sheep
on 17 Apr 2021
The Grass Week: average farm cover slips as we wait for growth
John Crowe highlights the importance of growth versus demand, as grass growth improves slowly.
Contributor on 17 Apr 2021
In pictures: big entry of ewes and lambs in Drumshanbo
Manus Connolly was in Drumshanbo Mart this week for its weekly sheep sale. Read his sale report here.
Darren Carty on 17 Apr 2021
Top-quality silage can greatly reduce winter feed costs
Concentrate costs are one of the most significant costs in sheep systems and this is influenced strongly by lower feed-value forage being available for ewes in late gestation and early lactation.
Declan Marren on 16 Apr 2021
Watch: grazing update from Tullamore Farm
Declan Marren caught up with Shaun Diver this week to see what's been happening on Tullamore Farm.
Phelim O'Neill on 16 Apr 2021
UK closing in on deals with Australia and New Zealand
More beef and sheepmeat will enter the UK and EU markets as a result of trade negotiations.
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 14 Apr 2021
NI Sheep Programme: mid-season lambing round-up
With mid-season lambing in full swing, Kieran Mailey gives an update from some of the upland and hill flocks in the programme.
Phelim O'Neill on 14 Apr 2021
Listen: ifac survey reveals farmers want online sales to continue
The ifac survey of 1,700 Irish farmers reflects a mix of moods across the different sectors and a worrying number that haven’t succession plans.
Kieran Sullivan on 14 Apr 2021
Farmer Writes: reasons for record lamb price
For the record, I do not have a theory beyond the age-old supply and demand dynamics. What we can be sure of though is what has not increased the farm-gate price, writes Kieran Sullivan.
Darren Carty on 14 Apr 2021
Sheep management: artificially rearing lambs, orf and TAMS II
This week’s notes look at artificial rearing systems, dealing with an orf outbreak and the impending TAMS II deadline.
Peter McCann on 14 Apr 2021
Scientist questions stocking rate method
The livestock unit system does not consider factors such as the duration of grazing and the type of livestock used
on 14 Apr 2021
Grass+: slow growth and falling average farm covers
John Crowe and Declan Marren discuss the effects the cold weather is having on grass growth
David Wright on 14 Apr 2021
Poots questions support for lowland sucklers
Future incentives for producers to keep sucklers might be targeted at hill areas in NI.
Darren Carty on 14 Apr 2021
Sheep Trends: tight supplies shown in 37,957-head kill
The tightness of supply in the market is demonstrated in last week’s kill dropping well below the 40,000 head mark, despite record hogget and spring lamb prices.
David Wright on 14 Apr 2021
Northern View: another 4p/kg added to NI cattle quotes
Weekly round-up of the factory trade for cattle and sheep in Northern Ireland.
Darren Carty on 14 Apr 2021
SheepWatch: mart trades continues to perform strongly
The trade for all classes of sheep is performing excellently and providing a good alternative outlet for producers with low negotiating power who are struggling to secure higher factory prices.
John Sleigh on 14 Apr 2021
Scottish farmers offered £4.15/kg for cattle and £7/kg for hoggets
Scottish cattle and sheep farmers are enjoying good prices this spring.
Darren Carty on 12 Apr 2021
Sheep price update: hoggets hit €8/kg and spring lambs rise to €8.50/kg
Buying for the Ramadan festival underpinned a surge in demand last week with prices increasing by another 10c/kg to 20c/kg on the back of tight supplies and a strong appetite.
Darren Carty on 11 Apr 2021
France regains position of top farmgate sheep price
Prices have increased by in excess of 60c/kg in recent weeks, positioning the French sheepmeat price marginally ahead of the Irish price for the week ending 3 April.
Amy Forde on 10 Apr 2021
IFA tells farmers to sell hard as spring lambs make €8.50/kg
IFA sheep chair Seán Dennehy said up to €8.50/kg is being paid for spring lamb, while cull ewes are ranging from €3.20-€3.50/kg in general.