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Virtual Sheep Week

Day 4 - Flock Health 

On Thursday the focus was on flock health. If you missed anything on the day the webinar, publications and videos are all available below 

Having a high health status of your flock is a critical corner stone to improving flock productivity and profitability. 

The panel discussion was led by Michael Gottstein, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Michael was joined by:

Virtual Sheep Week Day 4 speakers

Orla Keane discussed why good parasite control is vital to flock health and welfare and how it is threatened by the emergence of parasites resistant to the commonly used anthelmintics (wormers). She highlighted the key steps that farmers can take to prolong the life of the currently available anthelmintics.

Tim Keady provided knowledge on the mineral and vitamin supplementation and delivery strategies being used on Irish sheep farms. He dealt with farmer’s understanding of, and opinions, in relation to mineral supplementation strategies and deficiencies. He discussed recent studies undertaken on mineral supplementation of growing lambs and pregnant ewes. 

Maresa Sheehan discussed in detail the importance of having and implementing good biosecurity protocols and quarantine procedures on your farm to maintain flock health. There are a number of emerging disease that flock owners should be aware of and the importance of keeping them out of your sheep flock.

 

Flock Health Videos

  • Dosing gun calibration

    Teagasc Sheep Specialist Damian Costello goes through the process of calibrating your dosing gun when drenching sheep

  • Identifying worm burden - routine faecal sampling

    Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep, Teagasc outlines how carrying out routine dung samples from a batch of lambs will help identify whether or not the lambs need a dose. Michael also runs through the process of how you take a sample

  • Protecting yourself from Infections

    All farm animals naturally carry a number of organisms which can be transferred to humans and cause ill health. In this short clip, Sean Doorley, Teagasc drystock advisors highlights ways to improve good farm hygiene to try to prevent the spread of disease from animals to humans.

  • My experience with colbalt deficiency - John Curley

    Sheep farmer John Curley farms in a limestone area in Co. Roscommon which has the trouble of being deficient in cobalt and the sheep need to be supplemented. John tells of his experience of ill thrift in lambs and he overcame this problem through a trial with Teagasc and supplemetation

 Publications