OviCast

Grass10 Advisor, Nikki Kennedy, joins us for an update on grass growth across the country.   Nikki discusses how the recent dry spell has affected grass growth, highlighting the varying impact on farms in different regions.    She offers practical advice for farmers where grass supplies are becoming restricted and outlines the key management decisions to consider in the weeks ahead.   We also disc...

Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Michael Gottstein, joins us to discuss the key management tasks for the month ahead. We start by looking at grassland management, including how to maintain sward quality through the remainder of the grazing season and the opportunities that autumn reseeding can offer. Attention then turns to flock management, with Michael outlining best practice around weaning lambs, dryi...

Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Damian Costello, joins us to discuss the preliminary results of the labour survey.   We explore some of the key findings from the latest analysis, including the age profile of farmers, levels of off-farm employment, and how farm tasks are managed throughout the year.   Damian discusses the facilities available on farms, the challenges created by farm fragmentation, and ho...

Teagasc's Amanda McEvoy, joins us as we preview the 2026 National Sheep Conference.   Amanda outlines the new format for this year's event and discusses the speakers and key topics that will feature in the indoor conference sessions.    A first for the National Sheep Conference will be an on-farm evening programme, where attendees will have the opportunity to hear about ongoing sheep research stud...

For this week’s OviCast, grass management, weaning decisions, cull ewe selection and shearing are all discussed. Damian Costello and Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Ciaran Lynch, break down the key messages from the June Sheep Advisory Newsletter, discussing how to maintain grass quality, prepare for weaning, assess ewes for culling and get the most from shearing day. This is a practical episode full of...

Dr. Frank Campion joins us as we discuss lamb performance on the BETTER farms this spring.  We discuss lamb mortality levels and how they compare with previous years, while also examining strong lamb growth rates seen on farms so far this season.  Frank outlines some of the key factors driving performance and finishes with practical advice for the weeks ahead to help maintain progress. For more ep...

Grass10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, joins us to take a look at grazing management priorities for the weeks ahead.    Nikki discusses current grass growth rates, grazing targets and managing farm covers, along with the options around taking out surplus paddocks for silage.    We also cover fodder budgeting and fertiliser and slurry applications as farmers plan ahead for the season.   For more episodes...

Teagasc Sheep specialist, Damian Costello, joins us as we run through the key management priorities for sheep farmers in May.   We cover practical advice on grassland management, maintaining lamb performance, and planning ahead for first-cut silage.    There’s also a timely reminder of the National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) deadline and what’s required to maximise payments.   On the flock health...

Jake Delaney, Teagasc Walsh Scholar, joins us this week to discuss scald in lambs and why it’s such a common challenge at this stage of the season.  Jake explains what causes scald, how it affects animal performance and welfare, and why it should never be ignored. We also explore how scald can act as a gateway for more severe conditions such as footrot and CODD, making early detection and treatmen...

In a joint episode with Catherine Egan from the Beef Edge, we’re joined by Chris Maughan from TP Whelehan to explore practical weed control strategies. Chris outlines a wide range of control options for common problem weeds, including docks, thistles, and ragwort. We also discuss clover-safe sprays and how to plan weed control programmes when establishing or maintaining clover and multispecies swa...

Dr James O’Shaughnessy from the Department of Agriculture’s Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Backweston joins us to discuss this year’s Nematodirus forecast. James explains what Nematodirus is, how it impacts young lambs, and the key symptoms to watch out for. We discuss this year’s forecast and what it means for farms across the country this spring. He also outlines treatment strategies...

Sheep specialist, Michael Gottstein, joins this week’s OviCast to outline the key priorities for the month ahead. We discuss the challenges around fertiliser use and rising costs, why replacing fertiliser with concentrates can be a false economy, and how simple management changes like grouping ewes and subdividing paddocks can boost grass growth.  We also cover key flock health risks, including pa...

Dr. Orla Keane joins us to discuss coccidiosis in lambs, a common but often underestimated issue affecting flock performance.    We cover what causes coccidiosis, its impact on lamb health and growth, and the key symptoms farmers should watch for.   With the challenging spring weather conditions, we also look at why the risk of infection may be higher this year and what that means for on-farm mana...

We catch up with Grass10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, to discuss grassland management for March.    Nikki shares an update on grass covers across the country, outlines key grazing targets for the first rotation, and highlights the importance of grouping ewes effectively.    We finish discussing fertiliser and lime application strategies for the spring.   For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visi...

With lambing season well underway, we catch up with Dr. Nóirín McHugh to discuss how to identify and select the best ewe lambs as future replacements, and what genetics we are introducing into the flock. Nóirín explains how genetics influences a wide range of production and behavioural traits — from litter size and lambing ease to mothering ability and lamb vigour — as well as their role in reduci...

The Teagasc Sheep Sector Roadmap 2030 outlines a strategic plan for Ireland's 34,000+ sheep farmers to enhance sustainability, productivity, and profitability.   This week we’re joined by Dr Philip Creighton, Sheep Enterprise Leader, and Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, to discuss this in more detail.  We look at the current profile and performance of the sector, key economic m...

Lambing is in full swing on many farms across the country and for this episode of OviCast, Damian Costello steps in to host and is joined by Ciaran Lynch to discuss the key messages from the March sheep newsletter.  They cover spring grazing targets, fertiliser planning, lamb survival and colostrum management, treating hypothermic lambs, flock biosecurity, culling problem ewes, identifying replace...

With current weather conditions creating significant challenges on farms, this episode focuses on practical management strategies to support flock performance.   We’re joined by Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc, to discuss key actions farmers can take during difficult weather.    The conversation covers a range of important topics including maintaining hygiene standar...

Eleanor Brady, Ruminant Veterinary Manager with MSD Animal Health, joins us to discuss the critical role of clostridial vaccination in sheep flocks ahead of lambing. Eleanor outlines the impact of clostridial disease and the significant losses it can cause if not properly controlled.  We explore the optimal timing of vaccination in ewes before lambing, how to maximise passive transfer of immunity...

Grass10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, joins us to discuss key grassland management priorities for the weeks ahead.    We look at current challenging ground conditions, opening farm covers, and the importance of soil sampling and making full use of your nutrient management plan.    Nikki also shares practical advice on planning spring fertiliser purchases, along with key tips for applying fertiliser and...

Damian Costello joins us to discuss key sheep management priorities for February as farms gear up for lambing.    We cover grassland management and planning for early nitrogen applications when conditions allow, along with the importance of getting ewe nutrition right in late pregnancy, including practical feeding tips.    We also discuss flock health, with a focus on lameness with advice on prepa...

Darren Carty, Sheep and Schemes Editor with the Irish Farmers Journal, joins this week’s 300th episode of OviCast for a wide-ranging conversation as we look at where the sheep industry stands today. We cover ewe numbers, lamb throughput, price trends, export markets and policy changes shaping farm decisions.  We also touch on farmer demographics and highlight areas of resilience and opportunity an...

Teagasc Advisor, Edward Egan, joins us on this week's OviCast to explain about how to make the most of scanning results.   Edward shares insights from over a decade of working with farmer discussion groups to help them use their scanning data more effectively to monitor flock performance.    He discusses both the short-term actions that can improve outcomes immediately, and the long-term managemen...

For the final OviCast of the year, we're reposting one of the most popular shows from 2025 with Jonathan Higgins, who with his father Philip, runs a mid-season lambing sheep flock, alongside a contract heifer-rearing system in Skreen, Co. Sligo.   Jonathan talks to us about their contract rearing system and we delve into the performance and management of the ewe flock in detail. We also explore th...

For this special joint podcast on bluetongue with Catherine Egan from the Beef Edge and Stuart Childs from the Dairy Edge, we’re joined by vet John Donlon to get an insight into bluetongue.   Primarily transmitted via biting midges, the cases on farms in Northern Ireland significantly reinforces the need for awareness on farms in the Republic of Ireland.    Early action, identification and isolati...