Sheep

Minimising disease in the lambing shed
Minimising disease in the lambing shed Lambing has begun or is about to begin for mid-season flocks. Nollaig O’Dowd gives her top tips to keep ewes and lambs healthy during this critical time. Good hygiene in the lambing shed is key to preventing disease and infection, ensuring strong survival rates. Weather conditions […]
26 February 2025

Key tips during lambing
Key tips during lambing Farmers can significantly enhance lamb survival and overall flock health this lambing season by prioritising colostrum intake, maintaining rigorous hygiene and proactive management, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Ciaran Lynch tells us more. Maintaining hygiene for lamb survival A clean lambing environment is crucial in preventing diseases such as watery […]
25 February 2025

Farmers underutilising RVL testing to diagnose abortion causes
Farmers underutilising RVL testing to diagnose abortion causes Treat every abortion in your ewe flock as the start of an abortion storm. That was a key message delivered by Teagasc Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, Michael Gottstein when appearing on a recent Let’s Talk Sheep Webinar. The webinar, available to view below […]
25 February 2025

Organic nutrition for ewes in late pregnancy
Organic nutrition for ewes in late pregnancy There is a huge range of supplementary feed options for pregnant ewes in conventional sheep systems, but good-quality organic rations are harder to come by. Michael Gottstein explores the options available. The majority of foetal growth takes place in the last two months of pregnancy. […]
23 February 2025

Scanning rates on target
Scanning rates on target Frank Campion, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway looks at the results from pregnancy scanning on some of the lowland BETTER sheep farms. The scan rates and scanned litter sizes for the farms that have pregnancy scanned at the time of writing are presented […]
22 February 2025

Timing critical for clostridial vaccinations
Timing critical for clostridial vaccinations The administration of clostridial vaccinations to ewes pre-lambing generally marks the countdown to the start of the lambing season. Joining Ciaran Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast, Area Veterinary Manager at Zoetis, Kieran O’Mahony provided an essential refresher on the importance of clostridial vaccinations, how to achieve […]
20 February 2025

Let’s Talk Sheep – Practical tips to make lambing easier
Let’s Talk Sheep – Practical tips to make lambing easier This week’s edition of the Let’s Talk Sheep Webinar seen Ciaran Lynch joined by his colleagues from the Teagasc Sheep Knowledge Transfer Programme, Michael Gottstein and Damian Costello to share practical tips to make lambing easier. With the first signs of the […]
20 February 2025

Less meal, earlier finishing and more profit – the benefits of companion forages
Less meal, earlier finishing and more profit – the benefits of companion forages Are you looking to grow your lambs quicker, achieve an earlier age of finish and reduce concentrate input to finishing lambs? Then results of a major study undertaken at the Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry […]
18 February 2025

Preparation is key to a successful lambing season
Preparation is key to a successful lambing season James Fitzgerald discusses the key to a successful 2025 lambing season. With preparation, proper nutrition, colostrum management, and strict hygiene, you can reduce stress and ensure healthier lambs. In the next month, a large proportion of lowland sheep flocks will start their lambing season. […]
16 February 2025

Agenda set for Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference
Agenda set for Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference Taking place next Wednesday, February 19, the Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference will hear topics ranging from upland management in the Comeraghs, unexplained lamb losses, to the main findings of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Thin Ewe Scheme. Opening the conference […]
14 February 2025