August often feels like a “hold your nerve” month, writes Nerys Wright. Lambs are still pushing on, ewes are recovering from the demands of rearing and – if it is dry, like this year – feed can soon become a huge challenge.
When dry weather bites, the pressure on grazing can build quickly – and this is exactly when clear decisions matter most.
One of the most effective actions you can take in August is to split ewes by body condition score (BCS). It sounds basic, but it transforms how far your grazing will stretch. Ewes in good condition don’t need the same feed allocation as those that have weaned a bit thinner.
Be ruthless
If they all run together, the fittest ewes continue to eat while the ones that genuinely need the nutrition can fall further behind. Separate them, and you can target feed where needed, rather than wasting grass on sheep that don’t require it.
At weaning, be ruthless. Cull stragglers early — don’t carry passengers into autumn. Every mouth you remove now frees up feed for lambs and productive ewes. Then ask yourself the hard question: Do I have enough feed for both lambs and ewes?
If the answer to this important question is “I hope so”, that’s your red flag. Hope is not a course of action. If grass is tight, selling stores early can ease pressure and protect the performance of the stock you keep.
Dry weather also changes the worm picture. While larvae tend to stay locked in the faeces during hot, dry spells, sheep grazing closer to the ground than usual may still pick up a burden — and animals in poorer condition are less able to cope with it.
If FECs are low now, don’t switch off. The real risk comes 7–10 days after rain, when a flush of larvae can be released onto the pasture. Keep monitoring: has performance dipped, are lambs a bit dull, are ewes not holding as they should?
Small decisions now can make a big difference to autumn performance.
Nerys Wright is an independent sheep consultant. Call 07891 187643 or visit sheepconsultancy.co.uk.