Quarantine protocol
The risk of introducing disease to a flock can be greatly reduced by having a good quarantine protocol in place. Once sheep arrive on the farm they should ideally remain indoors for a period of 24 to 48 hours, during which time treatments to guard against introducing resistant worms are administered.
The typical recommended option here is to use a new generation wormer, e.g. Zolvix/Startect and a moxidectin-based product. Where this option is not feasible then the next preferred option is treatment with a moxidectin-based wormer (clear wormer) and a levamisole-based wormer (yellow drench).
Other important treatments are external parasite control, lameness and a vaccination programme, while liver fluke treatment is also advised where purchasing adult sheep. Regarding vaccination, the main ailment for store lambs is clostridial diseases while for breeding females chlamydial abortion/enzootic abortion and toxoplasmosis are the main considerations.
Sheep should also be assessed for signs of lameness, with follow up checks to monitor for the presence of contagious ovine digital dermatitis or CODD. Where in any doubt, sheep should be turned up for closer inspection. Exploring the health status of the farm you are purchasing from, if possible, is a major benefit in covering all the required bases. Keeping purchased sheep away from sheep on the farm for at least 28 days is advised to allow a significant period during which sheep can be monitored.
Genotyped ram action
A common question from farmers at the Tullamore Show was how to find out what year was selected for the genotyped ram action for those participating in the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS). This can be found on the scheme portal in a farmer’s agfood.ie facility.
Once logged in to the portal, select the scheme heading. This will bring you through to the homepage. To the right of the 2025 scheme year there are three dots – when you select these it brings up an option to view application or manage documents. Click view application. This will present the scheme reference number and clicking on the ‘next’ option will display the actions selected and the year selected for the genotyped ram action.
SIS meal feeding hill lambs
The action of meal feeding hill lambs post weaning in the SIS requires lambs to be supplemented with compound feedingstuffs containing appropriate mineral and vitamins for four weeks post-weaning. There is no prescriptive criteria on the volume required to be fed, with the terms and conditions stating that the level of supplementation must be at an adequate rate to provide the required level of nutrition. A help guide in completing the scheme action booklet can be found on the Department’s website.
Elite €uroStar sale
The Sheep Ireland €uroStar sale with over 650 rams entered across 16 breeds takes place on Saturday 23 August in Kilkenny Mart. There are over 220 Texel rams, 180 Charollais rams and 130 Suffolk rams entered. All rams offered for sale will be eligible for the SIS genotyped ram action, DNA parentage verified and rated five stars on the replacement and/or terminal index. The provisional sale catalogue can be found on www.sheep.ie with a link available on the website homepage.
Quarantine protocol
The risk of introducing disease to a flock can be greatly reduced by having a good quarantine protocol in place. Once sheep arrive on the farm they should ideally remain indoors for a period of 24 to 48 hours, during which time treatments to guard against introducing resistant worms are administered.
The typical recommended option here is to use a new generation wormer, e.g. Zolvix/Startect and a moxidectin-based product. Where this option is not feasible then the next preferred option is treatment with a moxidectin-based wormer (clear wormer) and a levamisole-based wormer (yellow drench).
Other important treatments are external parasite control, lameness and a vaccination programme, while liver fluke treatment is also advised where purchasing adult sheep. Regarding vaccination, the main ailment for store lambs is clostridial diseases while for breeding females chlamydial abortion/enzootic abortion and toxoplasmosis are the main considerations.
Sheep should also be assessed for signs of lameness, with follow up checks to monitor for the presence of contagious ovine digital dermatitis or CODD. Where in any doubt, sheep should be turned up for closer inspection. Exploring the health status of the farm you are purchasing from, if possible, is a major benefit in covering all the required bases. Keeping purchased sheep away from sheep on the farm for at least 28 days is advised to allow a significant period during which sheep can be monitored.
Genotyped ram action
A common question from farmers at the Tullamore Show was how to find out what year was selected for the genotyped ram action for those participating in the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS). This can be found on the scheme portal in a farmer’s agfood.ie facility.
Once logged in to the portal, select the scheme heading. This will bring you through to the homepage. To the right of the 2025 scheme year there are three dots – when you select these it brings up an option to view application or manage documents. Click view application. This will present the scheme reference number and clicking on the ‘next’ option will display the actions selected and the year selected for the genotyped ram action.
SIS meal feeding hill lambs
The action of meal feeding hill lambs post weaning in the SIS requires lambs to be supplemented with compound feedingstuffs containing appropriate mineral and vitamins for four weeks post-weaning. There is no prescriptive criteria on the volume required to be fed, with the terms and conditions stating that the level of supplementation must be at an adequate rate to provide the required level of nutrition. A help guide in completing the scheme action booklet can be found on the Department’s website.
Elite €uroStar sale
The Sheep Ireland €uroStar sale with over 650 rams entered across 16 breeds takes place on Saturday 23 August in Kilkenny Mart. There are over 220 Texel rams, 180 Charollais rams and 130 Suffolk rams entered. All rams offered for sale will be eligible for the SIS genotyped ram action, DNA parentage verified and rated five stars on the replacement and/or terminal index. The provisional sale catalogue can be found on www.sheep.ie with a link available on the website homepage.
SHARING OPTIONS