'Lambs reared per ewe can increase from the current level of 1.39 to 1.55 by 2027'

Lambs reared per ewe joined can increase from the current level of 1.39 to 1.55 by 2007, according to the Teagasc 2027 sectoral roadmap.

In the roadmap, a number of areas were looked at in terms of the sheep sector, such as: market and policy issues; shape and size of the sector in 2027; environmental and land use implications; technical performance indicators; and research and technology transfer actions.

It was noted that the roadmap is a “best estimate projection” of where the sheep sector is headed based on the current known mix of economic, social and policy drivers.

In terms of performance indicators, the lowland sector can achieve significant improvements, according to the roadmap.

It stated that a stocking rate of nine ewes/ha can be achieved by 2027, by growing 9t DM/ha through improving: soil fertility; incorporating white clover into grass swards; and by replacing calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) based fertilisers with protected urea. No increase in chemical nitrogen (N) will be required.

Furthermore, increasing the stocking rate to nine ewes/ha will increase the average output per hectare from the current level of 223kg of lamb carcass to 280kg; this will generate a gross margin of approximately €825/ha at current prices and input costs.

Shape and size of the sector in 2027

When the UK leaves the EU, Ireland will be the fifth-largest sheep producer and the largest net exporter in the EU, with 82% of production exported, according to Teagasc.

The national flock in 2019 was 2.57 million ewes, having contracted slightly (by 3.2%) from the previous 10-year high in 2017.

It is expected that Irish sheep numbers will remain stable over the medium term. In 2019, 21% of flock owners had flocks of over 150 ewes.

The importance of the hill sheep sector

Irish sheep production systems play a vital role in producing high-quality protein foods for an increasing global population, from a land resource that is generally unsuited to any alternative agricultural food producing enterprise.

The Teagasc roadmap indicated that the maintenance of current hill and mountain landscapes is viewed as important from an environmental and sustainability perspective, as well as rural community and tourism perspectives.

Hill and mountain sheep farming systems operating at appropriate stocking rates and grazing the hill for up to 10 months of the year contribute significantly to maintaining high-quality habitats and rich species biodiversity.

The provision of support to hill sheep farmers on the basis of their contribution to the maintenance of hill and mountain landscapes will be essential to the maintenance of current levels of hill sheep farming activity.

It was also noted that there is scope to increase the number of organic sheep farmers, subject to the identification of sustainable routes to market for store lambs.

Research and technology transfer actions

It was stated in the roadmap that future research will be targeted at improving: animal production efficiency; grassland management and environmental science; flock health; forage crop evaluation; and rumen microbiome and greenhouse gas (GHG) production with a strong likelihood of adoption by the sheep industry.

Research/demonstration farms will continue to demonstrate the financial and technical gains in efficiency that can be achieved through better use of animal breeding, grassland management, flock health and other farm management practices.

Summary

According to the roadmap, the overall vision is for a lowland sheep sector that is competitive, grass-based and produces food that meets consumer requirements.

The vision for the hill sector is that it will be primarily supported for its role in maintaining the hill and mountain environment, in addition to producing store lambs (finishing in the period January to April) and quality prolific replacements for lowland flocks.