Shows
OviCastUpdate on the companion forage studyThis week’s OviCast is joined by post-graduate student Lisa McGrane and Dr Philip Creighton to discuss some of the results of an ongoing study between Teagasc and UCD examining how companion forages – chicory, plantain, red and white clover - perform alongside a perennial ryegrass sward in sheep systems. With four years data collected, Lisa discusses what impact these forages have had on ewe and lamb performance before moving on to discuss the impact of this on drafting, concentrate supplementation and carcass spec. Keeping some of these forages in the sward can prov...2022-06-1013 min
OviCastUpdate from the BETTER farmsDr Frank Campion joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast with an update on what’s been happening in the BETTER farm flocks.
They discuss grass growth, surpluses and silage and some of the management challenges during the past few weeks.
With the first round of weighing complete for the lowland flocks, Frank outlines how lambs are performing this spring.
They discuss the variation among flocks and across years and discuss how early lamb performance can actually impact management for the rest of the season and examine the options to reduce poor performers.
Finally, Frank offers his advice on ke...2022-05-3115 min
OviCastParasite Control TASAH ConsultDr Natascha Meunier from Animal Health Ireland is on this week’s OviCast podcast to tell us more about the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) parasite control consult which is a new fully funded programme from Animal Health Ireland.
Natascha starts by putting the challenge of resistance in context and why we need to proactively address it.
The parasite control consult is available to cattle and sheep farmers and Natascha explains the aim of the programme and what it offers farmers who wish to participate.
The TASAH programme will fund a veterinary farm visit from trained practitioners and tw...2022-05-2410 min
OviCastSilage – why quality mattersAs silage season is kicking off, this week’s OviCast is joined by Dr. Tim Keady to discuss the importance of focusing on quality.
Tim highlights why high feed value silage is essential for the coming year and the opportunities it presents.
Tim sets the target of producing 75+ DMD silage to sustain high levels of performance and allow for concentrate saving in the coming winter.
He discusses the impact of silage quality on the performance pregnant ewes and beef systems before then discussing the concentrate sparing effect of high quality silage - something that will certainly come into focus in th...2022-05-1018 min
OviCastGetting clover into the systemWith clover more in focus than ever, this week’s episode of OviCast is joined by Germinal’s Dr Mary McEvoy to discuss in more detail.
Mary outlines the role of clover in swards and its potential benefits and talks about the different establishment methods from a full reseed to over-sowing.
She discusses field selection, sowing rate and a number of other key factors that will influence its success.
Mary then takes us through pre and post-sowing management to ensure good establishment while in the latter half of the podcast she discusses the potential of red clover in sheep systems with...2022-05-0417 min
OviCastUpdate from the Regional Veterinary LabMaresa Sheehan from the Dept. of Agriculture’s Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Kilkenny joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast with an update on some of the issues she and her colleagues are encountering at the moment.
The relatively mild winter and spring has helped many farms but it has also posed a risk for various parasite challenges from fluke to Nematodirus and Coccidia which are discussed in more detail.
Maresa highlights how April tends to be a high risk period for clostridia issues as the maternally derived immunity in lambs wanes leading to sudden deaths in lambs arriv...2022-04-2617 min
OviCastNematodirus in lambsDr James O’Shaughnessy from the Dept. of Agriculture Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Backweston joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss Nematodirus disease in lambs.
James starts by describing the life cycle of Nematodirus and how it differs from other stomach worms.
He discusses how it affects lambs and the symptoms to watch out for and he also discusses the limitations of faecal egg counts for this condition.
With the recent release of this year’s Nematodirus forecast, James explains how to use this information and how prevailing weather conditions can affect this from year to...2022-04-1916 min
OviCastFarmer focus: James Johnston - Grass, silage and clover in Co. KildareCo. Kildare sheep and beef farmer, James Johnston, and his Teagasc advisor Dr Rachel Taylor join Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to give an insight into his system, grassland management and how he is addressing some of the challenges going forwards.
James first outlines his farming system before discuss grazing groups and the use of temporary fencing, fertiliser and soil fertility.
Rachel and James outline the plans for this year’s silage crop, the importance of completing a fodder budget and the role high quality silage has for the winter ahead.
Finally, James outlines how he is incor...2022-04-1214 min
OviCastGrassland Focus: Priorities for AprilThe focus for this week’s episode of the OviCast podcast switches to grassland with Ciarán Lynch joined by Dr Philip Creighton to discuss the key priorities for April.
Philip starts by discussing the current grazing situation before then moving on to discuss the key management tasks from grouping up to temporary fencing with Philip explaining the impact this has on grass growth and animal performance.
He offers some advice on fertiliser application during April and the impact that this has on the system.
He then discusses planning next year’s winter fodder on farms emphasising the need to focus...2022-04-0517 min
OviCastSupplementing triplet rearing and yearling ewes post-lambingDr Tim Keady joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss the management of triplet rearing and yearling ewes post-lambing.
Tim starts by highlighting the need to have a system to deal with multiples in prolific flock outlining the various options that are available.
He takes us thorough the economics of rearing the third lamb on a ewe and discusses the energy requirements post-lambing with Tim outlining the supplementation strategy to make up the shortfall. Plus he outlines the role of condition score and suitability of ewes to manage in this system.
Similarly Tim talks about his wor...2022-03-2913 min
OviCastManaging artificial reared lambs – transitioning off milkWith many farms in the middle of lambing, this week’s OviCast focuses on artificial reared lambs with Michael Gottstein Head of Sheep in Teagasc.
Michael starts off by highlighting the need to have a system in place to deal with orphan or pet lambs on farms.
He outlines the various systems available and the importance of getting them set up on the feeder system early.
As this can be a costly system mainly due to the milk replacer input, we discuss the importance of grouping up lambs in weekly batch sizes to facilitate their transition to cold milk and in...2022-03-2212 min
OviCastTackling Joint IllVet Tommy Heffernan, aka Tommy the Vet, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss joint ill infection in lambs.
Tommy starts by explaining the condition in a bit more detail and then discusses the bacteria that can cause the condition and their potential sources.
Tommy describes the presentation of the condition, routes of transfer and how that infection affects the joint.
He also highlights how doubling down on the basics of hygiene and colostrum management have a big impact on reducing risk of the condition.
For treatment, Tommy offers his insights on effective treatment methods before fin...2022-03-1517 min
OviCastDealing with OrfVet Cara Sheridan, ruminant technical advisor with MSD Animal Health, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss various aspects of dealing with orf on farms.
Cara starts by explaining a bit more about the condition, where it typically occurs and some of the predisposing factors.
She discusses the vaccination process detailing the timing of administration and interval until immunity is reached.
Cara then takes us through the actual vaccination procedure highlighting some practical tips and pitfalls before finally, discussing treatment options in the face of an outbreak.
For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the sho...2022-03-0817 min
OviCastInvestigating flock health problemsAs we head into peak lambing season we also start to encounter flock health issues on farms and on this week’s OviCast is Dr Shane Mc McGettrick of the Department of Agriculture Regional Veterinary Lab (RVL) in Sligo to discuss this issue in more detail.
Shane starts by encouraging farmers to submit samples where they encounter problems with abortions or increased mortality this spring and to identify the cause and start to address the issue.
Shane describes the common issues they see in the lab at this stage of the season and takes us through the submission procedure for sa...2022-03-0122 min
OviCastHill sheep conference previewSheep Specialist, Damian Costello, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast with a preview of the Teagasc Hill Sheep Conference that is taking place on Thursday, 24th February in the Clayton hotel in Sligo at 7pm.
This marks the return of the conference to an in-person event but as Damian explains, there is also an option to join online via Zoom with registration - details are on the Teagasc webpage.
Damian profiles the speakers and the topics that will be covered on the night and how they have a broad appeal to many in the industry, and not onl...2022-02-2205 min
OviCastColostrum Part 2: Impact on the lambThis week’s OviCast is the second part of the discussion on colostrum with Professor Tommy Boland and he discusses how colostrum impacts the lamb.
Tommy starts by explaining the various roles colostrum has once it is consumed by the newborn lamb and how each of these affects lamb survival and performance.
He highlights the importance of ensuring the lamb consumes sufficient quantities of colostrum quickly after birth and how this affects the transfer of immunity from the ewe to the lamb.
Tommy discusses the colostrum alternatives that are available and what role they play, and why caution is needed wh...2022-02-1517 min
OviCastColostrum Part 1: what influences ewe productionEnsuring lambs receive adequate colostrum is vital to get them off to the best possible start and making sure ewes have adequate supplies is the starting point for this.
In a 2-part special, Professor Tommy Boland joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss this important topic in more detail.
Firstly, Tommy focuses on the factors that influence colostrum production in the ewe and he explains the various functions of colostrum.
Tommy discusses how production starts and the quantity a ewe needs to produce with Tommy explaining the various nutritional factors that have an impact on the qua...2022-02-0822 min
OviCastPlanning ahead with a fertiliser budgetFollowing on from last week’s OviCast, Michael Gottstein joins Ciarán Lynch on the latest episode to discuss planning a fertiliser budget for your farm this year.
Michael starts by discussing the challenge that increased fertiliser prices pose on farms and why it’s important to take action now.
He explains why it’s important to look at your overall fertiliser spend on farm now and take into account what merchant credit and alternative credit is available to avoid the situation of unforeseen debt later in the year.
Michael outlines a practical example of a fertiliser budget that he complet...2022-02-0125 min
OviCastOpening covers, fertiliser and planning aheadGrassland researcher, Dr Philip Creighton, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss various aspects of grassland management this spring.
Philip starts by discussing current grass availability on farm with the higher than average winter growth. He moves on to the topic of fertiliser purchases this spring and Philip emphasises the need to complete a budget for the fertiliser spend on the farm this year.
Philip explains the impact that timing, conditions and grass covers have on response rates for fertiliser this spring and he also discusses tailoring fertiliser application rates depending on stocking rate and dem...2022-01-2522 min
OviCastNational Sheep Conference previewWith the Teagasc National Sheep Conference just around the corner, this week’s OviCast was joined by Dr. Fiona McGovern to give us a preview of what’s in store this year.
Fiona starts by discussing the format and topics covered in this year’s conference which takes place online over two nights on Tuesday and Thursday the 25th and 27th of January at 8pm.
Fiona and Ciarán discuss the line-up of speakers with Fiona giving the highlights of the papers on both nights.
Finally, they finish up with Fiona explaining how you can register for this year’s conferenc...2022-01-1807 min
OviCastWhy it’s time to soil sampleTeagasc Advisor, Christy Watson, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss the importance of tacking soil fertility.
Christy starts by explaining why now is the ideal time to take soil samples on farms to determine the fertility status and identify areas that need attention.
Christy takes us through the soil sampling process from how many samples per hectare to the correct collection method and he discusses the importance of acting on the result with Christy highlighting potential savings that can be made by reducing compound usage on high indexed grazing ground this year.
However, Christy also hig...2022-01-1114 min
OviCastFarmer focus: Shane Moore, housing scanning and feeding plansShane Moore, a Teagasc BETTER Farm Sheep Programme participant who is farming outside Athleague in Co Roscommon, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast.
Shane starts by giving a quick re-cap on how mating went this year before discussing closing up his grazing ground this winter and housing the flock earlier than expected in December.
Shane describes the new sheep house that he put up last year and how it left management of his flock a lot easier. He explains this year’s scan results and how he plans to split the flock up for penning on the basis...2022-01-0414 min
OviCastFarmer Focus: Tomás O’Toole and his lamb finishing in the westTomás O’Toole, a Teagasc BETTER Farm Sheep Programme participant, who is farming in Moyard outside of Clifden Co Galway, and sheep specialist Damian Costello, join Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast.
Tomás runs a split hill and lowland flock and a suckler to weaning system which he explains in more detail. He discusses the changes in his flock over the past number of years and his decision to run two separate sheep enterprises, his breeding decisions and the progress and challenges he has encountered on the way.
Tomás explains the move away from selling...2021-12-2818 min
OviCastThe EuroSheep projectDrs. Tim Keady and Bríd McClearn join Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to explain the EuroSheep project which is a thematic network involving eight partner countries.
Tim gives some background to the project and its aims while Bríd explains how the project is being implemented, firstly by identifying the needs from each of the countries. Bríd also explains how they drew on the resources within each country to come up with solutions to these needs.
Tim discusses how practical ‘tips and tricks’ are being collated to facilitate the implementation of the solutions at farm level and...2021-12-2110 min
OviCastFarmer focus: Eddie Gavin wintering on forage cropsTeagasc BETTER Farm Sheep Programme participant, Eddie Gavin, his Teagasc advisor Eoin Wolfe and Programme manager Dr Frank Campion join Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss wintering on forage crops.
Eddie, who is farming near Bagenalstown in Co Carlow, gives a bit of background to his farming system and flock. Managing a split flock, Eddie discusses the performance of the early lambing ewes and how mating has gone for the mid-season ewes.
He moves on to discuss his use of forage crops to carry the ewe flocks during the winter months, describes what was sown and how...2021-12-1416 min
OviCastThe feed value of winter grazingDr Tim Keady joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss various aspects of winter grazing and how it impacts ewe performance.
Tim starts by discussing the potential mutual benefits of moving sheep to winter grazing both for the flock owner and host farmer and he also discusses the role of extended grazing before moving on to discuss the frequency of grass allocation with Tim offering his tips on managing grazing at this stage of the year.
Tim explains the feed values of grass during the winter, the factors that influence it and how it affects ewe per...2021-12-0617 min
OviCastUpdate on the Sheep Welfare SchemeSheep Specialist, Damian Costello, is on this week’s OviCast to discuss the Sheep Welfare scheme.
Damian starts by giving some background to the scheme before discussing the changes to the reference number for the coming year and what this well mean for participants.
He also reminds us of the various tasks in the current scheme and the proposed changes for the planned next phase as well as the suggested payment rate.
Damian reminds participants of the importance of maintaining records and necessary receipts before he then discusses the options for new entrants to the scheme.
For more episodes from th...2021-11-2910 min
OviCastMeasuring methane in sheep – breeding for lower emissionsDr Noirín McHugh and postgraduate student Edel O’Connor join Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss the ongoing project examining methane emissions in sheep.
Noirín first highlights the importance of this work in the current climate, while Edel explains how they are using portable accumulation chambers to measure emissions from up to 72 sheep per day in Teagasc Athenry and on commercial farms.
Edel explains how much methane different ages of sheep emit and how this compares to other livestock while they discuss the variation observed in the level of emissions from sheep and Noirín explai...2021-11-2311 min
OviCastAnimal Health Awareness week – focus on AMRAs part of Animal Health Awareness week, on this week’s OviCast are Department of Agriculture Vets Caroline Garvan and Damian Barrett.
Damian begins by explaining the objective of Animal Health Awareness week and its importance in the current climate while Caroline explains why Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major concern and the concept of the one health approach.
They discuss the usage within the sheep sector and how the overall industry figure is calculated and Caroline explains why some types of antibiotics are deemed critically important due to their use in human medicine and how the route of administration ca...2021-11-1635 min
OviCastThe importance of the Clean Livestock PolicyPresenting lambs clean at the abattoir becomes more challenging as the year progresses and on this week’s OviCast, Ciarán Lynch is joined by Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep in Teagasc to discuss this topic further.
Michael starts by explaining the Clean Livestock Policy (CLP) and its importance, highlighting the key areas on the lamb that cause issues and how the industry has implemented changes to address this.
He discusses the predisposing factors that will lead to lambs becoming dirtier and what practical steps can be taken at this time of the year to reduce this.
He also discusses rem...2021-11-0915 min
OviCastChoosing the appropriate liver fluke doseAs liver fluke is a large risk at the moment, Teagasc’s Dr Orla Keane joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss selecting the appropriate treatment for this stage of the season.
Firstly Orla gives a quick recap on the risk that fluke poses and the stages of its development. She discusses the various classes of flukicide available with Orla explaining what stage of fluke they are suitable to treat and the role others could play later in the season.
Orla highlights the challenge of using combination fluke and wormers as part of routine fluke treatment in ad...2021-11-0210 min
OviCastWhy you should consider temporary grazingDamian Costello, sheep specialist with Teagasc, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss temporary grazing this back end.
Damian highlights some considerations when taking on temporary grazing and how it can benefit both parties involved.
He emphasises the need to ensure all animals are tagged before leaving farm and he discusses at length the various movement notification considerations for a variety of scenarios.
Damian also takes us through the need to retain movement records afterwards and how to apply for credit under the nitrates regulations.
For more detail, here is the link to the NSIS guide: htt...2021-10-2615 min
OviCastCleaning out swards and closing up on timeAs we enter the final grazing rotation of the season, Ciarán Lynch is joined on this week’s OviCast by Dr. Philip Creighton who offers some grazing advice to keep us on track from now to set up our spring grazing.
Philip starts by discussing the importance of achieving good graze outs and how that influences sward production next spring. Philip also offers tips on dealing with heavy covers that are on many farms this October and he discusses the closing targets and why they are important.
Finally, Philip highlights why it’s important to avoid the temptation of re-gr...2021-10-1914 min
OviCastThe benefits of raddling ramsSheep specialist, Damian Costello, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss why farmers should consider raddling rams this breeding season.
Damian discusses the two types used - either raddle paste or ram harnesses - and offers tips on their use and ways to leave it easier to catch rams to top these up.
He explains which order different raddle colours should be and discusses how to make use of changing raddle colour to better predict lambing date and plan feeding programmes in late pregnancy.
Damian and Ciarán discuss how raddling can be used to monitor ram...2021-10-1211 min
OviCastFarmer focus: Brian Nicholson - breeding season kicking off in KilkennyThis week’s OviCast is a farmer focus interview with Brian Nicholson who farms just outside of Johnstown in Co Kilkenny. Brian runs a large-scale sheep flock and is a participant CPT flock with Sheep Ireland.
Brian discusses sales in this year’s lamb crop and his plans for finishing the remaining lambs this autumn before moving on to discuss the breeding plan for the farm and he takes us through the various breeding groups from the commercial flock of 290ewes to the ewes that will be AI’D and natural mated as part of the central progeny test programme with S...2021-10-0517 min
OviCastA group with a difference: Ólas Hill FarmsOn this week’s OviCast, Ciarán Lynch heads to Westport in Co. Mayo where he was joined by Tom Gill and Teagasc Advisor John Noonan to find out more about Ólas Hill Farms.
Centred around Westport, Ólas Hill Farms was initially set up with a focus on breeding sales which then expanded to encompass a producer group that now has more than 400 members.
Tom is a member and one of the co-ordinators of the group and he explains how it has delivered for his own system and that of the other members.
The group works closely with Kildare Chilling where...2021-09-2816 min
OviCastTime to consider plunge dippingHead of sheep in Teagasc Michael Gottstein joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss the control of external parasites in sheep.
Michael starts by describing how plunge dipping was common practice on many farms and now needs to be considered once again for external parasite control particularly to replace the use of injectable macrocyclic lactones (Group 3-ML) products for whole flock treatment.
They discuss best practice when it comes to dipping with Michael emphasising how the duration the sheep are dipped for has a big impact on its efficacy. He highlights the need to replenish the...2021-09-2124 min
OviCastFarmer focus: John Joe Fitzgerald – a hill farm in transitionJohn Joe Fitzgerald, a participant in the Teagasc BETTER farm sheep programme and the new Teagasc Signpost Programme joins Ciarán Lynch on the latest farmer focus on OviCast.
John Joe first describes his farming system with some insights into the type of hill he is working on five miles west of Dingle in county Kerry.
He then discusses his ewe flock, the breeds used and how it has transitioned during the past few years as he pushed the flock back onto the hill more.
John Joe explains the new handling facility he built which includes a dipping tank and b...2021-09-1413 min
OviCastJoining ewe lambs – what to considerDr. Tim Keady joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss the subject of joining ewe lambs to lambs at 1 year old.
Tim starts by outlining the potential to improve productivity by lambing ewe lambs at 1 year old, but he also highlights some of the challenges it can place on the system.
He discusses the various effects of joining weight on productivity, the use of the ram effect and management of ewe lambs throughout the joining period.
Finally, Tim discusses the knock on effect lambing yearling ewes has on their subsequent performance particularly the following season as 18 mon...2021-09-0716 min
OviCastForage crops: can they carry store lambs to finish?Dr Frank Campion and Mark Dolan join Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss some of the ongoing work examining the role of forage crops in store lamb finishing systems.
Mark starts by giving some back ground to his project, discussing the crops sown, when they went in and the type of lambs he is finishing while Frank highlights the role these crops have in store lambs finishing systems.
As carrying and finishing capacity of these crops is highly important, Mark and Frank describe the crop yield they achieved last year, their carrying capacity and how many lam...2021-08-3114 min
OviCastA field, a marquee, an auctioneer and 4000 sheep: the Cooley Sheep Breeders Association saleIf someone was travelling along the Greenore Road in Carlingford on the first Saturday in September they would be forgiven for stopping to take in the spectacle of the Cooley Sheep Breeders Association annual sale.
On a greenfield site the sale has become a focal point for local breeders to sell breeding ewe lambs and hoggets and on this week’s OviCast, Ciarán Lynch is joined by Conor McCann, the current chairman of the association, and local Teagasc advisor, Hugh Rooney, to explain more about the sale and how it came about.
Hugh and Conor give the background to how...2021-08-2417 min
OviCastPre-breeding vaccination: toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortionPre-breeding vaccination is one way to reduce lambs losses and barren rates next spring and is a key point highlighted by Sarah Campbell veterinary advisor with MSD Animal Health who joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to explain in more detail.
Sarah starts by highlighting the need to identify the cause of abortion through the veterinary laboratory’s and highlights the common causes reported on farm.
She discusses the two most common causes of abortion namely Enzootic abortion and Toxoplasmosis in more detail explaining how these are spread and how the timing of infection effects the ewe. In bo...2021-08-1721 min
OvicastOVICAST #1 - Zhayra (Social Media)Tudo sobre a Zhayra, social media de grandes potências da Bahia! 2021-08-1337 min
OviCastQuarantine treating bought in stockWhen new animals arrive on farm they can potentially bring some unwanted health issues with them. To minimise the risk, it’s important there is a quarantine procedure in place and on this week’s OviCast, Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep in Teagasc joins Ciarán Lynch to discuss this issue in more detail.
Michael starts by emphasising why this is an important consideration for any flock owner. He discusses the importance of inspecting the sheep at purchase and asking some basic questions of the seller about the health status of their flock.
Some preparation is needed to correctly quarantine anima...2021-08-1017 min
OviCastTime to check the ram team and settle new rams inAssessing if the ram team is fit for purpose is an essential task at this point of the season and on this week’s OviCast, Ciarán Lynch is joined by drystock advisor Edward Egan to discuss this in more detail.
Edward starts by explaining why this needs to be conducted now to allow for corrective action to be taken or a replacement ram purchased well in advance of the breeding season.
Edward takes us through some of the basic checks that should be conducted, checking ram soundness and the absence of injuries, infections or other impairments.
They discuss the imp...2021-08-0216 min
OviCastGenotyping – a step forward this seasonWith the rams sales season kicking into high gear, Dr Alan Bohan from Sheep Ireland joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss how genotyping has improved the genetic information available to breeders and farmers alike.
Alan discusses the increase in the number of animals genotyped this year and explains the process and costs involved in genotyping.
He then discusses the benefits of genotyping animals from parentage verification to scrapie genotyping.
Genotyping also provides a genomic evaluation which improves the accuracy of the index and Alan explains why this is a major benefit to farmers.
Finally, he dis...2021-07-2711 min
OviCastSynchronising ewesAs the breeding season for early lambing and pedigree flocks is starting, Prof. David Kenny Head of the Animal Biosciences Dept in Teagasc, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss various aspects of synchronisation in ewes.
David starts by explaining the pros and cons of synchronisation in sheep and he discusses the role of sponging and PMSG in the synchronising process as well as the protocol used, including the timing of ram introduction.
David then highlights the importance of the correct ewe to ram ratio and discusses some strategies to deal this.
He finishes up discussing the...2021-07-2010 min
OviCastThe role of cobalt supplementationMichael Gottstein Head of Sheep in Teagasc joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss the role of cobalt supplementation in lambs.
Michael starts by describing how cobalt supplementation helps lamb performance and he moves on to discuss some of the typical signs of cobalt deficiency in lambs.
They discuss supplementation strategies and the pros and cons of each and how the type of cobalt contained in the supplement may affect the lamb’s ability to absorb it.
Finally, Michael encourages producers to check whether they are getting a performance benefit from supplementation with minerals.
For more episo...2021-07-1313 min
OviCastTeagasc BETTER farm flocks – lamb growth & weaningDr. Frank Campion joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s episode of OviCast with an update on some of the performance and management decisions on the Teagasc BETTER sheep farms as we head into the mid-summer period.
Frank starts by discussing current activities on the farms and discusses lamb performance on the lowland flocks to date as well as some of the challenges they faced so far this year and how it influenced performance.
Frank highlights how lamb weaning weights can effect management for the season and how checking the proportion of lambs that fall into different weight categories is...2021-07-0612 min
OviCastDon’t dose and move –short term gain vs long termTraditionally in mid-summer the idea of dosing and moving to clean or cleaner pasture in the form of reseeds or after grass was common practice, but with the increasing development of anthelminthic resistance, that practice has become problematic.
To explain why, on this week’s episode of OviCast, Ciarán Lynch is joined by Dr. Orla Keane. Orla sets out what the key issue is with dosing and moving to clean pasture and in doing so she also explains what is considered to be clean and cleaner pasture on sheep farms.
She discusses managing refugia and maintaining a susceptible worm pop...2021-06-2910 min
OviCastReplacing silage offtakes and maintaining soil fertilityMark Plunkett, soil and plant nutrition specialist with Teagasc, joins Ciarán Lynch on the latest OviCast podcast to discuss some key areas to maintain soil fertility.
Mark discusses the importance of replacing p & K offtakes from surplus silage and discusses the fertiliser requirements for those considering a second cut of silage with Mark outlining a number of options.
He also explains why sulphur inclusion is an important consideration highlighting the responses achieved on a range of soils there is a discussion on the benefits of low emissions slurry spreading at this stage of the season.
Lime usage nationally is h...2021-06-2315 min
OviCastMarket update - what’s influencing trends this year to dateSeamus McMenamin, sheep meat sector manager with Bord Bia, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss the market situation so far this year.
Seamus starts by discussing the trade in the year to date and the impact of tighter lamb supply on price.
They discuss how that has impacted the export market – and despite lower volumes the value of exports has gone up this year reflective of a higher global demand for sheep meat.
Seamus explains how the trend in lamb supply week on week is lower than last year to date relative to previous years befor...2021-06-1513 min
OviCastSm@RT – precision livestock farming for sheepDr Tim Keady from Teagasc who is the lead researcher in Ireland for a new EU-funded project called Sm@RT joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to explain the project.
Sm@RT brings together a network of researchers from eight countries: Ireland, Estonia, France, Hungary, Italy, Norway, UK and Israel. Tim explains how the aim of Sm@rt is to increase the awareness of those working in the sheep and goat sectors of newly available precision livestock farming (PLF) tools. He also explains what PLF tools are and how they can potentially improve productivity and labour efficiency.
Tim...2021-06-0808 min
OviCastWeighing up the companion foragesThis week’s episode of OviCast finds out about an ongoing study between Teagasc and UCD examining how companion forages – chicory, plantain, red and white clover - perform alongside a perennial ryegrass sward in sheep systems.
Lisa McGrane a postgraduate student who is working on the project joined Ciarán Lynch on the podcast to explain more and began by discussing the crops and how they are being managed as separate farm lets in a system.
She then discussed how they are examining the effects on animal performance. They are also investigating how the sward performs under grazing conditions and the c...2021-06-0113 min
OviCastGetting clover into the system – consider over-sowing?Incorporating clover into a sward has multiple benefits in livestock systems and to discuss this in more detail on this week’s OviCast, Ciarán Lynch is joined by Dr Philip Creighton.
From recent work being conducted in Teagasc Athenry, Philip starts by explaining the impact that increasing the clover content in swards has on animal performance.
He goes on to explain how this can reduce the requirement for chemical nitrogen during the mid-season period.
Philip and Ciarán then discuss inclusion levels in a reseed mix and Philip highlights the clover varieties that should be considered for sheep swards befo...2021-05-2522 min
OviCastBlowfly: risk factors, control options and application procedureAs we enter the risk period for blowfly on farms, Wesley Power, Veterinary Technical Consultant with Elanco Animal Health, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast.
Wesley starts with the risk that blowfly poses on sheep farms as well as the predisposing factors before he moves on to explaining the life cycle of the blowfly and how that affects control options.
He then discusses what control options are available and Wesley explains how they work. With many producers relying on topical applications as a control method they discuss the importance of correct application and how it impacts on pro...2021-05-1819 min
OviCastChecking the financesFarmers should consider examining the financial performance of their farm in more detail by completing a profit monitor and on this week’s OviCast podcast, Michael Gottstein Head of Sheep in Teagasc tells Ciarán Lynch why it’s important.
Firstly, Michael outlines how to complete a profit monitor and what information is required. He explains how the income and costs are classified and the difference in variable and fixed costs.
He then discusses how to use this information as an opportunity to examine and improve the business and it also allows a farmer to benchmark farm performance against others and s...2021-05-1118 min
OviCastFarmer Focus: Paddocks, residuals, regrowth and measuring performance in Co LouthPeadar Kearney from Co Louth who is running a high output sheep only system where measuring and managing play a key role, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast.
Peadar is also a participant on the Teagasc BETTER farm sheep programme and gives a quick recap on how lambing went this year, what has happened with the lambs in the interim and how he monitors lamb performance.
He moves on to discuss the grass situation on the farm and the growth rates in recent weeks. Peadar describes the grazing groups on the farm, his pre and post grazing man...2021-05-0415 min
OviCastLambing review – where can we improveWith lambing finishing up, this week’s OviCast podcast recaps on how well flocks have performed and where improvements can be made and to discuss this in more detail Ciarán Lynch is joined by Michael Gottstein Head of Sheep in Teagasc.
Michael starts by outlining why it’s important to take stock of how flock has performed during lambing when it’s fresh in our minds and complete a simple lambing review.
He discusses some of the key performance targets including issues around barrenness and ewes not rearing lambs and what follow up actions farmers can take before moving on to d...2021-04-2725 min
OviCastDealing with scald in lambs and lameness issues early in the grazing seasonTeagasc's B&T advisor Tom Coll joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss some issues with lameness appearing in flocks at present.
Tom discusses how scald is the main problem in young lambs at the moment and what some of the predisposing factors are.
He highlights the need for early intervention and discusses treatment options. Tom puts particular emphasis on the importance of good handling facilities in tackling some of these issues on farms.
With many of his clients having invested in batch footbath facilities in recent years he finishes up discussing how this has helped red...2021-04-2011 min
OviCastNematodirus – signs, treatment & differential diagnosisDr Orla Keane joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s episode of OviCast to discuss Nematodirus in lambs.
Orla starts by explaining why it poses a risk for lambs in early spring, she explains the DAFM Nematodirus forecast and the implications that has for lambs this spring. She discusses the signs of infection in young lambs and the treatment options for this condition as well as discussing how the choice of treatment can impact the sustainable parasite control.
As this occurs at a similar time to possible Coccidia infection, Orla explains how this can also impact lambs, the clinical pre...2021-04-1313 min
OviCastGrazing focus - early season managementWith the grazing season well underway, on the latest OviCast episode Ciarán Lynch catches up with Dr Philip Creighton who highlights the need to focus on grassland management for the coming weeks to maximise lamb performance.
They discuss the current grazing conditions on farms around the country and the impact opening covers has had on grass growth during March.
Philip moves on to discuss forming grazing groups and what impact that has on grass and animal performance. He then outlines the current grazing targets and the importance of achieving residuals to setup the sward for subsequent grazing rotations.
They m...2021-04-0620 min
OviCastLambing one year old ewes – the farmer experienceTomás O’Leary who is farming outside Killarney in Co. Kerry joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast.
Tomás who is a participant on the BETTER Farm Sheep Programme has always joined his ewe lambs and managed them alongside his mature ewes. He shares his experience on how to manage these ewes to achieve a high output.
He also discusses his selection criteria to ensure his replacement ewe lambs are suitable to join, ram choice and joining period length.
Tomás then detailed his scan result this year and feeding regime from housing right through to late pre...2021-03-3014 min
OviCastIdentifying the problem ewes during lambingDr Frank Campion joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast to talk about reducing the number of problem ewes.
As many of the problems seen in a flock occur during lambing, Frank highlights the importance of identifying these sheep for culling with a permanent means so that they don’t re-appear in the flocks for the coming year.
Frank discusses the reasons for culling in flocks but also the importance of recording the reasons why these ewes were culled. He outlines why it’s important to review these reasons to identify potential issues within the flocks and expands...2021-03-2309 min
OviCastArtificially rearing lambs – the key pointsHaving a system in place to deal with surplus or orphan lambs is a must on many farms at this time of the year. On this episode of OviCast, Ciarán Lynch discusses this in more detail with Michael Gottstein Head of Sheep in Teagasc.
Michael outlines the various options for artificially rearing lambs indicating the pros and cons of each. They discuss training lambs onto feeders, batching according to age and group size.
As these are high cost systems, Michael outlines the weaning process, emphasising its importance in keeping the cost of the system down.
He also discusses the i...2021-03-1627 min
OviCastFarmer focus: Des Powell - Flock Expansion in Co. TipperaryTeagasc BETTER Farm Sheep Programme participant Des Powell who is running a mixed sheep and beef system in Co. Tipperary features on this week’s episode of OviCast.
Des is also joined by Teagasc’s Dr. Frank Campion as they discuss plans for increasing flock size and implementing a breeding policy on the farm.
With lambing already underway, Des discusses how he is selecting and identifying his replacements, while Frank highlights the challenge of expanding from within the flock and how it limits the selection process initially.
They also highlight some of the infrastructure changes on the farm finishing up with...2021-03-0916 min
OviCastThe causes, timing and on-farm practices associated with lamb mortality and the steps to reduce the incidence this SpringWith lambing season well underway, the focus on this week’s OviCast episode turns to the subject of lamb mortality and ways to reduce it.
Joining Ciarán Lynch is Dwayne Shields from Teagasc Sligo-Leitrim-Donegal who, during the course of his PhD studies, has examined the timing and causes of perinatal lamb mortality as well as farm surveys on common practices that can improve lamb survival.
Dwayne begins by discussing the timing and main causes of lamb mortality. He delves into how some of these are preventable and which ones aren’t, highlighting the importance of correct diagnosis where problems occur...2021-03-0237 min
OviCastSpring fertiliser – the key considerationsDr Philip Creighton joins Ciaran Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss some of the key factors to consider for fertiliser application this spring.
Philip discusses some of the challenges this spring and the delay in fertiliser application. With both environmental and economic considerations, he outlines the importance of waiting until soil temperatures and ground conditions are suitable before applying fertiliser at the moment.
He then discusses the options for farmers looking at split applications, how much to spread, where to target and why lower covers may be better suited to FYM or slurry applications.
He also highlights the im...2021-02-2316 min
OviCastBETTER Farm Hill flock updateDr Frank Campion joins Ciaran Lynch on the latest episode of OviCast with an update on the hill sheep flocks in the Teagasc BETTER farm sheep programme.
Frank discusses the farms involved and those that have recently finished up in the programme and with many of the flocks just finished pregnancy scanning, he discusses the results they achieved this year including fertility issues encountered in one of the flock along with the possible causes and follow up actions.
He moves on to litter size, management of twins and the possibility that some flocks may be pushing litter size too high...2021-02-1715 min
OviCastSheep market focus and outlook for 2021Seamus McMenamin, sheep meat sector manager with Bord Bia joins Ciaran Lynch on this week’s episode of OviCast with a focus on the sheep market and an outlook for 2021.
Seamus reviews some of the key highlights from the sheep meat trade during 2020 as well as overall throughput and imports from Northern Ireland.
He discusses the growth seen in key markets and moves on to discuss the impact of global trade patterns on the competitiveness of Irish lamb.
Seamus then outlines the influence of China on the world stage particularly in relation to New Zealand lamb exports before discussing the ef...2021-02-0927 min
OviCastFarmer Focus: John O’Connell – Scanning, feeding and managing ewes in Co. LeitrimCo. Leitrim native John O’Connell who runs a mixed sheep and dairy contract rearing system in Ballinamore joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s episode of OviCast.
John who is also a participant in the BETTER farm Sheep Programme starts by discussing the importance of having ewes in the right body condition and maintaining this during mid-pregnancy. John discusses his scanning results and subsequent management.
He also explains the role of high-quality silage in his system and the ration specification he is using this year. John puts great emphasis on ensuring ewes have sufficient quantities of high-quality colostrum and t...2021-02-0221 min
OviCastFocus on VaccinationVet Charles Chavasse from Zoetis Ireland joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss the various aspects of vaccination.
Charles starts by explaining how the vaccination process works and some of the differences between those commonly used vaccines at farm level.
He highlights the role of safe handling and administration of vaccines and how that impacts their efficacy.
Charles then discusses the process of passive immunity from the ewe to their progeny and the duration of cover of clostridial vaccines before finishing up on how to identify issues on farm this spring and how a vaccination programme may...2021-01-2622 min
OviCastFeeding for late pregnancyGetting the feeding regime right in late pregnancy has a big impact on a successful lambing and flock performance and on this week’s OviCast episode, Ciarán Lynch discusses the various aspects of this with Michael Gottstein Head of Sheep in Teagasc.
They discuss using forage analyses, scan results and expected lambing date to determine the amount of supplementation required as well as how to manage thin ewes in late pregnancy.
Michael offers advice for farms with low feed value silages. He discusses the pros and cons of pelleted versus coarse rations, how to introduce supplementation and minimise the ris...2021-01-1931 min
OviCastFluke control at this stage of the seasonGiven the wet conditions this autumn and winter the level of fluke challenge on farms is high at the moment and on this week’s OviCast, Ciarán Lynch catches up with Dr. Orla Keane to discuss this in more detail.
Orla explains the best means of diagnosis and highlights the importance of previous farm history when considering treatment. She also discusses treatment of replacement and remaining lambs on the farm.
Orla then examines the treatment options and their suitability for a number of different circumstances highlighting the risk of continual use of products from an individual active ingredient from a r...2021-01-1211 min
OviCastHousing and feed managementThe practical aspects of housing and feed management are discussed on the latest episode of Ovicast with sheep specialist Damian Costello joining Ciarán Lynch.
Damian begins by explaining why its important to match the number of ewes to pen capacity and he outlines the recommended feed and lying space guidelines.
He then discusses feed management, access to roughage and introducing concentrates to the diet. With the cold snap in weather Damian highlights the importance of checking drinkers and ensuring there is a constant fresh water supply.
He also talks about management of shy feeders and the need to manage t...2021-01-0615 min
OviCastOut wintering on forage cropsOn the final OviCast of 2020, Ciarán Lynch covers out wintering on forage crops with Teagasc advisor James Doran and BETTER Farm participant John Doyle.
James begins by explaining the potential yield of the different crops and how they fit into the system. He outlines key management tips when grazing these crops to avoid digestive upsets and other health concerns. He also highlights potential issues around clean livestock policy and what actions can be taken.
In the second half of the podcast, presenter Ciarán catches up with John Doyle who is farming in Ballindaggan in Co. Wexford. John has be...2020-12-2925 min
OviCastSilage samplingA key step in late pregnancy nutrition for ewes is knowing the feed value of silage being used. In this episode of the OviCast podcast, sheep specialist Damian Costello joins Ciarán Carroll to explain the process of silage sampling in more detail, from the equipment needed to the process of taking the sample itself.
Damian then highlights the importance of getting a representative sample and why it’s necessary to take a number of samples where silages from different harvest dates are being used.
He moves on to discuss the preparation of that sample for sending and how to mak...2020-12-1514 min
OviCastHealth and Safety focusHealth and Safety Specialist Francis Bligh joins Ciarán Lynch on the latest episode of OviCast with advice on safety around machinery and on farm.
Firstly, Francis discusses the HSA figures for accidents that have occurred in agriculture and the particular trends in the sheep sector during the previous 12 months - a stark reminder of the dangers encountered in the industry.
Francis highlights some of the steps that can be taken to improve personal safety and how to reduce the risk of zoonotic infection from livestock.
He then discusses safety around machinery and safe transport on roads, with Francis highlighting s...2020-12-0829 min
OviCastManaging condition in ewes during mid-pregnancyWith mating finished up on the majority of lowland farms our attention turns to an often overlooked area of ewe management during mid pregnancy and to discuss its importance, Professor Tommy Boland from UCD joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s episode of OviCast.
Tommy starts by discussing the importance of assessing ewe condition and why assessing ewe condition is a key management tool but one that’s not used frequently enough at farm level.
He discusses the variation in ewe condition that we see within flocks and the importance of monitoring and managing the ewe’s body reserves during...2020-12-0113 min
OviCastSheep health- views from a Regional Vet Lab post-mortem roomAs part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Animal Health Awareness Week, Ciarán Lynch is joined on this week’s OviCast by Maresa Sheehan, Senior Research Officer in DAFM Regional Veterinary Laboratories.
Maresa starts by explaining what animal health awareness week is and why it’s important. She discusses some of the current health issues that they are finding in the lab as well as some of the more seasonal conditions and they discuss how they might be prevented.
Maresa explains how the post-mortem process works and the timelines involved in the various aspects of testing as we...2020-11-2424 min
OviCastExternal parasites control optionsTo discuss the whole area of external parasite control at this stage of the season, Ciarán Lynch is joined on this week’s OviCast by Morgan Lane from Bimeda.
Morgan describes the main external parasites that can be an issue in flocks at this stage of the season such as lice and sheep scab. He explains the various control measures that are available from topical applications, injectable treatments and plunge dipping. Morgan explains what each of these treatment options are suitable for, their correct use and their limitations.
As plunge dipping provides the most comprehensive treatment option, he discusses bes...2020-11-1320 min
OviCastGrazing management – graze outs in difficult conditions and staying on track for closingWith the wet weather in recent weeks, Ciarán Lynch catches up with Dr. Philip Creighton to discuss current grazing management on the latest episode of OviCast.
Philip discusses how to make the most of the remaining grass on the farm given the poor utilisation at present. He also discusses grouping up ewes to reduce residency period and managing graze outs.
Philip explains the importance of closing out paddocks, in particular the first 40% to ensure grass supply next spring and what impact it has on management.
He highlights the need to reassess current supply and take steps where necessary to r...2020-11-0314 min
OviCastStore lamb finishingThis week’s OviCast focuses on a number of aspects of store lambs finishing with Prof. Michael Diskin sheep enterprise leader in Teagasc and Michael discusses the store lamb market this year and the renewed interest in this area.
With the change in weather in recent weeks we discuss some of the key considerations for housing, ration composition and building up of feeding levels and general advice for housed lambs.
There have been a number of large-scale finishing studies and Michael outlines the level of feed intake and performance to expect from various types of lambs on an intensive feeding sy...2020-10-2727 min
OviCastFarmer focus: Francis Gonely, breeding, grass and finishing lambsFrancis Gonely who is running a hill and lowland system in Co Sligo joins Ciarán Lynch for the latest Farmer Focus episode of OviCast.
Francis is a participant in the BETTER Farm Sheep Programme and talks through the system he is running and the changes he has made over the past number of years.
The hill flocks have seen numbers increase and a change in breeding policy that saw replacement blackface ewe lambs purchased. Francis discusses the changes, settling in the new stock and the plans for the flock going forward.
During the same period he has increased his l...2020-10-2019 min
OviCastMating ManagementWith the breeding season underway for many flocks, on this week’s OviCast, Ciarán Lynch catches up with sheep specialist Damian Costello to discuss mating management.
Damian starts by outlining the final checks that should be conducted on the breeding flock of ewes and rams. He then delves into ram management in a bit more detail emphasising the importance of addressing any issues that may cause infertility.
Following on from that, Damian explains the benefits of raddling, the options available and correct application procedure before discussing single sire mating vs. group mating, rotating rams between groups, ewe:ram ratio and...2020-10-1323 min
OviCastQuad bike maintenanceQuad bikes are an extremely useful machine on many farms and on this episode of OviCast, Ciaran Lynch is joined by Francis Quigley machinery specialist, who chats about basic maintenance and some general advice on safe use and how to keep quads in good working order.
Francis starts by discussing the importance of correct tyre pressure and why it should be monitored and adjusted to suit the needs of the specific task the quad is being used for, he also highlights the need to periodically assess tyre wear.
Francis then discusses oil and filter servicing, checking brakes and general mechanical...2020-10-0614 min
OviCastFluke control this autumnMichael Gottstein, Teagasc’s Head of Sheep joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss fluke control this autumn.
Michael begins by describing how liver fluke affects the sheep and what the high-risk periods for fluke infection are.
He then moves on to discuss control options with Michael explaining the difference between the various categories of flukicide that are available and why not all are suitable at particular stages of the year.
As with other anthelmintics, resistance is an issue, which is discussed in a bit more detail with Michael offering his views on how this could be de...2020-09-3033 min
OviCastJoining ewe lambs – the key criteria that influence performanceDr Tim Keady joins Ciaran Lynch on this episode of OviCast to discuss in detail the subject of joining ewe lambs - a topic of relevance to many sheep producers this year.
Tim starts by discussing the increased interest in joining ewe lambs this season as well as some of the common practices observed on farms.
Tim presents results from his studies at Athenry on joining ewe lambs. We discuss the influence of ewe genotype and the effect of weight at joining on productivity. Tim outlines key aspects of mating management including, time of joining, duration of the joining period...2020-09-2218 min
OviCastFarmer focus: Denis O’Riordan on hill farming, selling lambs and managing ewes in West CorkDenis O’Riordan, one of the BETTER farm programme participants in Co. Cork, joins Ciaran Lynch on the latest episode of OviCast giving an insight into his farm and the system he is managing.
Running a 350 Blackface ewe hill flock, we discuss current management on the farm, his plans for selling lambs, selecting and managing replacements as well as breeding decisions for the flock.
Finally, he also discusses some of the changes he has made since joining the programme.
For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/2020-09-1511 min
OviCastForage crops – carrying capacity & grazing setupDrs Philip Creighton & Frank Campion join Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss some key aspects of forage crop management.
Philip begins by discussing the importance of assessing the yield of the crop and he also outlines how to work out the expected carrying capacity. As good utilisation is vital, Philip outlines how to approach setting up grazing divisions and manage these in difficult conditions.
On the subject of divisions Frank highlights the importance of fencer setup and takes us through how they are transitioning lambs on to the various crops in Athenry. He also highlights the imp...2020-09-0816 min
OviCastManaging autumn reseedsDr Philip Creighton joins Ciarán Lynch on the latest episode of OviCast to discuss management of autumn reseeds.
Philip starts by discussing current conditions and the limitations of late reseed being established in September. He then moves on to discuss grazing management, opening covers and residuals as well as management during the current difficult grazing conditions.
Philip emphasises the importance of having a clean reseed and shares his insights on post emergence spray as well as fertiliser application.
Finally, Philip explains when a reseed should receive its final grazing and why it’s important to consider how it fits int...2020-09-0114 min
OviCastAutumn shearing – performance benefit?Dr Tim Keady joins Ciarán Lynch on the latest episode of OviCast to discuss the effects of autumn shearing on the performance of ewes, ewe lambs and store/finishing lambs.
With the cost of shearing versus return from wool at a low point, Tim starts off by emphasising why it’s important for producers to get a performance benefit from it where possible.
Tim takes us through the results of many studies conducted in the area, examining fertility traits, subsequent progeny performance, growth rate and carcass gain. He then outlines where the measurable gains are and dispels some of the...2020-08-2510 min
OviCastGetting ewe condition rightDr Frank Campion joins Ciaran Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss the importance of getting ewes in the right condition at joining.
Frank outlines how to assess condition, what it equates to in terms of live weight and the time needed to increase ewe condition.
There is also a discussion on the factors influencing condition managing thin ewes separately and culling ewes that fail to improve in ewe condition.
Finally, Dr. Campion explains the carryover effects of condition at joining on the productivity of the ewe the following year.
For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at...2020-08-1809 min
OviCastAugust grassland management focusDr Philip Creighton joins Ciaran Lynch on this week’s episode of OviCast to discuss grassland management for the coming weeks.
Philip discusses the current situation around the country, growth rates, grass dry matter and grazing management.
He offers his tips on dealing with heavy covers and discusses why it’s important not to delay removing surplus from the rotation and taking stock of grass demand on the farm for the coming weeks.
Finally, there’s a discussion on the importance of building autumn covers, planning the final round of fertilizer and setting up the rotation for the coming weeks.
For mo...2020-08-1116 min
OviCastFarmer focus: John Bell – paddock system & finishing groupsOn a blustery evening in the end of July, for this episode of Ovicast, Ciaran Lynch caught up with Co. Westmeath Farmer John Bell, a former winner of the Sheep Farmer of the Year completion and a previous host of the Irish Grassland Association Sheep event.
John runs a high output sheep system from a 46 ha grass based farm he manages a 500 ewe flock with an additional 130+ ewe lambs rearing lambs each year.
John started by giving a background to the flock, the system and the farm, he discusses some of the changes in the system over the past number...2020-08-0414 min
OviCastRam selection – making use of indicesWith the ram sales underway, Ciaran Lynch is joined on this week’s OviCast by Eamon Wall from Sheep Ireland who discusses ram selection.
Eamon begins by emphasising the importance of paying attention to ram functionality at the time of purchase. He then takes us through the basic of the Sheep Ireland genetic index explaining the Terminal and Maternal traits and the various individual sub-indexes.
Ciaran and Eamon then discuss the across breed evaluation as well as the overall Euro value. Eamon highlights the importance of the DQI and accuracy figures.
There is also a discussion on the move to ge...2020-07-2824 min
OviCastEarly Lamb Systems?With the breeding season kicking off, this week’s OviCast discusses the pros, cons and alternatives to early lambing systems.
In this episode, Ciaran Lynch is joined by Shane Moore, who is farming just outside Athleague in Co. Roscommon and Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep in Teagasc.
Michael starts by outlining the key dates and requirements for early lambing systems for 2021 while Shane explains he has run an early lamb system for many years. He discusses why it initially suited his system and why he has moved away from it in recent years as sheep numbers increased on his farm.
On...2020-07-2117 min
OviCastChecking for resistance – the Drench testDealing with anthelminthic resistance is an issue on Irish sheep farms. Determining the efficacy of the products used is a necessary first step in adapting to this challenge and on this episode of OviCast, Ciaran Lynch is joined by Damian Costello, Sheep Specialist, to discuss why it’s so important to check products on farm.
The use of a drench test is one means to check how an anthelminthic product is working on a farm and Damian takes us through the various steps involved in conducting a drench test.
Finally, Damian explains how to interpret the result and determine the le...2020-07-1413 min
OviCastMineral supplementation in sheep flocksMichael Gottstein, Head of Sheep in Teagasc joins Ciaran Lynch on this episode of OviCast to discuss mineral supplementation in sheep flocks.
A common practice on many farms during the season, Michael starts by discussing some of the findings of a recent study that has looked at this in more detail. He discusses the extent of mineral usage in Irish flocks and some of the drivers behind the decision process of why farmers are using mineral supplementation.
He also discusses some of the key minerals that influence production and clinical signs of mineral deficiencies. Focusing in particular on cobalt, Michael...2020-07-0720 min
OviCastFarmer Focus, Patrick Dunne: Changing systems and dealing with this year’s droughtSheep BETTER farm participant Patrick Dunne who farms in the Wicklow Mountains joins Ciaran Lynch on this week’s OviCast.
Patrick describes his farming system and how it has changed over the past number of years from the original 300 ewe Cheviot hill flock that were run essentially as a lowland system to his current 500 ewe flock split between a lowland and hill system.
One of the drivers behind this change was to reduce costs in hill system by increasing the time these ewes spend on the hill. Patrick discusses a strict culling and selection procedure to select a more suitable ew...2020-06-3017 min