OviCast

For this week’s OviCast we talk to independent sheep and beef consultant, Dr Liz Genever, about an on-farm project she was involved in examining various bedding options.

Liz gives us a background to the project, what bedding options they compared, how they set it up and what they examined.

We discuss the levels of usage of the various bedding sources, labour input, ewe cleanliness and ultimately costs involved.

We move on to discuss the suitability of each, a hybrid bedding model incorporating different bedding options and how the farm where the project was conducted changed practices.

Finally, Liz highlights the ways to stretch supplies with key areas to focus on. 

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

On this week’s OviCast we talk to Dr Tim Keady about the importance of silage testing and what the results mean. 

Tim emphasises the importance of getting a silage test conducted correctly early to know the feed value of your winter forage. 

He explains the variation in results nationally, what each of the measures mean and most importantly, the implications for feeding. 

We discuss how the results could highlight areas to focus on for next year’s silage harvest. 

We finish up with Tim discussing the implications of feeding different feed value silages has on animal performance and the amount of supplementation required. 

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

Veterinarian, Shane McGettrick, who is Laboratory Manager at the Department of Agriculture Regional Veterinary Laboratory in county Sligo is on this week’s OviCast to talk  about the fluke challenge this winter. 

We start with Shane discussing what fluke-related issues they are seeing in the lab at this point in the season. We discuss the Department’s fluke forecast and how this may be a more challenging season for fluke. 

We move on to discuss treatment with Shane highlighting the importance of choosing the correct active ingredient, potential flukicide resistance, and why it’s important to work with your vet to put a control programme in place on farm. 

We finish up discussing rumen fluke and the risk it may poses on certain farms. 

Read the 2023 DAFM fluke forecast at: 

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ec21e-liver-fluke-forecast-november-2023/ 

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

On this week’s OviCast we’re joined by post-graduate student, Mark Dolan, to discuss different aspects of management of forage brassicas. 

Mark gives us some background to some of the work he has been involved in using forage brassicas to finish store lambs. 

We discuss yields of the different crops, utilisation rates and the factors that influence them and how they have adapted management during periods of poor weather conditions. 

We finish up discussing lamb kill out on the crops and the impact of regular drafting on grazing days. 

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

Teagasc sheep specialists, Damian Costello and Frank Campion, are on this week’s OviCast to discuss the challenging grazing conditions in recent weeks that has put pressure on farms both in terms of lamb performance and grass utilisation and supply. 

We discuss the option of housing remaining lambs for finishing indoors and also discuss some of the key factors to consider at housing, levels of performance, kill out percentages, nutritional requirements and feed management. 

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

Darren Carty, Sheep and Schemes Editor with the Farmers Journal is on this week’s OviCast episode to look back on the trends in the national ewe flocks over the past decade and the implications of this for the sheep industry. 

Darren discusses the change in ewe numbers, the regional shift and the impact this has had on the sector. 

We discuss breeding sales this year, opportunities and resilience in the sector and finish the conversation with Darren highlighting some of the technical areas that will come more into focus in the coming seasons.  

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

Fergus O’Rourke and Niall Conaty from Teagasc Ballyhaise Agricultural College in Co. Cavan join us on the latest OviCast podcast for an update on the flock. 

We start with Fergus giving us a bit of background to the farm and flock.  Niall discusses the breeding plan, keeping an eye on ewe condition mating management. 

With the difficult grazing conditions Niall discusses how they have adapted management to graze out heavier covers while we also discuss the closing plan for the farm and current targets. 

Fergus discusses lamb performance as some of the challenges this season with finishing remaining ram lambs indoors.  

To find out more about Ballyhaise Agricultural college visit:
https://www.teagasc.ie/education/teagasc-colleges/ballyhaise/

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

Dr Tim Keady joins us on the latest OviCast podcast to discuss joining ewe lambs and some of the factors that influence its success. 

Tim discusses what the key drivers of the system are, we discuss the impact of joining weight and the influence that the ram effect can have. 

Tim offers his insights on the duration of the breeding season and ram management during the mating period. 

We discuss post mating management with Tim emphasising the importance of nutrition and the need to manage ewe lambs separately during the production cycle. 

We finish up discussing the potential knock-on effect of joining ewe lamb on subsequent performance. 

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

As part of Sustainability Week, on this week’s episode of OviCast we chat to signpost programme participant, John O’Connell, to discuss how he has implemented the 12 steps to reduce gaseous emissions from his farming system. 

We chat about the various measures he has implemented from addressing soil fertility to better grassland management.

John explains the importance of animal health planning for his breeding programme and we finish up discussing his experience of over-sowing clover and the role he sees for it on his farm. 

For more information on the 12 Steps:
https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/environment/climate-change/signpost-programme/12-Steps-to-Reduce-Gaseous-Emissions-on-Sheep-Farms.pdf

And to find out more about the Signpost programme go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change--air-quality/signpost-programme/

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

Michael Gottstein re-joins us for the second part of the episode on store lambs, with a focus on those purchasing lambs.   

He highlights the importance of getting health treatments in place on arrival and what impact this has. 

We discuss expected performance, diets and mineral nutrition particularly for those lambs that will be intensively finished on farms, and explain the importance of feed and financial budgets and what hill flocks can do to improve saleability. 

You can find the store lamb calculator at: 

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/financial-management/

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