OviCast

With many farmers pregnancy scanning their flocks during the coming weeks we discuss how to best make use of this information with sheep specialist Damian Costello.

Damian starts by discussing the flock performance at scanning, some factors that influence it and benchmarking against targets.

He then discusses the options for empty eyes and follow-up actions where issues occur before moving on to talk in more detail about using the results as part of a feeding plan for late pregnancy and how to put a practical plan in place for a flock.

For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/

A 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 make use the results once you receive them.

Finally, Damian encourages anyone who hasn’t taken a sample to do so to know the feed value of the silage their using.

For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/

Health 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 some of the risks associated with ATVs in particular.

Francis then moves on to farmyard safety offering his advice on some areas to focus on during the winter months and he also outlines the TAMS grants and capital allowances available for investments in farm safety equipment.

Finally, he finishes up by discussing farmers’ own health and mental wellbeing with Francis offering some sound advice in this area.

For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/

With 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 their period. He also discusses the effects of ewe condition on performance particularly during early lactation and the carryover effects for the rest of the season.

He then finishes up discussing flock management during the coming weeks with Tommy offerings his views on the need to address any deficit in ewe condition before ewes enter late pregnancy.

For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/

As 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 well as their limitations. She also discusses the importance of early intervention when the first signs of sudden death or abortions occur and what steps can be taken.

Many of the conditions affecting livestock are zoonotic and the impact on human health cannot be underestimated, Maresa puts this in context in a farming situation highlighting the importance of good hygienic practice. High burdens of stomach worms and the health concerns that occur as a result are an issue. She highlights the increasing issue with anthelminthic resistance and the need to identify what products are working effectively on individual farms.

Finally, Maresa highlights the benefits of a high health status in our flocks and its role in safeguarding our industry.

For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/

With the mating season finishing up on many farms, Ciarán Lynch catches up with Michael Gottstein Head of Sheep in Teagasc to discuss ram management post mating.

Rams are a significant investment for any flock and Michael puts this into perspective on a cost per lamb basis. He goes on to outline the issues with ram longevity and the high turnover rate seen in flocks. He discusses how management practices during the post-mating period can influence this.

Michael outlines the problems encountered with rams fighting and offers his tips on how to reduce this risk; he then talks about the importance of addressing ram health issues and culling at this stage of the season.

Finally, he discusses the importance of putting condition back on rams post-mating, particularly ram lambs, and what supplementation may be required to achieve this.

For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/

To 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 best practice when it comes to dipping, safe use of the chosen product and disposal afterwards.

Morgan finishes up by discussing the availability of mobile plunge dip operators who are currently providing a service nationally.

List of Mobile plunge dip operators: http://www.sheepdippers.ie/

For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/

With 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 reduce demand with Philip discussing the current options being implemented in Athenry.

Finally, he details the pitfalls of letting ewes lose condition by delaying housing or supplementation this winter.

Details of the autumn closing planner can be found here: https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/animals/sheep/Sheep-Autumn-Closing-Planner.pdf

For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/

This 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 system as well as target carcass ranges and expected kill-outs.

He then discusses the management of long keep lambs on farms and the level of supplement needed to maintain performance.

Michael also discusses the impact of shearing on performance and importance of CLP and highlights some of the work conducted on the light lamb carcass and how that market has developed during the past few years.

For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/

Francis 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 lowland flock and implemented a paddock grazing system and he discusses the initial challenges faced in managing grass supplies whilst still lowly stocked and how he has improved management and output with increased ewe numbers.

Finally, there’s a discussion on lambs’ finishing, the store lamb trade this autumn and the option of carrying over lambs to finish in the New Year.

For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/