Organic Lamb Finishing – From Farm to Fork | Carlow

The Organic Lamb Finishing Events – From Farm to Fork aims to bring together farmers, researchers, processors and industry leaders to explore the opportunities and challenges for organic lamb production. These events are designed for both organic and conventional sheep farmers who want to improve finishing performance and profitability.

The events will finish up on Wednesday, 12 August at 6.30pm on Joe Nolan’s farm in Fenagh, Co. Carlow, R21 CK66.

Click here to register for the Organic Lamb Finishing Event!

Joe operates a diverse 98 hectare organic sheep and tillage enterprise, integrating spring cereals, protein crops, grassland, red clover swards, riparian grassland and native woodland.

His farm includes a 310 ewe March lambing flock, 20 pedigree Charollais ewes and approximately 300 store lambs carried over the winter.

Since making the move to organics, Joe has altered the sheep system, moving towards the Easy-Care breed of sheep. Cover crops of rape and leafy turnip, sown after tillage crops, form the basis of the winter diet, while protein crops are under-sown with grass and clover to provide overwinter grazing. Cereals and legumes produced on the farm are also used. Post grain cleaning, barley and oats are used to supplement store lambs, while peas were fed to ewes to boost milk production.

Joe has also developed a comprehensive flock health plan that balances productivity with organic principles. Key management practices include targeted worm control based on regular faecal egg counts, vaccination against clostridial diseases, careful management of medicine withdrawal periods, the use of non-organophosphate products for flystrike prevention and foot health, strategic mineral supplementation, and routine fluke control. As his Easy-Care flock develops, Joe also aims to phase out tail docking.

The Organic Lamb Finishing Events – From Farm to Fork offer a unique opportunity to learn from leading organic producers, hear the latest research, and engage directly with processors and industry experts.

The events are supported by leading organisations including Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Bord Bia, the Irish Organic Association, Organic Trust, IFA, ICM, ICSA, ACA, Leitrim Organic Farmers Co-op, NOTS, OBLIG, INHFA and The Good Herdsmen.

Click Here For a Full List of all Organic Lamb Finishing Events!