Sheep Farming

Sheep roaming on Achill Island

Sheep breeds kept on the hill areas are a hardier type of sheep more suitable to the tough conditions. This picture was taken on Achill island, off the coast of Co Mayo. Sheep wander the roads as they graze commonage land shared by multiple farmers. Each farmer makes their own sheep with a distinctive colour and sheepdogs are essential in order to gather the sheep for management tasks. Sheep farmers in some mountain regions now market their distinctive lamb direct to consumers (www.ringofkerryqualitylamb.ie and www.connemarahilllamb.ie)

Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

Sheep roaming on Achill Island
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

Sheep roaming on Achill Island

Sheep breeds kept on the hill areas are a hardier type of sheep more suitable to the tough conditions. This picture was taken on Achill island, off the coast of Co Mayo. Sheep wander the roads as they graze commonage land shared by multiple farmers. Each farmer makes their own sheep with a distinctive colour and sheepdogs are essential in order to gather the sheep for management tasks. Sheep farmers in some mountain regions now market their distinctive lamb direct to consumers (www.ringofkerryqualitylamb.ie and www.connemarahilllamb.ie)

Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

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Ewe and lamb

Lambs are born in springtime after a gestation period inside the ewe of five months. Newborn lambs weigh about five kilograms and feed from their mothers’ milk for about 14 weeks. A ewe can only feed two lambs at a time and most ewes will produce one or two lambs per year. However, some ewes will produce three or four lambs and, in this case, lambs may have to be adopted by another ewe.

Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

Ewe and lamb
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

Ewe and lamb

Lambs are born in springtime after a gestation period inside the ewe of five months. Newborn lambs weigh about five kilograms and feed from their mothers’ milk for about 14 weeks. A ewe can only feed two lambs at a time and most ewes will produce one or two lambs per year. However, some ewes will produce three or four lambs and, in this case, lambs may have to be adopted by another ewe.

Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

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Sheep Flock Numbers per County

Courtesy DAFM ©

Sheep Flock Numbers per County
Courtesy DAFM ©

Sheep Flock Numbers per County

Courtesy DAFM ©

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According to Bord Bia, Irish sheepmeat production in 2018 was 69,500 tonnes, a 3.6% growth on 2017. Export values that year reached to €315m.

In total, as of December 2018, Ireland had 3.73 million sheep (3,732,955) spread across 35,186 flocks.

The top five counties in terms of sheep numbers in 2017 were all characterised by mountainous terrain – Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Kerry and Wicklow.

In counties such as Cork, Tipperary, Carlow and Kilkenny, sheep numbers are under pressure as farmers switch to other enterprises, particularly dairy and beef.

Ireland’s sheep flocks tend to be very small scale by international standards, with 69% of all flocks below the average flock size of 106 ewes. This compares with an average flock size of over 200 in Scotland and 1,400 in the world’s largest exporter, New Zealand.

A positive for Ireland’s sheep industry is that the European Union is deficient in sheep meat (only 88% sufficient), with consumption of an estimated 1.2million tonnes per annum compared to production of around 0.8 million tonnes in 2017 (eurostat, 2018). Globally, the sheep flock is also in decline, leading to increased opportunities for Irish exports. 2011 has seen that factor reflected in higher farm gate prices in Ireland.

In 2018 carcases accounted for approximately 30% and primal product 70% Ireland. Ireland exported 55,800 tonnes of sheep meat worth €230 million in this year. The UK and France continue to be the core markets for Irish sheep meat accounting for over 50% of total export volumes in 2018 (bordbia 2018 - 2019).

Sheep dog herding the sheep.

A well trained sheepdog is a key aid for moving sheep from one field to another and essential for gathering mountain sheep. Training and handling sheepdogs is a very skilled job and well trained dogs are very valuable. The most common breed of sheep dog is the Border Collie.

Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

Sheep dog herding the sheep.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

Sheep dog herding the sheep.

A well trained sheepdog is a key aid for moving sheep from one field to another and essential for gathering mountain sheep. Training and handling sheepdogs is a very skilled job and well trained dogs are very valuable. The most common breed of sheep dog is the Border Collie.

Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

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Flock of sheep

A group of sheep is called a flock. There are many different strains or breeds of sheep in Ireland, with two main categories - hill/mountain breeds and lowland breeds. The lowland sheep are concentrated in the inland counties and low lying land, while the hill sheep are a hardier type more suited to the tough terrain of the mountains in the west and in Wicklow. Females that are over one year of age and that have given birth to a lamb are called sheep. A mature female sheep is called a ewe. A mature male sheep is called a ram and a castrated (neutered) male sheep is called a wether.

Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

Flock of sheep
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

Flock of sheep

A group of sheep is called a flock. There are many different strains or breeds of sheep in Ireland, with two main categories - hill/mountain breeds and lowland breeds. The lowland sheep are concentrated in the inland counties and low lying land, while the hill sheep are a hardier type more suited to the tough terrain of the mountains in the west and in Wicklow. Females that are over one year of age and that have given birth to a lamb are called sheep. A mature female sheep is called a ewe. A mature male sheep is called a ram and a castrated (neutered) male sheep is called a wether.

Copyright Irish Farmers Journal

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