Belclare SHEEP SOCIETY
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Belclare SHEEP SOCIETY Because you CAN have Quantity & Quality 2013/2014 Yearbook Belclare Sheep Society Website: www.belclaresheep.com 08430 Hep-P Belclare_08430 Belclare 15/05/2013 19:55 Page 1 Only ® protects against Pasteurella and Clostridia* Vaccinate your breeding flock R11-018 NOW Heptavac P Plus is indicated for the active immunisation of sheep to reduce mortality and clinical signs of clostridial diseases such as lamb dysentery, pulpy kidney, struck, tetanus, braxy, blackleg and black disease, and to reduce mortality and clinical signs of pneumonic and systemic pasteurellosis. For a complete list of components included in the vaccine* and any further information, please contact MSD Animal Health, Red Oak North, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland. Tel: +353(0)1 2970220 Legal Category: LM in R.O.I. and POM-VPS in Nth Irl. Use Medicines Responsibly. Contents Breeders Adverts Eunan Bannon (Slanemore Hill Flock) ...............................................31 Larry Barrett (Kilmeany) ......................................................................................... 6 Roy Butler (Moatland Flock) .........................................................................30 Liam Delaney (Delaney Flock) .....................................................................29 Liam & Eoin Dunne ................................................................................................14 Tom Flanagan (Legeaune Lambs Flock) ...............................................21 Michael Gottstein (Coolkellure) ................................................................... 3 Declan & Joe Miley (Knockcroghery Flock) .................................12 Michael Neenan (Kilflynn) .................................................................................. 8 PJ & mary Jo O’Dea (Esker Pedigrees) .................................................29 John Renehan (Violet Hill Belclares) .....................................................10 Tom Sice ................................................................................................................................. 8 Commercial Adverts Intervet/Schering-plough ..................................................................................... 4 Mullinahone Co-op .................................................................................................15 MSD - Heptavac-P plus .................................................. inside front cover Sheep Ireland ................................................................................................................... 6 Smyth’s Daleside Quality Feeds ..................................................................25 Tracesure ............................................................................................................................24 Univet – Curafluke ........................................................... inside back cover Articles Belclares Shine in Sheep Research ............................................................27 Bord Bía Quality Assurance Scheme ......................................................... 7 Breed Characteristics .............................................................................................26 Chairman Address ........................................................................................................ 2 Greek-style Lamb Kebabs ...................................................................................22 Members List ..................................................................................................................32 Membership Application Form ....................................................................17 Minced Lamb with Pak Choy and Chillies ........................................16 Replacement Policy and Management ..................................................18 Ring of Kerry Quality Lamb .............................................................................13 Sales Dates 2013 ...................................................................................back cover Schmallenberg Virus – Recent Developments ................................ 9 Sheep Ireland ................................................................................................................... 4 The History of the Belclare Sheep Society ......................................11 The Young Shepherd .............................................................................................23 Chairman’s Address I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to this our second yearbook. Our society is numerical small but consists of enthusiastic breeders who have gone to great lengths to improve and develop the breed over the last 28 years. It has been well documented that lamb output is the greatest contributor to farm profitability. Belclare sired ewes deliver on average an additional 20 lambs for every 100 ewes mated. This extra output is achieved with very little additional cost as the greatest costs on a sheep farm are associated with maintain the ewe flock. Belclare ewes are good milkers and this has been clearly demonstrated by farmers who have mated ewe lambs in their first year and found that Belclare sired ewe lambs have no problems rearing twin lambs, where terminal sired ewe lambs often require the removal of one of the lambs to ensure adequate milk is supplied to the remaining lambs. In addition Belclare sired ewes are easily lambed, have excellent resistance to diseases such as footrot, stomach worms and mastitis and are of a moderated body size and are therefore easily maintained. The past 18 months have been difficult for sheep farmers, as costs for most inputs have increased dramatically and adverse weather has hampered grass growth. Hopefully this summer will be better and that lamb prices will hold up for the sheep producers who are committed to the industry. I would like to draw your attention to our list of sale dates which are published on the back page of this yearbook. Over 3,000 sheep farmers are participating in the new Sheep Technology Adoption Programme (STAP) and all of these will be required to use a ram that has been evaluated under the Sheep Ireland Lamb Plus Programme and achieve a minimum of 3 stars under any one of the three indices. The Belclare Sheep Society have been recording all of the sheep in the breed since our foundation in 1985 and we were also the first breed society to transfer all our pedigree information and flock book to sheep Ireland in 2009. This means that all Pedigree Registered Belclare sheep are recorded in the lamb plus programme and all the sheep at all of our society sales have Euro Star information provided, giving sheep farmers the information that they need to make an informed choice. I hope you enjoy reading this yearbook and that you find the information contained in it useful. If you have any questions on any issue surrounding Belclare Sheep feel free to contact any of our members or contact our Secretary Michael Neenan, whose contact details are contained in this yearbook. Declan Miley Chairman 2 Coolkellure Pedigree Belclare Flock “Because you can have quantity and quality” Established 2004 Lamb Plus Recorded Flock Code MG (Formerly Dungaill Flock) Flock Achievements Champion Belclare Ram Lambs & top price at premier sale in 2005 & 2008 Reserve Champion Ram Lambs at premier sale in 2008 & 2010 Champion & Reserve Champion Clonmel show 2009 1st Prize senior ewe at All Ireland Champ - Sheep 2010 All of the last five premier sale champions have been Sired by rams bred in our flock or have been out of ewes sired by rams bred in our flock. Our flock has in every year since first entering rams into the premier sale (2005) been awarded at least one rosette. Over 100 pedigree females mated each year ensures we have a huge choice of rams to suit every flock and every pocket. Sires Used MR-07-1312; a five star ram, All Ireland Championship ram @ Sheep 2010, Lyons Estate and was overall reserve champion. He is the current backbone of our flock. MY-10-2209; a five star ram purchased Tullamore 2010 where he was Champion. He stood 1st prize ram lamb and Reserve Champion in the Belclare National Championships at Tullamore show 2010. TF-12-1503; reserve champion at last years premier sale. A great carcase sheep who has grown into a massive shearling Attention: As we have sold our farm and are moving to a much smaller holding we are this year dispearsing 50% of our Flock. We are holding a joint inlamb ewe sale with the Knockcrogery flock. Date and venue to be confirmed. Enquiries & Visitors always welcome Michael Gottstein Coolkellure House, Coolkellure, Dunmanway, Co. Cork tel.: 087-2399755 Sheep Ireland The number of Pedigree Belclare breeders remains very steady and it is great that all of these breeders are actively participating in Sheep Irelands breed improvement programme. Full participation by the breed society in this programme allows us to maximise the genetic advancement of the breed. It also allows Sheep Ireland to carry out useful analysis of data recorded by the breed annually. One such example of this is Inbreeding analysis, which can help breeders identify potential risks and avoid problems. Sheep Technology Adoption Programme (STAP) The launch of STAP by the Department of Agriculture earlier this year, will provide all performance recording breeders with a fantastic opportunity. A compulsory element of the scheme requires participating STAP farmers to use a LambPlus recorded ram in their flock. These