Early lambing
Darren Carty on 14 Apr 2021
Staying ahead of the dip in grass growth
The change from harsh northeasterly winds should hopefully improve grass growth but precise management is still required to ensure grass supplies remain ahead of ewes.
Kieran Mailey on 31 Mar 2021
NI Sheep Programme: lambing well advanced on lowland farms
Three of the programme farms operate early lambing flocks and apart from weather challenges, the farms have experienced few problems this spring.
Niall Hurson on 05 Feb 2021
Weekend weather: bitterly cold and wintry spell ahead
It will turn even colder into next week, with sharp to severe frost and ice, Met Éireann predicts.
Darren Carty on 03 Feb 2021
Sheep management: weather challenges, drafting hoggets and supplementing ewes
While early lambing flocks are typically well-prepared with regards lambing facilities the other important aspect is to ensure ewes are adequately supplemented in early lactation.
Kieran Mailey on 27 Jan 2021
NI Sheep Programme: scanning and pre-lambing management on lowland flocks
On the lowland flocks, ewes have been lambed and attention is turning to housing and pre-lambing management.
Darren Carty on 30 Dec 2020
Sheep Management: supplementing early lambing ewes and late pregnancy feeding
The high levels of rainfall and challenging ground conditions is preventing turnout of early lambing ewes and bringing forward the supplementation date for mid-season lambing ewes.
Darren Carty on 23 Dec 2020
Five-star ewes scan 0.27 lambs higher than one-star ewes
The analysis carried out by Sheep Ireland on over 6,500 pedigree ewes participating in LambPlus shows significant advantages in favour of ewes rated as five-star on the replacement index.
Darren Carty on 16 Dec 2020
SheepWatch: flying trade for in-lamb ewes in Cootehill
The large-framed ewes lambing in mid-January and offered in batches carrying 1.7 to two lambs sold on average from €210 to €250, with one lot hitting €290.
Darren Carty on 16 Dec 2020
Big changes on Kildare farm targeting greater performance
From improving grazing infrastructure and reseeding to revamping the breeding programme and lambing at four different periods Moyglare Farm is aiming to develop a system which delivers optimum results
Darren Carty on 11 Nov 2020
Winter feed series: early planning can reduce feed costs and lift performance
Putting a feeding programme in place that underpins animal performance and prevents remedial action from being required should be the focus for all flocks lambing ewes.
Kieran Mailey on 21 Oct 2020
NI Sheep Programme: breeding focus changes from early to mid-season lambing
Kieran Mailey catches up with some of the programme farms running early and mid-season lambing flocks.
Darren Carty on 14 Oct 2020
Sheep management: liver fluke, clean livestock policy and scannig early lambers
Maximum use should be made of all sources of information in determing liver fluke burdens including following up on the health status of sheep presented for slaughter.
Kieran Mailey on 16 Sep 2020
NI Sheep Programme: Rams at the ready for early lambing
Breeding is about to start for the 200 early lambing ewes at Tynan Abbey, run by Kate Kingan and Peter Mant. Kieran Mailey reports.
Jack Kennedy on 26 Aug 2020
Autumn health checks are essential
With weather turning nasty and stock at a critical juncture for some, it is important not to take your eye off the herd health ball.
Darren Carty on 29 Jul 2020
Exploring the use of the ram effect
The ram effect can be used to induce ewe lambs and adult ewes to start cycling and also compact both the mating and lambing season.
Darren Carty on 22 Jul 2020
Selecting the optimum lambing date for your farm
Reports suggest that there are some farmers considering pulling the lambing date forward in anticipation of stronger prices in the first half of 2021.
Kieran Mailey on 15 Jul 2020
Making gradual changes for long term gain
Mark Davidson and his family have set clear goals on where they want to take the farm to over the next three years.
Darren Carty on 15 Jul 2020
SheepWatch: store lambs remain the highlight of sales
Factory agents are anxious for lambs, but it is the strong demand for store lambs that is the stand-out feature for mart managers in the last week.
Darren Carty on 08 Jul 2020
SheepWatch: agents using sales to bolster factory throughput
Mart managers report agents being extremely anxious to source lambs and willing to purchase any light lambs once they have an adequate cover of flesh.
Darren Carty on 01 Jul 2020
Camera at the Mart: 'sale days like these are hard beaten'
Eric Driver reported on a vibrant sheep trade, with factory agents clashing with butchers and wholesalers for finished lambs, while the appetite for store lambs has increased sharply.