1. Sheep Research/Demo Farm Teagasc Athenry Philip Creighton 04 th May 2012

2. Research Demo Farm Objective: To develop profitable and sustainable pasture-based systems of sheep production Key areas: Stocking rate Prolificacy Grass supply and demand Lamb performance at pasture

3. Sub Objectives Describe treatment effects on: Feed requirements of systems Animal performance Pasture growth, utilisation and quality Economic impact

4. Research Focus Optimum Stocking rate (ewes/ha) Prolificacy (lambs weaned/ewe) Lamb growth rates pre /post weaning Finishing lambs from grass Working towards refining Breeding index

5. Research study Stocking Rate Low(10 ewes/ha) Medium(12 ewes/ha) High(14 ewes/ha) Prolificacy Medium(1.5 lambs weaned/ewe) High(1.8 lambs weaned/ewe) Full system farmlets – self sufficient systems

6. Objective Investigate the effects of stocking rate and ewe prolificacy on ; Lamb output/ewe and /ha Feed requirement and budgets Pasture growth and utilisation Overall system profitability Closed system study

7. System study 6 groups – 60 animals per group = 360 ewes Medium prolific strain – Dominant breed type on farm – Suffolk X ewe High prolific strain – Belclare X ewe Allow for comparison of the effects of stocking rate and lamb output per ewe

8. Farm Layout

9. Management Six independent farmlets 10 ewes/ha -Medium Prolificacy (LM- Blue) High Prolificacy (LH- Purple) 12 ewes/ha -Medium Prolificacy (MM- Black) High Prolificacy (MH- Red) 14 ewes/ha- Medium Prolificacy (HM- Yellow) High Prolificacy (HH- Green)

10. Grassland measurements Full quantification of system Pre and post DM yields (utilisation) Daily herbage allowance Daily intake Pasture quality (weekly) Leaf, stem and dead (fortnightly) Farmlet areas – self sufficient- forage bought in if not possible Feed budgets

11. Grass Utilisation Grass production Potential from grass/clover system Intake requirements/feed budget Ewes and Lambs Grass measurement and budgeting Adoption Improving Sward Quality/content Suitability / Sustainability of Grass/clover varieties

12. Animal performance Lamb performance at pasture Growth rate pre and post weaning Health Mortality Parasite challenge Drafting pattern Drafting rates grass budget – lambs finished or sold as stores

13. Update

14. Scanning Litter SizeMedium prolificacyHigh prolificacy Singles2919 Twins135120 Triplets1333 Quadruples03 Barren35 Avg Litter size1.872.06 Raw data – not statistically analysed

15. Lambing 2012 Lambing commenced March 3 rd 80% lambed in first 17days 95% lambed by end of March Mortality Average ~9% HP ~11% MP ~7%

16. Lambing 2012

17. Flock Health Ewe Mortality 3.5-4% (Jan-Mar 2012) Clostridia – Sordelli E- coli Mastitis Prolapse Meningitis

18. Grassland Paddocks closed rotationally from late October Growth rate of 3-4kg DM/day over winter (mild conditions) First paddocks grazed cover of 1200-1300kg DM/ha (8- 9cm) Very strong grass growth during March 30-60 kg DM/ha /day 25% of farmlet areas removed in late March for silage Mild winter, Reseeded swards Further 15% of LSR farmlets removed in early April May need to graze some of this

19. Grassland Current situation Growth rate of ~35-40 Kg DM/ha/day ~10 days grass ahead @allowance of 3kg DM/head/day Intake ranging 2.8-3.2kg DM/day Silage removed to bring ground in 50-100% of winter feed requirements achieved

20. Grassland Plot work Clover persistency Athenry/Moorepark/DAFM Grazing with sheep Herbage mass Sward clover content Stolon mass + tiller density Quality Dept evaluation trial Cut and graze