Sheep
Preventing grass tetany post turnout
Grass tetany is one of the challenges in early spring and on this week’s OviCast, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Damian Costello, talks to us about this in more detail.
12 March 2024
As lambing progresses the challenges increase
At this stage many flocks are well and truly in the middle of the 2024 lambing season. Michael Gottstein writes about some key areas that should be considered when attempting to reduce losses at lambing time.
12 March 2024
Hill Flocks: feeding & health advice in the run up to lambing
Michael Gottstein, Teagasc Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, joins host Ciaran Lynch, Teagasc Sheep Specialist on this week’s episode of OviCast to give some timely advice for hill flocks in the run up to lambing.
05 March 2024
Reduce lamb mortality with adequate preparation
As 20-25% of the annual workload on sheep farms is associated with lambing, Eamonn Dempsey, Teagasc Advisor, Tralee, highlights why preparation is key and the important areas to focus on – including ewe nutrition, facilities, hygiene and supervision.
04 March 2024
How to correctly set up a fertiliser spreader
When focusing on improving fertiliser use efficiently, one often overlooked aspect for the return on investment is the fertiliser spreader itself.
27 February 2024
Grass Tetany prevention in ewes
Damian Costello, Sheep Specialist, Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research & Innovation Programme, Mellows Centre, Athenry, writes on grass tetany, the factors that predispose ewes to the condition and the preventative measures available.
27 February 2024
Scanning, condition score and preparing for lambing on the BETTER farms
For this week’s OviCast, host Ciaran Lynch is joined by Dr Frank Campion to get an update on the BETTER farm sheep flocks.
20 February 2024
Controlling liver fluke - test don’t guess
The highly pathogenic nature of liver fluke, along with its complicated life-cycle and its ability to thrive in warm and wet summers, makes liver fluke a threat to sheep and cattle of all ages.
20 February 2024
Investigate birth deformities in calves or lambs - DAFM
Farmers are advised to be vigilant and to ask their vet to refer any birth deformities in sheep or cattle to the nearest Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs) for investigation.
20 February 2024
Over 4,900 hill rams genotyped
Seen as a key technology to improve the productivity and viability of the hill sheep sector, the rate of genotyping of rams from Irish hill flocks has increased significantly.
19 February 2024
Managing pregnant ewe lambs
Many producers are lambing replacements at one year of age. These ewe lambs need to gain weight during pregnancy to enable them to progress in a timely manner towards mature body size.
19 February 2024
Working through an iceberg disease breakdown in Co. Wicklow
Operating on a combination of upland mountainous grazing and enclosed green ground, Patrick Dunne carries a 400 hill ewe flock in Co. Wicklow. As part of this year’s Teagasc National Sheep Conference, he shared his experiences of dealing with the iceberg disease ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA).
17 February 2024
What’s on the agenda for the Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference?
The Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference will take place this coming Thursday, 15 February, at 7pm in the Glendalough Hotel, Brockagh, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow.
14 February 2024
Making a submission to the Regional Veterinary Lab
For this week’s OviCast podcast, Ciaran Lynch is joined by Seamus Fagan from the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Veterinary Lab in Athlone, who details the steps in making a submission.
13 February 2024
Planning to reduce lamb mortality in 2024
The single greatest factor influencing profitability on sheep farms is the number of lambs available for sale, writes Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep KT Programme. That is a combination of litter size, stocking rate and lamb survival.
13 February 2024
Feeding ewes to maximise lamb survival this spring
Jack Murphy, Teagasc Johnstown Castle, writes; on sheep farms the feeding management of the ewe pre lambing will have a massive bearing on mortality rates.
10 February 2024
Leading the development of more sustainable European livestock production systems
STEP UP is a four year research project funded under Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship funding programme for research and innovation. The Teagasc-led project aims to support the development of more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable European livestock production systems (ELPS).
08 February 2024
Overcoming an abortion ‘storm’ in Co. Leitrim
With lambing a little over a month away, John O’Connell recounted how an abortion storm affected his flock in 2015 - causing an increase in barrenness, weak lambs at birth and additional stress at lambing time.
08 February 2024
Sheep Improvement Scheme opens to new entrants
New entrants to sheep farming are now invited to apply to Year two of the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS). Introduced to enhance animal welfare in the sheep sector, SIS provides financial support to farmers for taking extra steps to improve welfare in their flock.
06 February 2024
Completing a profit monitor
Catherine Egan, host of the Beef Edge podcast and Ciarán Lynch from Teagasc’s Ovicast sheep podcast discuss financial management tips on drystock farms with Teagasc Financial Specialist, Kevin Connolly.
31 January 2024
Vigilance and early detection key in future control of Bluetongue
Described as a virus that can have devastating impacts on sheep flocks, farmers attending the Teagasc National Sheep Conference were urged to be vigilant and to make themselves aware of the symptoms of Bluetongue.
31 January 2024
Driving productivity and profitability on sheep farms
Thomas Finn is striving to improve the productivity and profitability of his sheep farming business in Co. Cork. Read more on the measures being implemented on his farm in this article.
30 January 2024
Shedding light on the key considerations of succession planning
Farm succession is something that meets every farm and you have to deal with it at some point in time.
30 January 2024
Pregnancy nutrition - the foundation of flock profitability
Pregnancy nutrition is the foundation of flock profitability, Dr Tim Keady, Research Officer in Teagasc Athenry, told this week’s Teagasc National Sheep Conference.
26 January 2024
Farmers encouraged to carefully manage their winter-feed requirements
An online meeting of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) took place Wednesday, 24th January to update members on the livestock fodder and feed situation on farms. Challenges around the availability of straw was also a strong recurring message.
25 January 2024
Farmer Focus: Michael Forde on managing a sheep and beef system on a fragmented farm
For this week’s OviCast, we head west to Corrandulla, Co. Galway, to hear from sheep and beef farmer Michael Forde.
23 January 2024
Drafting and scanning on the BETTER Sheep farms
Frank Campion of Teagasc AGRIC reports on lamb drafting and pregnancy scanning on the BETTER Sheep farms.
23 January 2024
Make your Sheep Census return now
The annual Sheep Census took place on December 31. Every flock owner must have counted the number of sheep on their holding on that day and must notify the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) shortly.
22 January 2024
Monitor ewe body condition score
Despite relatively good grass growth last year, ewe body condition score (BCS) is back in many flocks. Maintaining ewe BCS mid pregnancy is essential for ewes that are in sub-optimal BCS at mating time.
21 January 2024
A Decade of Growth and Learning on the O'Leary Family Farm
Michael Gottstein, Head of Teagasc Sheep KT Programme, shares insights into the farm of Tomas O'Leary and his family, participants in Teagasc's BETTER and Signpost programs for the past decade.
20 January 2024