LATEST ARTICLES
Sheep
Mountbellew Mart to host European and Connacht sheep shearing championships
Darren Carty
The two-day event takes place on the June bank holiday weekend on 30 May and 1 June
26 April 2025 News
Ewe numbers fall by 94,477 head or 3.7% in 2024
The results of the Department of Agriculture’s annual sheep and goat census shows ewe numbers fell in each of the 26 counties.
25 April 2025 News
Sheep 2025 major sheep event launched for 21 June 2025
The sheep industry event which takes place in Teagasc Athenry will focus on the future of sheep farming and is free for patrons to attend.
Live exports accelerating the herd decline
Darren Carty, Aidan Brennan and Adam Woods analyse the critical role high live exports are playing in the cattle herd.
23 April 2025 News
Sheep prices fall by over €10/head
Both lambs and hoggets have been hit with price cuts in the region of 50c/kg when compared with last week.
23 April 2025 News
90% increase in BVD positive calves
The increase to 359 head stems from some herds recording significant breakdowns with the herd prevalence increasing by less than 20%.
23 April 2025 News
Sheep Trends: lambs and hoggets cut 20c/kg to 30c/kg
Base quotes are steady on earlier in the week but have reduced by 50c/kg on last week’s level or in excess of €10 per head
23 April 2025 Markets
Sheep price update: hoggets and lambs fall by another €3 to €5/head
Agents have shown less of an appetite for sheep this week, with factories reportedly handling lower numbers.
23 April 2025 Markets
Sheep Management: creep feeding, grass management and SIS closing date
Grassland management has become more challenging this week, following torrential rainfall.
23 April 2025 Management
Actions confirmed for National Beef Welfare Scheme
Mandatory meal feeding of calves pre- and post-weaning remains the mandatory core action, while vaccination returns as an optional action and is joined by silage testing and faecal egg testing.
23 April 2025 News
Will it pay to creep feed lambs?
Prices have trended at a higher level in recent years, but even so, exploiting creep feeding to its maximum potential is dependent on drafting lambs before seasonal price pressure.
23 April 2025 Management
Farm fencing – to go with or without TAMS aid
Bovine electric fencing has a reference cost of €2.77/m while sheep fencing has a reference cost of €6.75/m on lowland ground and €8.81/m on mountain terrain.
23 April 2025 Infrastructure