For the Irish spring lambing flock, July is a vital month. Our grass-based system of production is to our advantage.

The spring weather, poor grass growth, and variation in grass quality to date in 2024 have been challenging factors.

The key focus date is 100 days post-birth, which is the ideal time to start weaning lambs. This is a good time to review the flock's performance to date and set the flock up for a successful 2025 crop.

To achieve this, we must look at a various area of the flock and measure their performance.

With the aging profile of sheep farmers and a shortage of labour, many are embracing technology to help reduce labour and improve efficiency.

Irish sheep farms were the first to embrace EID tagging to aid movement and traceability once the animal left the farm.

Datamars Livestock has been at the forefront of this technology with brands like Tru-Test weighing systems a familiar find on many Irish livestock farms.

Weaning is a prime opportunity to assess ewe performance within the flock, both her lamb rearing ability and her body condition score (BCS).

Using Datamars EID tags and Tru-Test readers along with farm recording software at lambing, it is much easier to track the performance of any particular ewe and how she has contributed to the profitability of the enterprise.

It is not uncommon to have 20-30% of the flock in suboptimal BCS.

It is important that these ewes get access to high-quality grass as soon as possible post-weaning, to ensure their ideal weight at mating time later this autumn.

It is important to only restrict feed for seven to 10 days post-weaning for ewes to help dry off milk supply in their udders.

Extending feed restrictions beyond this point only increases body weight loss, which will have to be regained later in the year pre-mating.

The priority is to allocate the farm's best-quality grass to the growing lambs to maximize growth rates. There is also a need on many farms to build a wedge of grass for autumn grazing and flushing ewes.

It may make good economic sense to give priority grazing to lambs weighing above 38kg live weight, so to get them finished off grass with no meal, whilst the lamb price is under pressure.

As an upturn comes on the price front, we can then decide to either sell, as forward store lambs or introduce meal to the remaining lambs over 35kg live weight at a rate of 300g to 500g, to maximize farm output.

Lambs should continue to be weighed and drafted on a weekly basis. With a good handling/weighing system, like that of the Prattley system, (see in the accompanying video) reduces time and stress for both animals and humans.

Lameness impacts on both lamb thrive and ewe body condition scoring, as lame sheep struggle to maximize grass intake.

This is because they are selective grazers and tend to roam and selectively graze the plants they prefer, at any given time.

Lameness restricts this behaviour, leading to a possible dip in performance. Datamars permanent EID sheep tags, coupled with a Tru-Test EID reader with Bluetooth technology, offer an easy and convenient way to record sheep that present with persistent lameness issues.

It is essential to treat appropriately for parasites to ensure the best possible growth rates, and its important not to neglect the mineral requirements of the flock at weaning.

Many farmers commonly supplement with oral minerals at weaning to give the lambs the best start and replenish the ewe's mineral reserves after her rearing season.

Once again, Datamars offers tools, such as the NJ Phillips and Simcro range of animal health delivery systems, which Irish sheep farmers have used for decades to administer these drenches.

Datamars specialises on designing and creating products that enhance labour efficiency, providing Irish farmers with tools that are easy to use, quick to release, and durable.

Many farms commonly have Hayes wire pullers in their fencing bucket. Datamars is now introducing the Z Tagger, which is designed to be lightweight and fits comfortably in one hand, allowing free movement of your other hand to guide or restrain sheep.

The Z Tags TagFaster Automatic Applicator can hold 20 individual factory tags or 10 pairs of permanent tags for fast and stress-free application.

TagFaster’s unique design, with its sharp point and instant ear release, ensures accurate tag placement and minimises stress on both the animal and the operator.