OviCast

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Latest Episodes:

Is it time to house finishing lambs? Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

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

Examining the trends in the national ewe flock Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

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

Breeding, grassland and finishing lambs in Ballyhaise college Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

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

Joining ewe lambs & some of the factors that influence its success Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

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

The steps to reducing gaseous emissions on sheep farms Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

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

Store Lambs Part 2 Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

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

Store Lambs Part 1 Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

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

Hill ram genotyping and sales Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

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

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

Will ewe condition at mating effect performance next spring? Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

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

The Fertiliser Register – what you need to know Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

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

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