OviCast

Each year, the Teagasc Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department reviews the current production year and examines the prospects for the upcoming agricultural season.  For this week’s OviCast, recorded just before Christmas, I sit down with Teagasc researcher Anne Kinsella to discuss the performance of the sheep sector in 2024 and the outlook for 2025. Our conversation covers key topics, including price trends, changes in input costs, export markets, and profit margins. We also explore the outlook for the coming season, the influence of international markets on producers, and recent trends in global trade. For more detailed information:https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2024/Outlook-Sheep_DEC2024_AKFinal.pdf  For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Dr. Tim Keady is on the latest OviCast podcast to discuss feeding the ewe during mid-pregnancy and its impact on productivity.  Tim outlines the energy requirements of the ewe during this phase, we discuss the impact of grass supply and feed value in outdoor scenarios and the impact of different qualities of silages indoors.  Tim also talks about mobilising reserves, potential condition score loss and the impact that can have on next year’s lamb performance.  We finish up discussing feed management introducing supplementation to thinner ewes and planning ahead for next year.   For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Kilkenny sheep farmer, Brian Nicholson, joins this week’s OviCast to talk about the changes to his farm system in recent years.  Brian describes how he has converted part of his farm over to an organic system, we discuss the sheep, beef and tillage systems and their integration and how he has adapted his farm to suit.  We finish up discussing how he is incorporating agro-forestry into his farming system.   The Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards video of Brian Nicholson’s farm:https://youtu.be/jXgk4ZnJxxo For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Niamh Doyle, has her monthly update on the OviCast podcast discussing grass management tips for the month ahead.  Niamh discusses the closing plan on farms, grazing conditions and the impact of re-grazing paddocks on spring growth.  We discuss the variation in performance of individual fields on farms and some investments to improve productivity next year.   You can subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter here:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grass10-enewsletter/  For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast