A strong programme has been announced for the 2026 Teagasc hill sheep conference which takes place on Wednesday 18 February 2026 at 7pm in the Westport Woods Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo (F28 KW53).

The conference is tackling topical issues pertinent to the sector with water quality, key research outcomes and marketing of hill lambs on the agenda.

Key messages from the Teagasc hill research programme will be discussed by Frank Campion, Teagasc. Frank works closely with farmers in the Teagasc BETTER farm sheep programme which monitors performance and how the adoption of the latest technologies works in a commercial farm setting.

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Extensive research has been carried out over the last decade on finishing strategies for hill lambs. Recent research has focused on how these finishing blueprints can be tailored to the finishing of lambs in an organic system where concentrate input is limited to 50% of intake. This will be closely followed at farm level with a significant spike in the number of hill farmers converting or recently converted to organic production.

Breeding sheep which are capable of delivering optimum levels of output while utilizing hill vegetation and managing the environment is of great importance.

Water quality

Water quality is typically of high quality in uplands regions but there are some areas where quality comes in to the spotlight. Contamination with sheep dip is an issue in some regions while farming practices are becoming increasingly important in regulating the flow of water during periods of high rainfall.

The topic of water quality in the uplands will be addressed by Shaun Roarty, Teagasc ASSAP advisor.

Marketing of hill lambs

The conference will conclude with a forum and panel discussion on the marketing of hill lamb. This forum importantly takes in to account the opinion of farmers and industry stakeholders. Panelists include Seamus McMenamin, Bord Bia, James Smyth, Irish Country Meats, Brendan Joyce, Galway hill sheep farmer and Teresa Gibsey, mart manager Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart.

Farmers will also have a good opportunity to share their opinions with the aim of the forum to look forward to likely developments in the marketing of hill lambs.