Organic Lamb Finishing Events – From Farm to Fork
Taking place this August, the Organic Lamb Finishing Events will bring together farmers, researchers, processors and industry leaders to explore the opportunities and challenges for organic lamb production.
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, Leitrim Organic Farmers Co-op, NOTS, OBLIG, INHFA and The Good Herdsmen, these events are designed for both organic and conventional sheep farmers who want to improve finishing performance and profitability.
What to expect?
Each event will combine practical on-farm demonstrations with the latest research and expert discussion, giving attendees valuable insights they can apply to their own enterprises.
Highlights include:
- A live demo of drafting lambs with the aim of helping farmers make better decisions in terms of choosing lambs fit for slaughter
- Latest research from Teagasc, Athenry on the organic lamb finishing feeding trials
- Financial analysis of finishing lamb
- Discussion forum: Processors and Industry Stakeholders will debate the challenges and successes of finishing lamb and accessing premium markets for organic lamb
Dates for your Diary
Micheal Holmes, Westport, Co. Mayo
Wednesday, 5th August
The events kick off in Westport, Co. Mayo with on Wednesday, 5th August at 6.30pm.
Hosted by Micheal Holmes, Newfield, Mulranny, Westport, Co. Mayo F28 FR50, the first event takes place on a farm that combines commonage with enclosed grazing across both productive and more challenging land types.
Register for the Mayo Organic Lamb Finishing Event here!
Micheal farms predominantly Mayo Blackface and crossbred ewes, lambing from late March and early April. Since entering organics in 2023, he has successfully adapted to the system, overcoming challenges such as sourcing organic feed and controlling weeds.
In 2025, Micheal finished all of his lambs organically and produced over 18kg carcase to Irish Country Meats. The majority were finished from grass, with the remainder supplemented using organic concentrates and own hay.
Micheal is a firm advocate of weighing and assessing lambs before sale. A highlight of the event will include a live demonstration of weighing and grading lambs that will interest both organic and conventional sheep farmers.
Kenmare Livestock Mart
Monday, 11th August
On Monday, 11th August, these events move to Kenmare Livestock Mart in Gortamullen, Kenmare, Co. Kerry V93 R761 at 7pm.
This event will feature a practical live demonstration of drafting lambs, designed to help farmers identify animals that are fit for slaughter and make more informed finishing decisions.
Register for the Kerry Organic Lamb Finishing Event here!
Attendees will hear the latest findings from Teagasc’s organic lamb finishing feeding trials, followed by an analysis of the financial performance of lamb finishing systems.
The evening will conclude with an engaging discussion forum featuring processors and industry representatives, who will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with finishing lambs and accessing premium markets for organic lamb.
Joe Nolan, Fenagh, Co. Carlow
Wednesday, 12 August
The events will finish up on Wednesday, 12 August at 6.30pm on Joe Nolan’s farm in Fenagh, Co. Carlow R21 CK66.
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.
Click here to register for the Carlow Organic Lamb Finishing Event!
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.
Whether you are already farming organically or considering the transition, these events will provide practical advice, valuable networking opportunities and the latest thinking on producing high quality organic lamb profitably while meeting the demands of an evolving marketplace.
We look forward to welcoming you to one of these informative and practical events.
More information on Organic Lamb Finishing Events is available here