Performance of Sheep on Unburned and Serially Burned Blanket Bog in Western Ireland

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Abstract
Annually for 5 yr, a heather-dominated blanket bog was burned in small patches totaling .apprx. 0.1 of the ground each year, as is done for managing red grouse. Sheep were stocked at 1 ewe ha-1 from the 2nd year onward, and in the 5th year their performance was compared with that of sheep at similar density on adjoining unburned ground. Heather regenerating on the burned area had higher nutrient contents than older, unburned heather, and was grazed during winter when preferred but deciduous grasses and sedges became scarce. Burned and grazed heather was slower to increase in standing crop and ground coverage than burned but ungrazed heather, but recovery was not prevented. The sheep on the burned area performed better throughout the annual cycle, showing 15% greater lamb production (lambs weaned per 100 ewes put to the ram), and 32% greater liveweight production (kg ha-1 at weaning), due mostly to better lamb survival and growth rates. Growth rates of individual lambs were correlated with birth weights, which averaged 30% higher on the burned area. The relevance to hill sheep husbandry and joint moor-management for sheep and grouse is discussed.