OviCast

Sheep specialist Damian Costello joins us on this week’s OviCast as we discuss winter housing.  Damian talks to us about some of the key considerations at housing, penning and space allowances.  We discuss straw usage, alternative bedding and keeping slats clean during the winter before finishing up discussing housing for organic flocks. 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 on this week’s OviCast as we discuss grazing management on forage brassicas. Frank discusses yields and why you should do a feed budget for the crop. We then discuss intakes, utilisation and the factors that influence it. Frank also explains fencing, crop allocation and managing in wet conditions and he has advice for managing the crop in frosty conditions. We finish up discussing the transition of the crop with finishing lambs and pregnant ewes.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 on the latest OviCast as we discuss ewe condition and mating management in hill ewes.  Frank discusses the impact of ewe condition on performance in hill flocks, plus we discuss the targets and variation in ewe weight on the BETTER farms.  We move on to discuss single sire mating and crossbreeding, finishing up with Frank offering some tips on reducing the impact of ram infertility.  For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Niamh Doyle, gives her monthly update on the latest OviCast discussing grass management tips for the month ahead.  Niamh discusses the higher growth rates over the past few weeks and the impact this has had on grazing this back end.  We also discuss the closing plan and the importance of staying on target and we finish up with Niamh offering some tips on achieving good graze outs. 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