Hill Flocks: feeding & health advice in the run up to lambing

Farmer Focus: Olivia Hynes’ mixed grazing system in Roscommon

For this week’s OviCast, we’re also joined by Catherine Egan, host of the Beef Edge podcast, as we catch up with Co. Roscommon beef and sheep farmer, Olivia Hynes.

Oliva starts by giving us an overview of her system, we discuss breeding and the use of AI in her suckler herd, lamb performance this spring and some of the challenges it has posed.

We discuss mixed grazing, grassland management and investing in grazing infrastructure, before finishing up with Olivia highlighting the three things she has focused on that have had an impact in her farming system.

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

Flukicide residues – observing withdrawal dates and correct usage

For this week’s OviCast, we’re joined by Terry McElvaney, Veterinary Inspector with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to discuss some issues that have occurred with flukicide residues in lamb carcasses.

We discuss the problems encountered and the follow up investigations with Terry explaining some of the issues caused and issues they have encountered.

We also discuss the key areas to focus on when using anthelminthic and antibiotics to avoid these type of issues occurring.

Details of licensed veterinary products can be found on the HPRA veterinary medicines webpage:

https://www.hpra.ie/homepage/veterinary/veterinary-medicines-information

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

Knowing the chemical fertiliser limit for your farm

Environmental specialist, Tim Hyde, is on this week’s OviCast to discuss fertiliser limits on farms.

We discuss how the introduction of the fertiliser register has put purchased fertiliser more in the spotlight on farms.

Tim explains the implications of this, how farmers can work out their stocking rate and what the limits are on farm.

We discuss the importance of soil sampling, how this impacts your fertiliser limit and the importance of a fertiliser plan.

We finish up discussing some changes to slurry spreading and the use of LESS technology on farms that are in place this season and coming down the tracks.

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

The National Sheep Welfare Scheme

David Buckley from the Department of Agriculture is on this week’s OviCast to discuss key aspects of the new National Sheep Welfare Scheme.

David first gives an overview of the scheme, we discuss eligibility, reference numbers and the application procedure.

David then takes us through the various tasks explaining how they would work and what documentation is required for each.

We finish up discussing the payment dates, administrative checks and the help desk contact details.

For more information:

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/b253f-national-sheep-welfare-scheme/

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

The key management tasks to do at present

Sheep Specialists, Michael Gottstein and Damian Costello, are on this week’s OviCast to discuss some of the key management tasks to do on farms at present.

We discuss fertiliser application, planning for silage and grazing management and we look at the scenarios where supplementation is needed.

In the second half we switch to dealing with the various health challenges highlighting the continued risk of grass tetany, treating for Nematodirus and Coccidia. We also discuss the challenge mastitis poses in ewes at the moment and the need to treat early where scald appears in lambs.

More information about what was discussed can be found here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/sheep/fertiliser-grassland-and-supplementation-advice-for-sheep-farmers.php

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