A graduate of University College, Dublin where he studied animal and crop production, he has just completed his second year of his PhD with Teagasc Athenry and University of Edinburgh, in the area of ewe and lamb behaviour and lamb mortality.

Taking a break from studying for his PhD, Dwayne was enjoying an overseas trip he received through a Walsh Fellowship Overseas Travel Award enabling him to continue further research in his doctorate subject.

“I have spent eight weeks in New Zealand and two weeks in Australia, looking at lamb survival in each country,” he said.

At home, he is a sheep farmer breeding pedigree Texel ewes and pedigree Milford ewes within a pedigree flock of 200 ewes plus a commercial flock.

Dwayne has also retained his Irish Young Shepherd of the Year title in June this year. This time sponsored by Irish Country Meats. Having represented Ireland in the European final in 2016 and coming fifth, “I look forward to getting another chance at a European competition ” he said eagerly.

The Young Shepherd competition involves participating in six trials, each designed to test the entrants knowledge of sheep, their husbandry and their value.

During his short time in Australia, Dwayne has attended sheep sales in Bendigo and Wagga Wagga, before the Jerilderie sale and he thought the standard of the sale operations and the prices outstanding.

“The trade for store lambs was fantastic, I think anyone selling would be very happy, the prospect of rain has got everyone enthusiastic,” he thought.

“Just the same as Irish farmers, the smallest glimpse of a good prospect and we get excited about it!”

Most dramatic for Dwayne was the scale of Australian sheep farming operations and the depth of breeding needed for the sheep to produce under Australian conditions.

“I am most impressed by how you are getting your sheep to work hard and survive under such extreme conditions,” he said.

“In my opinion we can learn from this in Ireland, we can push our sheep much harder while not sacrificing on output.”

Dwayne was also amazed at the scope of the Australian wool industry compared to that in Ireland where every farmer has indoor housing for their sheep for the winter, it is shearing sheds they have here.

“But that is completely understandable when you think we are only getting 50c/kg for our wool, and I have been on a Merino stud here where the very top end is making $40/kg and on average across the whole flock they were getting over $30/kg,” he said.

In his brief experience of Australian conditions, one of the issues Dwayne believes Australian sheep breeders can improve is that of lamb survival.

“Your weaning rate is very low, where in Ireland we are aiming for 1.8 – 2.0 lambs weaned per ewe joined, this is very achievable through adequate nutrition and better management of multiple litters” he said.

Dwayne thought a lot more work could be done through correct management and by scanning into singles and multiples and giving the multiples special treatment both pre- and post lambing.

“If multiple litters were allocated the best feed and managed as a separate mob I believe lamb mortality would significantly decrease resulting in a big increase in weaning rates,” he said.

“The main cause for lamb mortality in Ireland is due to infection of either navel or joints, mainly due to infections picked up indoors. Here exposure seems to be the main cause of lamb death, whether it be small birthweight lambs or ewes with insufficient colostrum and milk, both which could be helped with correct feeding.” 

Dwayne made the point each one percent reduction in lamb mortality is worth two and half million Euros to the Irish sheep industry so he thought a one percent decrease in Australia would be worth almost $70 million dollars.

For the young Irish sheep farmer it has been an amazing experience to go to New Zealand first, which has a similar climate to Ireland and then come to Australia and see a different style of industry.

“I am extremely grateful for the amazing hospitality I have been shown in both New Zealand and Australia. I have been welcomed on many farms and each of them have been open and willing to pass on their experiences, knowledge and opinions of the industry,” he said.

“It has been a real eye opener, I have learned so much and I am sure it will stand to me in my future in the Industry.”