Sheep
Listen: Tips for the lambing shed
Listen: Tips for the lambing shed Niall Conaty from Ballyhaise Agricultural College joins Ciaran Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss practical tips for the lambing shed. Topics covered include setup, pen layout, group pens and dedicated areas for problem cases, and Niall offers insights on streamlining tasks to reduce workload […]
11 March 2025
Maximise your sheep farm’s potential with the BETTER Farm Sheep Programme
Maximise your sheep farm’s potential with the BETTER Farm Sheep Programme Are you a sheep farmer looking to improve your business using the latest technology? Teagasc is inviting expressions of interest for the BETTER Farm Sheep Programme. This is an exciting opportunity to develop your farm for a sustainable future. This programme […]
10 March 2025
Putting hill farms on a sustainable path to the future
0 Putting hill farms on a sustainable path to the future Hill farms, by their nature, are low input, low output enterprises that are very dependent on direct payments to remain viable. Andy Ryder, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Westport, shares steps to boost profits, flock performance & sustainability, ensuring hill farms thrive for the […]
8 March 2025
Grassland – getting off to the right start
0 Grassland – getting off to the right start Dr. Philip Creighton joins Ciaran Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss key aspects of grazing management for the weeks ahead. Opening farm covers on farms this spring, the factors influencing them, and their implications for management post-turnout are discussed. Philip also shares insights […]
5 March 2025
Flock biosecurity
0 Flock biosecurity Every animal introduced to a flock or person working with stock poses a potential risk, particularly during the lambing period when infectious agents are more easily spread. Important considerations Avoid unnecessary purchases While buying pet lambs to put on ewes or foster ewes to rear may seem like a quick […]
2 March 2025
Minimising disease in the lambing shed
Minimising disease in the lambing shed Lambing has begun or is about to begin for mid-season flocks. Nollaig O’Dowd gives her top tips to keep ewes and lambs healthy during this critical time. Good hygiene in the lambing shed is key to preventing disease and infection, ensuring strong survival rates. Weather conditions […]
26 February 2025
Key tips during lambing
Key tips during lambing Farmers can significantly enhance lamb survival and overall flock health this lambing season by prioritising colostrum intake, maintaining rigorous hygiene and proactive management, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Ciaran Lynch tells us more. Maintaining hygiene for lamb survival A clean lambing environment is crucial in preventing diseases such as watery […]
25 February 2025
Farmers underutilising RVL testing to diagnose abortion causes
Farmers underutilising RVL testing to diagnose abortion causes Treat every abortion in your ewe flock as the start of an abortion storm. That was a key message delivered by Teagasc Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, Michael Gottstein when appearing on a recent Let’s Talk Sheep Webinar. The webinar, available to view below […]
25 February 2025
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