OviCast

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Latest Episodes:

Dealing with the current adverse weather conditions Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

Conditions during March have been difficult and has thrown up many challenges for farmers.

On this week's OviCast podcast, we’re joined by Teagasc’s Head of Sheep, Michael Gottstein, to discuss this in more detail and offer some advice on how to manage things through this period for those at different stages - from those lambed in early March, to those currently lambing and with outdoor lambing flocks.

We discuss various aspects of management, grazing, nutrition and hygiene and highlight some of the disease risks during the period with Michael offering some useful tips and advice on each.

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

Hot water systems for farmyards Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

Having access to some source of hot water in the farmyard is essential, especially in spring.

For some farms however, there is a requirement to supply larger volumes either for artificial rearing of lambs or calves or for general farm use.

So what are the options and which suits best? This week’s OviCast is joined by Teagasc Researcher, Dr John Upton, to shed some light on this topic.

John first outlines the various heat sources that are available and emphasises the importance of knowing what the individual demand is on the farm.

He discusses the capacity, energy efficiency and running costs of the various heating systems before offering some tips on the maintenance of these systems and highlighting some factors that will influence their longevity on farms.

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

Treating hypothermia in lambs and use of the glucose/intra-peritoneal injection Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Sheep specialist, Michael Gottstein, is on this week’s OviCast podcast to talk about diagnosing and treating hypothermia in lambs.

Michael explains what hypothermia is, the symptoms and predisposing factors.

They discuss steps involved to warm these lambs up to normal body temperature based on age, severity and the type of energy source required.

Michael explains why and how to use the glucose/intra-peritoneal injection, describing the technique, how to make up the glucose solution and why it’s a vital lifesaving technique that farmers can use.

Here also is a link to a recent Let’s Talk Sheep webinar covering this and other lambing related topics:

https://bit.ly/Letstalksheep_Mar23

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

Colostrum: what to know about collection, storage and thawing Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Dr Emer Kennedy joins Ciarán Lynch on this latest OviCast podcast to talk about some key aspects of colostrum management on farms.

Emer explains the importance of colostrum in newborn ruminants and discusses the importance of hygiene during the collection process, storage both fresh and frozen of the colostrum, as well as the correct thawing procedure.

Emer highlights the impact management has on colostrum quality during each of these tasks and offers some useful practical tips that farmers can implement this spring.

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

Tackling sheep scab in Northern Ireland Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

County Antrim veterinarian and sheep farmer, Paul Crawford, who is also the chairman of the Northern Ireland Sheep Scab Group joins us on the latest OviCast podcast to discuss sheep scab.

Paul starts by explaining what causes sheep scab, the clinical symptoms and how to diagnose it in flocks.

We discuss the routes of transmission and risk factors for the spread of mites before Paul takes us through the treatment options and the challenge of developing resistance to some of these, highlighting the importance of best practice.

We discuss some of the findings from his Ph.D. studies on the numbers of outbreaks, disease awareness and treatment in practice in Northern Irish flocks.

Finally, Paul highlights a new project that launched last year to tackle the issue on farms.

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

Clostridial disease prevention protocols Feb 24, 2023

Show notes

In this bonus episode from a recent Let’s Talk Sheep webinar, you'll hear from veterinarian Charles Chavasse who is the Area Veterinary Manager with Zoetis.

Charles describes what the different clostridial diseases are and how they affect the animal.

He goes on to explain the vaccination process adding some useful tips and highlights some common pitfalls.

Charles also takes questions submitted by the audience on the night and a full recording of the webinar will be available on the Teagasc YouTube channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TeagascMedia

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

Flock health Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

This week’s OviCast podcast is from a recent Let’s Talk Sheep webinar with Maresa Sheehan who is based in the DAFM RVL in county Kilkenny.

Maresa talks about the flock health issues that they observe in the lab each spring, what causes them and explains what approach to take when issues occur.

She goes on to discuss the thin ewe survey which is a new project being run by the RVLs across the country this year.

Maresa also takes questions submitted by the audience on the night and a full recording of the webinar will be available on the Teagasc YouTube channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TeagascMedia

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

Spring fertiliser planning Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Teagasc Soil & Plant Nutrition Specialist, Mark Plunkett, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss fertiliser planning this spring.

With fertiliser costs remaining high, Mark starts by explaining timing, location and rate of nitrogen application this spring with Mark highlighting the crops’ requirements at present.

He discusses the P & K requirements and how this could be supplied to grazing ground and the silage crop with Mark emphasising the importance of slurry use and alternative strategies where this is not available.

He then discusses the impact of correcting soil pH has on productivity and N use efficiency and why more farmers need to consider spreading lime where needed.

Finally, Mark highlights the importance of fertiliser spreader calibration this spring.

For more info:

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/soil--soil-fertility/

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

Late pregnancy nutrition: energy demand, ration composition & protein source Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

For the latest OviCast podcast, Ciarán Lynch discusses late pregnancy nutrition with Dr Tim Keady.

Tim discusses the impact of nutrition on performance in the weeks before lambing and Tim explains the increase in foetal growth that occurs during these final weeks of gestation and the impact this has on the ewe’s energy demand and intake.

He discusses concentrate price and why it’s essential to examine ration composition when purchasing. Tim expands on this point giving his pick of energy, fibre and protein sources he would include in a ration.

The discussion moves on to the impact of protein source on performance with Tim discussing the results of trials comparing soya bean meal to alternative protein sources.

Finally, Tim explains target feeding rates and what influences this.

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

The impact of dosing adult ewes for worms has on the development of resistance Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

On this week’s OviCast podcast Ciarán Lynch caught up with Dr Dave Leathwick following this year’s National Sheep Conference.

Dave, who is principal scientist in parasitology at the Pastoral Agricultural Research Centre in New Zealand, has for almost 35 years been researching nematode parasites of grazing livestock, with a focus on their biology and control, and the development and management of anthelmintic resistance.

Dave discusses the challenge posed by anthelminthic resistance in New Zealand and the factors contributing to its development.

In a wide ranging discussion Dave explains in detail the impact of dosing adult ewes for worms has on the development of resistance.

He finishes up discussing how worm control will require a change in mind-set going forward to maintain a susceptible worm population on farms.

Read Dave’s paper from the National Sheep Conference here:
https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2023/National-Sheep-Conferences-2023.pdf

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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