Teagasc Daily
21 July 2020
How to check the ram is fit for breeding
Rams should be checked 10 weeks before the breeding season to ensure they are fit to breed. This is to allow time to build body condition, sort out health problems, buy replacement rams, acclimatise replacements and quarantine replacements. Drystock advisor Edward Egan demonstrates what is needed.
21 July 2020
Designing a Flock Breeding Programme
The number of lambs reared per ewe joined is a key determinant of the overall financial performance of a lowland sheep enterprise. Sheep Specialist Damian Costello outlines the factors to be considered in a flock breeding programme including: culling, ram selection and purchase of breeding stock.
21 July 2020
Early Lamb Systems
This week’s OviCast discusses the pros, cons and alternatives to early lambing systems. Ciaran Lynch is joined by Shane Moore, who is farming in Co. Roscommon and Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep in Teagasc. Michael outlines the key dates and requirements for early lambing systems for 2021 while Shane explains he has run an early lamb system for many years. He discusses why it initially suited his system and why he has moved away from it in recent years as sheep numbers increased on his farm.
19 July 2020
Drench Test - Checking Product Efficacy
The drench test is a very simple procedure to check and see if the drench is working and killing the worms in the lambs. Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep in Teagasc runs through checking product efficacy of drench.
14 July 2020
Cobalt Supplementation in Sheep
Cobalt is an important mineral that's required by sheep and is used by the bugs in the rumen to metabolize vitamin B12 which is important for lamb thrive. Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep with Teagasc runs through best practice for supplementing with cobalt
14 July 2020
Sheep Newsletter - July 2020
Get the latest information & advice from the Teagasc Sheep team. In this month's edition: Grassland management; Reseeding; Anthelmintics; Breeding season; Early lamb; Research Update - Rain returning to normal levels; Better Farm Update - Some weaned early; & Health & Safety - Work at heights is dangerous
14 July 2020
Checking for resistance – the Drench test
Dealing with anthelminthic resistance is an issue on Irish sheep farms. Determining the efficacy of the products used is a necessary first step in adapting to this challenge and on this episode of OviCast, Ciaran Lynch is joined by Damian Costello, Sheep Specialist, to discuss why it’s so important to check products on farm.
13 July 2020
The Hill Sheep Sector in Ireland
The Irish Hill Sheep sector plays an important role in the economic health of rural economies and the maintenance of the natural landscape in many of Ireland’s most scenic areas. Hill sheep are a very hardy and resilient breed and are hugely responsive to improved nutrition. Michael G. Diskin and Frank Campion, Teagasc Athenry tell us more.
11 July 2020
Better Farm Sheep Update - Patrick Dunne, Co. Wicklow
Patrick Dunne is a participant in the Teagasc Sheep Better Farm Programme. The programme focuses on grassland management, breeding and production methods. Patrick gives an overview of this farm as well as an update on what's been happening on the farm.
30 June 2020
Control of stomach worms – improving sustainability
Nationally anthelmintic resistance i.e. the ability of parasites to survive a dose that should kill them, is increasing for the 3 most common products we use for control. Find out about the key actions that will help maintain a susceptible worm population and prolong the efficacy of commonly used anthelminthic products.
30 June 2020
Farmer Focus, Patrick Dunne: Changing systems and dealing with this year’s drought
Sheep BETTER farm participant Patrick Dunne who farms in the Wicklow Mountains joins Ciaran Lynch on this week’s OviCast who discusses his farming system as well as dealing with this year's drought.
23 June 2020
Selecting Flock Replacements
Breeding ewe replacements from within your own flock has a number of advantages including allowing you to breed the best performing ewes in the flock with a high genetic merit maternal sire. Damian Costello, Sheep Specialist, has more information
23 June 2020
Control of stomach worms - improving sustainability
Anthelminthic resistance is one of the key challenges for the sheep industry. Ciaran Lynch was joined by Teagasc Researcher Dr Orla Keane on this week's episode of OviCast who discusses four key areas that will help to maintain a susceptible worm population and prolong the efficacy of commonly used anthelminthic products.
16 June 2020
Using a creep gate to creep graze lambs
Creep grazing is extremely useful when grass supplies are tight & during dry spells. Hugh Rooney, Teagasc Drystock Advisor highlights the advantages of creep grazing & explains how to set up creep grazing for lambs.
16 June 2020
Finishing lambs from grass only
One of the biggest challenges for sheep farmers is to finish lambs as quickly as possible from grass. Edward Egan, Teagasc Drystock Advisor in Meath has some advice and information.
16 June 2020
Considering the hard-to-see traits when selecting replacements
A lot of flocks have started the process of selecting their replacement ewe lambs for this season and with this in mind we’re joined by Dr Fiona McGovern on this week's episode of OviCast who shares some of her insights in the area.
09 June 2020
The Data Quality Index and commercial performance recording
Sheep Ireland’s Dr Alan Bohan joins Ciaran Lynch on this week’s episode of OviCast to discuss the Data Quality Index (DQI) and performance recording on commercial farms.
09 June 2020
Supplementing lambs with minerals post weaning
Over 55% of Irish sheep farmers supplement their lambs with minerals post weaning. Research has shown that cobalt and selenium are the main trace elements of concern. Athenry researcher Dr Tim Keady gives some advice.
07 June 2020
Sheep Newsletter - June 2020
Get the latest information & advice from the Teagasc Sheep team. In this month's edition: Grassland; Content for children; Blowfly; Research update - INZAC and breeding flocks at Teagasc Athenry; Weaning; BETTER Farm update - Lamb growth on target and Health & Safety - Farm deaths rise.
02 June 2020
Dealing with grass shortage - reducing demand on sheep farms
There is some rain forecast for later this week, farms that might be short of grass will have to wait for this to have an impact and for grass growth to improve. Sheep specialist Michael Gottstein has some advice for sheep farmers.
02 June 2020
Focus on weaning
We are joined by Sheep Specialist Michael Gottstein on this week's episode of OviCast who starts by discussing why it’s important to wean lambs in a timely manner and how leaving lambs on for prolonged period can have an adverse effect on lamb performance and the ewes ability to regain condition.
30 May 2020
Let's Talk Cattle & Sheep Webinar- Reducing Lameness in Sheep
The second webinar in the 'Let's Talk Cattle & Sheep' series which took place on Wednesday, 27th May, which dealt with reducing lameness in sheep
26 May 2020
Effective Footbath Sheep Facilities
We are joined by Sheep Specialist Damian Costello on the latest episode of OviCast who starts by discussing the role of good footbath facilities in a lameness control programme and why batch footbaths are preferable.
26 May 2020
Teagasc BETTER Sheep Farms - Lamb performance from birth to 7 weeks old
Weighing Lambs at 7 weeks is crucial to assessing the ewe flock and it also gives a picture as to how the lambs are performing. BETTER Sheep Farmer, Shane Moore from Co. Roscommon gives an update from his farm.
26 May 2020
The INZAC Flock - Update May 2020
The Ireland New Zealand across breed animal comparison study (INZAC flock) aims to validate the Irish maternal (Replacement) genetic sheep index and to compare Irish versus New Zealand genetically elite animals. Fiona McGovern and Henry Walsh give an update on the flock.
19 May 2020
Shearing season underway
In this episode of OviCast we catch up with George Graham Campion sheep shearer. George starts by outlining how the current restrictions are changing the way shearers are operating this season.
19 May 2020
Research update - Alternative forages finishing hill and store lambs
Progress is underway on an experiment investigating the options for finishing hill and store lambs on forage based diets. In this video Frank Campion, Teagasc Sheep gives us an insight into the project.
19 May 2020
Blowfly Control in Sheep Flocks
Flystrike is a production limiting, costly and sometimes fatal condition in sheep. When it comes to Blowfly strike the aim should really be to prevent it from happening in the first place. Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc tells us more.
12 May 2020
Blowfly Control in Sheep
As we approach the high risk period for blowfly, we are joined by Teagasc Advisor, Tom Coll on this week's episode of OviCast Teagasc Sheep Podcast who discusses the topic in more detail.
12 May 2020
Blowfly Control
In this video, Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep, Teagasc explains that there's a number of different options in terms of the control, treatment and prevention of blowfly strike in sheep.
09 May 2020
Lameness treatment - Footbathing
Tom Coll, Teagasc outlines why you should footbath your sheep and also gives an overview of the steps you should take in the preparation of creating your footbath.
05 May 2020
Making high DMD silage
In this week's episode of OviCast, Teagasc Sheep Podcast, we are joined by Damian Costello, Teagasc Sheep Specialist who discusses some of the key steps in producing high DMD silage.
05 May 2020
Removing surplus - Keeping grass supply on track
We have seen a big change in the grass situation on most sheep farms around the country in recent weeks. There has been an increase in growth rate and as a result we now see a surplus on farms.
05 May 2020
Sheep Newsletter - May 2020
In this months edition get information and advice on: Grassland management, flock health, EuroSheep, BETTER Farm Update, Time for a drenching, Research Update, Lambing finished, grass growth improved
28 April 2020
Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sheep sector
Dr. Kevin Hanrahan, Teagasc joins Ciaran Lynch on this week's Ovicast to discuss how the global recession will impact the Agri-sector with a particular focus on the sheep industry. Michael Gottstein, Teagasc highlights key areas where costs can be reduced and where the easy gains can be made.
28 April 2020
Importance of quality silage for sheep
Research carried out in Teagasc Athenry has highlighted the potential to reduce amount of concentrates fed to ewes in late pregnancy when high feed value silage is available.
28 April 2020
Temporary Fencing for Sheep
SHEEP: With grass growth increasing on sheep farms now is the ideal time to think about sub dividing fields to maintain grass quality.
24 April 2020
Sheep Research Demonstration farm Athenry - Update
SHEEP: Research to date shows that including white clover in the sward relative to perennial ryegrass alone results in lambs reaching slaughter weight faster
15 April 2020
Parasite challenges in young lambs – Nematodirus & Coccidia
SHEEP: If lambs are infected by the parasites Nematodirus & Coccidia prompt treatment is necessary as they can have immediate and long lasting effects on lambs. Sheep specialist Ciaran Lynch has advice.
01 April 2020
Sheep Management Notes - Grassland Management and Grass Tetany
SHEEP: Advice on how to manage grass supplies until growth rates exceed demand and grass starts to accumulate on your farm. Also, it is important to be aware of grass tetany, which is a common and usually fatal condition that affects lactating ewes.