Reducing the seasonality of prime lamb production

End of Project ReportLambing part of the national lowland flock in April to late May has potential to reduce the seasonality of supply and extend the season for prime young lamb. This would, potentially, enhance ability to maintain and increase market share for Irish lamb. A farmlet system was operated over two years, with some 50 ewes on 4 ha of pasture. The objectives were: to assess the overall performance of a flock lambing in mid to late April : to monitor lamb growth rate and drafting patterns for lambs; to determine the changes in feed demand over the season; to identify any saving in feed costs, and any difficulties that may arise with late lambing. The feed demand over the grazing season differs from normal March lambing. A grass surplus tends to occur in April/May and a deficit in November/December, and this imbalance between supply and demand increases if lambing is in late May. The balance between feed demand and supply may be more easily achieved where sheep are combined with cattle or tillage. Results show that a late-lambing flock can be managed successfully on an all-grass farm. If lambing takes place from mid-April to late May, some lambs will finish off pasture in September/October. Remainder can be finished indoor on silage with concentrate supplementation for sale in October to February. Lambing from mid-April onwards allows ewes to be at pasture for 4 to 6 weeks pre-lambing and concentrate feeding to ewes pre or post lambing should not be necessary. However this saving on concentrate input is offset by the need for concentrates to finish lambs. Lamb growth rate on pasture to weaning will be somewhat lower than with March lambing, due to deterioration in pasture digestibility in mid-season. A high standard of grassland management is critical to maintain pastures leafy, in order to achieve high lamb growth rate pre and post weaning. Profitability will depend on supplying niche markets with younger lambs at premium prices.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF

Effect of grazing management on the maintenance of white clover

End of Project ReportTeagasc acknowledges the support of the European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF) and the European Union DGX11 (Science and Technology for Development Programme, Sub-programme Life Sciences and Technologies for Developing Countries (ST3) in Contract TS3* CT93 0202) in the financing of this project.The objectives of the project were to compare different cultivar types and methods to establish and maintain them in reseeded and permanent pastures as a basis for efficient low cost sheep production. In Ireland only 3% of pastures are reseeded annually and permanent pastures rarely contain more than 5% white clover. Improved clover content offers benefits of higher lamb growth rate and reduced fertiliser N use. Comparisons under cutting conditions provided no basis for replacement of Grasslands Huia by the new cultivar Aberherald. Grasslands Huia established successfully following direct reseeding and rotational grazing by sheep. It established more quickly than Kentish and gave higher yield only in the first year. A mixture of small and medium size white clovers should be sown for sheep grazing. Increasing seeding rate from 2 to 4 kg per ha increased pasture clover content only in the first year. Grasslands Huia persisted quite well for up to 5 years under rotational sheep grazing. It also survived under continuous grazing but leaf size was reduced. Rotational grazing management with sheep increased the clover content of permanent pasture from under 2% to 4% over 2 years. Highest clover yields were achieved with rest intervals of 20 to 28 days. Simulated mixed sheep and cattle rotational grazing on permanent pasture resulted in intermediate (10 to 12%) clover dry matter contributions to total dry matter compared with cattle (15 to 18%) and sheep (5 to 8%). Lamb growth rate was about 35% higher when the clover content of the sward was increased from very low to about 35%.European Unio

Extending the season for prime lamb production from grass

End of Project ReportsIn recent years there has been some interest shown by exporters in acquiring younger lambs than those remaining from the normal springlambing flocks involved in mid-season or store lamb production systems, to supply niche markets in the November to February period. Lambing ewes later in the year, i.e. April to June, offers an opportunity to supply such niche markets with younger lamb. Two farmlet systems were each operated over two years with 59 to 69 ewes on 4.5 ha of pasture in an all-grass production system. The objectives were: to assess the overall performance of flocks in late-lambing systems, to monitor lamb growth rates and drafting pattern, to monitor carcass quality in terms of weight, conformation and fatscore, and to identify any difficulties that may be associated with late lambing systems.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF

National Soils Database

End of project reportThe objectives of the National Soils Database project were fourfold. The first was to generate a national database of soil geochemistry to complete the work that commenced with a survey of the South East of Ireland carried out in 1995 and 1996 by Teagasc (McGrath and McCormack, 1999). Secondly, to produce point and interpolated spatial distribution maps of major, minor and trace elements and to interpret these with respect to underlying parent material, glacial geology, land use and possible anthropogenic effects. A third objective was to investigate the microbial community structure in a range of soil types to determine the relationship between soil microbiology and chemistry. The final objective was to establish a National Soils Archive

Lamb Growth Rate On Pasture : Effect Of Grazing Management, Sward Type And Supplementation

End of Project ReportIn spring-lambing flocks an important objective is to achieve high lamb growth rate on pasture so that most lambs are drafted for slaughter by September. Lamb growth rate can vary greatly depending on the type of pasture being grazed. A series of grazing trials was carried out to assess the effect of pasture type, sward height, herbage allowance and concentrate supplementation on lamb growth rate pre and post weaning. Sward height was a useful indicator of the suitability of pasture for sheep grazing. A height of about 6 cm was near optimum for set stocking until late May. A decline in lamb growth rate frequently experienced in the month pre-weaning in June can largely be prevented if sward height is increased to 6 to 8 cm, or the flock grazed on aftergrass at a similar height. With rotational grazing, tight grazing to a residual sward height of 4 cm was beneficial in preventing the pasture becoming stemmy in June but reduced lamb weaning weight. Tight grazing in April when pasture is leafy is less restrictive on lamb growth than in June when the base of the sward is more stemmy. Post grazing heights of 4, 5 and 6 cm for April, May and June respectively, are suggested as a guide in order to achieve high lamb growth. There was a response to creep-feeding lambs. When concentrates were offered at 250 g/lamb/day from age 5 to 14 weeks the extra liveweight at weaning was associated with feed conversion ratios of 4.4 to 6.3 Creep grazing increased lamb weaning weight by over 2 kg and facilitated grazing the pastures tightly in June without penalising lamb growth. Lamb growth to weaning was better on pasture not grazed by sheep in the previous year and this benefit was at least partly attributable to lower level of parasites on the pasture. Lamb growth rate on pasture post-weaning varied greatly, from under 100 to over 200 g/day depending on the type of pasture grazed. For set stocking a sward height of 8 to 9 cm was required to maximise lamb growth. For rotational grazing, swards should be grazed down to about 6 cm. However the effect of sward height is modified by previous grazing management, in that tight grazing pre-weaning results in a more leafy pasture and higher lamb growth at comparable sward heights post-weaning. Pasture type also affected lamb growth. There was little difference between old permanent pasture and a mainly perennial ryegrass pasture when grazed at similar sward heights, or when lambs were given similar herbage allowances. However growth rates were considerably higher on grass/clover swards at equivalent allowances or similar sward heights. There was a close relationship between herbage allowance and lamb growth, with highest growth rate achieved at an allowance of about 5 kg of dry matter per lamb per day. Concentrate supplementation of weaned lambs on pasture (at 250 to 550 g/lamb/day) increased liveweight, carcass weight and kill-out proportion. Response to concentrates was slightly better on short grass. Feed conversion ratio for carcass gain ranged from 7 to 12 on short grass, 7 to 20 on long grass and was 14 when concentrates were offered ad libitum. Concentrate supplementation resulted in a higher proportion of lambs being drafted off pasture by late September (90 to 100 %) compared with 60 to 65% for lambs on grass only.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF

Feeding Prolific Ewes in Late Pregnancy and Rearing Triplet Lambs.

End of Project ReportIn prolific flocks a significant proportion of ewes give birth to 3 or more lambs. It was considered that the birth weight of triplet lambs, and also of twins, could be increased by offering ewes a higher than normal level of concentrate supplementation in late pregnancy. Trials for the evaluation of rates of supplementation were conducted during the years 2000 and 2001. In-wintered ewes were offered silage ad libitum. Based on scanning results groups of twin-bearing (twins) and triplet-bearing (triplets) mature ewes were offered one of three rates of supplementation in late pregnancy. The lower rate in each case was set at a level considered appropriate for twins or triplets. Two groups of twin-bearing hoggets were offered either a low or high rate of supplementation. Average silage intake over the last 6 weeks of pregnancy was 0.8 to 0.9 kg dry matter per day. Intake by triplets was about 95 percent of that by twins, while intake by triplets at the high rate of supplementation was 90 percent of that at the low rate. Total dry matter and metabolisable energy intakes were increased by supplementation. Triplets had significantly lower condition score than twins at lambing but the rate of supplementation did not affect condition score. Average condition score of all ewes decreased by 0.6 units between mid pregnancy and lambing, a decline that is considered acceptable.Average birth weight of triplet lambs was about 1 kg lower than for twins from mature ewes. The high rate of supplementation increased the birth weight of twins by 0.51 kg and triplets by 0.26 kg. Birth weight of twins from hoggets was not affected by the rates of supplementation offered. The rearing of triplet lambs by their dam, rather than cross fostering or artificial rearing the third lamb, may be a useful option in prolific flocks. Previous research findings showed that triplets were reared successfully by selected ewes when the ewes were offered concentrate supplementation for 4 to 6 weeks at pasture post lambing, and the lambs received creep feed from birth to sale. Trials were carried out over two years to assess the response to concentrate supplementation of ewes at pasture post lambing and creep feeding lambs with a view to reducing the quantity and cost of concentrates for rearing triplet lambs. Concentrates at 1 kg/ewe/day were offered to ewes at pasture for 3 or 6 weeks post lambing. Creep feed was available to lambs from week 1 and offered at one of three rates : 300g/day to age 10 weeks: 300 g/day to sale, or 600 g/day to sale. Lambs were drafted for sale by weight and condition and carcasses were classified according to MLC standards. There was no response to feeding concentrates to ewes for 6 weeks rather than 3 weeks in this situation when grass supply was considered adequate. Weaning weight was increased by offering creep feed to lambs to 14 rather than 10 weeks. All lambs were finished to acceptable carcass weights and grades. The main effect of continuing creep feeding lambs to sale was to reduce the average age at sale. The medium and high levels of creep reduced the average age at sale by 20 and 45 days respectively compared with the low rate. However the total quantity of concentrates offered per ewe plus 3 lambs was about 60, 120 and 180 kg for the vi low, medium and high rates of creep respectively, including 21 kg concentrates for the ewes post lambing.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF

Extending the season for prime lamb production from grass

End of Project ReportsIn recent years there has been some interest shown by exporters in acquiring younger lambs than those remaining from the normal springlambing flocks involved in mid-season or store lamb production systems, to supply niche markets in the November to February period. Lambing ewes later in the year, i.e. April to June, offers an opportunity to supply such niche markets with younger lamb. Two farmlet systems were each operated over two years with 59 to 69 ewes on 4.5 ha of pasture in an all-grass production system. The objectives were: to assess the overall performance of flocks in late-lambing systems, to monitor lamb growth rates and drafting pattern, to monitor carcass quality in terms of weight, conformation and fatscore, and to identify any difficulties that may be associated with late lambing systems.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF

Feeding Prolific Ewes in Late Pregnancy and Rearing Triplet Lambs.

End of Project ReportIn prolific flocks a significant proportion of ewes give birth to 3 or more lambs. It was considered that the birth weight of triplet lambs, and also of twins, could be increased by offering ewes a higher than normal level of concentrate supplementation in late pregnancy. Trials for the evaluation of rates of supplementation were conducted during the years 2000 and 2001. In-wintered ewes were offered silage ad libitum. Based on scanning results groups of twin-bearing (twins) and triplet-bearing (triplets) mature ewes were offered one of three rates of supplementation in late pregnancy. The lower rate in each case was set at a level considered appropriate for twins or triplets. Two groups of twin-bearing hoggets were offered either a low or high rate of supplementation. Average silage intake over the last 6 weeks of pregnancy was 0.8 to 0.9 kg dry matter per day. Intake by triplets was about 95 percent of that by twins, while intake by triplets at the high rate of supplementation was 90 percent of that at the low rate. Total dry matter and metabolisable energy intakes were increased by supplementation. Triplets had significantly lower condition score than twins at lambing but the rate of supplementation did not affect condition score. Average condition score of all ewes decreased by 0.6 units between mid pregnancy and lambing, a decline that is considered acceptable.Average birth weight of triplet lambs was about 1 kg lower than for twins from mature ewes. The high rate of supplementation increased the birth weight of twins by 0.51 kg and triplets by 0.26 kg. Birth weight of twins from hoggets was not affected by the rates of supplementation offered. The rearing of triplet lambs by their dam, rather than cross fostering or artificial rearing the third lamb, may be a useful option in prolific flocks. Previous research findings showed that triplets were reared successfully by selected ewes when the ewes were offered concentrate supplementation for 4 to 6 weeks at pasture post lambing, and the lambs received creep feed from birth to sale. Trials were carried out over two years to assess the response to concentrate supplementation of ewes at pasture post lambing and creep feeding lambs with a view to reducing the quantity and cost of concentrates for rearing triplet lambs. Concentrates at 1 kg/ewe/day were offered to ewes at pasture for 3 or 6 weeks post lambing. Creep feed was available to lambs from week 1 and offered at one of three rates : 300g/day to age 10 weeks: 300 g/day to sale, or 600 g/day to sale. Lambs were drafted for sale by weight and condition and carcasses were classified according to MLC standards. There was no response to feeding concentrates to ewes for 6 weeks rather than 3 weeks in this situation when grass supply was considered adequate. Weaning weight was increased by offering creep feed to lambs to 14 rather than 10 weeks. All lambs were finished to acceptable carcass weights and grades. The main effect of continuing creep feeding lambs to sale was to reduce the average age at sale. The medium and high levels of creep reduced the average age at sale by 20 and 45 days respectively compared with the low rate. However the total quantity of concentrates offered per ewe plus 3 lambs was about 60, 120 and 180 kg for the vi low, medium and high rates of creep respectively, including 21 kg concentrates for the ewes post lambing.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF

Lamb Growth Rate On Pasture : Effect Of Grazing Management, Sward Type And Supplementation

End of Project ReportIn spring-lambing flocks an important objective is to achieve high lamb growth rate on pasture so that most lambs are drafted for slaughter by September. Lamb growth rate can vary greatly depending on the type of pasture being grazed. A series of grazing trials was carried out to assess the effect of pasture type, sward height, herbage allowance and concentrate supplementation on lamb growth rate pre and post weaning. Sward height was a useful indicator of the suitability of pasture for sheep grazing. A height of about 6 cm was near optimum for set stocking until late May. A decline in lamb growth rate frequently experienced in the month pre-weaning in June can largely be prevented if sward height is increased to 6 to 8 cm, or the flock grazed on aftergrass at a similar height. With rotational grazing, tight grazing to a residual sward height of 4 cm was beneficial in preventing the pasture becoming stemmy in June but reduced lamb weaning weight. Tight grazing in April when pasture is leafy is less restrictive on lamb growth than in June when the base of the sward is more stemmy. Post grazing heights of 4, 5 and 6 cm for April, May and June respectively, are suggested as a guide in order to achieve high lamb growth. There was a response to creep-feeding lambs. When concentrates were offered at 250 g/lamb/day from age 5 to 14 weeks the extra liveweight at weaning was associated with feed conversion ratios of 4.4 to 6.3 Creep grazing increased lamb weaning weight by over 2 kg and facilitated grazing the pastures tightly in June without penalising lamb growth. Lamb growth to weaning was better on pasture not grazed by sheep in the previous year and this benefit was at least partly attributable to lower level of parasites on the pasture. Lamb growth rate on pasture post-weaning varied greatly, from under 100 to over 200 g/day depending on the type of pasture grazed. For set stocking a sward height of 8 to 9 cm was required to maximise lamb growth. For rotational grazing, swards should be grazed down to about 6 cm. However the effect of sward height is modified by previous grazing management, in that tight grazing pre-weaning results in a more leafy pasture and higher lamb growth at comparable sward heights post-weaning. Pasture type also affected lamb growth. There was little difference between old permanent pasture and a mainly perennial ryegrass pasture when grazed at similar sward heights, or when lambs were given similar herbage allowances. However growth rates were considerably higher on grass/clover swards at equivalent allowances or similar sward heights. There was a close relationship between herbage allowance and lamb growth, with highest growth rate achieved at an allowance of about 5 kg of dry matter per lamb per day. Concentrate supplementation of weaned lambs on pasture (at 250 to 550 g/lamb/day) increased liveweight, carcass weight and kill-out proportion. Response to concentrates was slightly better on short grass. Feed conversion ratio for carcass gain ranged from 7 to 12 on short grass, 7 to 20 on long grass and was 14 when concentrates were offered ad libitum. Concentrate supplementation resulted in a higher proportion of lambs being drafted off pasture by late September (90 to 100 %) compared with 60 to 65% for lambs on grass only.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF

Reducing the seasonality of prime lamb production

End of Project ReportLambing part of the national lowland flock in April to late May has potential to reduce the seasonality of supply and extend the season for prime young lamb. This would, potentially, enhance ability to maintain and increase market share for Irish lamb. A farmlet system was operated over two years, with some 50 ewes on 4 ha of pasture. The objectives were: to assess the overall performance of a flock lambing in mid to late April : to monitor lamb growth rate and drafting patterns for lambs; to determine the changes in feed demand over the season; to identify any saving in feed costs, and any difficulties that may arise with late lambing. The feed demand over the grazing season differs from normal March lambing. A grass surplus tends to occur in April/May and a deficit in November/December, and this imbalance between supply and demand increases if lambing is in late May. The balance between feed demand and supply may be more easily achieved where sheep are combined with cattle or tillage. Results show that a late-lambing flock can be managed successfully on an all-grass farm. If lambing takes place from mid-April to late May, some lambs will finish off pasture in September/October. Remainder can be finished indoor on silage with concentrate supplementation for sale in October to February. Lambing from mid-April onwards allows ewes to be at pasture for 4 to 6 weeks pre-lambing and concentrate feeding to ewes pre or post lambing should not be necessary. However this saving on concentrate input is offset by the need for concentrates to finish lambs. Lamb growth rate on pasture to weaning will be somewhat lower than with March lambing, due to deterioration in pasture digestibility in mid-season. A high standard of grassland management is critical to maintain pastures leafy, in order to achieve high lamb growth rate pre and post weaning. Profitability will depend on supplying niche markets with younger lambs at premium prices.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF