Sheep

Market Trends 2023: Throughput, current challenges & demand for the coming months

0 Market Trends 2023: Throughput, current challenges & demand for the coming months Seamus McMenamin, Sector Manager with Bord Bia, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast with an update on the current market trends. Seamus first discusses the throughput in the back end of 2022 and the carryover of lambs into […]
4 February 2023

Part two: Making the most of your Sheep Improvement Scheme tasks

0 Part two: Making the most of your Sheep Improvement Scheme tasks In last week’s article on the Sheep Improvement Scheme, Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep KT, Teagasc Macroom, covered the Category A tasks. In this article, he covers what is required of farmers in terms of complying with the Category B tasks […]
2 February 2023

BETTER Farm Update – Silage quality is tested

BETTER Farm Update – Silage quality is tested Frank Campion, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc Athenry, reports from the farms in the BETTER Farm programme All of the lowland flocks have ewes housed at this stage, with most housing pre Christmas. Careful attention is being paid to ewe body […]
31 January 2023

The impact of dosing adult ewes for worms has on the development of resistance

The impact of dosing adult ewes for worms has on the development of resistance On this week’s OviCast podcast Ciarán Lynch caught up with Dr Dave Leathwick following this year’s National Sheep Conference. Dave, who is principal scientist in parasitology at the Pastoral Agricultural Research Centre in New Zealand, has for almost […]
31 January 2023

The addition of clovers or herbs to a sheep grazed perennial ryegrass sward: effects on animal and sward performance

The addition of clovers or herbs to a sheep grazed perennial ryegrass sward: effects on animal and sward performance Lisa McGrane, Nóirín McHugh, Tommy M. Boland and Philip Creighton presented their research at the recent Teagasc National Sheep Conference. In recent years there has been growing interest in the use of diverse […]
30 January 2023

Greenhouse gas intensity of average sheep systems in Ireland

Greenhouse gas intensity of average sheep systems in Ireland Jonathan Herron, Teagasc, recently discussed greenhouse gas intensity of sheep systems in Ireland at the Teagasc National Sheep Conference. The Food and Agriculture Organisation has projected that the global demand for agricultural products will increase by 12% over the next decade (2021-2030) as […]
29 January 2023

Producing lamb on an organic farm in Co. Tipperary

Producing lamb on an organic farm in Co. Tipperary Amy Jackson, in partnership with her husband Ross, are farming organically in Lacka, north Tipperary. The farm comprises both an organic cereal and sheep enterprise. Prior to conversion to an organic system, it was a tillage farm with a number of crops being […]
28 January 2023

Factors to consider with organic sheep farming

Factors to consider with organic sheep farming The Irish organic sector has experienced a large influx of new farmers in recent years, with over 4,000 farmers now farming organically – including just over 2,000 who entered conversion in January 2023. The number of organic sheep flocks in 2021 was approaching 700, with […]
28 January 2023

Parasites of sheep and resistance to drenches – a New Zealand perspective

Parasites of sheep and resistance to drenches – a New Zealand perspective Dave Leathwick, AgResearch Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North, New Zealand, recently presented his research parasites of sheep and resistance to drenches at the Teagasc National Sheep Conference 2023. Anthelmintic (drench) resistance in nematode parasites is an issue facing farmers of […]
27 January 2023

Part 1: Making the most of your Sheep Improvement Scheme tasks

Part 1: Making the most of your Sheep Improvement Scheme tasks Just over 19,000 of the 36,000 sheep farmers in Ireland have applied to join the Sheep Improvement Scheme. Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc Macroom, discusses the Category A tasks. As part of the scheme, farmers will have been […]
25 January 2023