OviCast

Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Michael Gottstein, joins us to discuss the key management tasks for the month ahead.
We start by looking at grassland management, including how to maintain sward quality through the remainder of the grazing season and the opportunities that autumn reseeding can offer.

Attention then turns to flock management, with Michael outlining best practice around weaning lambs, drying off ewes, and managing ewe body condition to ensure ewes are in the right condition ahead of the next breeding season

With lamb performance a key focus at this time of year, we also discuss mineral supplementation, including the role of cobalt, and when supplementation may be required. Finally, we examine lameness, why reducing its incidence should be a priority on sheep farms, and the practical measures that can help improve flock health and productivity.

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Damian Costello, joins us to discuss the preliminary results of the labour survey.
 
We explore some of the key findings from the latest analysis, including the age profile of farmers, levels of off-farm employment, and how farm tasks are managed throughout the year.
 
Damian discusses the facilities available on farms, the challenges created by farm fragmentation, and how these factors influence farm management and future development. 
 
We also look at the level of TAMS uptake, the barriers farmers face when accessing the scheme, and what improvements could encourage greater participation.
 
To finish, Damian shares his thoughts on future trends and what the outlook may be for farm numbers going forward.
 
View Damian’s presentation on the labour survey here:
https://teagasc.ie/wp-content/uploads/Damian-Costello.pdf
 
For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Teagasc's Amanda McEvoy, joins us as we preview the 2026 National Sheep Conference.
 
Amanda outlines the new format for this year's event and discusses the speakers and key topics that will feature in the indoor conference sessions. 
 
A first for the National Sheep Conference will be an on-farm evening programme, where attendees will have the opportunity to hear about ongoing sheep research studies being undertaken at Teagasc Athenry.
 
The evening will also include a series of practical workshops, giving participants an insight into the latest research and technologies being developed for the sheep sector.
 
For more information on the 2026 National Sheep Conference, visit:
https://teagasc.ie/news--events/news/teagasc-national-sheep-conference-2026/
 
For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

For this week’s OviCast, grass management, weaning decisions, cull ewe selection and shearing are all discussed.
Damian Costello and Teagasc Sheep Specialist, Ciaran Lynch, break down the key messages from the June Sheep Advisory Newsletter, discussing how to maintain grass quality, prepare for weaning, assess ewes for culling and get the most from shearing day.

This is a practical episode full of seasonal advice for sheep farmers as lambs approach weaning and grass growth peaks.

Find out more:  
https://teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/teagasc-sheep-advisory-newsletter-june/
 
For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Dr. Frank Campion joins us as we discuss lamb performance on the BETTER farms this spring. 
We discuss lamb mortality levels and how they compare with previous years, while also examining strong lamb growth rates seen on farms so far this season. 

Frank outlines some of the key factors driving performance and finishes with practical advice for the weeks ahead to help maintain progress.

For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast