LATEST ARTICLES
Sheep
Sheep management: nitrates rules, culling ewes and hill ram DNA samples
Darren Carty
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.
4 December 2024 Markets
Camera at the Mart: fat lamb trade on fire in Portumna
Adam Woods reports from this week’s sheep sale in Portumna Mart, where some big prices were paid for fat lambs.
27 November 2024 Markets
Sheep mart comment: store trade setting the headlines
Demand for store lambs continues to outstrip supply, with the best-quality stores topping a price of €4/kg in some sales over the last week.
Camera at the Mart: store lambs broach €4/kg in Ballymote
High demand for all types of lambs and cull ewes was seen in Ballymote, as buyers battled against one another to secure numbers.
27 November 2024 Markets
In pictures: Quality lambs in demand in Ennis
The first sheep sale held on the MartBids online sales platform saw butchers and agents active for fleshed lambs and plenty of farmer demand for quality stores.
4 September 2024 Markets
Sheep mart report: store entries up, breeding numbers tight
Mart managers report a seasonal increase in store lamb numbers, but numbers of ewe hoggets and breeding ewes are running behind normal levels for the time of year.
28 August 2024 Markets
Autumn grazing management needs to start now
A higher number of ewes requiring preferential treatment and a lower drafting rate on many farms will increase demand for grass in the coming months.
17 August 2024 Management
Camera at the Mart: insatiable demand from buyers in Loughrea
With only two lots going unsold, a 98% clearance across the yard showed the demand for sheep of all categories in Loughrea Mart on Thursday last.
14 August 2024 Markets
Sheep mart watch: factories and farmers compete for forward stores
Reports are indicating that factories are sourcing well-fleshed lambs as low as 40kg in order to try to secure numbers.
7 August 2024 Markets
Sheep Management: marketing cull ewes, lamb presentation and recording movements
The cull ewe trade has been re-energised in the last 10 days, with more buyers sourcing ewes for exporting live active in sales.
24 July 2024 Management
Finished lambs hold firm in Dowra
Factory fit lambs in Dowra saw a lift in price in last week’s sale, but store trade was slightly easier than the week before.
24 July 2024 Markets
Farmer views: 'Too much work in sheep for too little reward'
Grace Hoare speaks to six IFA sheep committee members to gauge their thoughts on grass growth, sheep prices, wool and other issues.
17 July 2024 News