5/1/2023 0 Comments Running sheep herdThe labour requirement on sheep farms can be substantial especially where facilities are poor. Attending a Teagasc grass 10 grazing course in 2021 will help develop the young farmer’s knowledge of grazing management to grow and utilise more grass and maybe lead to the use of PastureBase to make more accurate decisions. A flexible system where high DMD silage can be harvested from paddocks to maintain grass quality can reduce feed costs which can account for over 40 pc of the total costs on sheep farms. An awareness of the correct pre and post grazing heights depending on the time of year is a must to maximise lamb performance off grass. A paddock system based on a 3-4 day residency period, a 3 week rotation system and a minimum of six paddock per grazing group should be put in place. ![]() The first job is to have a stock proof boundary fence, important not to fall out with the neighbours. Grassland management skills are key to profitability in a sheep enterprise. Prepare a detailed flock health plan with your local vet to help safe guard against the potential pitfalls that a new entrant to sheep farming may encounter. ![]() Unless you are 100 pc sure that all sheep were purchased from a flock that never had a case of enzootic abortion it is advisable to vaccinate for enzo and probably toxo as young naive sheep are more prone to these abortive agents. ![]() This period is in the hope that any other diseases will become apparent in the quarantine period to allow for treatment or culling prior to mixing with other sheep. In all other cases a good quarantine procedure can reduce the risk of buying in more than you bargained for.Īll bought in stock should be given an appropriate quarantine dose for fluke, worms and scab on arrival, housed for at least 48 hrs and retained separate from the remainder of sheep on the farm for four weeks. Again sourcing stock from a reputable flock with a high health status is the best method of avoidance. Others are what are referred to as ‘iceberg diseases’ and are not visible at purchase and manifest over time, they can spread quite rapidly within the flock. There are an ever increasing number of diseases in the wider Irish sheep population that are best avoided if at all possible. High index rams that look the part either on the terminal or the replacement side should be sources to match your flock requirements. Buying from a reputable flock will put you on the front foot and set you up to breed prolific replacements from within your own flock. Foundation stock or replacements for the expanding flock should be sourced from prolific flocks and not based on fancy heads and conformation. These figure are not achievable unless the mature ewe flock has the potential to scan over 2.0 lambs per ewe put to the ram. To justify a return for your time and effort a net margin of €40-50 per ewe at a stocking rate of 10 ewes per ha will result in a net margin of €400-500 per Ha excluding premia. Source the correct foundation stock for your farm ‘tuas maith is ea leath na hoibre’ a good start can halve the work load. Here are ten areas that in my opinion are vital for new entrants to the sector to maximise the profit potential and reduce the labour requirements. An increase in lamb price alone will not ultimately result in a more profitable enterprise. The future profitability potential for the sector may encourage new entrants to sheep farming or flock expansion for those taking over the family farm. The Teagasc outlook for the sector is again a positive one and forecasts a further 23 pc increase in net margin per Ha for 2021. The past year has resulted in an estimated 43pc increase in gross margin and a 191 pc increase in net margins on sheep farms largely as a result of a 9 pc increase in average lamb price in 2020. ![]() Tom Coll Drystock Advisor discusses 10 vital areas to maximise profit and reduce labour The future profitability potential may encourage new entrants to sheep farming. The Teagasc outlook for the sheep sector is a positive one and forecasts a further 23% increase in net margin per Ha for 2021. Botanic Gardens College of Horticulture.
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