Sheep FarmerAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 A NATIONAL SHEEP ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION PROMOTING AND SELLING LAMB – DIRECT TO THE CUSTOMER TACKLING TOXOPLASMOSIS PRIOR TO TUPPING NSA POLICY UPDATE ROTATIONAL GRAZING STRATEGIES NSA REGIONAL EVENT REPORTS AND SALE PREVIEWS BLUETONGUE AND PNEUMONIA UPDATES your business your future A4 ADVERT 11/5/17 17:55 Page 1 Deliver thr Sheep oughouty assisted UK Defra is listening – Farmer August/September but it’s still early days 2017 edition Vol. 36, No 4 ISSN 0141-2434 A National Sheep Association publication. Each one of this year’s six regional NSA sheep events has been a huge Contents success and credit must go to the 2 News round-up event organisers and their committees, the armies of volunteers that help in 4 NSA reports: devolved nations advance and on the day, and – of course 6 NSA reports: English regions – the hosts. 8 NSA ram sale previews Without sounding like British Rail, one NSA Highland Sheep report or two events suffered with the weather 11 being too wet and one, in particular, saw 12 NSA North Sheep report conditions that were too hot. But you 14 NSA Sheep SW report have to take the rough with the smooth 15 NSA Sheep Northern Ireland and at least they took place – and were report on time! 16 Win a lamb weigh crate On a serious note, these events ministers are still keen to see our 18 perform a unique function. They are welfare standards go higher, even Latest NSA activity entirely sheep related business-to- though there is little evidence that 20 FARM FEATURE: former NSA Order your rams business and technically focussed we can use this within WTO rules to Chairman John Geldard shows. And they also offer an keep lower standard products out. And 22 Promoting lamb: building by phone or email environment that sheep producers are some members of the Cabinet are still customer relationships entirely comfortable in – an essential saying that Brexit is an opportunity to 24 Minimise tax liability ingredient for success. bring cheaper food to the UK. If we’re 26 Responsible antibiotic use Large selection of performance not careful we will have high-standard recorded grass fed rams Lamb prices products being exported to all sorts 27 Sheep housing and handling Breeds for indoor and A couple of months of good lamb of specialist and niche outlets and facilities outdoor lambing prices will have helped to put smiles domestic consumption will be based 28 Bluetongue update on producers’ faces and buoyed primarily on imports. 29 Rotational grazing strategies enthusiasm. And further good news Breeds for prime lamb production 30 LAA market comment and female replacements is that producers responded to these Unintended consequences favourable market conditions, with lamb Relating to welfare, both George Eustice 31 Tackling toxoplasmosis Hardy rams which last numbers sold being up by some 25% in and Michael Gove have suggested that 33 Understanding pneumonia longer, serving more ewes the period March to end of June. they may use Brexit as a means to 35 Anthelmintic advice I always feel nervous about making restrict – or even end – live exports. But Commercial focus to increase 36 Ewe replacement performance any predictions, but this may well result then we hear that tariff levels would be profits and reduce labour in the absence of a sudden flush of lower for less processed foods and live 38 BWMB update Hundreds of repeat customers lambs during the next month or two and animals may even be exempt. Coupled 40 NSA Next Generation blogs help to keep supply tight – and prices with obstacles to get adequate labour in throughout UK from Orkney The front page picture was taken by firm. Of course demand is the other side our meat plants, we could, if the wrong to Devon & Ireland professional photographer John Eveson of this equation and the export trade, decisions are made, see more interest and features North Country Cheviot boosted by a favourable exchange rate, in exporting live lambs and less ability ewes grazing in Edale, Derbyshire. has been the bedrock of recent trade. to add value here and build our quality That export trade is at the top of the reputation. It all smacks of the law of This NSA magazine is published with design and 01467 681579 list of uncertainties as we look forward unintended consequences and a pretty production services provided by Ladies in Print. during the next few years. irrational food and farming policy, if there The importance of exports to our ever was one. industry is a message that’s getting But at least the new Defra ministerial through to government ministers and, team are now in place and listening. It is recently, George Eustice has singled still early days and we must take every Email: [email protected] Tel: 01684 899255 out the sheep industry as the one that opportunity we can, using reason, to is most at risk and in need of special get across our needs and the possible Paper is FSC® certified. It is consideration regarding trade deals. effects of making the wrong decisions. sourced from responsibly At the same time, New Zealand and We had the best of starts in early managed forests. Australia are also making their case July, when I was invited to take part in No part of this magazine may (discussed in more detail on page 19). a small round table discussion with the be reproduced, stored in a Both countries are keen to have input retrieval system or shared in any form (be in electronic, entire Defra ministerial team; Michael mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) in discussions about tariff rate quota Gove, Lord Gardiner and George Eustice. without prior consent of NSA. Every care is taken when volumes. Never have I had the opportunity to be compiling this magazine and NSA and Ladies in Print take no responsibility for errors and omissions arising from Greater development of our domestic in the company of all those post holders publication. Views expressed and information contained in market, but with the foundation of a together – and for a full two hours – and Sheep Farmer are not necessarily those of NSA or Ladies in Print and neither party cannot be held responsible for Sires of prime lambs Sires of breeding females strong export pull, must be a general credit must go to them for wanting to any reason arising from them. Neither NSA or Ladies in principle worth following. But Defra engage in such a refreshing way. Print endorse any services or products advertised. Email: [email protected] www.logiedurnosheep.co.uk Follow us on facebook. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 1 like to thank all individuals, across the scheme income should be in the hands NSA AGM National Sheep Association NSA regions, who gave up their time to of the owners of commons and not the make sure each event was a resounding rights holders. As detailed in the previous issue of News th success. NSA WCF is in contact with both NFU Sheep Farmer, the 124 NSA AGM th NSA Head Office NSA Regions Cymru and FUW to support the Tamplin’s will be held on Wednesday 9 August, Common-land entitlement defence and is about to launch an at 10am, at Rosspark Hotel near NSA, The Sheep Centre, Malvern, Central Ballymena in County Antrim. The Alastair Sneddon Anne Payne Update appeal in order to help cover the legal Worcestershire, WR13 6PH. Call 01684 challenge AGM will be followed by a tour of the Regional Chairman Regional Manager costs of defending a matter that could 01142 883241 Sheep producers would be excused for 892661 (Monday-Friday 9am-5.30pm) 01629 812777 have wide reaching repercussions if the excellent facilities at CAFRE’s new or go directly to one of the team below. alastair.sneddon@bagshaws. bobandanne@handbanktexels. Top NSA award for thinking that the entitlements of rights Hill Farm Development Centre, at com wanadoo.co.uk case were lost. industry stalwart holders on common land, in England Glenwherry, which is a 1,040-hectare Phil Stocker and Wales, were secure. But if a legal NSA Chief Executive Cymru Wales (2,568-acre) hill farm comprising 110 case against two rights holders in South Notice of annual [email protected] Llew Thomas Helen Davies suckler cows and 1,100 ewes. Regional Chairman Regional Development Officer Wales succeeds it could cause real 01267 253374 01691 654712 members meeting Find information about the meeting Julie Jennings 07974 386394 07976 803066 problems for this traditional practice Notice is hereby given that the 2017 agenda, proxy votes or minutes at: [email protected] [email protected] Association Secretary/PA to Chief Executive upon which many marginal farms rely for annual members meeting of NSA www.nationalsheep.org.uk/events or by [email protected] viability. Eastern Region will be held at the calling NSA Head Office. Eastern NSA Welsh Commons Forum (WCF) Heath Court Hotel, Newmarket in Hannah Park Dan Phipps Jonathan Barber th Region are eligible to appoint a proxy Communications Officer Regional Chairman Regional Manager members Nick and Julie Tamplin hold Suffolk, on Wednesday 11 October 07836 590996 01953 607860 rights to graze livestock on Eglwsilan at 6pm to transact the following vote on their behalf if they cannot attend [email protected] 07836 287281 07712 659262 [email protected] jonathan@ceressolutions. Common, Caerphilly. Eglwsilan was business: election/re-approval of the the meeting, but this must be done in Katie James co.uk recently purchased by a private limited Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer; advance with NSA Head Office. Download Communications Support Officer a proxy notice at: www.nationalsheep.