Sheep

Shearing, training courses and wool challenges

Shearing, training courses and wool challenges With the shearing season underway, for this week’s episode we chat to shearer and Mayo native David Heraty. First David describes a typical shearing season for him and how this year has started off. David tells us how he got started and built up his shearing […]
23 May 2023

Blowfly strike prevention in sheep

Blowfly strike prevention in sheep Wesley Power, Elanco, discusses the causes of blowfly strike on farm and the preventative steps farmers can take to prevent a strike occurring. A study by Lane et al, in 2015, listed seven conditions as being associated with the greatest loss in production and cost to the […]
23 May 2023

First ‘Growing Organics’ farm walk set for Laois

First ‘Growing Organics’ farm walk set for Laois The first in a series of ‘Growing Organics’ farm walks takes place on the farm of Jason Stanley, Errill, Co. Laois, on the 2nd of June 2023. Marianne Mulhall, Specialised Organic Advisor, previews Jason’s farming system and the upcoming open day in this article. […]
22 May 2023

Cobalt supplementation – effect on ewe and lamb performance

Cobalt supplementation – effect on ewe and lamb performance The productivity of Irish lowland flocks is low at approximately 1.3 lambs reared per ewe joined, and has remained relatively static for the last 40 years. In this article, Dr. Tim Keady, Teagasc Athenry, looks at the effect of cobalt supplementation on ewe […]
21 May 2023

Establishing and managing companion forages in a sheep sward

Establishing and managing companion forages in a sheep sward For this week’s OviCast, we chat to post-graduate student Lisa McGrane about some of the factors influencing the establishment and persistency of companion herb and legume forages in sheep swards. Lisa discusses some of the work they have undertaken in the area, examining […]
16 May 2023

Grass growth and lamb performance on the BETTER sheep farms

Grass growth and lamb performance on the BETTER sheep farms Frank Campion of the Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway reports on grass growth and lamb performance on the BETTER sheep farms. Lambing has concluded on the lowland flocks and post-lambing grazing rotations are in full swing, with […]
15 May 2023

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

Sheep 2023 preview – the largest dedicated sheep industry event of 2023

0 Sheep 2023 preview – the largest dedicated sheep industry event of 2023 Darren Carty, Sheep and Schemes Editor from the Irish Farmers Journal, is on this week’s OviCast to talk about the Sheep 2023, an industry event which takes place in Gurteen Agricultural College on June 18th. Darren explains where this year’s […]
4 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