Sheep
National Hill Sheep Conference set for Co. Cork
National Hill Sheep Conference set for Co. Cork The Irish hill sheep sector plays an important role in the economic health of rural economies and the maintenance of the natural landscape in many of Ireland’s most scenic areas. This year, the Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference focusses on: flock health and production planning; […]
13 February 2023
Late pregnancy nutrition: energy demand, ration composition and protein source
Late pregnancy nutrition: energy demand, ration composition and protein source For the latest OviCast podcast, Ciarán Lynch discusses late pregnancy nutrition with Dr. Tim Keady. Tim discusses the impact of nutrition on performance in the weeks before lambing and explains the increase in foetal growth that occurs during these final weeks of […]
12 February 2023
Late Pregnancy in Sheep and a Lambs First few Weeks of Life
0 Late Pregnancy in Sheep and a Lambs First few Weeks of Life Aoife Seymour, Teagasc Walsh Scholar, discusses the effects of ewe nutrition and vaccination during late pregnancy, colostrum and simple husbandry practices that can be used to ensure every lamb gets the best possible start. She includes a simple guide to […]
7 February 2023
Pre-lambing health treatments for the ewe flock
0 Pre-lambing health treatments for the ewe flock For mid-season lambing ewes, the final pre-lambing health treatments are currently taking place or are due to happen over the coming days and weeks. Damian Costello, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Teagasc Athenry, outlines the main health treatments being administered on sheep farms around now. Clostridial/Pasteurella vaccination […]
7 February 2023
Silage feed value
0 Silage feed value Tim Keady, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway examines factors influencing silage feed value. The main factor influencing silage feed value is digestibility (DMD) (see Figure 1). Increasing DMD increased silage intake during weeks -10 to – 6 prior to lambing. When concentrate supplementation […]
6 February 2023
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