Sheep

Optimising ewe and ram condition ahead of breeding
0 Optimising ewe and ram condition ahead of breeding In this article, Glen Corbett, Soils and Environment Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare, offers advice on preparing your flock for the breeding season. It has been a strange year to date in terms of the weather we have experienced. The prolonged spell of dry weather […]
1 July 2023

Keeping a check on the worm burden
Keeping a check on the worm burden Damian Costello, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, is on this week’s OviCast to talk about managing the parasite challenge over the coming weeks. Damian explains what the burden is and he and Ciarán Lynch, host of OviCast, discuss the current challenge, monitoring worm burden and deciding when […]
30 June 2023

Growing Organics: Combining a sheep and tillage enterprise in Co. Laois
Growing Organics: Combining a sheep and tillage enterprise in Co. Laois Operating a mixed sheep and tillage farm in Errill, Co. Laois, the Stanley family have just marked their first decade of being fully certified organic farmers. A host of a recent Growing Organics demonstration farm walk, the farm is now in […]
25 June 2023

Time to consider weaning
Time to consider weaning The optimum age to wean lambs at is 100 days or 14 weeks of age. Leaving the lambs suckling the ewes for longer than this will have a negative effect on both parties, as the ewes will be competing with the lambs for grass. In addition, ewes need […]
24 June 2023

The sheep system in Gurteen Agricultural College
The sheep system in Gurteen Agricultural College This week’s OviCast podcast catches up with Ger Carey from Gurteen Agricultural College, who gives a run down of the 450-strong sheep system being operated. Ger brings us through the early and mid-season production systems, how this has changed to accommodate students and future plans […]
20 June 2023

Thousands descend on Gurteen College for Sheep 2023
Thousands descend on Gurteen College for Sheep 2023 Farm families from all corners of Ireland descended on Gurteen Agricultural College on Saturday, 17 June for Sheep 2023. The dedicated one-day sheep event treated thousands of visitors to a bounty of attractions from sheep showing, technical demonstrations and commercial exhibits to masterclasses in […]
20 June 2023

Using genetics to reduce methane emissions from the Irish sheep sector
Using genetics to reduce methane emissions from the Irish sheep sector Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and innovation, Martin Heydon T.D., today, Saturday 17th June, launched new breeding values for sheep aimed at reducing methane emissions. The Minister launched the […]
17 June 2023

Can we reduce ewe wastage and improve their longevity in a flock?
Can we reduce ewe wastage and improve their longevity in a flock? Why are ewes leaving the flock and can we reduce the level of ewe wastage? On this week’s OviCast podcast, this topic is discussed in more detail with Prof. Paul Keynon from New Zealand’s Massey University. Paul discusses the reasons […]
13 June 2023

21% decline in sheep family farm income in 2022
21% decline in sheep family farm income in 2022 Preliminary results of the National Farm Survey for 2022 were presented yesterday, June 12th, in which it was shown that an average Family Farm Income (FFI) of €16,454 was recorded in 2022 on sheep farms – a 21% decrease on 2021 levels. There […]
13 June 2023

Is an animal’s scrapie genotype associated with performance?
Is an animal’s scrapie genotype associated with performance? Genetic susceptibility to scrapie, a fatal disease of sheep and goats, is controlled by differences in one specific gene – the prion protein. The resulting scrapie genotype has been shown to be associated with an animal’s susceptibility to scrapie, with the ARR variant associated […]
13 June 2023