OviCast

Dr James O’Shaughnessy from the Department of Agriculture’s Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Backweston joins us to discuss this year’s Nematodirus forecast.
James explains what Nematodirus is, how it impacts young lambs, and the key symptoms to watch out for. We discuss this year’s forecast and what it means for farms across the country this spring.

He also outlines treatment strategies and emphasises the importance of planning ahead to manage the challenge effectively. 

We finish by discussing the potential risk of concurrent infections, particularly Coccidia, and the role of follow-up diagnostics where issues arise.

Link to this year’s forecast: 
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/press-releases/nematodirus-forecast-2026/

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 this week’s OviCast to outline the key priorities for the month ahead.
We discuss the challenges around fertiliser use and rising costs, why replacing fertiliser with concentrates can be a false economy, and how simple management changes like grouping ewes and subdividing paddocks can boost grass growth. 

We also cover key flock health risks, including parasites, lameness and grass tetany, before finishing up with practical tips on preparing for high-quality silage.

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Dr. Orla Keane joins us to discuss coccidiosis in lambs, a common but often underestimated issue affecting flock performance. 
 
We cover what causes coccidiosis, its impact on lamb health and growth, and the key symptoms farmers should watch for.
 
With the challenging spring weather conditions, we also look at why the risk of infection may be higher this year and what that means for on-farm management.
 
We finish with a practical discussion on treatment and prevention, including how different coccidiostats, their active ingredients, and dosing strategies work to control the disease.
 
For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

We catch up with Grass10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, to discuss grassland management for March. 
 
Nikki shares an update on grass covers across the country, outlines key grazing targets for the first rotation, and highlights the importance of grouping ewes effectively. 
 
We finish discussing fertiliser and lime application strategies for the spring.
 
For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

With lambing season well underway, we catch up with Dr. Nóirín McHugh to discuss how to identify and select the best ewe lambs as future replacements, and what genetics we are introducing into the flock.
Nóirín explains how genetics influences a wide range of production and behavioural traits — from litter size and lambing ease to mothering ability and lamb vigour — as well as their role in reducing undesirable issues such as prolapse and lameness.

We also explore how observations made during lambing can be used to make more informed replacement decisions, helping to drive long-term flock performance. 

Finally, Nóirín outlines what to watch for as the season progresses, ensuring that selection decisions made now continue to deliver benefits throughout the year

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast