Sheep
Management key to maximise lamb performance from brassica crops
Management key to maximise lamb performance from brassica crops Research work carried out in Teagasc Athenry has examined ways to get maximum utilisation and performance from winter grazed brassica crops. As part of the recent Growing Organics farm walk on Jason Stanley’s farm in Co. Laois, Dr. Frank Campion, Teagasc Research Officer, […]
12 June 2023
How maternal genetic merit influences reproductive traits in ewes
0 How maternal genetic merit influences reproductive traits in ewes Genetic indexes, as produced for sheep in Ireland by Sheep Ireland, provide producers with an additional tool when making informed breeding decisions. Fiona McGovern tells us more about the INZAC flock in Athenry and its role in investigating the role of ewe genetic […]
9 June 2023
Pay heed to grass and clover varieties when choosing multispecies swards
0 Pay heed to grass and clover varieties when choosing multispecies swards Numerous studies have shown the benefits of multispecies swards relative to a perennial ryegrass only sward. These include increased animal and sward performance, reduced requirement for artificial nitrogen application and reduced need for anthelmintic drenches. At last Friday’s Growing Organics farm […]
8 June 2023
What’s the impact of the difficult spring on lamb performance?
0 What’s the impact of the difficult spring on lamb performance? On this week’s OviCast, we talk to Dr. Frank Campion about the impact this spring has had on lamb performance. Frank gives us an update on the growth rate of lambs on the BETTER farms and we talk about the variation among […]
6 June 2023
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
Tillage and sheep farmer to host first Growing Organics farm walk
Tillage and sheep farmer to host first Growing Organics farm walk The first of the Growing Organics monitor farm programme walks takes place on Friday, June 2nd at 12pm on the farm of Jason Stanley, Errill, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. Jason farms with his wife Grace and their son Jacob, alongside his parents […]
29 May 2023