06 June 2023
Previewing Sheep 2023
Sheep 2023 takes place on Saturday, June 17th and this will be the most important date in this year’s sheep calendar. Michael Gottstein, Teagasc Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, previews the event in this article.
This year, the event is taking place in a new location of Gurteen Agricultural College, Ballingary, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Eircode E53 TP93.
The event is free to attend and booking is not necessary. Gates open at 10am and the event runs until 5pm. This is a great family day out for anyone with an interest in sheep or the wider sheep industry. There is lots to see and do.
Attractions on the day include:
- Over 50 commercial exhibitors;
- Sheep breed competitions – over 700 pedigree sheep will be participating in shows;
- Sheep breed displays;
- On-site catering;
- Childrens entertainment;
- Cooking demonstrations with Neven Maguire;
- Health check with the Irish Heart Foundation;
- Sheep dog training demonstrations;
- Young shepherd competitions;
- Sheep shearing demonstrations;
- Wool displays in the wool village.
Technical information will be organised on all aspects of sheep production:
- Grassland;
- Breeding and genetics;
- Nutrition;
- Flock health;
- Organic farming;
- Hill sheep production;
- Health and safety displays;
- Meat industry and markets
- Agricultural education;
- Environment, water quality and Signpost Programme;
- Forestry;
- Agricultural advisory;
- Handling facilities and sheep handling demonstrations;
- Thematic networks.
The largest dedicated sheep industry event of 2023
Darren Carty, Sheep and Schemes Editor from the Irish Farmers Journal, featured on a recent episode of OviCast to talk about Sheep 2023. Along with giving a background to the event, he discussed the broad range of activities available to visitors on the day.
In the short clip below, Damian Costello, Lisa McGrane, Frank Campion and Fiona McGovern, Teagasc give an insight as to what will be discussed on the day.
This event is being organised by Teagasc, Bord Bia, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, The Irish Farmers Journal and Sheep Ireland. Following on from previous events held in 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2018, it is envisaged that this will be a biennial event going forward. Sheep 2023 is being sponsored by Irish Country Meats (main sponsor), while also receiving major sponsorship from FBD, Elanco, MSD and Cormac Sheep Equipment.