Sheep

Nematodirus and coccidia in young lambs

The first two parasite challenges young lambs will face each spring is that of nematodirus and coccidia. This challenge occurs in lambs annually at a similar age and stage of the year, Ciaran Lynch, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, explains more.
11 April 2023

Counting sheep emissions

Experts at Teagasc have been using life cycle assessment, an internationally-recognised methodology, to calculate the environmental performance of average sheep systems in Ireland and to determine the effect of recommended practices.
06 April 2023

New study aims to get to grips with lameness

On this week’s OviCast podcast, we’re joined by Jake Delaney, postgraduate student, and Dr. Frank Campion, Teagasc Researcher, to discuss a new project that aims to examine lameness and associated issues on Irish farms.
04 April 2023

Tackling infectious lameness

With the majority of flocks experiencing cases each year, it’s unsurprising that infectious lameness is among the top health and welfare concerns for sheep farmers.
04 April 2023

TAMS 3: Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme open

Applications are now open for the TAMS 3 Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS), which provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holding.
31 March 2023

Dealing with the current adverse weather conditions

Conditions during March have been difficult and has thrown up many challenges for farmers.
30 March 2023

Measuring physical and financial flock performance

The Teagasc eProfit Monitor is a unique tool that allows farmers and their advisers to analyse both physical and financial data on the farm enterprises, Damian Costello, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, tells us about the tool.
28 March 2023

Genetics: a move in the right direction

The sheep industry is facing challenging times, with increased input costs, resistance to parasitic infection treatments and pressures to meet greenhouse gas targets. While genetics are not the silver bullet, they are a proven solution. Kevin McDermott, Programme Manager for Sheep Ireland discusses.
27 March 2023

Watch: ‘Feed costs are very high so you need to be feeding accurately’

Farming organically since 2015, Amy Jackson farms in partnership with her husband Ross on their 50.5ha sheep and tillage farm in north Tipperary.
25 March 2023

CAP 2023-2027: How is your farm affected?

On the 1st of January this year, a new five-year CAP period started. Andy Ryder, Drystock Advisor, tells us there are a number of important changes occurring in relation to the distribution of CAP payments that farmers need to know about.
24 March 2023

Watch: Pre-lambing nutrition in the first year of organic conversion

Barry O’Hagan, a sheep farmer from Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, entered the organic conversion process earlier this year. Featuring in a recent Let’s Talk Organics webinar, he detailed how he is managing the nutritional needs of his ewes prior to lambing, which is set to commence in late March.
24 March 2023

Watch: Missed the National Hill Sheep Conference?

This year’s National Hill Sheep Conference focused on: flock health and production planning; ACRES; the Sheep Improvement Scheme; and the factors to consider with organic conversion. If you were unable to attend, recordings of each speaker are available below.
22 March 2023

Hot water systems for farmyards

Having access to some source of hot water in the farmyard is essential, especially in spring. For some farms, however, there is a requirement to supply larger volumes either for artificial rearing of lambs or calves or for general farm use.
21 March 2023

Lamb mortality: the main causes and timing

The number of lambs reared per ewe joined is a key determinant of productivity and profitability in sheep systems and lamb mortality is a key factor influencing ewe productivity.
20 March 2023

Let's Talk Organics - Feeding the ewe pre and post lambing in an organic situation

Elaine Leavy and Joe Kelleher, Teagasc Organic Specialists hosted a Let's Talk Organics webinar on Wednesday, 8th March which focused on feeding the ewe pre and post lambing in an organic situation.
20 March 2023

TAMS for Organic Farming

Joe Kelleher, Organic Specialist, tells us; the recent announcement that the opening of the TAMS 3 scheme is imminent has been greatly welcomed by organic farmers and it is great to see the list of eligible investment items that organic farmers can avail of has been greatly increased.
15 March 2023

Teagasc Ceardlann Ríomh Am Uáin i Ghleann Colm Chille

Le Pádraig Dé Bhrún
14 March 2023

Grass Tetany in Sheep

Grass Tetany is a common disease of lactating ewes during the spring time. It is an acute and frequently fatal condition that primarily affects lactating sheep at grass. This condition is caused by a deficiency in blood magnesium levels.
14 March 2023

Treating hypothermia in lambs and use of the glucose/intra-peritoneal injection

Sheep specialist, Michael Gottstein, is on this week’s OviCast podcast to talk about diagnosing and treating hypothermia in lambs.
14 March 2023

Scanning of ewes and ensuring lambs receive adequate colostrum

Frank Campion, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, reports on scanning of yearling ewes and the hill flocks, and we learn more about why making sure lambs receive adequate colostrum is so vital.
11 March 2023

Options for rearing surplus lambs

Year in, year out sheep farmers are posed with the challenge of managing surplus or ‘pet’ lambs. These lambs occur due to numerous reasons, including: multiple births (2 lambs); mismothering by the ewe; a lack of milk at lambing time; or the orphaning of lambs at birth, to name just a few.
07 March 2023

Colostrum: What to know about collection, storage and thawing

Dr. Emer Kennedy joins Ciarán Lynch on this latest OviCast podcast to talk about some key aspects of colostrum management on farms.
07 March 2023

Balancing the books on silage quantity and quality

Des Powell operates a sheep and beef farm just outside Templederry, Co. Tipperary, in conjunction with his parents George and Frieda. The farm is made up of 97ha of grassland, which is divided into two blocks but all situated within approximately 2km from the main farm.
05 March 2023

Preparing for lambing with Oliver O'Hara

Oliver O’Hara farms full-time with help from his children Shane and Karen in Leckaun, Co. Leitrim. He also runs a contracting business. Future Beef Programme advisor Gabriel Trayers provides an update on the preparation for lambing in this article.
01 March 2023

The 3 important roles of colostrum for newborn lambs

Colostrum performs three very important roles in newborn lambs.
28 February 2023

Tackling sheep scab in Northern Ireland

Paul Crawford, a Co. Antrim veterinarian and sheep farmer, who is also the chairman of the Northern Ireland Sheep Scab Group, joins us on the latest OviCast podcast to discuss sheep scab.
28 February 2023

Let's Talk Sheep: Flock health pre lambing

On this episode of Let's Talk Sheep, host Ciaran Lynch, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, was joined by Maresa Sheehan, DAFM RVL Kilkenny and Charles Chavasse, Zoetis to discuss flock health pre lambing.
28 February 2023

Bypass protein and its role in colostrum production

The final preparations for lambing are underway for many March-lambing flocks, and the inclusion of rumen bypass protein is important to ensure adequate colostrum production at lambing time.
27 February 2023

Reducing labour requirement on your sheep farm

It is often said ‘there is a lot of work in sheep’ but trying to put an exact figure on how much labour is required on a sheep farm is very difficult, Alan Bohan, Teagasc Ballymote, discusses more in this article.
25 February 2023

Missed the National Sheep Conference?

The Teagasc National Sheep Conference – held in two locations in 2023 – featured topics such as resistance to drenches, organics, greenhouse gas emissions and multi-species swards.
22 February 2023