Finishing plans: weaning typically leads to a check in lamb performance, but this can be minimised by ensuring lambs have access to top-quality grazing. It is a good idea to weigh lambs to take stock of the position you are in and allow finishing plans to be put in place.

Once weaned, heavier or more forward lambs should be given access to the best-quality grass. Many farmers have successfully implemented finishing groups in recent years, whereby lambs approaching slaughter weight are grouped together for preferential treatment. This can take the form of transferring on to forage crops, or introducing concentrate supplementation to underpin performance.

The positive growth rates in recent weeks in the western half of the country and midlands have boosted grass supplies, while many farmers in the southeast and south are contending with lower growth rates due to soil moisture deficits. In such cases, offering concentrate supplementation to heavier ram lambs may be an option to underpin performance and keep lambs moving.

Each farm will need to weigh up their own situation and taking stock of the weight of lambs on hand will inform decisions. Where concentrates are being introduced, then the most economical response for most is offering a restricted level of 300g to 500g daily.

A major factor influencing performance is grazing management and not forcing lambs to graze lower-quality herbage at the base of the sward. Lambs should ideally be removed from swards when they have grazed to 5cm to 6cm – this will be influenced by previous grazing management and can be lower in aftergrass swards. Lower priority animals, such as ewes/dry hoggets, can then be used to graze swards down to a lower level.

Lamb castration: research clearly shows that given optimum conditions ram lambs will perform better than castrates. Challenges often occur as the season progresses in finishing lambs to a suitable fat cover and in such circumstances castration may be a better option. This applies moreso to later born and light lambs. Under the Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme castration must take place before animals turn three months of age. The only option available to farmers after lambs turn seven days of age is to use a burdizzo.

When castrating lambs be careful to avoid catching the urinary tract when closing the burdizzo – clamp the jaws shut and release immediately without overlapping the castration site on each side.

Delayed opening or longer-term closure can lead to extra injury and swelling. It is recommended to administer a clostridial disease vaccine in advance of castration to help guard against tetanus infection and also to take necessary precautions for blowfly, as lambs will typically spend longer lying and be more prone to strike following the practice.

Store trade: there have been some reports in the last week of farmers panicking a bit with factory prices falling and drafting lambs at very light weights. The store trade is strong with plenty of buyers for short and longer-keep stores. Farmers with lighter lambs which they wish to move should consider this outlet rather than risking sending very light lambs for slaughter and being at risk of lambs killing underweight and subject to price penalties.