Selecting replacements
Kieran Mailey on 10 Mar 2021
What does it costs to produce suckler replacements?
Selecting replacements is an important task for any herd owner. But what does it cost to rear in-calf heifers and what can a farmer pay when buying such animals.
Darren Carty on 06 Feb 2021
Swift trade in Dowra Mart ewe dispersal sale
A top price of €245 was achieved for the entry of top-quality ewes with 14 of the 17 lots on offer exceeding the €200 mark.
Kieran Mailey on 12 Jan 2021
Beef management: time for a mid-winter weight check on replacement heifers
Weighing replacement heifers midway through winter will give a good indication if animals are likely to meet target breeding weights.
Kieran Mailey on 02 Dec 2020
NI Sheep Programme: winter management crucial for ewe lambs
Co Down sheep farmer Paraic McNeill outlines the mangement of ewe lambs on his farm to Kieran Mailey.
Darren Carty on 30 Sep 2020
Top of €3,100 recorded at West of Ireland Lanark Breeders sale
The highlight of the two-day sale of rams and female replacements was the demand for top-quality rams and good-quality ewe hoggets and ewe lambs.
Darren Carty on 19 Sep 2020
Chance to purchase ewes from award-winning flock
Michael Doyle from Boolavogue, Co Wexford, is holding a flock clearance sale next Thursday with the farm switching from mixed sheep and suckler-to-beef enterprises to dairying.
Darren Carty on 14 Sep 2020
Tuam Mart launches new Mule sheep sale
The sale of 600 Mule-Lanark-cross ewe lambs takes place on 18 September at 6pm.
Darren Carty on 09 Sep 2020
Camera at the Mart: record prices for Cheviots in Blessington Mart
Ewe hoggets achieved an average price in excess of €250, while ewe lambs averaged €155 at the annual Wicklow Cheviot Sheep owners show and sale.
Darren Carty on 06 Sep 2020
In pictures: flying trade at Cooley Peninsula one-day sale
There was an excellent trade at the 10th annual Cooley Sheep Breeders Association multi-breed sale, with hoggets selling to a top of €264 and ewe lambs fetching a top price of €182.
Darren Carty on 04 Sep 2020
Another busy weekend for sheep breeding sales
The Donegal Cheviot and Cheviot Cross Group kicks off a busy weekend on Friday evening, with a number of high profile sales on Saturday and more taking place early next week.
Kieran Mailey on 19 Aug 2020
NI Sheep Programme: making the right breeding decisions
Kieran Mailey talks to Co Tyrone sheep farmer James McCay on selecting replacements for his 260-ewe flock.
Darren Carty on 14 Aug 2020
Breeding sales calendar for ewe lambs and ewe hoggets
See our guide to what special sales for replacement ewe hoggets, ewe lambs and ewes are coming up in the coming weeks.
Darren Carty on 12 Aug 2020
Watch: drafting lambs and selecting replacements on Tullamore Farm
The latest batch of 18 lambs drafted last week for slaughter achieved an average carcase weight of 20kg and sale value of €104.17
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 24 Jun 2020
Sheep Management: selecting replacements and grassland management
Where breeding from within the flock replacements should be selected early in the season to allow the best performing genetics to be retained.
Kieran Mailey on 16 Jun 2020
Watch: BETTER farm NI to hold virtual farm walk
One Antrim farmer will give a guided tour of his 63ha suckler farm next week.
Darren Carty on 19 Feb 2020
Tailoring feeding levels to ewe nutritional requirements
Programme advisor Senan White says lowland flocks are focused on late pregnancy feeding, while out-wintered hill flocks are planning feeding programmes based on recent scanning results.
Barry Cassidy on 09 May 2019
Beef Summit: what will the Irish suckler cow look like in 2030?
ICBF'S Andrew Cromie rebuffed suggestions that ICBF and the BDGP were responsible for a decline in cattle quality in Ireland.
Declan Marren on 05 Dec 2018
Farm Profit Programme: £60/cow to be saved with outwintering
The Farm Profit Programme held a farm walk at the Duguid’s focus farm on Tuesday, where winter feeding costs were examined. Declan Marren and Robert Gilchrist report.
Declan Marren on 22 Nov 2017
Farm Profit Programme: Reflecting on one year, planning for the next at Arnage
As cattle come in for the winter period and tups are serving ewes, there is an opportunity to reflect on the year gone by and look towards the next