TResearch Spring 2025
Powder to the People
Powder to the People
Fertiliser Focus
The National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) has been revised to offer increased financial support to sheep farmers while promoting higher standards of animal health and welfare. The updates feature higher payment rates and new welfare actions, demonstrating the government's dedication to improving animal welfare standards and ensuring the viability of the sheep sector.
By Nollaig O’Dowd, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
By Keith Fahy, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
By Padraig Glynn, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
Eamonn Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe
Eamon Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe
By Glen Corbett, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
By Mícheál Kelly, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
Patricia Lynch, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe
By Cathal Gormley, B & T Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare
Enda Maloney, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Westport
Eamon Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe
By Glen Corbett, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
Andy Ryder, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Westport
Vincent Ronayne, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Claremorris.
Eamonn Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe.
By Glen Corbett, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
By Martina Donnelly, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc, Galway/Clare
Eamon Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe
Dr Brid McClearn and Tim Keady, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway.
Andy Ryder, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Westport
By Niall Treanor, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
Eamon Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe.
Brian Hughes, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Claremorris
By Shauna Fitzmaurice B&T Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinasloe
By Joanne Masterson, B&T Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare
Eamon Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe
Vincent Ronayne, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe
By Colm Murray, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
Mary Roache, Teagasc ASSAP advisor
By Bernie Leahy, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc, Galway/Clare
Andy Ryder, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Westport
By Colm Murray, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc, Galway/Clare
Eamon Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe.
By Glen Corbett, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
Marion Fox, B&T Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare
Eamonn Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe
By Joanne Masterson, B&T Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare
By Glen Corbett, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
By James Kelly, Drystock Advisor, Roscommon Town
By Colm Murray, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc, Galway/Clare
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.
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.
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.
Cobalt is an important mineral thats 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
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.
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.
Ross and Amy Jackson are farming organically in Lacka, Carrig, Co Tipperary. A farm walk was due to take place on their farm. Organic Specialist Elaine Leavy got an update from Ross and Amy.
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.
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.
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 gives some advice and information.
Resistance to dosing products is of increasing concern. It is therefore incumbent on farmers to ensure that they are using the right product at the right rate at the right time. Dairy specialist Stuart Childs has some useful advice
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.
Fergal Byrne from Calverstown Little, Dunlavin, Co Kildare, is an organic beef, sheep and cereal farmer. A farm walk was due to take place on his farm this week.
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
By James Concannon, Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Masters Student, Teagasc Roscommon
What is the latest research on reducing livestock emissions? Researcher and director of the VistaMilk research centre gives us some information
John Hurley is from Knockalaughta, Ballintubber, Co. Roscommon. He is an organic suckler cow and sheep farmer. He was due to have a farm walk on his farm. Organic Specialist Dan Clavin got an update from John.
The Ireland New Zealand across breed animal comparison study (INZAC flock) aims to o 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.
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. Frank Campion tells us how lambs on the Teagasc BETTER Sheep Farms have fared and Shane Moore from Co. Roscommon gives an update from his farm.
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.
Martina Donnelly, Drystock Adviser Teagasc, Athenry
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. Damian Costello, Sheep Specialist has information and advice
Research to date shows that including white clover in the sward relative to perennial ryegrass alone results in lambs reaching slaughter weight faster – Philip Creighton Researcher
Article by Joanne Masterson, B & T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc, Galway/Clare
By Colm Murray, B&T Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare
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. By Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Programme, Teagasc.
Eamon Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe
By Marion Fox, B&T Drystock Adviser, Galway/Clare Regional Unit
By Bernie Leahy, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc, Galway/Clare