Dr. Tim Keady is on the latest OviCast podcast to discuss feeding the ewe during mid-pregnancy and its impact on productivity. 

Tim outlines the energy requirements of the ewe during this phase, we discuss the impact of grass supply and feed value in outdoor scenarios and the impact of different qualities of silages indoors. 

Tim also talks about mobilising reserves, potential condition score loss and the impact that can have on next year’s lamb performance. 

We finish up discussing feed management introducing supplementation to thinner ewes and planning ahead for next year.  

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

Kilkenny sheep farmer, Brian Nicholson, joins this week’s OviCast to talk about the changes to his farm system in recent years. 

Brian describes how he has converted part of his farm over to an organic system, we discuss the sheep, beef and tillage systems and their integration and how he has adapted his farm to suit. 

We finish up discussing how he is incorporating agro-forestry into his farming system.  

 
The Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards video of Brian Nicholson’s farm:

https://youtu.be/jXgk4ZnJxxo

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, has her monthly update on the OviCast podcast discussing grass management tips for the month ahead. 

Niamh discusses the closing plan on farms, grazing conditions and the impact of re-grazing paddocks on spring growth. 

We discuss the variation in performance of individual fields on farms and some investments to improve productivity next year.  

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 winter housing. 

Damian talks to us about some of the key considerations at housing, penning and space allowances. 

We discuss straw usage, alternative bedding and keeping slats clean during the winter before finishing up discussing housing for organic flocks. 

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 week’s OviCast as we discuss grazing management on forage brassicas. 

Frank discusses yields and why you should do a feed budget for the crop. We then discuss intakes, utilisation and the factors that influence it. 

Frank also explains fencing, crop allocation and managing in wet conditions and he has advice for managing the crop in frosty conditions. 

We finish up discussing the transition of the crop with finishing lambs and pregnant ewes.

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 the latest OviCast as we discuss ewe condition and mating management in hill ewes. 

Frank discusses the impact of ewe condition on performance in hill flocks, plus we discuss the targets and variation in ewe weight on the BETTER farms. 

We move on to discuss single sire mating and crossbreeding, finishing up with Frank offering some tips on reducing the impact of ram infertility. 

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 discussing grass management tips for the month ahead. 

Niamh discusses the higher growth rates over the past few weeks and the impact this has had on grazing this back end. 

We also discuss the closing plan and the importance of staying on target and we finish up with Niamh offering some tips on achieving good graze outs.

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

Bord Bia sheep sector manager, Seamus McMenamin, joins us on this week’s OviCast with an update on the market conditions. 

We discuss the current trade and what’s driving prices, the trend in numbers this year and how this might impact the trade for the coming months. 

We also discuss the impact of bluetongue and southern hemisphere imports on trade on the European market.  

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

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