OviCast

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Latest Episodes:

Market Trends 2023: Throughput, current challenges & demand for the coming months Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

Seamus McMenamin, Sector Manager with Bord Bia, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast with an update on the current market trends.

Seamus first discusses the throughput in the back end of 2022 and the carryover of lambs into this year before moving on to some of the challenges seen in the current trade and lamb consumption figures in our main markets as well as the domestic trade.

Seamus also highlights the current lamb supply and demand on the global market and what the prospects are for the coming months.

Finally, Seamus explains the growth seen in export markets during 2022 and new markets for this season.

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

Managing ewe lamb replacements – does it influence their performance as ewes? Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

Dr Tim Keady joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss managing ewe lamb replacements and the influence that has on their subsequent productivity.

Tim first outlines the various sources of replacements in the national flocks. With the majority of these replacements not entering flocks until 18-19 months of age, he discusses the various factors during the rearing phase that influence their subsequent productivity.

Tim breaks down the rearing phase into winter and summer management and explains their impacts.

He then discusses the target weights at the various stages and how these might be achieved.

Finally, Tim highlights the importance of replacement ewe lambs management and why it’s an investment in the future productivity of the flock.

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

Farmer Focus: Leitrim farmer John O’Connell on managing ewes this winter, scanning & setting the flock up for lambing Jan 06, 2023

Show notes

For the latest OviCast podcast, Ciarán Lynch is joined by county Leitrim farmer, John O’Connell, who is a participant in the Teagasc Signpost programme.

John discusses what’s been happening on the farm in the past few weeks as he has housed the ewe flock.

He also talks about grazing management this autumn and some of the challenges and benefits of winter grazing off farm.

John explain maintaining ewe condition and the move to winter shearing ewes in recent seasons as well as why he has moved to precision chop silage to feed to ewes on slats.

Finally, he discusses the scan results this year and his feeding plans this spring, plus the importance of getting the basics right now as he prepares for lambing.

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

Dealing with the challenges during 2022 & the key tasks to start 2023 Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

Sheep Specialists, Michael Gottstein and Damian Costello, join Ciarán Lynch on the latest OviCast podcast to discuss the sheep farming year and look ahead to what’s in store for 2023.

Michael first looks back at 2022 and some of the challenges it posed discussing how some farms were better able to adapt to these challenges and what made their systems more resilient.

Damian discusses some key tasks that need to be completed early in the New Year to set farms up for 2023.

Both Michael and Damian finish up encouraging producers to seek out advice where needed to help their farm business during 2023.

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

Update on the forage crop study: performance to date & managing during the cold snap Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Frank Campion and postgraduate student, Mark Dolan, join Ciarán Lynch on the latest OviCast podcast with an update on the ongoing work examining finishing hill-bred lambs on a range of forage crops.

Mark first gives the background to the project and what crops they are grazing, followed by an update on crop yield and utilisation this year and the reason for some of the differences observed.

They also discuss lamb performance across the different crops and how they have been managed up to this point.

The recent cold snap has posed challenges and Frank and Mark discuss managing the crops during this period and what lasting impact the severe frosts have had on the crops themselves.

Finally, they highlight the suitability of this system to finish lighter lambs and what carcass weights have been achieved.

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

Farm Safety this Winter Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc Advisor, Serena Gibbons, is on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss farm safety this winter.

Serena first discusses the recent data from the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) highlighting the number and location of accidents on farms.

She highlights the extra challenges the recent cold snap poses and has some practical tips to deal with it as well as the need for some caution around routine tasks.

With a lot of work conducted in the evenings in farm yards, Serena details the importance of good yard lighting and why some jobs are better suited to daylight hours.

Serena also talks about the need for added safety around machinery during the winter period both for the operator and other individuals on the farm, with Serena highlighting some safety aspects in relation to road use that are particularly important at this stage of the year.

Finally, Serena explains the importance of having your mobile phone on you and making others aware of where you will be while working alone should anything go wrong.

For more information and useful links please visit:

https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/farm-management/farm-health--safety/

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

What you need to know about the new Sheep Improvement Scheme Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

Michael Gottstein, Teagasc's Head of Sheep, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss the new Sheep Improvement Scheme launched by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Michael starts by outlining the timeframe for the scheme and the payments available. He discusses how to apply for the scheme and the options for new entrants.

He explains how the reference number is calculated for each flock and discusses the tasks involved for both lowland and hill farmers, detailing the new genotyped ram task and how this will operate.

Finally, Michael reminds producers about the application process and to apply in time before the closing date.

For further information:

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/98a53-sheep-improvement-scheme/

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

Assessing the fluke risk this winter Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

Dr. James O’Shaughnessy from the Dept. of Agriculture Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Backweston joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast podcast for a broad discussion on the risk fluke poses this winter.

James describes the impact it has on animal health from acute to chronic infection and discusses the forecasted fluke risk for this winter and how that can vary across the country and amongst farms with James explaining detection, sources of information and the importance of farm history.

Treatment options and the importance of choosing an appropriate flukicide for this point of the season are highlighted before finishing up discussing rumen fluke with James explaining the risk it can pose.

For further information:
https://animalhealthireland.ie/resources/?resource_type[]=documents&resource-tag[]=faecal-sampling

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

Finishing lambs: the impact of diet & management Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

Dr Tim Keady is on this week’s OviCast podcast to discuss some key aspects of finishing lambs in the latter half of the season.

Tim gives some context on the numbers finished in the latter half of the season and the levels of performance achieved at grass in late autumn along with the impact of concentrate supplementation.

He also discusses indoor finishing systems and some of the key considerations from expected finish date to facilities available.

With high concentrate prices, producers will be looking at some alternatives diets and Tim explains the impact of forage inclusion in the finishing diet by comparison to ad-lib concentrate finishing systems in terms of growth rate, carcass gain and kill-out %.

He explains the margin over feed in these systems and the impact increased carcass or concentrate prices has on profit.

Finally, Tim discuss the impact of shearing at housing and other management practices has on the productivity of these indoor finishing systems.

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

Genotyping Rams Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

David Coen from Sheep Ireland joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to explain genotyping rams.

David outlines the benefits of genotyping rams and the kind of information it can provide from scrapie genotypes to parentage verification to genomic evaluations. David and Ciarán also discuss the processes and costs involved for producers.

David then explains the ram genotype task in the Proposed DAFM Sheep Improvement Scheme highlighting the criteria for both lowland and hill flocks.

Finally, in relation to hill flocks, David discusses how genotyping could lay the foundation for breed improvement programmes within hill breeds.

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