OviCast

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Latest Episodes:

The latest on the finishing systems for hill bred lambs post weaning study Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

Postgraduate student, Mark Dolan, and Dr Frank Campion join Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to discuss some of the results of an ongoing study between Teagasc and UCD examining the potential of using forage diets alongside conventional systems to finish hill bred lambs post-weaning.

Mark outlines the project now entering its third year and discusses the different forages grown, carrying capacities and lamb performance on the crops.

Frank outlines where these crops have a role as well as some of their limitations in conventional systems.

With increasing costs in lamb finishing predicted for the coming winter, Frank encourages those with an interest in the area to visit the open day in Teagasc Athenry on June 18th to find out more about the trial and the various options for lamb finishing.

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

Update on the companion forage study Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

This week’s OviCast is joined by post-graduate student Lisa McGrane and Dr Philip Creighton to discuss some of the results of an ongoing study between Teagasc and UCD examining how companion forages – chicory, plantain, red and white clover - perform alongside a perennial ryegrass sward in sheep systems.

With four years data collected, Lisa discusses what impact these forages have had on ewe and lamb performance before moving on to discuss the impact of this on drafting, concentrate supplementation and carcass spec.

Keeping some of these forages in the sward can prove challenging, and Philip explains this in more detail as well as some of the aspects they are examining that may help improve persistency.

Finally with the upcoming technical open day in the Athenry Research Centre looming Philip highlights how this is an ideal opportunity to hear more about Lisa’s work and the other ongoing studies in Teagasc.

To find out more about the upcoming sheep open day why not watch the following short clip:

https://youtu.be/2mL4AqygOso

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

Update from the BETTER farms May 31, 2022

Show notes

Dr Frank Campion joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast with an update on what’s been happening in the BETTER farm flocks. They discuss grass growth, surpluses and silage and some of the management challenges during the past few weeks. With the first round of weighing complete for the lowland flocks, Frank outlines how lambs are performing this spring. They discuss the variation among flocks and across years and discuss how early lamb performance can actually impact management for the rest of the season and examine the options to reduce poor performers. Finally, Frank offers his advice on keeping lambs on track for the coming weeks. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Parasite Control TASAH Consult May 24, 2022

Show notes

Dr Natascha Meunier from Animal Health Ireland is on this week’s OviCast podcast to tell us more about the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) parasite control consult which is a new fully funded programme from Animal Health Ireland. Natascha starts by putting the challenge of resistance in context and why we need to proactively address it. The parasite control consult is available to cattle and sheep farmers and Natascha explains the aim of the programme and what it offers farmers who wish to participate. The TASAH programme will fund a veterinary farm visit from trained practitioners and two faecal egg counts, we discuss how this provides an ideal opportunity to start looking at the resistance status on farms. We finish up with Natascha explaining how to register for this programme and avail of this initiative this season. To find out more about the TASAH parasite consult please visit the dedicated page on the Animal Health Ireland Website: https://bit.ly/TASAH_Parasite_Control For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

The key factors in producing high quality silage May 17, 2022

Show notes

Following on from the previous episode, Ciarán Lynch is re-joined by Dr. Tim Keady to discuss some of the various factors that influence silage digestibility. Tim covers a wide range of factors from harvest date and pre-closing management to heading date and sward type and he also discusses the pros and some cons to wilting. Tim explains the potential to make high quality later in the season and offers some tips to achieve this. He discusses the impact of poor preservation and the role of additives with Tim explaining how these work. He also highlights the impact of chop length on stock performance. Finally, Tim summarises the key points to consider to produce high feed value silage. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Silage – why quality matters May 10, 2022

Show notes

As silage season is kicking off, this week’s OviCast is joined by Dr. Tim Keady to discuss the importance of focusing on quality. Tim highlights why high feed value silage is essential for the coming year and the opportunities it presents. Tim sets the target of producing 75+ DMD silage to sustain high levels of performance and allow for concentrate saving in the coming winter. He discusses the impact of silage quality on the performance pregnant ewes and beef systems before then discussing the concentrate sparing effect of high quality silage - something that will certainly come into focus in the coming winter. Finally, Tim discuss how much high quality silage is required in the system. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Getting clover into the system May 04, 2022

Show notes

With clover more in focus than ever, this week’s episode of OviCast is joined by Germinal’s Dr Mary McEvoy to discuss in more detail. Mary outlines the role of clover in swards and its potential benefits and talks about the different establishment methods from a full reseed to over-sowing. She discusses field selection, sowing rate and a number of other key factors that will influence its success. Mary then takes us through pre and post-sowing management to ensure good establishment while in the latter half of the podcast she discusses the potential of red clover in sheep systems with Mary outlining the advances that have been made in breeding to improve the varieties available. Download the Teagasc Clover booklet here: https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2021/Management-and-establishment-of-grass-white-clover-swards.pdf For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Update from the Regional Veterinary Lab Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

Maresa Sheehan from the Dept. of Agriculture’s Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Kilkenny joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast with an update on some of the issues she and her colleagues are encountering at the moment. The relatively mild winter and spring has helped many farms but it has also posed a risk for various parasite challenges from fluke to Nematodirus and Coccidia which are discussed in more detail. Maresa highlights how April tends to be a high risk period for clostridia issues as the maternally derived immunity in lambs wanes leading to sudden deaths in lambs arriving in the lab. She then discusses some of the chronic diseases affecting ewes and on this theme, Maresa discuss a new project that will get underway this year which will hopefully shed some light on those thin, pining ewes in flocks. Finally, Maresa encourages farmers to investigate health issues in their flock as it is the first step to addressing the issue. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Nematodirus in lambs Apr 19, 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 to discuss Nematodirus disease in lambs. James starts by describing the life cycle of Nematodirus and how it differs from other stomach worms. He discusses how it affects lambs and the symptoms to watch out for and he also discusses the limitations of faecal egg counts for this condition. With the recent release of this year’s Nematodirus forecast, James explains how to use this information and how prevailing weather conditions can affect this from year to year. James moves on to discuss treatment options, offering some insight on the choice and timing of treatment before then discussing the risk of concurrent infection with coccidiosis and how to approach this. Nematodirus can cause severe damage to young lambs and James advocates making use of the regional veterinary labs where sudden losses occur to confirm the cause. Finally, James highlights the importance of correct dosing technique when treating for Nematodirus. The 2022 Nematodirus forecast can be found here: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/da3e5-department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marines-2022-nematodirus-forecast/#:~:text=The%20maximum%20Nematodirus%20egg%20hatching,term%20average%20of%20soil%20temperatures For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Farmer focus: James Johnston - Grass, silage and clover in Co. Kildare Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

Co. Kildare sheep and beef farmer, James Johnston, and his Teagasc advisor Dr Rachel Taylor join Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast to give an insight into his system, grassland management and how he is addressing some of the challenges going forwards. James first outlines his farming system before discuss grazing groups and the use of temporary fencing, fertiliser and soil fertility. Rachel and James outline the plans for this year’s silage crop, the importance of completing a fodder budget and the role high quality silage has for the winter ahead. Finally, James outlines how he is incorporating red clover into his system in a new reseed and his plans for over sowing white clover into targeted areas each year going forwards. For those interested in completing a fodder budget that Rachel outlined can do so here: http://interactive.teagasc.ie/Open/FeedChecker 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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