OviCast

Teagasc ruminant nutrition specialist, Aisling Claffey, joins us on this week’s OviCast as we discuss lamb finishing rations. 

Aisling explains ration spec and highlights some of the key areas to look out for when choosing a finishing ration, highlighting why it’s important that it’s correctly formulated. 

We move on to discuss feed management with Aisling offering her tips on trouble shooting potential issues to avoid a dip in performance.  

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Dr Fiona Lovatt from Flock Health joins us on this week’s OviCast to talk about the bluetongue situation in the UK. 

Fiona gives us a description of the condition and explains the impact it has on livestock. We discuss the spread of it in Europe and the UK and the control measures put in place to limit its impact and how they work. 

We also discuss the role of vaccination and how this differs from previous serotypes encountered. 

More information on bluetongue can be found on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s website at:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/cd6c0-bluetongue-virus/ 

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Dr Fiona McAuliffe from the SRUC joins us on this OviCast episode as we discuss the challenge of blackloss and photosensitisation in Scottish hill flocks. 

We discuss the extent of blackloss or the unexplained loss of lambs on extensive hill grazings.

Fiona describes the various causes and some of the follow up work where she examined the underlying factors responsible for lamb losses. 

We move on to discuss photosensitisation in more detail, its causes, predisposing factors and management options. 

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Niamh Doyle, gives her monthly update discussing grass management tips for the month ahead. 

Niamh discusses current growth rates and grass covers, and managing supply for the weeks ahead. 

We discuss the autumn closing plan, graze outs and managing clover swards at closing.

Finally, Niamh discusses upcoming deadlines for FYM and lime and Potassium applications. 

Link to the autumn closing planner: 

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/animals/sheep/Sheep-Autumn-Closing-Planner.pdf

You can subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grass10-enewsletter/

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Sheep specialist, Damian Costello, joins us on this week’s OviCast as we discuss a new survey just launched that is examining labour on sheep farms.  

Labour is widely acknowledged as a big challenge in the running of a sheep enterprise, particularly in an era where part-time, sheep farming is now the norm. 

Damian talks about the key areas the survey is examining and how this information will help inform future discussions. 

We finish up with Damian explaining how to complete it online and in paper formant 

The link to the survey is:

https://bit.ly/47yLo23

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Seamus Fagan from the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Veterinary Lab in Athlone joins us for the latest OviCast episode as we discuss various health issues this autumn. 

With many flocks completing the final check over ewes before going to the ram, Seamus highlights some of the teeth problems they have been seeing in the lab in recent years that are going under-diagnosed and how this is contributing to thinner ewes. 

We focus in particular on molar teeth problems in ewes, how they present and the impact that it can have. 

We also discuss other health issues seen this autumn - in particular clostridial challenges. 

Finally Seamus emphasises the importance of monitoring ewe condition over the coming months and investigating causes of ill-thrift. 

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Bimeda Vet, Rachel Mallet, joins us on this week’s OviCast as we discuss sheep scab and treatment options. 

Rachel first explains how sheep scab occurs, how it is spread and correct diagnosis. We then discuss the various treatment options for both conventional and organic flocks. 

We finish up discussing plunge dipping with Rachel highlighting best practice when completing this task.

For more information on mobile sheep dip operators go to:

https://www.bimeda.ie/mobile-sheep-dippers

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Sheep specialists, Michael Gottstein and Damian Costello, are on this week’s OviCast as they discuss the focus on lamb finishing at the sheep section of the Teagasc stand at this year’s National Ploughing Championships. 

Michael talks to us about some of the decisions that need to be made with regards to lamb finishing and purchasing stores this autumn. 

Damian takes us through some of the technical areas they will focus on and they discuss the demo that will be there on the day. 

We finish up with Michael encouraging those visiting to drop in and visit the team to discuss the options for finishing lambs and all other sheep related queries.

Link to the store lamb calculator:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/animals/sheep/Store-lamb-finishing-calculator_2024.xlsx

 For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Niamh Doyle, gives her monthly update on the latest OviCast podcast discussing grass management tips for the month ahead. 

Niamh discusses current growth rates and grass covers and some of the variation across the country. We discuss building covers and planning ahead for closing up paddocks. 

Niamh also discusses the fertiliser register and upcoming deadlines for fertiliser slurry and FYM. 

We finish up with Niamh offering tips on grazing autumn reseeds.

For more, you can subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grass10-enewsletter/

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

For this week’s OviCast, we catch up with postgraduate student, Jake Delaney, to discuss some of the results of a survey he collected last year looking at ovine lameness in Ireland and assessment of farmer management. 

Jakes gives us some background to the issues and his survey and we discuss the type and level of lameness reported and the increased levels of CODD. 

Jake talks to us about correct identification and the impact that can have on control. We discuss management practices on farm to reduce lameness, prompt treatment, culling repeat offenders and quarantine. 

We finish up with Jake summarising some of the key findings and other ongoing work in the area.  

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast