Curleyhill flock’s Suffolks in focus

But such has been the commitment made by the people behind the name – Jason and Joseph Trimble – that this fast growing enterprise can, undoubtedly, look towards a very buoyant future.

The father and son team farm between Newry and Rathfriland with the pedigrees complementing an existing crossbred ewe flock.

“We established the pedigree flock back in 2017 and have been slowly building up numbers since,” Jason explained.

“Our interest in the pedigrees was sparked by the fact that pure bred Suffolk tups had always performed well on our commercial ewes.

“There are 25 ewes in the purebred flock at the present time. Our plan is to build numbers up to 50 breeding females. We have a reasonable number of our own ewe lambs coming through at the present time.”

Jason confirmed that all of the pedigree breeding females had now lambed.

“I am happy enough with the way the lambing season went. The pedigree ewes and lambs will be kept indoors until the beginning of March. Our 150 commercial ewes are due to start lambing on January 20.”

Both Jason and Joseph intend drenching all the lambs born on the farm this year with the unique trade mineral and vitamin supplement - Liquid Gold Sheep - from HVS Animal Health.

Jason continued: “We have traditionally taken this approach with the crossbred lambs and it has helped ensure that we can finish them at between 13 and 14 weeks of age. Giving lambs the best possible start is crucially important. Liquid Gold Sheep has helped make this objective a reality.

“All the ewes on the farm, pedigree and commercial, were dosed with Liquid Gold Sheep four weeks prior to lambing. It’s an approach that helps to boost lamb vitality and colostrum.

“We have found that all our lambs are born ready to suck and want to thrive from the outset.

“In addition, all the lambs will be dosed with Liquid Gold Sheep at six weeks of age. We procure the product from Mayobridge Pharmacy. ”

Recent research has confirmed the potential for the sheep sector in Northern Ireland to increase its overall output and efficiency of production. In part, this progression will be achieved on the back of ewes rearing more lambs per annum.

“The nutrition of the ewe in the run-up to lambing will be crucially important in this regard, as will giving lambs the best possible start to life,” confirmed Paul Elwood from HVS Animal Health.

Paul went on to point out that the most effective way of maximising lambing and weaning percentages within flocks this year is to drench ewes with Liquid Gold Sheep prior to lambing.

“The reality is that an animal can only perform to the level of the greatest deficiency or imbalance in its diet. All forage based diets contain imbalances and consequently most stock never exceed 75% of their genetic potential in terms of growth, fertility, development of immunity etc,” he said.

For trace elements to be available to stock, they must be of high quality and must link up with one or more amino acids or peptides in the rumen, prior to being absorbed through the gut wall into the blood stream.

Ruminant livestock are not ideally equipped to effect this “link up” and a significant proportion of trace elements and vitamins supplied in conventional form, pass straight through the body and are excreted.

Paul Elwood again: “It is for this reason that ewes respond so well to Liquid Gold Sheep, our proven trace mineral and vitamin drench. Over the past number of years local flockowners have found that ewes drenched with the product give birth to lambs with more vigour. Problems associated with retained cleaning are also dramatically reduced.”

Where sheep are concerned the Liquid Gold drench can be used pre tupping and pre-lambing to improve lambing percentages, reduce the number of barren ewes within a flock and to tighten up lambing dates. The dosage rate is 20 mls per ewe.

“Liquid Gold can also be given to lambs, from one month of age onwards,” Paul Elwood concluded.

For further information, contact Paul Elwood on 07831 257319.