Potential of May lambing in NI sheep flocks
Project aims
- Assess and develop the role of May lambing in Northern Ireland sheep flocks as a means of improving farm physical and financial performance, animal welfare and environmental good practice.
Objectives/targets
- Evaluation of productivity of May lambing flock.
- Assess profitability of this enterprise.
Justification
- The increase in part-time farming and increases in unit size mean that low labour input systems for sheep will be required. May lambing reduces labour requirements and improves welfare of lambs.
Technology transferred/system being developed
- Lambing in May to ensure that lambing occurs between spring cultivations and silage making.
Methods used
- Ewes housed and fed silage only – reducing concentrate inputs.
- Ewes turned out one month before lambing.
- Maximum grass demand coincides with maximum grass growth - reducing fertiliser inputs.
Potential benefits
- Spreads out labour requirements over the busy spring season.
- More ewes per person can be lambed as ewes are lambing outside.
- Improved welfare of new born lambs given better weather conditions at lambing.
- Supply of quality lamb when the general quality of lamb is falling.
