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PODCAST

OviCast

OviCast is the Teagasc Sheep podcast. Presented by Ciaran Lynch it brings you the latest advice, insights and technical updates for the sheep industry. Visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast/

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All Episodes

23:31

Practical Steps for Successful Indoor Lamb Finishing

OviCast ·

2025/11/25

Sheep Specialist, Michael Gottstein, joins us this week to discuss the essential elements of successfully finishing lambs indoors. Michael covers everything from housing and management basics to nutrition and animal health, highlighting the practical steps farmers can take to avoid costly setbacks. The episode wraps up with guidance on the importance of regular drafting to maintain performance and efficiency. For more information, check out the Lamb Finishing Guide:

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9:11

November Grass update

OviCast ·

2025/11/19

Grass10 Advisor, Nikki Kennedy, is on this week’s OviCast to discuss key grazing management tips for the weeks ahead.Nikki shares the latest on grass growth rates and covers across the country, and offers practical advice for managing grazing in challenging conditions. Plus she outlines the importance of a structured closing plan. She also discusses how closing decisions now can influence grass availability at turnout, and highlights what farmers should be considering as we approach the

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18:07

Management tips as breeding season enters the final...

OviCast ·

2025/11/05

Teagasc advisor, Tom Coll, is on this week’s OviCast with some practical management tips as the breeding season draws to a close. Tom highlights the importance of ram management at this stage — from identifying repeats to dealing with injured or lame rams. We also chat about why it’s a good idea to group ewes in the latter half of the breeding period and the benefits of having a spare ram available. The discussion then turns to managing ram lambs, reducing the risk of fighting post-mating,

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16:34

Practical Tips for Grazing Forage Crops

OviCast ·

2025/10/24

Teagasc advisor, James Doran, discusses the practicalities of grazing forage crops on this week's OviCast. James and Ciaran cover key topics such as estimating yield, calculating carrying capacity, and setting up grazing systems—including fencing, crop allocation, and utilisation. James also shares advice on introducing animals to forage crops and outlines important management considerations for ewes and lambs grazing for extended periods. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit

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9:57

October Grass Update

OviCast ·

2025/10/20

Teagasc Researcher, Sarah Woodmartin, gives us the monthly update on grassland management. In this episode, Sarah covers:- Current grass growth rates and average farm covers- Autumn closing plan and its importance- Achieving good cleanouts on swards- Tweaking the closing plan for new grass/clover and multispecies leys Whether you’re measuring grass weekly or just keeping an eye on conditions, Sarah shares timely, practical advice to help you get the best from your

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12:10

Genetic progress in the hills

OviCast ·

2025/10/07

David Coen from Sheep Ireland joins this week’s OviCast to discuss the genetic progress being made in hill flocks across the country. David outlines the ongoing efforts of various breeding groups nationwide and highlights the significant increase in the number of animals being recorded over recent years. We also delve into the OviFlock project and explore the positive impact genotyping it’s having on the sector. With the sales season now in full swing, David gives an overview of the

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14:32

What to consider if mating ewe lambs

OviCast ·

2025/09/30

Dr. Tim Keady joins us on this week’s OviCast to explore the key considerations around mating ewe lambs. We dive into the pros and cons of including ewe lambs in your breeding programme and Tim shares insights on how they can perform within a sheep enterprise. We also discuss critical factors such as target joining weights, timing and duration of the mating period, and the strategic use of the ram effect. The conversation wraps up with a look at the importance of good nutritional

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37:46

The essentials for successful farm succession

OviCast ·

2025/09/23

Teagasc Farm Management specialist, James McDonnell, and Succession Ireland mediator, Clare O’Keeffe, join Ciaran Lynch and Catherine Egan on this week’s joint episode of the Ovicast and the Beef Edge podcast to discuss all aspects of generation renewal, succession and mediation. James highlights the importance of generation renewal while Clare outlines the importance of a mediator to aid the process. It is essential for every farmer to have a farm succession plan in place. There are

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9:11

September Grass Update

OviCast ·

2025/09/19

Teagasc Researcher, Philip Creighton, gives us the monthly update on grassland management.For this episode, Philip covers:- Current grass growth rates and average farm covers- Building covers and planning the grazing rotation- Grazing autumn reseeds- Fertiliser register, slurry and farmyard manure deadlines Whether you’re measuring grass weekly or just keeping an eye on conditions, Philip shares timely, practical advice to help you get the best from your grazing

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14:38

Getting a handle on ewe condition this autumn

OviCast ·

2025/09/10

Dr. Frank Campion joins us to talk about managing ewe body condition in the crucial lead-up to mating. We explore why body condition scoring (BCS) is such a key driver of flock productivity for the year ahead, and how current ewe condition on better farm flocks compares to last autumn. Frank also highlights the management changes that have made a difference on farms this season, and he outlines the practical steps farmers should focus on in the final weeks before ram turnout. For more

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21:47

Monitoring Worm Burden & Assessing Drench Effectiveness

OviCast ·

2025/08/29

One of the key factors influencing lamb performance at this stage of the season is managing and effectively treating the worm burden. For this OviCast episode, Sheep Specialist Damian Costello joins us to discuss this in detail. Damian explains why it’s important to monitor worm challenge regularly and how to interpret the results. He also highlights the key areas to focus on to ensure treatments are effective. We then look at why now is an ideal time to carry out a drench test on farms,

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13:41

August Grass Update

OviCast ·

2025/08/19

Teagasc Researcher Philip Creighton gives us the monthly update on grassland management on this week’s OviCast. In this episode, Philip covers: · Current grass growth rates and average farm covers · Assessing demand and starting to build covers · Fertiliser recommendations and timing of application · Tips for managing autumn reseeds Whether you’re measuring grass weekly or just keeping an eye on conditions, Philip shares timely, practical advice to help you get the best from your grazing

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28:49

Quarantine, Parasites & Vaccines – reducing the risks...

OviCast ·

2025/08/13

Every time an animal enters or re-enters a flock it poses the risk of bringing unwanted health challenges with it. With sales in full swing, on this week’s OviCast we talk to Sheep Specialist, Michael Gottstein, about how to reduce the risks. What to look for before you buy:· Quarantine and parasite control plans· Reducing the risk of lameness in new arrivals· Using vaccination to protect your flock This episode is a timely reminder for anyone planning to buy stock this

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16:19

Making genetic gains - using data this ram sale season

OviCast ·

2025/08/05

With the ram sale season in full swing, we’re joined by David Coen from Sheep Ireland to discuss how genetic information can help farmers make more informed breeding decisions. David explains the Eurostar Terminal and Replacement Indexes, outlining what they mean and how to interpret them when selecting rams. We also explore how to check if a ram is SIS-eligible, and how to make the most of the RamSearch tool. We discuss the progress being made in performance recording among hill flocks and

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27:38

Farmer Focus: Shane Moore, BETTER Farm participant,...

OviCast ·

2025/08/01

Shane Moore, a BETTER Farm participant based in Co. Roscommon, joins this week’s OviCast. Shane runs a mixed sheep and beef enterprise and he shares insights into how the season has progressed so far, including the challenges of joint ill at lambing time and the rebound in lamb performance and drafting. We also discuss:- how Shane selects replacements and identifies problem ewes for culling- post-weaning lamb management, finishing groups and improving ewe condition - his

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16:58

Sowing Catch Crops in Tillage Systems

OviCast ·

2025/07/25

Catch crops are becoming an essential part of sustainable tillage farming offering environmental protection, improving soil structure, and providing valuable grazing options for livestock. For this week’s OviCast, Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan, joins us to discuss how and why catch crops are used, the impact of sowing date and the practicalities of sowing them effectively. Plus, Shay takes us through the various regulations that need to be adhered to and what farmers should keep

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10:12

July Grass Update

OviCast ·

2025/07/15

Teagasc Researcher, Sarah Woodmartin, gives us the monthly update on grassland management. Whether you're actively measuring grass or just looking to stay ahead this season, Sarah shares practical, timely tips to help you make the most of your grazing this season. In this episode, Sarah covers:· Current grass growth rates and average farm covers· Key grazing targets and maintaining sward quality· Fertiliser recommendations and the importance of replenish offtakes·

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29:13

Multispecies swards add the finishing touch on Sligo...

OviCast ·

2025/07/01

Jonathan Higgins, who with his father Philip, runs a mid-season lambing sheep flock, alongside a contract heifer-rearing system in Skreen, Co. Sligo, joins us on this week’s OviCast. The duo are also hosts of this year’s Irish Grassland Association Sheep Farm Walk. Jonathan talks to us about their contract rearing system and we delve into the performance and management of the ewe flock in detail. We also explore the challenges of farming on a fragmented unit with varying land types. Plus we

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16:21

Sheep 2025 Preview

OviCast ·

2025/06/19

Sheep 2025 – the largest dedicated sheep-focused open day on the island of Ireland – takes place on Saturday, 21st June, from 10am to 5pm at the Teagasc Mellows Campus in Athenry, Co. Galway.For this week’s OviCast, Teagasc’s Michael Gottstein and Margaret O’Donovan preview this free event for us. Michael acknowledges the vital contributions of industry partners and sponsors who help make the event possible and he also walks us through the extensive range of technical information that will

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20:34

Wool, shearing and improving the market prospects

OviCast ·

2025/06/12

With the shearing season in full swing, on this week’s OviCast, we're joined by Pat Coffey, merchant, wool exporter, and member of the Irish Grown Wool Council. Pat brings four generations of experience to the wool industry and gives us a valuable insight into the current state of the wool market, explaining some of the key factors influencing it today. We discuss best practices in shearing and how they impact wool quality, including the importance of the Shear Success guide recently

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