OviCast

Grass10 Advisor, Nikki Kennedy, joins us to explore key grazing management tips for the weeks ahead. Nikki discusses end-of-season grazing management, including closing targets and best practices for managing forage crops.  As the grazing season draws to a close, we look at reviewing field grazing performance on your own farm and identify areas for improvement.  We also consider some key investments that could help boost productivity in the year ahead. Sign up 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

For this joint episode with the Beef Edge, we’re discussing one of the biggest regulatory changes affecting beef and sheep farms this year. From 1st December, new rules on veterinary medicines came into effect as part of Ireland’s national strategy to tackle antimicrobial and anti-parasitic resistance.  These changes mean that a range of commonly used products will now require a veterinary prescription, and all prescriptions will be issued and recorded through the National Veterinary Prescription System, or NVPS. To help explain what this means day-to-day on your farm, we’re joined by Rebecca Fitzpatrick, Superintending Veterinary Inspector with the Department of Agriculture to outline the policy changes. For more information: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/services/national-veterinary-prescription-system/ For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Sheep Specialist, Michael Gottstein, joins us this week to discuss the essential elements of successfully finishing lambs indoors. Michael covers everything from housing and management basics to nutrition and animal health, highlighting the practical steps farmers can take to avoid costly setbacks.  The episode wraps up with guidance on the importance of regular drafting to maintain performance and efficiency. For more information, check out the Lamb Finishing Guide: https://bit.ly/lamb_finishing_guide For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Grass10 Advisor, Nikki Kennedy, is on this week’s OviCast to discuss key grazing management tips for the weeks ahead.Nikki shares the latest on grass growth rates and covers across the country, and offers practical advice for managing grazing in challenging conditions.  Plus she outlines the importance of a structured closing plan.  She also discusses how closing decisions now can influence grass availability at turnout, and highlights what farmers should be considering as we approach the final weeks of the grazing season. You can also sign up to the Grass10 newsletter at: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

Teagasc advisor, Tom Coll, is on this week’s OviCast with some practical management tips as the breeding season draws to a close. Tom highlights the importance of ram management at this stage — from identifying repeats to dealing with injured or lame rams.  We also chat about why it’s a good idea to group ewes in the latter half of the breeding period and the benefits of having a spare ram available. The discussion then turns to managing ram lambs, reducing the risk of fighting post-mating, and best practices for ram care once the breeding season ends. We finish up by talking about the importance of monitoring and managing ewe condition in the lead-up to housing. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc advisor, James Doran, discusses the practicalities of grazing forage crops on this week's OviCast. James and Ciaran cover key topics such as estimating yield, calculating carrying capacity, and setting up grazing systems—including fencing, crop allocation, and utilisation.  James also shares advice on introducing animals to forage crops and outlines important management considerations for ewes and lambs grazing for extended periods.  For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc Researcher, Sarah Woodmartin, gives us the monthly update on grassland management. In this episode, Sarah covers:-       Current grass growth rates and average farm covers-       Autumn closing plan and its importance-       Achieving good cleanouts on swards-       Tweaking the closing plan for new grass/clover and multispecies leys Whether you’re measuring grass weekly or just keeping an eye on conditions, Sarah shares timely, practical advice to help you get the best from your grazing this autumn. You can also sign up 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

David Coen from Sheep Ireland joins this week’s OviCast to discuss the genetic progress being made in hill flocks across the country. David outlines the ongoing efforts of various breeding groups nationwide and highlights the significant increase in the number of animals being recorded over recent years. We also delve into the OviFlock project and explore the positive impact genotyping it’s having on the sector. With the sales season now in full swing, David gives an overview of the upcoming sales and explains how farmers can check whether a hill ram meets the SIS (Sheep Ireland Scheme) requirements. Finally, we discuss the upcoming Sheep Ireland Multibreed Hill Ram Sale, and David emphasises how continued progress in the hill sector can deliver long-term benefits for the national flock. For more info: https://www.sheep.ie/ For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Dr. Tim Keady joins us on this week’s OviCast to explore the key considerations around mating ewe lambs. We dive into the pros and cons of including ewe lambs in your breeding programme and Tim shares insights on how they can perform within a sheep enterprise.  We also discuss critical factors such as target joining weights, timing and duration of the mating period, and the strategic use of the ram effect. The conversation wraps up with a look at the importance of good nutritional management — both during mating and leading up to lambing — to optimise outcomes. If you're weighing up whether to mate ewe lambs this season, this episode is packed with timely and practical advice.  For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc Farm Management specialist, James McDonnell, and Succession Ireland mediator, Clare O’Keeffe, join Ciaran Lynch and Catherine Egan on this week’s joint episode of the Ovicast and the Beef Edge podcast to discuss all aspects of generation renewal, succession and mediation. James highlights the importance of generation renewal while Clare outlines the importance of a mediator to aid the process. It is essential for every farmer to have a farm succession plan in place. There are complex legal and taxation rules that, if planned for, can be managed easily. If not planned for, however, there could be a major impact on the viability of the farm business. Teagasc run Transferring the Family Farm clinics every year. These clinics are designed to help farm families through the process and all aspects that need to be considered when transferring the family farm.  In 2025, clinics will take place at six venues throughout the country. Further details at:https://teagasc.ie/rural-economy/farm-management/succession-inheritance/transferring-the-family-farm/ If you missed the Generation Renewal Webinar , you can watch it back herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcKGV0E2InM  For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc Researcher, Philip Creighton, gives us the monthly update on grassland management.For this episode, Philip covers:-       Current grass growth rates and average farm covers-       Building covers and planning the grazing rotation-       Grazing autumn reseeds-       Fertiliser register, slurry and farmyard manure deadlines  Whether you’re measuring grass weekly or just keeping an eye on conditions, Philip shares timely, practical advice to help you get the best from your grazing this autumn. You can also sign up 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

Dr. Frank Campion joins us to talk about managing ewe body condition in the crucial lead-up to mating.  We explore why body condition scoring (BCS) is such a key driver of flock productivity for the year ahead, and how current ewe condition on better farm flocks compares to last autumn. Frank also highlights the management changes that have made a difference on farms this season, and he outlines the practical steps farmers should focus on in the final weeks before ram turnout. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

One of the key factors influencing lamb performance at this stage of the season is managing and effectively treating the worm burden. For this OviCast episode, Sheep Specialist Damian Costello joins us to discuss this in detail. Damian explains why it’s important to monitor worm challenge regularly and how to interpret the results. He also highlights the key areas to focus on to ensure treatments are effective. We then look at why now is an ideal time to carry out a drench test on farms, helping to determine how well the products being used are actually working. How to conduct a drench test: https://youtu.be/1TXV1kpMhs8?si=olWviv4hcCHMjNky For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc Researcher Philip Creighton gives us the monthly update on grassland management on this week’s OviCast. In this episode, Philip covers: · Current grass growth rates and average farm covers · Assessing demand and starting to build covers · Fertiliser recommendations and timing of application · Tips for managing autumn reseeds Whether you’re measuring grass weekly or just keeping an eye on conditions, Philip shares timely, practical advice to help you get the best from your grazing this autumn. You can also sign up 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 

Every time an animal enters or re-enters a flock it poses the risk of bringing unwanted health challenges with it. With sales in full swing, on this week’s OviCast we talk to Sheep Specialist, Michael Gottstein, about how to reduce the risks.  What to look for before you buy:·      Quarantine and parasite control plans·      Reducing the risk of lameness in new arrivals·      Using vaccination to protect your flock This episode is a timely reminder for anyone planning to buy stock this season. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

With the ram sale season in full swing, we’re joined by David Coen from Sheep Ireland to discuss how genetic information can help farmers make more informed breeding decisions. David explains the Eurostar Terminal and Replacement Indexes, outlining what they mean and how to interpret them when selecting rams. We also explore how to check if a ram is SIS-eligible, and how to make the most of the RamSearch tool. We discuss the progress being made in performance recording among hill flocks and David gives us a preview of Sheep Ireland’s upcoming multi-breed sale in Kilkenny later this month. The episode closes with a look at why consistency in your breeding plan matters.For more information go to: https://www.sheep.ie/ For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Shane Moore, a BETTER Farm participant based in Co. Roscommon, joins this week’s OviCast. Shane runs a mixed sheep and beef enterprise and he shares insights into how the season has progressed so far, including the challenges of joint ill at lambing time and the rebound in lamb performance and drafting. We also discuss:-       how Shane selects replacements and identifies problem ewes for culling-       post-weaning lamb management, finishing groups and improving ewe condition -       his approach to grazing and grassland management this season For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Catch crops are becoming an essential part of sustainable tillage farming offering environmental protection, improving soil structure, and providing valuable grazing options for livestock. For this week’s OviCast, Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan, joins us to discuss how and why catch crops are used, the impact of sowing date and the practicalities of sowing them effectively. Plus, Shay takes us through the various regulations that need to be adhered to and what farmers should keep in mind when planning rotations. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc Researcher, Sarah Woodmartin, gives us the monthly update on grassland management. Whether you're actively measuring grass or just looking to stay ahead this season, Sarah shares practical, timely tips to help you make the most of your grazing this season. In this episode, Sarah covers:·       Current grass growth rates and average farm covers·       Key grazing targets and maintaining sward quality·       Fertiliser recommendations and the importance of replenish offtakes·       Tips for managing newly reseeded paddocks and multispecies swards 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

Jonathan Higgins, who with his father Philip, runs a mid-season lambing sheep flock, alongside a contract heifer-rearing system in Skreen, Co. Sligo, joins us on this week’s OviCast. The duo are also hosts of this year’s Irish Grassland Association Sheep Farm Walk. Jonathan talks to us about their contract rearing system and we delve into the performance and management of the ewe flock in detail. We also explore the challenges of farming on a fragmented unit with varying land types. Plus we spend time discussing the role of mixed-species swards on the farm, with Jonathan sharing his experience of managing them over the past few seasons.  For more details about the farm walk go to:https://www.irishgrassland.ie/event-detail/sheep-event-2025/ For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast