Sheep
An update from Tomas O’Leary – BETTER Sheep Farm participant
0 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. The farm currently operates a flock of approximately 250 ewes (181 mature ewes and 69 ewe lambs mated), plus […]
6 June 2023
Previewing Sheep 2023
0 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. This year, the event is taking place in a new location of Gurteen Agricultural […]
6 June 2023
Control and treatment of stomach worms in sheep
0 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. Even sub-clinical […]
3 June 2023
Weighing up early weaning
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. Paul defines what early weaning is and at what age and weight lambs need to be for it […]
31 May 2023
Blowfly strike: Why prevention is better than cure
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. Flies are attracted to soiled areas of […]
30 May 2023
Shearing, training courses and wool challenges
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. First David describes a typical shearing season for him and how this year has started off. David tells us how he got started and built up his shearing […]
23 May 2023
Blowfly strike prevention in sheep
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. A study by Lane et al, in 2015, listed seven conditions as being associated with the greatest loss in production and cost to the […]
23 May 2023
Cobalt supplementation – effect on ewe and lamb performance
Cobalt supplementation – effect on ewe and lamb performance The productivity of Irish lowland flocks is low at approximately 1.3 lambs reared per ewe joined, and has remained relatively static for the last 40 years. In this article, Dr. Tim Keady, Teagasc Athenry, looks at the effect of cobalt supplementation on ewe […]
21 May 2023
Establishing and managing companion forages in a sheep sward
Establishing and managing companion forages in a sheep sward For this week’s OviCast, we chat to post-graduate student Lisa McGrane about some of the factors influencing the establishment and persistency of companion herb and legume forages in sheep swards. Lisa discusses some of the work they have undertaken in the area, examining […]
16 May 2023
Grass growth and lamb performance on the BETTER sheep farms
Grass growth and lamb performance on the BETTER sheep farms Frank Campion of the Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway reports on grass growth and lamb performance on the BETTER sheep farms. Lambing has concluded on the lowland flocks and post-lambing grazing rotations are in full swing, with […]
15 May 2023