Adopting Technology: Experience From the BETTER Farm Sheep Program

Adopting Technology: Experience from the BETTER farm Sheep Programme

Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway.

Introduction

The sheep sector in Ireland has experienced significant change over the past 2 decades. The national ewe flock had been in steady decline from a from a high of over 4.5 million ewes in 1995. This trend was stemmed last year when numbers began to increase albeit marginally again to about 2.5 million ewes (CSO). The increased positivity in the sheep sector has come at an important time in Irish agriculture. As an industry, the sheep sector contributes in the order of 250 million euro to the national agricultural output each year.

In Food Harvest 2020 report a target has been set to grow the output value of this sector by a further 20%. The report highlighted a need to improve competitiveness at farm level and in particular the need for the improve the level of adoption of new technology. Furthermore, the report highlighted the need for greater use of Discussion Groups and the Teagasc BETTER farms programme for sheep to facilitate the process of Technology Transfer and adoption.

The Teagasc BETTER farm Sheep programme was established in the autumn of 2008 with the objective of accelerating the transfer, demonstration and evaluation of technology. Currently, there are 6 Lowland flocks in counties Donegal, Roscommon, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Wexford and Kerry and 3 Hill flocks in counties Donegal, Sligo and Mayo involved in the programme. These farms provide focal points to enable wider adoption of technology by both the Lowland and Hill sheep sectors. One of the key criteria used in selecting these farms was their attitude tow...

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...ussion Groups and the BETTER farms in their respective area By facilitating this process it would enable farmers to engage key issues influencing production and profitability of their own sheep enterprise. By implementing technology on “real” farms that would be used by “real” farmers where any potential side effects have commercial implications, would provide a convincing demonstration of how productivity, efficiency and profitability of sheep production could be improved by adopting the relevant technology. In addition it was also envisaged that the 2-way communication with these farms would form an invaluable feedback loop to the Teagasc Research Programmes. Furthermore, some of the findings identified on these farms and issues raised though interaction with farming groups would identify gaps in the existing knowledge base that necessitated further research.