporting higher animal performance.

Senan is keen to point out that new phosphorus recommendations introduced as part of the Northern Ireland Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) 2019-22 May bring changes to the volume of fertiliser you are permitted to apply. These new recommendations apply to farms which are categorised as extensively managed grassland.

There are two criteria that determine this status. If the nitrogen loading or volume of organic nitrogen produced by grazing livestock is less than 120kg N/ha/year, then your farm is categorised as extensively managed and must abide by the new recommendations.

If your farm is stocked at higher than 120kg organic N/ha and you are applying less than 60kg chemical nitrogen per hectare over the entire grassland area then it is categorised as extensively managed and must abide by the new regulations. CAFRE has calculators available for helping you to determine both these calculations.

Exception to the rule

The categorisation as an extensively managed grassland reduces the volume of phosphorus that can be applied.

Senan explains there is an exception to this rule in that if your grassland is extensively managed but your silage areas are managed more intensively and you are applying more than 80kg N/ha (64 units/acre) then the standard phosphate recommendations for intensively managed silage /hay swards can be used. Table 1 details the recommendations for both scenarios based on varying levels of soil fertility while potassium recommendations are detailed in Table 2.

Senan says an improvement in grazing infrastructure should also provide an opportunity to save high-quality baled silage from surplus grass. This can be targeted for feeding in late pregnancy when the requirement for concentrate supplementation is increasing rapidly.