Teagasc – the Agriculture and Food Development Authority is the Irish national body providing integrated research, advisory and training services to the agriculture (farming & forestry) and food industries and rural communities. The Teagasc mission is to support science-based innovation in the agri-food sector and the broader bioeconomy that will underpin profitability, competitiveness and sustainability. Teagasc is a client-based organisation employing approximately 1,200 staff at 55 locations throughout Ireland and have developed close alliances with research, advisory and training agencies throughout the world. We operate in partnership with all sectors of the agriculture and food industry and with rural development agencies. Teagasc’s main sheep research facility is based at Athenry, Co Galway and its KT resources for sheep includes 105 advisers.
Teagasc has a significant input into most work packages specifically WP5. Dr Tim Keady is the TechCare project facilitator for Ireland. He has undertaken research and knowledge transfer on many factors influencing profitable sheep production including ewe genotype, factors affecting lifetime output of the ewe, age at first lambing, prime lamb production from grazed grass, nutrition of the pregnant ewe, mineral nutrition, alternative forages for grazing, finishing lambs indoors, shearing strategies, entire male lambs etc.
Dr Bríd McClearn completed her PhD on the role of perennial ryegrass ploidy and white clover in grazing systems for dairy cow production. She also examined the impact of cow genotype on animal production. Brid has extensive experience in sheep production both in Ireland and overseas. During her PhD she travelled to Massey University in New Zealand to assist with dairy cow and sheep studies for 2 months. Subsequently, Brid held a position as a marketing executive with an international meat processing company which included the development of a website and social media management for a premium beef brand. Currently Brid is a technologist at the Teagasc Athenry Research Centre specializing in Sheep Thematic networks.
