Sheep
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
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
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
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
Schmallenberg still a threat
Schmallenberg still a threat First identified in Ireland in October 2012, Schmallenberg still remains a threat to Irish sheep flocks and cattle herds. As part of a recent Let’s Talk Sheep Webinar, Audrey Jenkinson, a Superintending Veterinary Inspector with the National Disease Control Centre at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the […]
13 February 2025
Investigating abortion in ewes – causes, prevention and management
Investigating abortion in ewes – causes, prevention and management Lambing is fast approaching for many mid-season lambing flocks. Sheep Specialist at Teagasc, Damian Costello takes a closer look at the various causes of abortion in sheep, preventative measures and critical management tasks if abortion is suspected. Ovine abortion primarily occurs for two […]
12 February 2025
3 cost effective solutions for recording data at lambing time
3 cost effective solutions for recording data at lambing time Lambing time can be one of the most labour intensive times on sheep farms but it can also be a great opportunity to learn more about our flocks to try and improve them for the future. Teagasc Research Officer, Dr. Frank Campion […]
11 February 2025