Technical Notes

In this section are the DARD Sheep Technical Notes 1-9. The links to each technical note are listed below

Note 1 - Dealing with the external parasites of sheep
Since the ending of compulsory dipping in June 1993, the threat from external parasites, particularly sheep scab, has increased...

Note 2 - Scrapie
Scrapie is a fatal brain disease of sheep and goats for which there is no treatment. You cannot test for scrapie until the disease is well developed...

Note 3 - Foot rot
Lameness in sheep is a major cause of significant pain and suffering in sheep which also corresponds with production losses...

Note 4 - Quality lamb production
Greenmount College carried out a project that investigated methods to improve Northern Ireland's competitive position in the global sheep industry...

Note 5 - Understanding the tools of objective breeding
Since domestication, selection has occurred within the sheep flock. This has been a mixture of both natural selection (survival of the fittest) and deliberate animal breeding...

Note 6 - Selecting replacement stock
The following factors should be considered when making selections:
-Will they be suitable and produce lambs suitable for the environment on your farm?...

Note 7 - Keeping production costs under control
Sheep meat must compete to be in the consumer's basket alongside meat from cattle, pigs and poultry. Downward pressure on market prices will mean that producers must seek improved animal productivity combined with good cost control to maintain margins...

Note 8 - Feeding ewes in late pregnancy
One of the most important components in any sheep production system is nutrition. Other important components, such as, good genetic potential, fertility and other aspects of management, will be of reduced benefit if the feeding of the ewe is incorrect...

Note 9 - Guidelines on Synchronisation and AI
In this section there are guidelines on the sychronisation and AI of sheep...