Sheep farming

The latest sheep farming news and sheep prices from the Irish Farmers Journal. Keep up to date with all farming and production news developments in the sheep farming sector.

Sheep
€8.50/kg paid for lambs as kill nosedives
Darren Carty
Factories are struggling to source supplies to meet demand, with last week’s throughput running over 18,000 lower, despite prices running €1.65/kg higher.
€8.50/kg paid for lambs as kill nosedives
 
 
€270m paid under BISS/CRISS and €241m in ANC
News
€270m paid under BISS/CRISS and €241m in ANC
Positive indications for beef and sheep incomes
Beef
Positive indications for beef and sheep incomes
700 farmers apply for Organic Farming Scheme
News
700 farmers apply for Organic Farming Scheme
Public meeting to be held over Louth greenway
Sheep
Public meeting to be held over Louth greenway
VIDEOS
MANAGEMENT
Sheep Management: grazing cover crops, rumen fluke and pregnancy scanning
Darren Carty
Sheep Management: grazing cover crops, rumen fluke and pregnancy scanning
New rules pertaining to the grazing of cover crops require at least a 30% lie back area to 70% grazing area
Utilising bedding wisely this winter
Martin Merrick
Utilising bedding wisely this winter
With straw an expensive commodity for livestock farmers, efficient use of it is necessary to keep costs down.
MARKETS
Sheep Trends: prices jump to €8.30/kg to €8.50/kg
Darren Carty
Sheep Trends: prices jump to €8.30/kg to €8.50/kg
Throughput increased marginally by 1,487 head, but remains a massive 18,613 head below the corresponding week in 2023.
Sheep mart comment: finished lambs break €200 mark
Martin Merrick
Sheep mart comment: finished lambs break €200 mark
An increase in factory prices has allowed buyers to pay €200 and above for top-quality finished lambs
GRASS & FEEDING
The Grass Week: wintry conditions spell end of grazing
Martin Merrick
The Grass Week: wintry conditions spell end of grazing
Even farmers in the northwest had been getting by with some light grazing up until now, but this week has finally called a halt to grazing for 2024.
The Grass Week: ground firm but grass running out
Martin Merrick
The Grass Week: ground firm but grass running out
While ground conditions are excellent for the most part, it will be a lack of grass that will force any stock indoors.
BREEDING & HEALTH
Dark Diamonds tops at 14,000gns for Suffolk ewe lamb
Rachel Gallagher
Dark Diamonds tops at 14,000gns for Suffolk ewe lamb
Rachel Gallagher reports from Borderway Mart Carlisle for the annual Dark Diamonds Suffolk sale.
Artnagullion crowned Beltex flock of the year
Rachel Gallagher
Artnagullion crowned Beltex flock of the year
Rachel Gallagher reports on the recent Irish Beltex Sheep Breeders Club flock competition awards.
FARM PROGRAMMES
Tullamore Farm: bulls set sail for Italy and students fly in from Kansas
Contributor
Tullamore Farm: bulls set sail for Italy and students fly in from Kansas
Shaun Diver has the latest update from the Irish Farmers Journal beef and sheep demonstration farm in Tullamore.
Tullamore Farm: grazing comes to a close as cull cows start to move
Contributor
Tullamore Farm: grazing comes to a close as cull cows start to move
Shaun Diver has the latest update from Tullamore Farm, including this week's TB test, cull cow carcase weights and feeding wholecrop silage.
Tullamore bulls - decision time: finish or sell weanlings?
Adam Woods
Tullamore bulls - decision time: finish or sell weanlings?
Adam Woods takes a look at the 2024-born bull weanlings on Tullamore Farm as the farm decides whether to finish or sell on.
Sowing cover crops in Co Louth
Kelsey Daly
Sowing cover crops in Co Louth
Gareth Culligan’s goal is to enhance soil structure and health through the use of cover crops, while also providing food for pollinators throughout the winter, writes Kelsey Daly.
New 'high-skim' Flourish Calf from VolacSPONSORED
New 'high-skim' Flourish Calf from Volac
New Flourish Calf is an innovative 23% all-dairy protein, 19% fat formulation with a high skim content (50%). It is also enhanced with a proven package of calf health ingredients.
Be on your guard for scouring calvesSPONSORED
Be on your guard for scouring calves
Calf scour is the most common disease of dairy-bred calves, but by maximising immune function and minimising your calves’ exposure to the problem, you can make your rearing unit more resilient.
Getting through the first SBLAS audit SPONSORED
Getting through the first SBLAS audit
Damien Murray, Origin Green Producer Liaison & Standard Co-Coordinator gives a step by step guide for new suckler members of SBLAS facing their first audit.
Bennettsbridge Limestone’s Cubicle Lime: boosting cow comfort and milk yield SPONSORED
Bennettsbridge Limestone’s Cubicle Lime: boosting cow comfort and milk yield
Bennettsbridge Limestone’s Cubicle Lime is a unique disinfectant-style product which has been formulated using a blend of superfine limestone powder and hydrated lime.
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