OviCast

We’re joined over the next two episodes by Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep knowledge Transfer in Teagasc, to discuss store lambs. 

In this first part, Michael discusses the current market condition for stores, some of the challenges and the potential of store lamb finishing. 

We discuss the options for lowland and hill farmers with remaining lambs on farms, the importance of feed and financial budgets and what hill flocks can do to improve saleability. 

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

David Coen from Sheep Ireland is on this week’s OviCast to talk about progress in breeding in the hill sector. 

David discusses the impact hill genetics has on the national flock, SIS scheme and ram eligibility.  

We discuss the work by the 17 breeding groups over the past year to get rams genotyped and the impact this has had on developing flock books. 

Finally we finish up with David discussing how breeders can build on this going forwards to improve genetic improvement in hill flocks. 

Some links discussed in this week’s episode to search for potential rams or to sign up to Sheep Ireland are:

Ram Search:

https://appsh.sheep.ie/ram-search

Ram sales/catalogues:

https://www.sheep.ie/?page_id=29

Sign up online form:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=AH5m37xZikKh2Tgra-Oid02OFzIK2SJKuUbHvUCuGqJURVpMT1ZLRU02RkxPTDdGTkhFRFNKNFpLTS4u

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

Dr. Fiona Mc Govern is on this week’s OviCast to discuss the impact of ewe condition at mating on ewe productivity. 

Fiona discusses the usefulness of body condition scoring as a management tool.  She also explains the impact of condition on litter size and its carry over effects on lambing assistance, lamb birth weight and productivity next spring. 

We finish up with Fiona discussing the importance of getting condition right this autumn to build ewe body reserves. 

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

Dr. Finbarr O’Regan from the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) Inspectors joins us on this week’s OviCast. 

Finbarr discusses the introduction of the National Fertiliser Database and the fertiliser register taking us through the key dates, registration process and how it will work for the coming season including some of the implications for both merchants and farmers. 

We finish up discussing the importance of entering the closing stocks this autumn.

For more information visit the DAFM National Fertiliser Database page at:

https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/98355-national-fertiliser-database/

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

At a point in the season where we’re looking at how lambs perform and where the tail end lambs come from, on this week’s OviCast podcast, we chat to Dr Frank Campion about how foster lambs perform in commercial flocks. 

Frank discusses some work he has recently presented on the topic, we discuss how these lambs grow in early and late lactation, the variation among them and their counterparts and some of the reasons why some lag behind and others aren’t successfully reared drop off. 

We finish up discussing how ewe management this autumn can impact this next spring. 

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

Sheep enterprise leader, Dr Philip Creighton, is on this week’s OviCast to discuss planning ahead for this autumn. 

We discuss the impact poor grazing conditions has had on lamb performance this year and the knock-on effect this has on management for the autumn. Philip emphasises the importance of accessing grass supply and increased demand on farms. 

We discuss grass growth rates, fertiliser applications and building covers as we move into the autumn. 

We finish up with Philip discussing the need to put plans in place for finishing lambs and ensuring there is sufficient grass covers heading into September. 

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

Bord Bia Sheep Sector manager, Seamus McMenamin, joins us on the latest OviCast podcast to give a market update. 

Seamus discusses current throughput and some of the challenges with light carcass at present. 

He also discusses the international trade, in particular the increased volumes of Australian lambs and what impact that has had on our export market. 

Seamus has an update on plant approval to get lamb exported onto the US market, and with store lamb sales ramping up, we move on to discuss the potential impact of an earlier Easter and Ramadan on the hogget trade next spring. 

Finally, we discuss domestic promotional activity to target a younger audience to improve domestic consumption.  

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

Teagasc Advisor, Edward Egan, joins us on the latest OviCast episode to discuss designing a sheep handling unit. 

Having good handling facilities can reduce labour, improves both safety and welfare for handler and sheep alike and also encourages timely preventative actions.  

Edward talks about the booklet he produced, ‘A Guide to Designing a Sheep Handling Unit’ and he discusses the key aspects of design from considering the sheep’s behaviour, location and size, to some of the key features that can be incorporated into a handling unit.   

You can read the booklet here:
https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2020/A-Guide-to-Designing-a-Sheep-Handling-Unit.pdf

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

We’re joined on the latest OviCast episode by Teagasc Advisor, Edward Egan, to talk to us about the sheep handling equipment available under the TAMS III Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme. 

We discuss what the grant aid rates are and how these are calculated; Edward outlines what fixed and mobile equipment covered under the scheme; and he takes us through the application process highlighting some of the key dates and information required at submission and explains how to check if the application has been approved. 

Finally we finish up discussing how applicants make their claim for payment and what information is required to complete the process.

To find out more: 

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/4f3ae-farm-safety-capital-investment-scheme/

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

Dr Frank Campion joins us on this episode of OviCast with an update on lamb performance and management on the BETTER farms. 

Frank starts off describing the bounce back in lamb growth rate on the farms in May and June. We tease this out discussing grassland management, parasite challenge and the impact of early weaning. 

We move on to discuss the current state of play on the farms with regards to weaning weight, drafting the implications of carrying increased numbers for some into the second half of the season. 

In the latter part of this episode we talk about some management aspects over the coming weeks, finishing groups, grassland, fertiliser, forage crops and parasite control.   

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