LATEST ARTICLES
Sheep
Sheep mart comment: demand for store lambs remains solid
Darren Carty
Mart managers report farmers who fared well in finishing store lambs last season are returning with a keen appetite for lambs.
2 October 2024 Markets
Sheep Trends: agents active for quality lambs
The sheep kill profile continues to include a higher percentage of lighter lambs, with agents working hard to source better-quality lambs and willing to pay higher for quality lots.
2 October 2024 Markets
Camera at the Mart: prices up €40 at Mayo Blackface Group sale
There was a 100% clearance of over 550 hoggets, which averaged just shy of €200/head, while in excess of 900 ewe lambs recorded an average price of approximately €123/head.
Trying to keep autumn grazing on track
Some farms are faced with a lower grass supply and possibly more mouths to feed with corrective options reducing the longer the year progresses.
2 October 2024 Grass & feeding
Sheep Management: health checks, temporary grazing agreements and Sheep Expo
The recent thin ewe survey carried out by the Regional Veterinary Laboratories found issues with molar teeth to be a significant cause of poor body condition.
2 October 2024 Management
Budget 2025 – the main scheme announcements summarised
Funding for Agriculture increased by €158m, with €85m of this committed to new measures, according to Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue.
2 October 2024 Schemes
€5/ewe payment boost in Sheep Welfare Scheme
Farmers participating in the Sheep Welfare Scheme and the Sheep Improvement Scheme will see the level of support increase from €20 to €25 per ewe in 2025.
1 October 2024 News
Sheep price update: status quo remains on lamb prices
The majority of lambs continue to trade within a price range from €7.20/kg to €7.35/kg, with top prices rising upwards of €7.40/kg to €7.45/kg.
30 September 2024 Markets
National cattle herd over 170,000 head lower on 1 August 2024
The number of dairy and dairy-cross animals was almost 160,000 head lower with dairy cow or replacement heifer numbers falling by 80,000 head and dairy males by a similar figure.
28 September 2024 News
18,500 more cattle produced in controlled finishing units in 2024
The increase in throughput has been steady across the year, reaching the highest level on record and accounting for 25% of the beef kill.
27 September 2024 News
Sheep mart comment: hogget entries falling much faster
The knock-on effects of higher numbers of ewe hoggets slaughtered at higher prices in spring are now evident, with breeding sale entries reducing fast.
25 September 2024 Markets
Sheep Trends: price steady across EU markets
The trade is steady right across Europe, with no major change in prices in recent weeks across the main markets for sheepmeat, while Australian prices are increasing significantly.
25 September 2024 Markets