Sheep
Prevalence and seasonality of trace mineral concentrations in sheep-grazed pastures
Minerals perform many important functions in the body and imbalances (deficiency or toxicity) can have detrimental effects on the performance, fertility, health and profitability of livestock.
18 July 2023
Sheep enterprise working well with suckler herd for Olivia Hynes
“The summer months are all about getting lambs ready for sale and getting the ewe flock right for mating”
17 July 2023
Weaning lamb performance from the INZAC flock
Fiona McGovern, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway reports on the latest from the INZAC and breeding flocks at Athenry.
14 July 2023
The Genotyped Ram Task - what's involved for lowland and hill producers?
Kevin McDermott, Sheep Ireland Manager, joins this week’s OviCast to talk about the genotyped ram task that forms part of the Sheep Improvement Scheme.
11 July 2023
Work Organisation for Farmer Health and Safety video launched
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Farm Safety, Martin Heydon T.D. today, Tuesday, 4th July, launched a ‘Work Organisation for Farmer Health and Safety’ video at the Moorepark Dairy Open Day in Fermoy, Co. Cork.
04 July 2023
Optimising ewe and ram condition ahead of breeding
In this article, Glen Corbett, Soils and Environment Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare, offers advice on preparing your flock for the breeding season.
01 July 2023
Keeping a check on the worm burden
Damian Costello, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, is on this week's OviCast to talk about managing the parasite challenge over the coming weeks.
30 June 2023
Growing Organics: Combining a sheep and tillage enterprise in Co. Laois
Operating a mixed sheep and tillage farm in Errill, Co. Laois, the Stanley family have just marked their first decade of being fully certified organic farmers.
25 June 2023
Time to consider weaning
The optimum age to wean lambs at is 100 days or 14 weeks of age. Leaving the lambs suckling the ewes for longer than this will have a negative effect on both parties, as the ewes will be competing with the lambs for grass.
24 June 2023
The sheep system in Gurteen Agricultural College
This week’s OviCast podcast catches up with Ger Carey from Gurteen Agricultural College, who gives a run down of the 450-strong sheep system being operated.
20 June 2023
Thousands descend on Gurteen College for Sheep 2023
Farm families from all corners of Ireland descended on Gurteen Agricultural College on Saturday, 17 June for Sheep 2023.
20 June 2023
Using genetics to reduce methane emissions from the Irish sheep sector
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and innovation, Martin Heydon T.D., today, Saturday 17th June, launched new breeding values for sheep aimed at reducing methane emissions.
17 June 2023
Can we reduce ewe wastage and improve their longevity in a flock?
Why are ewes leaving the flock and can we reduce the level of ewe wastage? On this week’s OviCast podcast, this topic is discussed in more detail with Prof. Paul Keynon from New Zealand’s Massey University.
13 June 2023
21% decline in sheep family farm income in 2022
Preliminary results of the National Farm Survey for 2022 were presented yesterday, June 12th, in which it was shown that an average Family Farm Income (FFI) of €16,454 was recorded in 2022 on sheep farms – a 21% decrease on 2021 levels.
13 June 2023
Is an animal’s scrapie genotype associated with performance?
Genetic susceptibility to scrapie, a fatal disease of sheep and goats, is controlled by differences in one specific gene - the prion protein.
13 June 2023
Increase in farm incomes largely confined to dairy and tillage farms in 2022
The results of a new report indicate that the year 2022 produced a mixed outcome for income levels across farm systems in Ireland.
12 June 2023
Management key to maximise lamb performance from brassica crops
Research work carried out in Teagasc Athenry has examined ways to get maximum utilisation and performance from winter grazed brassica crops.
12 June 2023
How maternal genetic merit influences reproductive traits in ewes
Genetic indexes, as produced for sheep in Ireland by Sheep Ireland, provide producers with an additional tool when making informed breeding decisions. Fiona McGovern tells us more about the INZAC flock in Athenry and its role in investigating the role of ewe genetic merit for reproductive traits.
09 June 2023
Pay heed to grass and clover varieties when choosing multispecies swards
Numerous studies have shown the benefits of multispecies swards relative to a perennial ryegrass only sward. These include increased animal and sward performance, reduced requirement for artificial nitrogen application and reduced need for anthelmintic drenches.
08 June 2023
What's the impact of the difficult spring on lamb performance?
On this week’s OviCast, we talk to Dr. Frank Campion about the impact this spring has had on lamb performance.
06 June 2023
An update from Tomas O'Leary - BETTER Sheep Farm participant
Tomas O’ Leary, his wife Eileen and children Míchéal, Yvonne and Sinead farm approximately 40ha (adj.) in two blocks of land in Kerry.
06 June 2023
Previewing Sheep 2023
Sheep 2023 takes place on Saturday, June 17th and this will be the most important date in this year’s sheep calendar. Michael Gottstein, Teagasc Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, previews the event in this article.
06 June 2023
Control and treatment of stomach worms in sheep
Grazing sheep are continually exposed to gastrointestinal nematodes (stomach worms). In the case of naïve lambs, heavy infection can result in a depression in appetite and increased protein loss from the gut, which results in ill-thrift and in severe cases even death.
03 June 2023
Weighing up early weaning
For this week’s OviCast, Ciarán Lynch caught up with Prof. Paul Keynon from Massey University to discuss the option of early weaning as a management tool for certain sheep systems.
31 May 2023
Blowfly strike: Why prevention is better than cure
The risk period for blowfly strike has begun and will continue through to October, and beyond, where conditions allow. Unchecked blowfly will cause welfare issues, production losses and mortality, Teagasc Sheep Specialist Ciaran Lynch tells us more.
30 May 2023
Tillage and sheep farmer to host first Growing Organics farm walk
The first of the Growing Organics monitor farm programme walks takes place on Friday, June 2nd at 12pm on the farm of Jason Stanley, Errill, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
29 May 2023
Des Powell - lambing went reasonably well this year
Des Powell, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, operates a sheep and beef farm in conjunction with his parents George and Frieda. Here he gives us an update on his farm for May.
24 May 2023
Shearing, training courses and wool challenges
With the shearing season underway, for this week’s episode we chat to shearer and Mayo native David Heraty.
23 May 2023
Blowfly strike prevention in sheep
Wesley Power, Elanco, discusses the causes of blowfly strike on farm and the preventative steps farmers can take to prevent a strike occurring.
23 May 2023
First 'Growing Organics' farm walk set for Laois
The first in a series of 'Growing Organics' farm walks takes place on the farm of Jason Stanley, Errill, Co. Laois, on the 2nd of June 2023. Marianne Mulhall, Specialised Organic Advisor, previews Jason's farming system and the upcoming open day in this article.
22 May 2023