OviCast

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Latest Episodes:

December Grass10 Update Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

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

Key advice at housing Dec 13, 2024

Show notes

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

Grazing management on forage brassicas Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

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

Hill flocks focus on condition and mating management Nov 26, 2024

Show notes

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

November Grass10 Update Nov 23, 2024

Show notes

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

Market update: high lamb prices and positive outlook Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

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

Lamb finishing rations and feed management Nov 15, 2024

Show notes

Teagasc ruminant nutrition specialist, Aisling Claffey, joins us on this week’s OviCast as we discuss lamb finishing rations.

Aisling explains ration spec and highlights some of the key areas to look out for when choosing a finishing ration, highlighting why it’s important that it’s correctly formulated.

We move on to discuss feed management with Aisling offering her tips on trouble shooting potential issues to avoid a dip in performance.

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

Bluetongue – UK update, spread control measures and vaccination Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

Dr Fiona Lovatt from Flock Health joins us on this week’s OviCast to talk about the bluetongue situation in the UK.

Fiona gives us a description of the condition and explains the impact it has on livestock. We discuss the spread of it in Europe and the UK and the control measures put in place to limit its impact and how they work.

We also discuss the role of vaccination and how this differs from previous serotypes encountered.

More information on bluetongue can be found on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s website at:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/cd6c0-bluetongue-virus/

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

Examining blackloss and photosensitisation in Scottish hill flocks Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

Dr Fiona McAuliffe from the SRUC joins us on this OviCast episode as we discuss the challenge of blackloss and photosensitisation in Scottish hill flocks.

We discuss the extent of blackloss or the unexplained loss of lambs on extensive hill grazings.

Fiona describes the various causes and some of the follow up work where she examined the underlying factors responsible for lamb losses.

We move on to discuss photosensitisation in more detail, its causes, predisposing factors and management options.

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

October Grass10 Update Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Niamh Doyle, gives her monthly update discussing grass management tips for the month ahead.

Niamh discusses current growth rates and grass covers, and managing supply for the weeks ahead.

We discuss the autumn closing plan, graze outs and managing clover swards at closing.

Finally, Niamh discusses upcoming deadlines for FYM and lime and Potassium applications.

Link to the autumn closing planner:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/animals/sheep/Sheep-Autumn-Closing-Planner.pdf

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

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