‘GRASS GROWTH WAS EXCEPTIONAL IN OCTOBER’

JOHN BELL reseeds 5pc of the farm annually, with his own direct seed drill.

He uses later-heading varieties, and some of the farm was recently drained using a one-pass system, which has drastically improved the production levels of the lower land on the farm. Some 3km of drainage was done over two days, and ewes were back out grazing two days later.

John measures grass with his eyes and says it works for him. Sheep are still out at grass at the moment and will be housed towards the end of the month, as long as the weather holds up.

“Growth was exceptional for October and covers got very heavy, we’re planning to house them on December 20,” he says.

“I know some would say maybe it affects spring grass but I do want the sheep to eat the covers down — they are quite heavy.”

John bought his original Belclare ewes some 20 years ago and has for the most part stuck with this breed.

“They’re easy lambing, very prolific — some people think too much so!” he says. “But I do think they need to be crossed back with a terminal Charolais, Texel or Suffolk for shaping and a better result at finishing.”

BELCLARE BLOOD

Replacement ewe lambs are predominantly of Belclare blood, he explains.

John operates a closed flock, apart from buying in the rams, which are bought at Sheep Ireland — all five-star rams.

“I figure that with a five-star ram, you have a better chance of good progeny,” he says.

Each August, John selects some 170 ewelambs, with those bred from a maternal ram earmarked. After scanning, anything not in-lamb is separated for finishing, leaving around 140 entering the flock every year.