OviCast

This week’s OviCast catches up with Ger Carey from Gurteen College in this week’s episode to give us a run down on the 450 strong sheep system they operate in Gurteen.    Ger brings us through the early and mid-season production systems, how this has changed to accommodate students and future plans on the flocks.    We discuss breeding, wintering on forage crops and managing ewe condition.    We t...

Why are ewes leaving the flock and can we reduce the level of ewe wastage? On this week’s OviCast podcast, we discuss this topic in more detail with Prof. Paul Keynon from New Zealand’s Massey University.    Paul discusses the reasons ewes are culled and lost out of the system and explains the impact this can have on flock output, lamb performance and costs in the system.    Paul also talks to us...

On this week’s OviCast, we talk to Dr. Frank Campion about the impact this spring has had on lamb performance.    Frank gives us an update of the lamb growth rate on the BETTER farms and we talk about the variation among the flocks and how the performance compares to previous years.     Frank discusses some of the reasons for this and how the difficult conditions following turnout made this worse....

For this week’s OviCast episode, Ciarán Lynch caught up with Prof. Paul Keynon, Head of School, School of Agriculture & Environment/Professor in Sheep Husbandry at Massey University in New Zealand to discuss the option of early weaning as a management tool for certain sheep systems.    Paul defines what early weaning is and at what age and weight lambs need to be for it to be considered.     T...

With the shearing season underway, for this week’s episode we chat to shearer and Mayo native David Heraty.   First David describes a typical shearing season for him and how this year has started off. David tells us how he got started and built up his shearing contracting business over the past decade.    We discuss the importance of shearing courses to equip farmers with this skill and the challe...

For this week’s OviCast, we chat to post-graduate student, Lisa McGrane, about some of the factors influencing the establishment and persistency of companion herb and legume forages in sheep swards.    Lisa discusses some of the work they have undertaken in the area, examining the impact of herbs (chicory & plantain) and legumes (white and red clover) on performance and productivity.    We dis...

This week on OviCast, I got the opportunity to sit down with father and son duo, Eddie and Aidan Connell, who farm at Clonbullogue, Co Offaly, and who are hosting this year’s Irish Grassland sheep event.    The father and son partnership are running a 400 ewe mid-season flock, finishing upwards of 150 bulls and grow winter barley and maize for their own use.    Eddie and Aidan talk about how each...

Darren Carty, sheep and schemes editor from the Irish Farmers Journal is on this week’s OviCast to talk about the Sheep 2023 industry event which takes place in Gurteen Agricultural College on June 18th.    Darren explains where this year’s event is happening and the background to it and previous events.    He discusses the broad range of activities that are on display from sheep shows and breed e...

On this week’s OviCast, I’m joined by Catherine Egan host of the Teagasc Beef Edge podcast for a joint episode to discuss all things clover with Dr. Mike Egan, Teagasc researcher.    Mike starts by highlighting the potential role of clover in drystock systems, how it works and the potential cost savings.    We discuss the impact of soil fertility and weed control has on successful establishment an...

After a difficult number of weeks, conditions appear to be turning the corner providing an opportunity to get grazing back on track, and on this week’s OviCast, we’re joined by Dr Philip Creighton to discuss some of the steps needed over the coming weeks.    Philip starts by discussing the impact recent conditions have had on sheep systems.  He discusses grazing targets, fertiliser type and applic...

Dr. Orla Keane is on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss the challenge of Nematodirus in lambs this spring.    Orla first explains how the Nematodirus challenge can carry over on farms from year to year.    She highlights the Department of Agriculture Nematodirus forecast and the implications for farmers.    Orla explains what age it affects lambs, the clinical signs, as well as the risk for yo...

On this week’s OviCast podcast, we’re joined by postgraduate student, Jake Delaney, and Teagasc Researcher, Dr Frank Campion, to discuss a new project that aims to examine lameness and associated issues on Irish farms.    Jake first outlines the common causes and issues around lameness, while Frank discusses the impact it has on performance and some of the practical control issues that occur at fa...

Conditions during March have been difficult and has thrown up many challenges for farmers.    On this week's OviCast podcast, we’re joined by Teagasc’s Head of Sheep, Michael Gottstein, to discuss this in more detail and offer some advice on how to manage things through this period for those at different stages - from those lambed in early March, to those currently lambing and with outdoor lambing...

Having access to some source of hot water in the farmyard is essential, especially in spring.    For some farms however, there is a requirement to supply larger volumes either for artificial rearing of lambs or calves or for general farm use.    So what are the options and which suits best? This week’s OviCast is joined by Teagasc Researcher, Dr John Upton, to shed some light on this topic.    Joh...

Sheep specialist, Michael Gottstein, is on this week’s OviCast podcast to talk about diagnosing and treating hypothermia in lambs.    Michael explains what hypothermia is, the symptoms and predisposing factors.    They discuss steps involved to warm these lambs up to normal body temperature based on age, severity and the type of energy source required.    Michael explains why and how to use the gl...

Dr Emer Kennedy joins Ciarán Lynch on this latest OviCast podcast to talk about some key aspects of colostrum management on farms.    Emer explains the importance of colostrum in newborn ruminants and discusses the importance of hygiene during the collection process, storage both fresh and frozen of the colostrum, as well as the correct thawing procedure.    Emer highlights the impact management h...

County Antrim veterinarian and sheep farmer, Paul Crawford, who is also the chairman of the Northern Ireland Sheep Scab Group joins us on the latest OviCast podcast to discuss sheep scab.   Paul starts by explaining what causes sheep scab, the clinical symptoms and how to diagnose it in flocks.    We discuss the routes of transmission and risk factors for the spread of mites before Paul takes us t...

In this bonus episode from a recent Let’s Talk Sheep webinar, you'll hear from veterinarian Charles Chavasse who is the Area Veterinary Manager with Zoetis.    Charles describes what the different clostridial diseases are and how they affect the animal.    He goes on to explain the vaccination process adding some useful tips and highlights some common pitfalls.    Charles also takes questions subm...

This week’s OviCast podcast is from a recent Let’s Talk Sheep webinar with Maresa Sheehan who is based in the DAFM RVL in county Kilkenny.    Maresa talks about the flock health issues that they observe in the lab each spring, what causes them and explains what approach to take when issues occur.    She goes on to discuss the thin ewe survey which is a new project being run by the RVLs across the...

Teagasc Soil & Plant Nutrition Specialist, Mark Plunkett, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss fertiliser planning this spring.    With fertiliser costs remaining high, Mark starts by explaining timing, location and rate of nitrogen application this spring with Mark highlighting the crops’ requirements at present.    He discusses the P & K requirements and how this...

For the latest OviCast podcast, Ciarán Lynch discusses late pregnancy nutrition with Dr Tim Keady.    Tim discusses the impact of nutrition on performance in the weeks before lambing and Tim explains the increase in foetal growth that occurs during these final weeks of gestation and the impact this has on the ewe’s energy demand and intake.    He discusses concentrate price and why it’s essential...

On this week’s OviCast podcast Ciarán Lynch caught up with Dr Dave Leathwick following this year’s National Sheep Conference.  Dave, who is principal scientist in parasitology at the Pastoral Agricultural Research Centre in New Zealand, has for almost 35 years been researching nematode parasites of grazing livestock, with a focus on their biology and control, and the development and management of...

Seamus McMenamin, Sector Manager with Bord Bia, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast with an update on the current market trends.  Seamus first discusses the throughput in the back end of 2022 and the carryover  of lambs into this year before moving on to some of the challenges seen in the current trade and lamb consumption figures in our main markets as well as the domestic trade.  S...

Dr Tim Keady joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss managing ewe lamb replacements and the influence that has on their subsequent productivity.  Tim first outlines the various sources of replacements in the national flocks. With the majority of these replacements not entering flocks until 18-19 months of age, he discusses the various factors during the rearing phase that infl...

For the latest OviCast podcast, Ciarán Lynch is joined by county Leitrim farmer, John O’Connell, who is a participant in the Teagasc Signpost programme.    John discusses what’s been happening on the farm in the past few weeks as he has housed the ewe flock.    He also talks about grazing management this autumn and some of the challenges and benefits of winter grazing off farm.    John explain mai...