OviCast

With the cold snap this week, there’s a bonus OviCast episode with sheep specialists Damian Costello and Michael Gottstein sharing valuable insights on managing sheep farms during the present conditions. 

Damian addresses challenges such as water supply and handling stock, emphasising the importance of safety during this difficult period and highlighting key considerations for farmers. 

Michael discusses the impact on livestock, providing guidance on managing hypothermic lambs and the importance of supplementing feed. 

He concludes by encouraging farmers to check in on their neighbours and reaching out for assistance when needed during this period.

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

Each year, the Teagasc Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department reviews the current production year and examines the prospects for the upcoming agricultural season. 

For this week’s OviCast, recorded just before Christmas, I sit down with Teagasc researcher Anne Kinsella to discuss the performance of the sheep sector in 2024 and the outlook for 2025.

Our conversation covers key topics, including price trends, changes in input costs, export markets, and profit margins. We also explore the outlook for the coming season, the influence of international markets on producers, and recent trends in global trade.

For more detailed information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2024/Outlook-Sheep_DEC2024_AKFinal.pdf

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

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