Sheep

Tackling the fluke challenge this winter

Veterinarian Shane McGettrick, who is Laboratory Manager at the DAFM Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Co. Sligo is on this week’s OviCast to talk about the fluke challenge this winter.
29 November 2023

Managing forage brassicas

This week’s OviCast podcast features Mark Dolan to discuss the different aspects of managing forage brassica crops.
22 November 2023

Finishing store lambs this winter

Finishing store lambs in the winter months has numerous benefits and challenges, but there is a potential margin in finishing lambs currently, Frank Campion and Mark Dolan tell us more.
21 November 2023

What sets the top and bottom performing sheep farms apart?

The recently published Mid-Season Lowland Lamb Enterprise Factsheet, generated from the Teagasc National Farm Survey 2022, sheds light on the economic performance of sheep farms in Ireland last year.
21 November 2023

Scheme updates: SIS payments commence and deadline for Unharvested Crop Support Scheme approaches

Over recent days, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has provided updates in regard to the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) payment dates and additional funding being directed to tillage farmers with unharvested cereal crops.
21 November 2023

Vigilance required as liver fluke prevalent across many areas

Livestock owners have been urged to be vigilant for liver fluke infestations of cattle and sheep following the publication of this year’s Liver Fluke Forecast by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
14 November 2023

'Where are the women?'

During the opening and closing of her address to the recent conference on Irish Agriculture and the EU 50 years on, a journey through 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership, EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness posed the question 'where are the women?'
12 November 2023

Research update: Aiming to eliminate concentrate supplementation to finish lambs

Philip Creighton, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway reports on lamb performance across the groups on the Sheep Research Demonstration Farm.
12 November 2023

Is it time to house finishing lambs?

Teagasc sheep specialists, Damian Costello and Frank Campion, are on this week’s OviCast to discuss the challenging grazing conditions in recent weeks that has put pressure on farms both in terms of lamb performance and grass utilisation and supply.
09 November 2023

Monitoring mating liveweight and body condition score on BETTER sheep farms

Frank Campion of the Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc Athenry, reports on mating liveweight and body condition scores on the BETTER sheep farms.
07 November 2023

Recording Hill Sheep Groups - an opportunity for the hill sector to improve

Ireland, along with other countries, had tried hill sheep breed improvement in the past, but ultimately it failed for several reasons.
07 November 2023

Examining the options with store lambs

With the large number of store lambs currently on farms, farmers are considering finishing lambs, selling as stores, or buying store lambs for finishing. Eamonn Dempsey, Drystock Advisor in Tralee, looks at the options available to farmers.
06 November 2023

Examining the trends in the national ewe flock

Darren Carty, Sheep and Schemes Editor with the Farmers Journal is on this week’s OviCast episode to look back on the trends in the national ewe flock over the past decade and the implications of this for the sheep industry.
02 November 2023

Reaping the rewards from sustainability measures in Co. Leitrim

Farming just outside Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, Teagasc Signpost Programme participant John O’Connell is reaping the rewards of implementing sustainability measures on his farm.
27 October 2023

Teagasc Fodder Survey Update October 2023

National situation stable, but 10% to 15% of farms require corrective action.
25 October 2023

Breeding, grassland and finishing lambs in Ballyhaise College

Fergus O’Rourke and Niall Conaty from Teagasc Ballyhaise Agricultural College in Co. Cavan join the latest OviCast podcast to provide an update on the flock.
25 October 2023

Mating ewe lambs - an option for your farm?

Damian Costello, Sheep Specialist, Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research & Innovation Programme, Mellows Centre, Athenry, offers key advice in regard to mating ewe lambs.
24 October 2023

Better management of replacements improves overall flock performance

Andy Ryder, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Westport, tells us that a lot of the focus and attention on sheep farms at present is on getting lambs finished or away to sales and forming up the flock for another breeding season.
21 October 2023

Research update: Lamb growth rates from Athenry

Philip Creighton, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway details the latest news from the Sheep Research Demonstration Farm, Athenry.
17 October 2023

Joining ewe lambs and some of the factors that influence its success

Dr Tim Keady joins us on the latest OviCast podcast to discuss joining ewe lambs and some of the factors that influence its success.
16 October 2023

BETTER Farm Update: Grass growth and closing for next spring

Frank Campion, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway reports on grass growth and the preparations for closing on the BETTER sheep farms.
15 October 2023

The steps to reducing gaseous emissions on sheep farms

As part of Sustainability Week, on this week’s episode of OviCast we chat to signpost programme participant, John O’Connell, to discuss how he has implemented the 12 steps to reduce gaseous emissions from his farming system.
10 October 2023

Sheep Autumn Grassland Management Guidelines

Autumn is the starting point of the grassland year. Management and decisions made in this period have a direct effect on the quality and availability of grass the following spring. Philip Creighton tells us how to make the best decisions.
10 October 2023

Take Steps Now to Ensure you have Adequate Grass next Spring

Vincent Ronayne, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Claremorris, tells us that grass for sheep lambing next spring needs to be planned from right now.
08 October 2023

Update from Brian Keane's farm - dealing with Barbers Pole worm infection

Brian Keane farms 96 hectares in conjunction with his father John, Uncle Aidan, brother Eoin, fiancé Blathnáid and baby Sean. Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep KT, gives us an update on Brian's farm.
03 October 2023

BETTER Farm Sheep Programme participants sought

The BETTER Farm Sheep Programme is seeking new participants. If you are interested in using the latest technology to develop your sheep enterprise for a sustainable future in collaboration with Teagasc, this could be the opportunity to do so.
03 October 2023

Key advice when purchasing store lambs

Michael Gottstein, Teagasc Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, re-joins Ciaran Lynch for the second part of the episode on store lambs, with a focus on those purchasing lambs.
26 September 2023

New app aims to simplify sheep movements

The development of a new digital app named ‘AIM Services’ means sheep farmers can now notify their farm-to-farm movements from their phone.
26 September 2023

Mating management - the success or failure of next year's lamb crop

The annual mating cycle sows the lamb crop for the following year. The success or failure of next year’s lamb crop hinges on steps that have been taken over the past few weeks and steps that will be taken over the coming weeks, Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep KT Programme, tells us more.
26 September 2023

Good handling units cut the workload and enhance safety

The TAMS 3 grants available for sheep handling facilities can help farmers cut their workload by 24 days per annum and reduce the risk of injuries. Damian Costello and Francis Bligh tell us more.
24 September 2023