Sheep farming

The latest sheep farming news and sheep prices from the Irish Farmers Journal. Keep up to date with all farming and production news developments in the sheep farming sector.

Sheep
Programme announced for Teagasc Hill Sheep Conference
Darren Carty
The conference, which takes place in Dungarvan on 19 February 2025, will discuss the future of farming in the Comeragh uplands and unexplained lamb losses in Scottish hill flocks.
Programme announced for Teagasc Hill Sheep Conference
 
 
Ireland to host European Sheep Shearing Championships in Mountbellew
Sheep
Ireland to host European Sheep Shearing Championships in Mountbellew
Four in-lamb ewes killed in dog attack in Co Clare
News
Four in-lamb ewes killed in dog attack in Co Clare
My Farming Week: Michael Farrell, Dromard, Co Sligo
Sheep
My Farming Week: Michael Farrell, Dromard, Co Sligo
Farmers urged to report suspected cases of Schmallenberg
Sheep
Farmers urged to report suspected cases of Schmallenberg
VIDEOS
MANAGEMENT
Sheep management: ewe nutrition, colostrum and schmallenberg virus
Darren Carty
Sheep management: ewe nutrition, colostrum and schmallenberg virus
Ewe nutrition in late gestation has a profound effect on lamb birth weights, colostrum quality and yield and ewe mothering ability.
Seven key steps for success this lambing season
Martin Merrick
Seven key steps for success this lambing season
Preparation is half the battle when it comes to lambing down ewes; the other half is luck.
MARKETS
Watch: clearance sale of 180 in-lamb ewes average €265 in Roscrea Mart
Darren Carty
Watch: clearance sale of 180 in-lamb ewes average €265 in Roscrea Mart
Prices ranged in the main from €235 to €300, with a couple of lots of Scottish Blackface ewes selling back to €160/head.
China’s beef imports increased again in 2024
Phelim O'Neill
China’s beef imports increased again in 2024
The rate of China’s beef imports increase has slowed down in recent years, but still increased in 2024, while pork and sheepmeat imports fell.
GRASS & FEEDING
Poor-quality silage: is all-concentrates an option?
Darren Carty
Poor-quality silage: is all-concentrates an option?
Ad-lib diets work well for some farmers in reducing labour, but how do they compare to silage-based diets on cost and labour input?
Feeding plans and the Sheep Improvement Scheme
Darren Carty
Feeding plans and the Sheep Improvement Scheme
A high percentage of flocks have selected the pregnancy scanning action, which requires farmers to group ewes into management groups that improves lamb survivability and reduces mortality.
BREEDING & HEALTH
North Country Cheviots hit high of 1,650gns at Northie Sparklers sale
Rachel Gallagher
North Country Cheviots hit high of 1,650gns at Northie Sparklers sale
Rachel Gallagher reports from Beatties Pedigree Centre, Omagh, for the fourth annual Northie Sparklers sale.
Donegal’s leading longwool Perth societies join forces for a bumper in-lamb sale
Rachel Gallagher
Donegal’s leading longwool Perth societies join forces for a bumper in-lamb sale
Rachel Gallagher spoke with breeders ahead of the upcoming sale of longwool Perth ewe lambs and in-lamb ewes.
FARM PROGRAMMES
First loads of slurry spread on Tullamore Farm
Rachel Gallagher
First loads of slurry spread on Tullamore Farm
Tullamore Farm manager Shaun Diver gives an update on what’s been happening on the farm this week and how calving has been going.
Calving commences on Tullamore Farm
Rachel Gallagher
Calving commences on Tullamore Farm
Farm manager Shaun Diver gives an insight into what's been happening on Tullamore Farm this week.
Footprint Farmers: some green care in rural Co Mayo
Brendan Dunford
Footprint Farmers: some green care in rural Co Mayo
Some rural landscapes carry a lot of pain and trauma, so it’s fitting that Paul Maguire’s vision for his farm is as a place of healing – for nature and for people, writes Brendan Dunford.
Tullamore Farm calving shed gets a revamp
Martin Merrick
Tullamore Farm calving shed gets a revamp
New stanchions and some new barriers have made working in the shed on the Tullamore Farm safer and easier.
CycleØ progressing with €100m investment plans in Ireland SPONSORED
CycleØ progressing with €100m investment plans in Ireland
CycleØ Group, the leading end-to-end biomethane platform that builds, owns and operates plants in Europe confirms that its investment plans are progressing, with sites planned in Limerick and Kildare.
Lamlac’s efficiency and consistency saluted by Waterford lamb farmerSPONSORED
Lamlac’s efficiency and consistency saluted by Waterford lamb farmer
Jamie Kiely, who rears approximately 40 to 50 pet lambs annually on the family holding at Ballycoe Farm, north of Dungarvan, Co Waterford, is delighted with the efficacy of Lamlac.
Dairy farmer salutes quality and reliability of Triple AAA Golden MaverickSPONSORED
Dairy farmer salutes quality and reliability of Triple AAA Golden Maverick
A County Limerick dairy farmer, now in his fifth year feeding AAA Golden Maverick to his calves, is delighted with the quality and consistency the product is providing.
Lamlac “working like a dream” for Roscommon sheep farmerSPONSORED
Lamlac “working like a dream” for Roscommon sheep farmer
The ideal combination of Lamlac and efficient feeding technology has made life a great deal easier for a County Roscommon-based sheep farmer during her busiest time of year.
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