Sheep Management

LATEST ARTICLES
Sheep
Sheep Management: organic feed, thin ewes and identifying problems
Darren Carty
Farmers sourcing organic feed should investigate the quality of ingredients in the mix with reports continuing to indicate some mediocre feed on the market.
Sheep Management: organic feed, thin ewes and identifying problems
Thin animals reduce productivity and increase disease risk
29 January 2025 Management
Thin animals reduce productivity and increase disease risk
Farmers at this week’s Teagasc national sheep conferences were told that thin ewes are a continual drain on productivity and increase the risk of disease establishing.
Sheep management: Schmallenberg virus, SIS inspections and sheep census
22 January 2025 Management
Sheep management: Schmallenberg virus, SIS inspections and sheep census
Reports indicate a greater incidence of Schmallenberg virus in early lambing flocks ranging from sporadic cases to significant mortality.
Pedigree polytunnel gets new cover
Ronan Gallagher has invested in a heavy-duty tarp cover for his existing polytunnel for his prize winning pedigree Texels.
22 January 2025 Buildings
Keeping pregnant ewe lambs ticking along nicely
Research has shown that for pregnant ewe lambs to have the best chance of rearing a lamb, they should be gaining in the region of 80g liveweight during early and mid-pregnancy.
18 January 2025 Management
Sheep Management: feeding ewes, fodder supplies and organic feed
With sheep representing a much higher value, feeding programmes that reduce mortality will deliver an even greater return on your investment.
8 January 2025 Management
Sheep management: feeding early lambing ewes and sheep census
Where ewes are being retained indoors for any length of time, then concentrate supplementation needs to ensure that a nutritional deficit is minimised.
1 January 2025 Management
Sheep management: nitrates rules, culling ewes and hill ram DNA samples
From 1 January 2025 farms in Ireland with a grassland stocking rate in excess of 100kg/ha organic nitrogen cannot avail of reduced storage capacity via outwintering sheep.
23 December 2024 Management
Don’t put housing on the long finger
While there may be a perception that ewes are in good condition Teagasc are finding that some flocks have significant numbers of ewes requiring preferential treatment.
18 December 2024 Management
Sheep Management: straw requirements, feeding space and catch crops
Doing a straw budget now will allow decisions to be made, such as retaining a portion of sheep outdoors to conserve supplies.
18 December 2024 Management
Sheep Management: housing ewes, closing targets and feeding early lambing ewes
With grass reserves depleting rapidly in recent weeks, many highly stocked flocks have found housing is on the horizon for all or a portion of ewes.
11 December 2024 Management
Space requirements when housing sheep as storm Darragh hits
Mid-season flocks will now be housing ewes as grass supplies deplete, with feed space often the limiting factor when stocking pens.
7 December 2024 Management