Sheep

Grass silage feed value – a key factor influencing flock profitability

0 Grass silage feed value – a key factor influencing flock profitability Grass silage feed value is the third most important factor influencing the efficiency of prime lamb production. Dr. Tim Keady, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, explains why in this article. Grass silage feed value influences […]
9 May 2023

Farmer Focus: Aidan and Eddie Connell, Co. Offaly

0 Farmer Focus: Aidan and Eddie Connell, Co. Offaly This week on OviCast, Ciaran Lynch, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, sat down with father and son Eddie and Aidan Connell, who farm at Clonbullogue, Co. Offaly, and will host this year’s Irish Grassland sheep event. The father and son partnership are running a 400 ewe […]
9 May 2023

Oversowing white clover in sheep swards

Oversowing white clover in sheep swards White clover has the potential to reduce the amount of chemical nitrogen fertiliser required for grass production and also has been shown to improve lamb performance when included in grazing swards. While incorporating clover as part of a reseeding programme is the easiest way to introduce […]
25 April 2023

Getting grazing back on track

Getting grazing back on track After a difficult number of weeks, conditions appear to be turning the corner providing an opportunity to get grazing back on track. On this week’s OviCast, we’re joined by Dr. Philip Creighton to discuss some of the steps needed over the coming weeks. Philip starts by discussing […]
18 April 2023

Sheep advice: Grassland management, tetany control and drafting early lambs

Sheep advice: Grassland management, tetany control and drafting early lambs Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, provided advice on grassland management, drafting early lambs and grass tetany control in the April edition of the Teagasc Sheep Advisory newsletter. Nitrogen applications When applying nitrogen (N), there are significant savings that can be […]
18 April 2023

Assessing the resistance status of your farm

Assessing the resistance status of your farm The ability of wormers to work effectively is important for livestock production systems in Ireland. However, the continued use of wormers leads to the development of drug resistant worms, known as anthelmintic resistance. Given the challenges associated with anthelmintic resistance, all cattle and sheep farmers […]
18 April 2023

Unearthing best practices from New Zealand

Unearthing best practices from New Zealand Dr. Brid McClearn from Teagasc, a prominent member of the EuroSheep team, recently visited New Zealand with members from another EU thematic network – Sm@RT: Small Ruminant Technologies. The objective of Dr. McClearn’s visit was to identify best practices in flock health and nutrition from the […]
13 April 2023

Nematodirus challenge in lambs

Nematodirus challenge in lambs Dr. Orla Keane is on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss the challenge of nematodirus in lambs this spring. Orla first explains how the nematodirus challenge can carry over on farms from year to year. She highlights the Department of Agriculture Nematodirus forecast and the implications for farmers. Orla […]
11 April 2023

Nematodirus and coccidia in young lambs

Nematodirus and coccidia in young lambs The first two parasite challenges young lambs will face each spring is that of nematodirus and coccidia. This challenge occurs in lambs annually at a similar age and stage of the year, Ciaran Lynch, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, explains more. It’s also possible for lambs to suffer […]
11 April 2023

Counting sheep emissions

0 Counting sheep emissions Experts at Teagasc have been using life cycle assessment, an internationally-recognised methodology, to calculate the environmental performance of average sheep systems in Ireland and to determine the effect of recommended practices. Ireland is the largest net exporter of sheepmeat within the European Union, with the sheep sector generating approximately […]
6 April 2023