Sheep FarmerDECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 A NATIONAL SHEEP ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION

SPECIAL FEATURE ON LAMBING FOCUS: TOP TIPS ON THE UK DOMESTIC LAMB NUTRITION, LAMB SURVIVABILITY MARKET AND MANAGEMENT

LAUNCH OF NEW APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR NSA PRIZE DRAW, PLUS AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME A CHRISTMAS BOOK GIVEAWAY

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Sheep Contents Farmer Message from NSA Head Office ...... 2 December/January 2014/2015 Vol. 34, No 1 News round-up ...... 3 ISSN 0141-2434 NSA regional news ...... 4-6 A National Sheep Association Publication NSA Central Region Preview ...... 7 The Sheep Centre • Malvern Worcestershire • WR13 6PH Sheep Health and Welfare Conference Report ...... 8 Tel: 01684 892661 www.nationalsheep.org.uk NSA Next Generation Conference Report ...... 10-11 NEW: EID stick readers for NSA membership recruitment draw ...... 12 Editor: Joanne Briggs 07807 237982 FIVE PAGE DOMESTIC MARKET SPECIAL [email protected] Balancing supply and demand in England, Wales, Scotland and NI ...... 14-16 Advertising Sales: Helen Davies Supplying the domestic market directly ...... 18-19 07976 803066 Creating an appetite for mutton ...... 19 [email protected] Latest on farm safety ...... 20-21 NSA is a Company Limited by Guarantee Farm Feature: NSA Northern Region Chairman Adam Watson ...... 22-24 registered in England (No. 37818) and a Registered Charity in England and NSA Christmas book giveaway ...... 25 Wales (No. 249255) and Scotland (No. Opinion piece: New LAA Chairman ...... 26 SCO42853). VAT No. 273 3469 44 Benefits of Focus Farm concept ...... 28 Sheep Farmer magazine is published by Tackling foot problems without trimming ...... 30-31 NSA with design and production services provided by Ladies in Print. Preparing for lambing ...... 32-35 Infectious causes of abortion ...... 36 Product news ahead of lambing time ...... 38-39 Using data to drive performance ...... 40 Email: [email protected] Tel: 01684 899255 Wool Week Report ...... 42 Financial advice ...... 42 No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or shared in any form (be in Sheep Farmer On My Farm Series: Kate Robinson from Gloucestershire ...... DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 44 electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or A NATIONAL SHEEP ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION SPECIAL FEATURE ON THE UK DOMESTIC LAMB otherwise) without prior consent of NSA. Every care MARKET

LAUNCH OF NEW PRIZE DRAW, PLUS LAMBING FOCUS: TOP TIPS ON is taken when compiling this magazine and NSA and NUTRITION, LAMB SURVIVABILITY A CHRISTMAS BOOK GIVEAWAY Ladies in Print take no responsibility for errors and AND MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR NSA omissions arising from publication. Views expressed Front Cover AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME and information contained in Sheep Farmer are not necessarily those of NSA or Ladies in Print and The picture on the front page is of Scottish Blackface ewes neither party can be held responsible for any reason running with the tup in the Glens of Antrim, Northern arising from them. Neither NSA or Ladies in Print endorse any services or products advertised in this Ireland. The ewes are part of a newly established share issue. farming arrangement between Samuel Wharry, an NSA Director Trustee, and James Davison, an NSA Next

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 1 Challenges to overcome due to market and climate volatility By Phil Stocker, NSA Chief relates to volatility in the marketplace, affected by global markets and turbulent Executive economies, sheep farmers (more than Wind the clock back 12 months and we most) are also massively affected by were not in a very pretty place. Lamb volatile weather conditions. Market prices were low and had dropped by volatility has always been with us, but some 30% on the back of low-priced there is no doubt global markets make New Zealand lamb supplies and, even it more difficult than it used to be to worse, shelf promotions on NZ but not influence prices and to control many of our UK product. Our export conditions were costs. Similarly with the weather, whether not great and the phones in the NSA you are a believer in climate change being office were hot with many members accelerated by man’s activities or not, asking what could be done. there seems to be few years or months go Think back even further and I suggest by without extreme weather records being we would see the cause of the pain was broken. the poor weather that stretched back over the previous 18 months culminating Changing climate in low lamb numbers and high losses On the ground we can see the changes (both directly and indirectly, through poor even in our short life spans, with sheep nutrition and liver fluke in particular). parasites popping up in places they would Fast forward to where we are now not formerly have been seen, and changes and, for the autumn months, the SQQ in bird and insect activity (often blamed on shows lamb prices have been even lower farming without considering the impact of than 2013, although improving now the climate change). When I started my farming career it was possible to tighten the purse strings Contacting NSA when times were tough. But things have certainly changed in this department and Phil and the team at NSA are always farmers, as with most others in society, available to members and interested seasonal volumes have worked their way are tied into increasingly expensive and to hear opinions, concerns and areas through. The year on an average basis committed expenditure. of interest. Call NSA Head Office has been good, with returns and demand The question remains – what can (Monday-Friday 9am-5.30pm) on strong up until early autumn. Since then, we do to make things better? While 01684 892661 or direct an email to and hopefully a sound investment, store increased costs are with us, there are one of the addresses below. prices have shown optimism with cull ewe always things farmers can do to try to prices enabling an investment in strong improve margins. To a large extent it’s The NSA Team value replacement stock. about increasing productivity and reducing Phil Stocker losses, although this has to be within the NSA Chief Executive Export conditions context of understanding cost and reward [email protected] However, looking at averages is one thing, implications. Climate, topography, location Julie Jennings dealing with low prices when you are and skills mean many sheep farmers are Association Secretary/PA to Chief Executive one of those who have few alternatives limited in terms of changing their sheep [email protected] is another. The export conditions haven’t systems, but there are others who can, Helen Breakwell been any better this autumn than last and even though it’s difficult to step away from Bookkeeper/PA to Chief Executive while we have continued to see NZ lamb global market influences. [email protected] on our shelves pretty much all year round, Joanne Briggs at least the pricing and promotions have Managing volatility Communications Manager been less aggressive (arguably for the I struggle to accept there is nothing we [email protected] long term benefit of NZ farmers too). Lamb can do to guard against market or climatic Caitlin Peck prices over the last few months may have volatility and while the words ‘It’s not the Communications Officer been lower than 2013 but interestingly strongest of the species that survives [email protected] our phone lines have been quieter on this nor the most intelligent, it is the one that Gill Callow subject and the mood amongst sheep is most responsive to change’ were not Membership Secretary farmers is far more upbeat – surely due to actually those of Charles Darwin, they do [email protected] the fact weather conditions from tupping make a lot of sense. Charlotte Underwood last year and throughout the spring and It is that time of year again when I Membership Recruitment summer have been almost as good as you would like to wish all readers a good [email protected] could get and losses and costs have been Christmas – but even more I wish you Helen Davies kept low. a very good 2105 and hope it brings Corporate Relations It’s no wonder all the talk is about similarly favourable weather conditions [email protected] volatility, and although most of the debate that we have enjoyed in the year to date.

2 SHEEP FARMER News Update

Delay to Welsh identification rules Young shepherd world finals As this edition of Sheep Farmer went to press the Welsh There was plenty of cause for celebration among the UK Government announced EID Cymru would not go live on the competitors at the 2014 World Young Shepherds Challenge, intended date of 1st January 2015. The sheep movements which was held in France at the start of October. A win in database has been delayed until November 2015 for livestock the over-21 individual contest for Sam Bullingham from markets and abattoirs and January 2016 for farmers. This means Okehampton, Devon, put England top of the team leader non-EID slaughter tags will still be permitted for use in Wales until board, while all four home nations were placed in the top 1st January 2016, despite no longer being allowed in England for seven of the 16 competing countries. Northern Ireland took lambs born after 1st January 2015. NSA is disappointed that two second, Scotland seventh, and Rhydian Thomas helped Wales different systems will operate in England and Wales and urges to fourth place by securing second in the individual over-21 Welsh farmers to be more careful than ever when deciding which section. tags to use in store and finished lambs, in order to maximise selling options. Movement reporting changes for the whole of the UK also come in on 1st January 2015, with ewes from the historic flock (those tagged before 2010) having to be individually listed on a movement record unless they are moving direct to slaughter. Retagging with EID tags may be of benefit in some situations to maximise selling options. Regular updates and reminders about tagging rules are provided in the NSA Weekly Email Update. If you do not currently receive this useful newsletter send your email address to [email protected] to be added to the database. Left to right: Team Wales (Guto Roberts and Rhydian Thomas); Team Scotland (David McClean and Euan Orr); Team England (Sam Bullingham and Richard Carter); and Team Northern More help online Ireland (Adam Crockett and Jonathan McKelvey). The members-only area of the website has been updated with All eight UK contestants were selected through regional more technical information. The factsheets available on animal rounds of the NSA Young Shepherd of the Year competition, transport legislation have been expanded with the addition held at NSA events over the past two years, and through the of assistance on understanding the lorry CPC rules. And a national final at NSA Sheep 2014 in July. collection of guides to the online world has been started with a NSA Young Shepherd of the Year Competition national final factsheet on downing apps for smart phones. organiser Helen Davies says: “The UK competitors at the World Young Shepherds Challenge did brilliantly, and it just goes to show the strength of talent we have coming into sheep farming Changes to farm assurance across the UK. Our sincere thanks go to Eblex for getting the Members of Quality Meat Scotland’s cattle and sheep assurance competitors to France and supporting them while there, and scheme should have now received the updated standards. QMS also Rappa and NSA regional committees for sponsorship.” says the document sent to scheme members should be more World champion Sam Bullingham says: “I wasn’t expecting user-friendly and practical than previously, and clearly explain to win, so I’m really pleased! It was a great experience and the new requirements relating to health planning (recommended the people there who had qualified through the NSA Young annual vet visit and vet assessment of flock health plan) and Shepherd of the Year Competition were probably the best bulk organic fertilisers (formerly referred to as recycled waste prepared.” products). In England Red Tractor introduced changes to its standards from 1st October to encourage a similar review of the health and performance of flocks. All assured members should have NSA Lambing List still open received a template they can use, but Red Tractor has asked It is not too late to get your name on the NSA Lambing List NSA to stress to members that they can use their own system if you are looking for assistance this coming lambing time. A instead if preferred, as long as it includes a documented review of huge number of students have already used the list to find a treatments and mortalities, and identifies issues to target. work experience placement so add you details now at www. nationalsheep.org.uk/lambing-list. If you do not have access to the internet please call NSA Head Office on 01684 892661. Business efficiency workshops There are still half a dozen Business Efficiency Training workshops set to run over the next few months in England, so don’t miss you chance to sign up. The events are run by NSA NSA ambassadors applications open and Farming4Prophet to look at enterprise costings and the Anyone aged 18-35 looking to apply to be an NSA Next performance indicators essential to the long-term profitability Generation Ambassador in 2015 only has until Friday of a successful sheep unit. The sessions are informal, friendly 12th December to submit an application form. Successful and interactive, and funding has been obtained to offer them applicants will benefit from five delivery sessions through the at £58+VAT per person. Download a booking form at www. year providing personal development, business management nationalsheep.org.uk/events or call NSA Head Office. and sheep farming skills. More information on page 11.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 3 Regional Reports

Central Cymru/Wales His Grace the Duke of Montrose By Alastair Sneddon, Committee Member By Helen Davies, Development Officer Honorary President and auctioneer There have been prizes galore for NSA John Geldard It has been a somewhat uncertain Cymru/Wales members this autumn National Chairman period for the sheep trade with finished and our congratulations go to Rhydian David Gregory prices very fragile for much of the Thomas and Guto Roberts, who Honorary Treasurer summer and autumn and casting a cold represented Wales in the World Young wind of caution over the store lamb and Shepherd Competition in France and Central breeding sheep sales. But happily the came 2nd overall and 4th in the under 21 Bob Payne Anne Payne ever optimistic sheep farmers have not section respectively. Catherine Nakielny Regional Chairman Regional Sec/Manager 01142 883241 01142 883241 allowed a few weeks of lacklustre finished was runner up in the Sheep Innovator of 07713 007734 07803 744437 prices to entirely sap their enthusiasm the Year category of the British Farming bobandanne@ bobandanne@ handbanktexels.wanadoo. handbanktexels.wanadoo. and on the whole the trade has been Awards, ran by Farmers Guardian (pictured co.uk co.uk reasonably buoyant. below). Dafydd Jones, Machynlleth, won But looking across the pens at the the Wales Grassland Management 2014 Cymru Wales thousands of lambs offered for sale has award and Dr Dai Morris, St Clears, Paul Wozencraft Helen Davies made me wonder who eats all this meat? Carmarthen, was presented with the John Regional Chairman Regional Development Officer A similar thought prompted me to write to Gittins award. 01597 810552 01938 590535 07775 338985 07976 803066 the Farmers Guardian and Farmers Weekly wozencraft963@btinternet. [email protected] earlier in the year, suggesting farmers com are often too focused on the fine detail of Eastern what they are producing and somewhat dismissive of the ultimate consumer, Andrew Foulds Jonathan Barber Regional Chairman Regional Manager without whom we would be all out of a 01842 890828 01953 607860 job. This was echoed at the recent Eblex 07836 287281 07712 659262 conference, where a recurring theme was andrew.fouldes@elveden. jonathan@ceressolutions. com co.uk to look after your customers (or somebody else will). Marches Here are some extracts from my letter Kevin Harrison Dyana Webb published by the agricultural press: “I Regional Chairman Regional Secretary am constantly amazed by the lack of 01179 323441 07971 409259 connection between the exhibitors at 07900 056562 [email protected] [email protected] agricultural shows and the concept that one day they are hoping someone will Northern spend their hard earned money on a piece Adam Watson Julie A Sedgewick of British meat. One cannot but admire Regional Chairman Regional Manager the dedication of the committed showman, NSA Cymru/Wales again sponsored the 01434 381243 01325 314650 07766 720423 07836 773888 the skill of the judges and the army of hill and native breed section at the Welsh [email protected] [email protected] volunteers without whom these shows Winter Fair in early December, and had a would not take place. However, exhibitors stand at the event where members old and Northern Ireland are avidly focused on the job in hand new were welcomed. John Blaney Edward Adamson and judges are intent on determining the By the time you read this, Deputy Regional Chairman Regional Development Officer colour of the tear ducts, or the fact there Minister Rebecca Evans will have 07712 769084 02893 366225 [email protected] 07711 071290 are brown hairs on the legs, not features announced the outcome of the edward.adamson1@gmail. which appear on many carcases. consultation on EID tags and the com “Surely, what is really important is database, which is likely to lead to a two- that consumers are informed about the tier marketing system for the beginning of Scottish bigger picture – that our landscape has 2015 with different rules on either side of Sybil Macpherson George Milne been sculpted and honed by generations the border. NSA Cymru/Wales therefore Regional Chairman Regional Development Officer 01838 200218 01334 472403 of grazing livestock, and farmers can only encourages members to think hard about 07796 018528 07831 511330 be expected to maintain such vistas if it is which eartags they use in lambs next [email protected] [email protected] economically viable to do so. year, and to also remember tagging of the South East “Perhaps at the agricultural shows historic flock changes in January 2015 next year we might remind onlookers if too. The annual inventory will arrive in the Andrew Barr Bob Blanden they want the countryside to remain its Christmas mail so please complete this by Regional Chairman Regional Manager 01273 858544 01666 860308 glorious self, the best thing they can do the due date. 07768 867124 07860 689391 is buy top quality British meat as often as NSA Cymru/Wales takes this [email protected] [email protected] possible – ‘eat lamb and save the British opportunity to wish you well for the South West countryside’. Just an extra half kilo of forthcoming festive season and for 2015. average consumption would transform the We look forward to seeing you at our AGM Bryan Griffiths Kate White Regional Chairman Regional Secretary industry and the market.” in February (details below) and will provide 01769 560393 01823 672341 Don’t forget the NSA Central Region a copy of the agenda, minutes and details 07779 465729 07736 371640 Winter Fair on Thursday 29th January of speakers in the February/March issue bryan.southcott@btconnect. [email protected] com 2015. Full preview on page 7. of Sheep Farmer and on the website at

4 SHEEP FARMER www.nationalsheep.org.uk/events. was at Fernhill Farm and Yeo Valley Farm Moor Farm, Cockermouth, Cumbria. See If you have not already done so, please in Somerset, and the other was taking part regular updates at www.northsheep.org. put Tuesday 19th May in your diary too, in delivering a presentation at the Next uk and please note that members will be to visit NSA Welsh Sheep at Glanmiheli Generation conference held in Cirencester admitted free of charge in 2015. and Drefor, Kerry, Newtown, Powys. Plans in November (see pages 10-11). Notice is hereby given that the Annual for the event are well under way and It has been very refreshing to see how General Meeting of the National exhibitors or visitors can contact me for this year’s ambassadors have embraced Sheep Association Northern Region more information. the programme and developed over the will be held at The Hired Lad, Penrith Notice is hereby given that the Annual year. It was also great to see so many Mart, Penrith, CA11 0DN, 7.30pm Generation Meeting of the National people attend the Next Generation on Wednesday 25th February 2015. Sheep Association Cymru/Wales conference. Business will include: election Region will be held at Hafod y Hendre, The ambassador project is a great of Chairman, Vice Chairman and Royal Welsh Showground, Builth opportunity for the next generation to Treasurer; re-approval of Regional Wells, LD2 3SY, 2pm on Thursday 19th improve their knowledge base and skills Trustee Director; election of new February 2015. Business will include: and meet like-minded young sheep committee members and endorsement re-approval of Chairman and Treasurer; farmers from around the UK. I would of current members; Chairman’s report; election of Vice Chairman; approval encourage anyone from the Marches and Treasurers report relating to the of nomination of one Regional Trustee Region who is interested in the project to region’s finances. Director; election of new committee apply to be a part of it and look forward to members and endorsement of current reading your applications and beginning Northern Ireland members; Chairman’s report; and the selection process for next year’s By Edward Adamson, Development Officer Treasurer’s report relating to the ambassadors. Finally winter has arrived but we region’s finances. The day after the Next Generation shouldn’t complain – winter in winter conference, NSA Marches Region held is fine, after the best autumn in years. Eastern its eighth AGM, at the Sheep Centre in Ewes are in great shape and reports from By Jonathan Barber, Manager Malvern. Angela Weston stood down as around the country would suggest lambing On 22nd October we held our regional Treasurer/Secretary and Dy Webb has next spring should be over in a short time. AGM, at which the officers for the replaced her. I would like to thank Angela Lamb prices have been the lowest for region were re-appointed. Andrew for all her hard work over the years and several years and are now slowly rising. If Foulds continues as Chairman and congratulate Dy on her new appointment. the price drops the farmer received had Trustee Director, with Dan Phipps as Vice A full report of the AGM can be found on been reflected in the retail price it may Chairman. John Maxwell stood down as the website. have encouraged more consumption, but English Committee Representative due The AGM was followed by a sheep night unfortunately those between the farmer to ill health and we all wish him a quick where Chris Lloyd of Eblex gave a very and the fork took the opportunity to return improvement. Taking his place was Philip interesting presentation on the opening a healthier profit. Sabin, who will join Andrew and Dan as an market opportunities in China after his Eastern Region rep. recent trip to the country with Phil Stocker. The finances of the region are in good Chris was followed by Ian Cairnes from the stead, because of the two ram sales held Farm Advice Service with his presentation at Rugby and Melton Mowbray and the on the dos and don’ts when it comes Winter Fair held in January this year, again to sheep movement records and cross at Melton Mowbray. compliance. Our AGM was followed by a full and This subject stimulated much fascinating talk by Phil Stocker on NSA, discussion on what was a legal his work and his recent trip to China. This requirement and what wasn’t and how the was followed by an equally interesting rules would change come 1st January. One Our AGM took place in November with and informative talk on EID and electronic of the conclusions from the discussion all office bearers being re-elected and a transfer of data and how the new systems was that keeping correct records after 1st couple of new young faces brought onto available can aid our management and January will certainly be easier with an EID the committee. Our sheep conference decision making processes, provided by reader, as more individual tags will need to after the AGM (speakers and NSA office Angus Darling of StockTrace, who kindly be recorded. holders pictured) proved very interesting helped sponsor the evening. We intend to hold meetings in other with good speakers and left those We are planning a second NSA Youthful parts of the region in January so keep an Shepherds Event at Darley, Newmarket, eye on the website for an event near you. Suffolk, by kind permission of Darley Stud Management. This will take place Northern on Saturday 6th June 2015 – so a date for By Julie Sedgewick, Manager your diaries. Everyone who attended the We are looking forward to our AGM first event held in 2013 found it beneficial in February (details below) and also and very enjoyable. We will also hold an an open meeting to follow at 8pm. NSA Young Shepherd of the Year qualifier Speakers will be confirmed with an insert at the event. in the next edition of Sheep Farmer magazine, rather than the region posting Marches out to all members separately – so look By Kevin Harrison, Chairman out for that! If you wish to receive a I have been lucky enough to attend reminder of the AGM, please ensure NSA some of the NSA Next Generation Head Office has your email address. Ambassador Programme delivery NSA North Sheep 2015 is due to be sessions in the last couple months. One held on Wednesday 3rd June at Millstone

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 5 attending with plenty to think about. connected to standstill periods. In late November NSA South East In 2011 NSA NI Region brought Once again we welcome Alyn Smith Region attended the South East Simon Thorp from the Heather Trust MEP bringing EID back to the discussion Primestock Winter Fair at Ardingly, over the water to speak at several table in Brussels, and I look forward to West Sussex, where we had sponsored farmers meetings on hill and heather a meeting later this year with Mr Hogan, the wool-on-the-hoof competitions. It management, which were well received. It which Alyn intends to organise. It still was very encouraging to see so many is encouraging to see that the original NSA remains a very important factor that sheep young handlers competing and our initiative has been seen as worthwhile, should only be required to be double congratulations go to the overall winner, with CAFRE and DARD recently having tagged and EID tagged when they leave 10-year-old Sam Tilley (pictured). There Simon back to speak at farmers meetings the holding of birth. were a total of 40 youngsters competing in again. Hopefully the powers that be will Notice is hereby given that the Annual classes on the day, with some coming from value NSA opinions in the future and at General Meeting of the National Sheep three school YFC clubs, and we should be times of decision making. Association Scottish Region will be filled with confidence on finding so many Probably the other devolved regions are held at Hotel Novotel, Edinburgh Park, keen future sheep farmers/shepherds in having the same problems as NI regarding 15 Lochside Avenue, Edinburgh, EH12 our area. CAP budgets and financing all that needs 9DJ (use EH11 4DG for sat nav) at 4pm to be done, but we find it very frustrating on Friday 9th January 2015. Business South West to be kept in a state of suspense when will include: election of Chairman, Vice By Bryan Griffiths, Chairman we had been promised answers and Chairman and Treasurer; approval of We are delighted to announce that next action regarding our Rural Development nomination of one Regional Trustee summer’s NSA Sheep South West event Programme and Going for Growth Strategy. Director; endorsement of current will be held on Tuesday 16th June at Maybe as you read this we will know more! committee members; Chairman’s North Tawton, by kind invitation of E.W. DARD are warning those farmers report; and Treasurer’s report relating Quick and Sons of Loosebeare. Their wishing to become ‘active’ to claim SFP to the region’s finances. reputation as one of the country’s top that they will be under close scrutiny and stock breeders will certainly prove a draw any dubious activity will be investigated South East to farmers. thoroughly. This should be a warning that By Bob Blanden, Manager South West Region certainly offers a it may well be best to leave the farming to In September there were two ‘Rams Fit range of farming conditions. Whether it the legitimate farmers. for Purpose’ meetings held jointly with be the drought prone coastal sand, the Eblex, with thanks to Nerys Wright who impermeable ‘culm measures’ or the bleak Scotland came to our rescue when numbers of high moors, each farm has its own set of By George Milne, Development Officer NSA members wishing to attend were challenges. Those who attended our farm We look forward to welcoming members looking ‘thin’. walk on the Somerset Levels were treated to our Scottish Region AGM on Friday Nerys was unable to to come to the to a fascinating insight into farming at or 9th January in Edinburgh (details below) Plumpton meeting, so Sion Parry, breeding below the natural water level. As our host at 4pm, followed by our annual dinner consultant from Signet, explained how Nelly Gillard led us around his farm it soon at 7pm. Please do book a place and using EBVs was useful in selecting rams became clear that tipping weirs, drainage come along. for genetic improvement. The following rates and dredgers were all part of the As we near the middle of November it day at Hadlow, Nerys described a research daily vocabulary. He casually mentioned is particularly encouraging to see prime project that had done a survey on rams the modern grain store he had recently lamb prices on the increase. Let’s hope and found an alarming number of faults. dismantled as it had begun to sink into the this trade is maintained up until Christmas Catherine Nakielney spoke at both bottomless soil! and into next year. Store lambs have been meetings and demonstrated how to do The arrival of the refreshed Red Tractor in good demand over the store sale period, an MOT on rams, and emphasised that regulations has prompted much debate. and many finishers will need the increase overfeeding of rams greatly affects their I have used NSA channels to highlight in price to receive a reasonable margin on performance and longevity. We hope to the need to keep these regulations them. Confidence has remained high over repeat these meetings next year, further constructive, attractive and appropriate. the trading period for breeding stock with west in our region. We have scheduled our AGM for gimmers and ewe lambs fetching a strong Wednesday 18th Feb 2015 (details below) demand and a solid trade. and the meeting will be followed by short It is now a case for Scottish farmers presentations by World Champion Young to get their heads around the new CAP Shepherd Sam Bullingham on his progress reform rules and make sure we can all through the competition, and by NSA’s Phil adapt to the system to allow us to have Stocker on his recent fact-finding trip to a strong sheep industry going forward. China. All farmers should be looking carefully at Notice is hereby given that the Annual the regions they have been allocated by General Meeting of the National Sheep the Scottish Government and make sure Association South West Region will be their land is in the correct category (either held at Fingle Glen Golf Hotel, Tedburn region 1, 2 or 3). St Mary, Exeter, Devon, EX6 6AF, Meetings continue on other matters, 7.30pm on Wednesday 18th February and the question of linked holdings has 2015. Business will include: re-approval been discussed in detail, leaving no of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer doubt that continuing with the present and Regional Trustee Director; election system will come under pressure. This will of new committee members and mainly affect cattle movements (sheep endorsement of current members; will continue to be allowed to move under Chairman’s report; and Treasurer’s the current five-mile rule) but it is still report relating to the region’s finances. a concern, as any changes may well be

6 SHEEP FARMER Action-packed day planned for NSA Central Region Winter 2015

‘Helping sheep farmers move forward’ will be the theme for the third biennial NSA Central Region Winter Fair. The NSA Central Region Winter Fair th potential for progress will be highlighted by all aspects of the • Thursday 29 January 2015. event, where technical and market advancements will both • 10am-4.30pm be in the spotlight and the next generation of producers will • Bakewell Agricultural Centre, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1AH. have a chance to shine. • FREE entry for NSA members on production of a current valid Expert speakers are lined up to deliver an exciting seminar membership card (one free entry per membership card). programme, covering some of the core issues current in sheep Agricultural students, international visitors and under 16s also farming. Defra’s Terry Gurnhill, Richard Webber of Shearwell go free. £5 entry for adult non-members. Data and former British Wool Marketing Board Chairman and ‘Sheep and the Environment’ is open to 16 and unders, with the sheep farmer Frank Langrish will make up a panel to discuss winning photograph to be featured in Sheep Farmer magazine. the topic ‘Making statutory recording and reporting easier’. This The British Wool Marketing Board is sponsoring a Schools will be your chance to put forward any questions you may have Wool Challenge, which will see school pupils produce exhibits on the recording and reporting system and join in a constructive showcasing wool with a prize pot of £200 up for grabs. The entries discussion of the options going forward. for both competitions will be on display for visitors to enjoy on the day. Domestic market NSA Central Region Chairman Bob Payne says: “Our third There has been a lot of focus recently on the global market and NSA Central Region Winter Fair promises to be just as relevant the development of new export destinations, but Nicola Dodd of and informative as the first two. An interesting programme of Eblex will draw attention back to the domestic market with her seminars will give valuable up-to-the-minute information for all seminar entitled ‘The modern consumer’s view of lamb: who’s sheep farmers, while we are also building our emphasis on the eating it and who’s not?’. This will review the place of lamb in the next generation of sheep farmers by offering four competitions for domestic market and investigate the possibilities for promoting young people this year. All in all it will be a great event – whatever lamb to new consumers. you do, don’t miss it!” Vet Caroline Dawson of Elanco (formerly Novartis Animal Watch the NSA Central Region Winter Fair web page for more Health) will give a seminar on understanding blow-fly control information; find it at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/events. products. After recent warm, wet summers, in which vast numbers of sheep farmers reported instance of flystrike, this seminar will provide strategies for protecting sheep in the coming season. Competition schedule There will be plenty to see outside the seminar area too, with a range of indoor and outdoor trade and breed society stands and a packed competition schedule. The search for the next NSA Young Shepherd of the Year will kick off at the event with the Mobile Sheep Race first regional qualifier for the national final at NSA Sheep Event 2016. The contestants, aged 26 and under, will show off practical with unique underfloor footbath shepherding skills including lamb sorting, ATV handling, belly clipping and vaccination and dosing. Eight teams of four will also One-man operator go head to head in the Junior Shepherd Competition for 14-16 year olds, kindly organised by Derbyshire Agricultural and Rural RRP £3,900 + VAT Training. As well as putting the next generation through their shepherding paces, the event will also shine a light on creativity in the sheep industry. A photography competition with the theme

Contact M. George 01239 841229 07974 387002 [email protected] NSA Central Regional Winter Fair 2015 promises to build on the success of the event in 2013, which was enjoyed by all who Trade enquiries welcome attended.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 7 Joined up thinking required in push for improved flock health The joint responsibility of the whole industry to protect the ‘lamb brand’ Financially incentivising on-farm progress came through very strongly at the Regular readers will know NSA Sheep Health and Welfare Conference, discussion highlighted the very real has encouraged the use of Rural held in late November in Staffordshire. problems posed by scab for some Development Programme funds to businesses, it also confirmed that other Alick Simmonds, Deputy Chief financially incentivise flock health, farms just don’t see the disease. Veterinary Officer, said all livestock farmers including closer relationships with vet Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: should have high standards to protect advisors and contributing to disease “It feels very positive that a wider audience the image of a product that so many surveillance. than just NSA is now talking about RDP consumers enjoyed eating. Defra was This concept was discussed at the funding being used for flock health, but it playing its part by creating a new disease Sheep Health and Welfare Conference, is vital that any scheme is as inclusive and surveillance system that would hopefully which key representatives from Defra helpful as possible. While it is right to take provide better representation of the sheep attended to hear more about how farmers an industry-wide and strategic approach, it sector, but it was up to producers to use wanted funding to be made available. is also right that all farmers get the chance it and ask for more post mortems and The Sheep Health and Welfare Group to invest RDP funds in areas that have the health investigations, to boost their own (SHAWG), who organised the conference, best impact for them. Initiatives should businesses and feed into a central hub of and of which NSA is a member, had offer the opportunity for all producers to disease information. highlighted sheep scab as a priority for identify diseases that are important for “This is going to require mutual trust, any funding programmes, and while their flocks and provide financial support so there’s a bit of work to be done on both some excellent speakers and informed to tackle them.” sides. Unless the information and data and intelligence get shared there is no margins are far too tight to have any Association to present healthy stock and incentive there,” said Mr Simmons. additional cost of disease,” Dom said, plenty of information at society sales, Michael Barker, who runs 1,000 including labour as part of this. “Too many which prompted some criticism during Swaledale ewes in North Yorkshire, picked of us are guilty of not thinking time is the following discussion about breed up on fragmentation in the industry, calling money, but it is.” societies who did not take health statuses for more joined up thinking between Reputation was also a big motivator as seriously. Other comments to come out farmers, vets and Government agencies. for Dom, for the family who owned the of the debate were the need for breeding “We all need to work together and a estate, for the ability of the business to sell sales to be earlier in the year and for two-way flow of information is extremely breeding stock, and for the employed staff interrogation of a seller about his flock important. Our local knackerman has a who wanted to build a career in the sheep health status to be the norm. resident vet at his premises, so if we want sector and take a good name with them to Paul Roger, sheep veterinary a post mortem done it’s just a matter of a the next job. consultant, reiterated the importance of quick phone call. It’s tremendously helpful “When you go to buy stock you have quarantine, recommending that buyers and it’s a partnership.” to be embarrassing and have to get observe SCOPS recommendations for Dom Naylor, farm manager for Lilburn personal,” he said, encouraging everyone worms, fluke and scab but also consider Estates in Northumberland, built on to quiz vendors about health status. a much longer isolation period to check this idea of partnership by adding the Robert Tucker, who buys in Mules for for other diseases too. He also urged importance of being open with neighbours his sheep enterprise in Devon, said it was producers to use medicines and vaccines as well, and also attending meetings and important in buy stock well in advance to according to the instructions. events, locally, regionally and nationally, to allow time for quarantining. He purchases “Quarantine should be regarded as share and pick up information. ewe lambs and over-winters them on his an investment in your flock,” Paul said, “We are in the business of making brother’s dairy farm to ensure complete recommending close cooperation with money and if you don’t keep your flock isolation from the rest of his flock. neighbours and the veterinary profession secure or know what diseases are on He spoke warmly about the work done and a keen eye for ‘iceberg diseases’ such your farm it will erode your profit. Current by the North of England Mule Sheep as maedi visna, OPA and Johne’s. On-farm biosecurity tips Michael Barker Dom Naylor Robert Tucker • Maintain high • Consider your flock to • Keep replacement health status by be Octopussy island females separate quarantining bought- where you want to from the main in animals. prevent James Bond flock for as long as • Capitalise on this ‘wreaking havoc’! possible. by selling breeding • Quarantine all • Don’t automatically stock to a single incoming stock, even trust vendors to buyer who wants health information. if they come from a low-risk source. have treated for parasites or vaccinated • Quarantine bought-in store lambs and • Remember that animals, humans, correctly when you buy stock. still keep them completely separate to equipment and wildlife can all carry • Know which diseases are your priorities breeding stock. disease. to keep out.

8 SHEEP FARMER Pre-lambing

Protection for your lambs against pasteurella and clostridial diseases...

...starts here

Vaccinate your ewes at least 4–6 weeks before lambing to protect against the two biggest sheep killers. Not only does this maintain their immunity throughout the year, the ewe also passes on high levels of antibodies via the colostrum to her lambs, protecting them in the vital first weeks of life. Comprehensive protection for your flock

Use medicines responsibly. For more information visit www.noah.uk/responsible Heptavac-P Plus contains antigens for the active immunisation of sheep against seven clostridial species and the most important serotypes of Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica and Bibersteinia (Pasteurella) trehalosi. Legal category POM-VPS Heptavac-P Plus is the property of Intervet International B.V. or affiliated companies or licensors and is protected by copyrights, trademark and other intellectual property laws. Copyright © 2014 Intervet International B.V. All rights reserved. Always consult your veterinary surgeon. ®Registered trademark.

Further information is available from: MSD Animal Health, Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes MK7 7AJ Tel: 01908 685685 • [email protected] • www.msd-animal-health.co.uk Next generation urged to take every opportunity available By Joanne Briggs, NSA The benefits of taking and making opportunities were highlighted by speakers at an ‘Inspiring the next generation of sheep farmers’ conference held at Abbey Home Farm, Cirencester, in November. The event, jointly organised by NSA Next Generation and the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) Innovation for Agriculture initiative, attracted more than 80 young people with an interest in the sheep sector. Speakers shared their experiences of different routes into the sheep sector, including inheriting a family farm, share farming, rental agreements, shepherding and off-farm The NSA Next Generation Conference included a farm walk at employment. Abbey Home Farm. Andrew Foulds, a sheep farmer and store lamb finisher from Suffolk, and NSA Eastern Region Chairman, said lack of capital would not stop people with enthusiasm and a willingness to work hard. He said he had built up to his current business of 2,000 ewes and several thousand store lambs bought in annually (while owning only 40 acres) by not being frightened to ask to borrow Yorkshire, said the same about not being afraid to capital and borrow land. knock on doors. He recommended reading the CLA “I started out grazing sugar beet tops,” Andrew guide to share farming and giving it to landowners said. “I couldn’t afford the sheep let along the too, as a way to introduce them to the concept. Andrew Foulds. electric fence. It may be frightening to go and knock A son of a tenant farmer, David started share on someone’s door and ask them, but very few farming in 1984 with no capital, just the use of this father’s people will put you off. Explain you’ve got access to a bit of land machinery and his own ‘knowledge and effort’. He bought ewes and a day job, and even if the first person says no the next one with lambs at foot and contract reared dairy heifers to ensure might not.” cash flow and built up to 600 sheep and 90 suckler cows from there. He is now on his second share farm agreement, based on Business commitments the value of his machinery, labour and management accounting Andrew continues to rent land and crops across Suffolk, Norfolk for 70% of the business and the value of the land, buildings and and Cambridge, describing himself as a ‘scavenger’ and, while fixed equipment accounting for 30%. acknowledging land is easier to come by in this arable heartland “The golden thing about a share farming agreement is your than some areas, said the same principles apply. don’t need the same amount of capital as setting up as a tenant. “Mind your Ps and Qs with the landlord, don’t get cross with When I buy 100 sheep the auction market splits the bill 70:30 the gamekeeper and always, always honour your business between me and the landowner, and then all the things that go commitments,” he said. “Pay your bills on time or be honest into keeping them is split in the same way – feed, vet bills and about cash flow and upfront if you won’t have the money for six medicines. The share operator doesn’t have to find all of the weeks. Don’t be afraid to get a truck on hire purchase or rent it. capital.” And use contractors so you don’t tie up capital in equipment. Do David said he would not be told it was easier in the 1980s when the job properly. And find a supportive girlfriend or boyfriend that he set up, as interest rates were higher then and land should be understands what you’re trying to achieve and the long hours.” easier to find now, as farmers are getting older. Andrew said he had several young shepherds working for him who also ran their own flocks in their free time. He applauded this, saying start-up sheep owners should ‘never give up the day job’, whatever that might be, as it helped with cash flow and gave the opportunity to learn business skills. He had worked for the NFU in his 20s and 30s and said this allowed him to meet people and gain business sense. David Coates, a share farmer from Skipton, North 30ft x 90ft Top tips for getting ahead in the sheep sector Sheep Polytunnel • Never be afraid to ask for an opportunity. just £2,850 +VAT • Visit and work on other farms, including overseas. • Volunteer to take additional responsibility. Other sizes • Learn from the bad experiences, as well as the good. available • Pick up tips wherever you can and utilise the ones that apply to your situation. • Follow a passion, but if sheep farming is not for you, find a 01594 546935 [email protected] different career path. www.agpolytunnels.co.uk

10 SHEEP FARMER Earning responsibility and driving efficiency secure future success

The importance of earning responsibility was another running theme through the NSA Next Generation Conference, with Marc Jones particularly emphasising the need to work for what you get. He is increasingly taking the reins from his father on their tenanted farm at Welshpool, Powys, but said he had earned this right rather than inheriting it. He said there was no Marc Jones. use complaining about only getting menial jobs if you do not show enthusiasm and eagerness for responsibility. “Quiz and question everything,” he said. “Why are NSA Next Generation Ambassador you worming these ewes now? Why do we send the lambs to applications now open market? What about other selling options? Show an interest and The NSA Next Generation project is dedicated to encouraging be knowledgeable.” young people in the sheep sector, be they new entrants or from Marc said he had widened his knowledge base by taking a a long line of farming ancestors. Part of the project includes fulltime job off the farm and also travelling overseas to learn selecting up to 12 NSA Next Generation Ambassadors each about other operating systems. He pushed his family business year for dedicated personal development, business training by moving from an intensive indoor lambing system with 1,200 and sheep skills development. Welsh Mules to a forage-based outdoor lambing flock of Lleyns, To apply for the NSA Next Generation Ambassador cutting the cost of winter feeding ahead of lambing from £30 per Programme 2015 (open to 18-35 year olds) please submit an head to £4.50. This meant the farm business could afford for him application form by Friday 12th December. Find out more at to drop to a part-time job and further drive efficiencies at home. www.nsanextgeneration.org.uk. Also visit the website to find out more about the 2014 Cost of production ambassadors (pictured above) and the five delivery sessions Commenting on the importance of taking his family with him they have enjoyed this year, covering everything from time through such major changes, Marc said: “Cost of production, management and negotiating skills to sheep handling advice that was the main one. I was able to put everything in front of my and supply chain information. Sessions have also included father and my mother and it was clear cut. If you want to persuade sheep worming, grassland management, performance your family do lots of research and go off and travel.” recording, media training, ATV handling, financial and business Kevin Harrison, a farm manager management, and marketing and branding, amongst other on the Gloucestershire/Somerset topics. NSA is indebted to the delivery partners who have given border with 1,000 North Country up their time and resources to support the ambassadors this Mules, and NSA Marches Region year; find out more online. Chairman, echoed Marc’s advice All the ambassadors have been featured in about learning something from every Sheep Farmer over the last year; turn to farm you visit or work on. page 44 to meet Kate Robinson from He said he came into the sheep Gloucestershire, and find achieved sector with no farming background case studies on the Next and worked his way up through Kevin Harrison. Generation website. various shepherding jobs by listening to people and taking bits to experiment with and learn from. He had also been his own biggest critic, learnt to deal with pressure and Rural Enterprise in Northern Ireland, Eileen described the and always given 100 per cent commitment to his employer. enjoyment she found in helping Kevin said there were pros and cons of being an employed farmers implement technology and shepherd, but he was rewarded with a job he loved on a farm he improve their businesses. She had could never afford to own. “The job satisfaction is enormous and been to university and then taken I have managed to create the sheep flock I’ve always dreamed of on a number of research roles in and am very proud of,” he said. “It’s not just a job, it’s a passion. Northern Ireland and Scotland before Sheep need attention 24-7 and you can’t go home unless the job securing this job. is done. Everyone should do something that makes them happy.” “I have been very lucky,” she said. Eileen McCloskey supported this view of job satisfaction. She “I have been paid to get an education explained how splitting her family’s farm with her brother would in something I love and do research Eileen McCloskey. not have been financially viable for either of them, so she had that is vitally important to the looked for employment off the farm. She said there were lots of industry. I’ve had the chance to go to New Zealand and Australia people who wanted to work in the sheep sector who might never and all across the UK. own their own flock, but working as a service provider gave her an “I didn’t talk myself out of going for jobs but told myself I was equal amount of pride. as good as the next person who was applying. Don’t think you As a sheep technologist for the College of Agriculture, Food haven’t got the skills, because you’ll learn on the job.”

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 11 NSA-Shearwell stick reader giveaway

NSA is delighted to announce that The prizes are not just on offer to new 12 Shearwell Data EID stick reader NSA members – existing members can What could you win? kits will be up for grabs in its 2015 get their names into the hat by getting a Stick reader:Shearwell’s all-weather, membership recruitment prize giveaway. friend or neighbour to sign up to NSA. The battery-powered stick reader is designed Shearwell Data has generously more new members you recruit, the more for ease of use, with a single button to provided the kits, meaning 12 lucky entries you earn! The 12 prize draws will turn it on and off, choose its setting and winners will receive a stick reader, be spaced throughout the year, and every create different groups of animals. The mobile printer, spare printer paper, time a winner is picked all non-winning stick will read all eartags and boluses battery chargers, a sturdy carry case entries will automatically roll over to the from up to 20cm away, and will not and Shearwell’s StockMove Express next draw; that means the earlier you enter double-read animals within a batch. The management app, altogether worth £860. the more chances you have of walking reader’s memory capacity allows it to NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: away with an EID kit. Entries are now open store 16,000 records at one time. th “NSA is delighted to be able to offer and will close on 30 November 2015. Mobile printer: Print out records this prize, and huge thanks are owed to while you’re away from the farm using Shearwell Data for generously donating Supporting NSA information sent directly from the stick the kits. While compulsory electronic Richard Webber, Director of Shearwell reader. These print-outs can be attached identification in the sheep sector is far Data, says: “We are proud to be to movement documents in lieu of listing from ideal, there are many businesses sponsoring this NSA offer for the next 12 the tag numbers on the form itself – using EID to their advantage for recording months with our most popular stick reader simply tick the box stating that the flock performance and it’s great to be and mobile printer kit. Shearwell have numbers are attached. long been supporters of NSA and applaud able to offer our members a way to make Mobile app: The Shearwell StockMove the work they carry out on behalf of the the most of the technology. Whether Express app links to the stick reader industry. Many farmers are now seeing the our winners use it to make movement and allows you to view and manage flock benefits of individual recording and the reporting easier or to track performance information on your phone or tablet. It backup and support Shearwell gives puts in their flocks, I’m sure they’ll find these can be used to log births, movements, them second to none in this field. We hope kits invaluable in pushing their business deaths and replacement tags, and the winners will find this prize very useful.” forward.” report movements to ARAMS and Scot EID through the free National Livestock Management Database website. The app can automatically maintain your online holding register and medicine book and be used to make and review notes on specific animals. It is currently available for Android phones, but an iPhone version will be available by the start of 2015. Addition membership forms, more information and full terms and conditions at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/draw. Information and membership forms are available on the NSA website, from NSA Head Office and from the NSA stand at events throughout 2015. 3in1 feeder heads to Isle of Man

One 3in1 feeder was not enough for lambs, which are sold through the local Daniel Creer, the fifth winner in this abattoir and to Dunbia in Lancashire, and year’s NSA membership recruitment also sells approximately 200 Texel Mule prize giveaway. Daniel was so pleased breeding ewes a year. Dan also keeps 100 with his prize that he bought another store cattle and 20 Aberdeen-Angus cows, to take home with him – to the Isle of shears 30,000 sheep each summer with Man. his shearing partner, and fits in fencing Daniel runs 500 Blackface cross contracting work in the winter. Swaledale ewes and 400 Mule and Texel Daniel is delighted with his new ewes across six separate packages of feeders, and intends to use them to flush land on the island, each tenanted from a ewes and keep condition on twin-bearing different landlord. With 1,000 acres of hill ewes pre-lambing. ground and 250 acres of upland, Daniel’s Daniel (right) is pictured collecting his new Meet the other winners of this year’s enterprise spans from 500 to 1,800 foot feeder from Robert Ball (left), who runs an NSA prize giveaway, run in conjunction above sea level. Advantage Feeders’ UK distribution centre with Advantage Feeders, at www. The farm enterprise produces fat from Shropshire. nationalsheep.org.uk/draw.

12 SHEEP FARMER

Activity in England to address depressed demand for lamb While cultivating new export markets and forequarter lamb cuts, as well as has become increasingly important to developing lamb mince as a versatile meal the UK sheep industry in recent years, solution.” Sheep Farmer stimulating demand at home remains a A new range of ‘The Carvery’ mini Market Focus key priority for Eblex, particularly when roasts was developed to address the lamb supplies are plentiful. decline in consumption of traditional Following the special report on the international exports in the last edition With UK sheep meat production roasting joints in the retail market and of Sheep Farmer, enjoy this five-page forecast to increase by 5% year-on-year in appeal to today’s consumer. The range special on supplying the home the final quarter of 2014, and by a further is targeted at the dining-for-two market market. 3% cent overall in 2015, the amount and smaller families who don’t want a available for domestic consumption looks large traditional roasting joint, due to cost set to rise in the medium term. and cooking time. The new cuts are more cooking experiences and sharing their “So far this year, the increased affordable, lend themselves to increased own dishes. The community is run online supply of lambs has been met by limited versatility and are perfect for midweek through channels such as Facebook, consumer demand, both at home and meals. Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, using abroad,” says AHDB/Eblex Market channel-specific content designed to get Specialist Manager Stephen Howarth. TV advertising maximum engagement from students. The “With supplies expected to be higher going This message was communicated to most influential content to date has been forward, whether the market remains a consumer audience this autumn created on YouTube, where the campaign subdued will, as always, partly depend through a six-week ‘jetpack journey has exceeded 400,000 views. on how domestic consumer demand home’ television and digital advertising “LambSoc aims to highlight lamb as develops. campaign, promoting Quality Standard and an ‘adventurous meat’, as it is a fantastic “Until very recently earnings growth Red Tractor lamb and beef mini roasts. flavour carrier for spices and other was still running below inflation and as yet The advertisements aired nationally on ingredients that students may have tried there is little sign of consumer spending ITV during ‘lifestyle’ programmes such when travelling the world or sampled at on meat growing. This will need to change as Coronation Street and the Pride of fashionable street vendors’,” says Eblex if demand for sheep meat is going to rise Britain awards. While a final report on the Head of Consumer Marketing, Jane to meet increased supplies.” performance of the campaign is not yet Ritchie-Smith. available, anecdotal feedback has been Achieving growth very positive. Lamb positivity Eblex has responded to the challenge In contrast to this broad campaign, “Since its launch in July, the LambSoc by launching a range of initiatives to Eblex’s ongoing LambSoc activity is more community has grown by 130% and stimulate demand for lamb in both tightly focused on the 18-25-year-old now has over 11,000 members that we the retail and the foodservice sectors demographic identified as key to building regularly interact with to reinforce positive and make sure quality assured lamb a sustainable lamb market for the future. messages about lamb. is well-represented on menus and in The messages for this campaign are “With videos from YouTubers such as supermarkets and butcher’s shops. The directed very specifically toward students model Ruth Crilly, travel vlogger Louis Cole trade marketing team is focused on as they begin to cook for themselves and and the extremely popular Jim Chapman, achieving growth in the sector, enhancing set patterns for later life, ensuring the we’ve been demonstrating how much consumer satisfaction and repositioning lamb-buying habit is ingrained in the next fun cooking with lamb can be. We’re very lamb as an affordable meat for families to generation of consumers. pleased with the high viewing figures, enjoy throughout the week. Their strategy LambSoc aims to provide an online but the highlight has been the number focuses on three key areas:- hub for students to encourage one of positive comments from young people • Building a market for lamb mince. another to eat lamb by talking about their interested in cooking with lamb.” • Developing a market for forequarter lamb cuts. • Enhancing the market for prime lamb cuts. “We want to stimulate consumer demand for lamb by reminding people just how good it can be,” says Mike Whittemore, Eblex Head of Trade Marketing. “By offering consumers better value and greater consistency, educating them and providing inspiration, we can stimulate increased demand. “We’ve been working closely with processors, retailers and foodservice operators to encourage them to adopt the enhanced specifications we have developed for a range of premium

14 SHEEP FARMER Converting Scottish non-lamb eaters

By Laurent Vernet, QMS NSA Scottish Region and NFU Scotland to deliver a series of in-store samplings Scottish eating habits Head of Marketing involving lamb producers. These samplings • Scotland has always consumed less Each year around 4,175 tonnes of lamb were under the banner ‘Love Scotch lamb’ than the other British. is eaten in Scotland, which represents with QMS supplying promotional material • Historically the Scots tend to eat more a market worth £35.6 million. Yet this and press activity, as well as some aspects beef than the other British nations. represents only 5.3% of the total sheep of the logistics. • More than 10% of the British meat retailed in Great Britain, despite population is from specific ethnic Scottish residents representing 8.3% of Farmer passion cultural backgrounds that traditionally the total population. These activities were very important for demand more sheep meat in their diet. If Scottish consumers were to purchase two reasons. First, it allowed farmers to Scotland tends to be less culturally 8.3% of the total volume of lamb retailed share their passion with consumers and diverse with less than 4% of these they would increase consumption by a showed that producers are just down higher lamb consuming communities. further 2,300 tonnes, the equivalent the road and not from the other side • About 44% of Scots purchased lamb of 261,000 lambs a year. This is why of the country or the world. Secondly, at least once in the last 52 weeks, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has always the activities offered the farmers the compared to 57.5% in Great Britain. prioritised its promotional activities to opportunity to meet with shoppers and support lamb consumption in Scotland. consumers who are not part of the farming modern, promoted with the ‘Wham Bam Scotch Lamb PGI is trusted and well community. Talking to the farmers who Scotch Lamb’ creative which is co-funded perceived by over 85% of the Scottish participated to the promotional campaign, by the European Union. population. The issue is therefore not it became obvious that they learnt directly The campaign allowed QMS to lift the that consumers have a poor opinion of from the shoppers about reasons why demand for lamb in Scotland by over Scotch Lamb PGI but that lamb is not on consumers are ‘lamb shy’. 11% (87 tonnes) during the 12 weeks of the shopper’s radar. Over The QMS promotional the campaign, while demand over Great the years the space on campaign included outdoor Britain was stable and even decreasing in the retailer’s shelves has billboards around points some regions. been shrinking, making of sales, radio advertising Independent research showed the it more difficult to tempt when shoppers are in their increase of volume retailed was not driven consumers to make an car between work and home, by price promotion, as average lamb impulse purchase. Retail and online activities targeting retail prices remained stable in Scotland price has also been a barrier specific people who use the during the QMS promotional campaign. It for consumers hit by the internet during their lunch also showed that not only those who are economic downturn. break to decide on their lamb-eaters bought more lamb during the Very often those people menu that evening. campaign, but also new consumers. It is who claim not to like lamb This campaign was estimated that an extra 28,800 Scottish have not tried it for a while focused on Scotland – mainly households bought lamb between August and base their opinions on the central belt and the and October. pre-conceived ideas. That central East coast (Dundee – Overall this campaign has supported is why QMS promotional Aberdeen – Inverness) from and even boosted retail sales of lamb in campaigns always include in-store tasting. August to October 2014. The key message Scotland, particularly Scotch Lamb PGI. This year QMS worked closely with was that cooking lamb is easy, fast and MAKE TIME FOR OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS

Tagging, drenching and health checks are now completed quickly and efficiently as Mark doesn’t need to fight the sheep to keep the animal still whilst being treated. No need to catch and handle sheep, let the RITCHIE Combi Clamp do the back aching job with ease. RITCHIE Combi Clamp Watch the video

Mark Bromell and family Tel: 01307 462271 • Email: [email protected] • Web: www.ritchie-uk.com

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 15 Promotional work in Wales timed to coincide with peak lamb supply

When lamb prices and consumer received new promotional material, demand slumped earlier in the year, encouraging their customers to choose Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Welsh Lamb. Packs containing recipe Wales (HCC) responded by bringing and competition flyers, posters and forward a promotional campaign that window stickers were sent to more was planned for October, to August. than 200 members of HCC’s Butchers’ During the autumn period, new Club. This club is for retailers who season Welsh Lamb lends itself to all are confirmed as selling Protected sorts of cooking methods and cuts, Geographical Indication (PGI) Welsh but one of the biggest challenges for Lamb or Welsh Beef. It includes a HCC is to find new and exciting ways of range of benefits, including regular promoting this, at a time when lamb is promotional material provided by HCC, in abundance. and is free to join. In an effort to drive consumption “Butchers have an extremely of Welsh Lamb among UK customers, important role to play in promoting HCC’s most recent campaigns have Welsh Lamb,” says Laura Pickup, HCC been designed to appeal to a wide Market Development Manager. “They and varied audience. On example can influence their customers’ choices is the Baafta Awards, a competition and what meat they have for dinner. offering the nation’s budding chefs an We provide members of our Butchers’ opportunity to grab the limelight with Club with a range of tools to help them their favourite recipe to win a luxury get the message across about the box of Welsh Lamb. Competitors were qualities of PGI Welsh Lamb and why encouraged to upload a picture of their customers should choose it before any best lamb dish to HCC’s consumer other brand.” website – eatwelshlamb.co.uk – An advertising campaign was also during the height of the autumn Autumn promotions boost lamb sales when supply aired on television in Wales and the season. The four categories were is high. Meridian region to heighten consumer Sunday Boast, Midweek Masterpiece, awareness on the availability and Welsh Whizzardry’ and Cosmopolitan included on the website and the best qualities of Welsh Lamb during the Creation. entries appeared on HCC’s social media peak autumn season. Philippa Gill, HCC Brand Marketing pages. It was a great way to inspire other Executive says: “The idea behind the enthusiastic cooks to rediscover the Effective campaign competition was to find and share some of unique flavour and wide range of cuts that A survey was undertaken to measure the the most creative dishes from thousands Welsh Lamb offers, to create a traditional impact and effectiveness of this campaign. of foodies who appreciate the merits of family recipe or even a bhuna or a burger.” From the respondents who were aware of Welsh Lamb. A dedicated gallery was Butchers throughout Wales have also Welsh Lamb, it was regarded as a quality product by 76% of them. In addition 78% of those people who had watched the Northern Irish push for lamb advert claimed it would make them more likely to purchase Welsh Lamb. The Livestock and Meat Commission The media campaign compliments Mrs Pickup added: “We are planning for Northern Ireland (LMC) has just LMC’s work in schools, where eight further promotional campaigns for completed the first year of a three freelance cookery demonstrators deliver the new year. It is our aim to ensure a year project aimed at promoting lamb practical cookery sessions focused constant demand for the product and drive and beef on the domestic market. on showing the versatility and ease of consumption throughout the year. The initial 12 months of the cooking with lamb. LMC also educates “Consumer behaviour is also changing. campaign, called ‘The Natural Choice’, students on the nutritional value of lamb People spent an average time of 31 have been a success, with consumer and the options for reducing its cost by minutes on meal preparation in 2013 recognition of the Northern Ireland Farm choosing different cuts. LMC works with compared to 60 minutes in 1980. This Quality Assured lamb standard now at over 300 schools, reaching 8,000-9,000 has meant that the traditional roast 80%, up from 69% in February. students each year. is in decline, largely because younger The start of December sees the end LMC Industry Development Manager consumers aren’t investing their time in of an LMC television, radio and print Colin Smith says: “LMC recognises the high effort meals. Our future aim is to advertising campaign promoting lamb, importance of the domestic market for increase penetration amongst younger which has run since July. LMC has also Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured consumers and families, show consumers launched a consumer-facing website – Lamb. We are aware of the challenges how Welsh Lamb is at its best and develop beefandlambni.com – providing recipes, faced by the industry and will continue to added value products in order to provide a information and an opportunity to ‘meet’ work to encourage consumers to choose premium and ensure a positive future for farmers and butchers through online lamb as a meal option on a regular Welsh Lamb.” profiles. basis.”

16 SHEEP FARMER Future-Proof Your Rural Business Learn 2 simple steps on how you can benefi t from solar power Rural businesses are constantly faced with fi nancial pressure. Erratic weather, fl uctuating global prices and indecisive policy are driving the need now more than ever for rural businesses to diversify and seek out sustainable income. Solar power can greatly benefi t rural businesses and Lightsource Renewable Energy, the UK’s No 1 Solar Energy Company, shares two simple steps on how you can start to see rewards in a matter of weeks! Step 1 Step 2 Rent out your land! Maintain Cut your electricity bill by over stocking density and increase 50% with FREE Solar Panels returns on capital invested per acre and save £100s per year

Managing over 4000 acres nationwide, Lightsource Renewable Protect your rural business from volatile electricity bills set to rise Energy, has an unrivalled track record in working with land even higher in the near future. Take control over your electricity owners and rural businesses to diversify their income successfully. bill and make a change to ‘green’ solar electricity. If you have a rooftop over 400 square meters, Lightsource can install solar If you own land (including brownfi eld) over 15 acres, solar farms panels on your building for FREE and supply your business with can bring in a guaranteed income of around £1000.00 per acre, green electricity at a very low rate of typically 5p per kWh. You per year. The rental payment is indexed linked and rises with can expect to achieve at least a 50% saving immediately once the panels are installed. Installation is quick and you can be up and infl ation yearly. This guaranteed income can help sustain your running in a matter of days. rural business and form a valuable part of succession planning for the up and coming younger generation. As Lightsource are the largest buyers of best-in-class solar components in the UK, you will also benefi t from the highest If you are a farmer, you can benefi t further by grazing small performing equipment, ensuring your business receives livestock like sheep, geese or chickens around the solar farm. maximum benefi t from the solar panels. These FREE panels A well designed solar farm will maintain your stocking density come with extensive Lightsource warranties and guarantees so and inevitably drive up your returns on capital invested per acre. you can rest assured that your property will be protected at all Some landowners working with Lightsource are now seeing at times. Lightsource also employs local engineers in your area, on least a 20% return on capital invested per acre compared with the rare occasion that the panels become faulty, local engineers 3-4% before the solar farm was installed. are within reach to attend quickly within a few hours.

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By Joanne Briggs, NSA Farm Facts Stats that have come out since the • Eight-acre farm with barn, recession show that consumers remain complemented by grass lets ranging cautious about their weekly shopping, from six to 27 acres. but are increasingly willing to splash • Only have home farm for sheep out for special occasions. between Christmas and lambing, so How else could discount supermarkets capacity is 200 ewes housed and fed continue to grow at the same time as the on homemade silage. food service sector strengthens? Andy and • Flock is growing, with 100 Welsh Mule Frances Offer have found this within their and Texel Mule ewes to lamb in March own business and adapted accordingly. and 80 yearlings/ewe lambs in April. They grew their ‘tiny hobby’ selling a few half lambs from their farm near regular customers without doing so many Leominster, Herefordshire, into the solid farmers markets, and it is this willingness Whyle House Lamb business by attending to adapt that ensures Whyle House Lamb farmers’ markets, doing 14 a month at thrives. their peak and selling as many as three The business currently sells 300 lambs each time. But sales slowed down lambs a year (including a small number as the recession hit and the novelty of the of bought-in store lambs) and with stock markets wore off. killed every single week Andy says it is In the meantime the popularity of food a constant battle to get lambs to his festivals has increased and the couple can target spec of 40kg R2L. This year he sell 20 lambs in a weekend at the biggest successfully pushed the heaviest lambs of these. This is a combination of chilled ahead of a July food festival, but held the cuts and hot takeaway lamb burgers. smaller ones back too much and is now struggling with lean, light carcases. Lamb burgers Andy and Frances Offer. “The ready-to-go market isn’t easy and Andy and Frances market mutton legs Butchery needs a lot of investment, but the burger and shoulders but sell the rest as diced By doing the butchery himself he can story is a good one,” says Andy, adding stewing meat or in burgers. In contrast utilise over and under-fat lambs, achieving hot burgers to eat and burger packs to they offer a wide range of lamb cuts, high quality control and treating every take home now account for 40% of sales. putting only offcuts and unsold joints customer individually by providing specific “When we started to get serious about it into burgers. For them, burgers are the and numerous cuts. His butchery is we did mutton burgers too, and all our cull ultimate carcase balancer. Previously meticulous and always done with the ewes now go as mutton. It means I can unsold stock was frozen, but an 11kg customer (not weight) in mind. be a bit harsher on culling too, because (25lb) leg joint will make £28 of burgers, The couple’s business principles are I know I can turn them into a valuable representing added value, a faster treating customers as individuals, focusing product and give them a dignified end. turnover of stock and better cash flow. on provenance and ensuring high welfare “We have no problem marketing The festivals are high volume but also standards. mutton and sell a lot at Christmas – it high risk and very competitive, so the “People are concerned about how has become something people buy for couple are ‘keeping themselves on top’ by animals are looked after, how they’re fed,” special occasions rather than being the looking at addition ready-to-go products says Andy. “They’re not very well informed poor man’s lamb,” he says, explaining they and are rebranding their marketing but they are concerned, so they buy into charge the same per kilo for mutton as material with a fresh, modern look. They the concept of how we look after our lamb. are also looking at ways to retain their stock.”

Quality butchery and a variety of cuts is a priority for Andy and his customers.

18 SHEEP FARMER Making more of mutton

New energy has been put into the promotion of quality mutton in a The history of mutton renewed initiative from NSA and Mutton has suffered for more than 50 the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts years from a combination of changed (RACA). fashions, some poor wartime folk- memories, and busy modern life styles. Extending the work of the Mutton Renaissance Club, an initiative of HRH It used to be more popular than beef The Prince of Wales, the partners (with but declined in use after the Second sponsorship from Eblex, HCC and LMC) World War and virtually disappeared intend to use their joint expertise to from all but the most discerning dinner invigorate the mutton market. The tables – until the work of the Mutton renewed work will assist producers, Renaissance Club started some 10 years processors and retailers in making quality Mutton is starting to recover lost ground as ago. mutton once again available to all, as it a favourite family dish. A decline in numbers of sheep was as recently as 80 years ago. have a first rate eating experience.” towards the end of the first decade in This once lauded gem of British cookery Bob is keen to hear from existing quality the new millennium and consequent is now starting to recover some of its mutton producers, as well as processors market distortion with high prices and lost ground, finding new enthusiasts in and retailers, so every opportunity is poor quality product acted against restaurants and homes across the UK, so taken advantage of to raise the profile and the developing interest in mutton. It now is an ideal time to boost activity. increase interest in quality mutton. is only now, with a more stable sheep Joining the partners will be Bob Contact Bob at mutton@nationalsheep. population, that it has been thought Kennard, who has a long history of org.uk (and turn to page 25 for the chance sensible to encourage new enthusiasts processing and selling mutton. He says: to win a copy of his book). The project’s for quality mutton from production “Quality is the key to a satisfying mutton website is under preparation and will soon through to the consumers. meal. It depends on having the right be available at www.nsamutton.org.uk. quality of animal to begin with and then ensuring it is treated properly at every stage along the supply line. “This initiative will help producers, processors, retailers and consumers to Ewbol Productive | Healthy | Profitable ForFarmers Ewbol range provides quality ewe and lamb feeds for all systems.

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 19 Latest farm fatality figures show greater need for safety By Caitlin Peck, NSA Farm safety is slowly improving, but there’s still a long way to go before agriculture is a safe industry to work in. That’s the message from the new Health and Safety in Agriculture figures published by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at the end of October, which once again identified farming as one of the most dangerous sectors to work in within Great Britain. The 12 months to October saw 27 work- related deaths in agriculture. Although that figure is down from an average of 33 fatal injuries per annum over the last five years, reflecting a gradual long-term decline in deaths in farming, agriculture still Quad bikes and lone working are two of the factors that make sheep farming as accounts for more work-related fatalities dangerous as any other agricultural occupation. than any other industry and remains to farm workers over the 12 month period. Case study: Roger James behind the curve in fatal injury reduction. Rick Brunt, HSE’s head of agriculture Life hasn’t been the same for Powys The death rate in agriculture is now four sector said: “While any decrease in the livestock farmer Roger James since a times higher than that in the construction number of injuries is welcome, I would quad bike accident left him in constant trade. Although it employs only one in 100 urge the industry to avoid complacency pain and with limited mobility. GB workers, agriculture accounted for one and recognise it still has a long way to go Roger was checking a new field in five workplace deaths in 2013/14. to improve its poor record of managing before moving stock into it when his There were also 292 reported injuries risks. As ever, the causes of death and attention lapsed and he absentmindedly injury in the sector are not new, and the took an unfamiliar shortcut up a steep Farm safety tips industry must work hard to manage these slope. The hill was too steep for the • Always tell someone where you are well-known risks if we are to tackle the bike, which tipped backwards, flinging going and when you will be back. Let poor health and safety record.” someone know if your plan changes. Roger to the floor and upended on top • Before you start a job, take the time to Real tragedy of him. Roger’s pelvis was smashed and he was lucky to avoid fatal artery assess the risks and think about how NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker damage. you will avoid them. emphasised that farm work is hazardous Roger now finds it difficult to stand • Never do a job in a hurry; it’s easy to in every sector. He says: “The numbers for short periods of time. He can make mistakes when you’re in a rush. make for sobering reading. We mustn’t perform only light part-time duties • Take advantage of training. For forget that behind every one of the on the farm, and he can no longer example, the free EASI course offered figures on farming fatalities is a very enjoy the social life he once did. Roger when you buy a new quad bike. real tragedy for a family. Sheep farmers says: “Keep your mind on what you’re • Attend a HSE Safety and Health often think they’re at less risk than those doing. I’d done that sort of job hundreds Awareness Day (SHAD). SHAD’s are in other farming sectors because they of times before, and I got careless.” practical courses covering the everyday have less contact with large animals and dangers of farming. Find out more at heavy machinery, but there is a very real Case study: Peter Rooke www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/diary.htm. danger in every day sheep farming tasks At the age of 20 Peter Rooke was • NSA is part of the Farm Safety like ATV handling and general farmyard cleaning out the guttering on a farm Partnership; find useful resources at maintenance.” shed with his father when he stepped www.nfuonline.com/business/farm- With Christmas just around the corner, backwards off safety boards onto a roof safety/farm-safety-partnership. this is a good time to think about safety light and fell 18 feet onto the concrete • Also find information and advice on on your farm and ensure everyone on your floor below. the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/ team is working as safely as possible. Although he was lucky and the agriculture. The families of those killed in farming accident could have been far worse, accidents often report that Christmas is Peter broke the femur in his left leg and one of the most difficult times to cope could not return to work for eight weeks. with their bereavement. While you and It was June, a busy time on the farm, your family are gathered together this and the Rookes were forced to hire Christmas, take a moment to think about contractors to cover Peter’s workload. how things would be if one of you wasn’t Following the accident, a harness and there. back rail has been fitted to the roof to ensure anyone working on it is secure.

20 SHEEP FARMER Free safety app for smart phones

If an accident does happen and the The UrSOSButton app for Android To summon help, hold the victim can’t summon help, it is often mobile phones is available free of button down for three family and friends who notice they are charge to help find a missing family seconds. Your phone missing. With this in mind, a new app member, and the emergency button will automatically text for smart phones and UrSOSButton has can be bought for a one-off fee of a message requesting been developed. £89 for someone to call for help help and giving your If someone is late home without in an emergency. location to five pre- explanation or cannot be contacted, selected contacts. It will UrSOSButton can locate them by finding also call five contacts, their phone. There is also the option to switching to speakerphone buy a button which sends calls for help mode when a call is answered. remotely with a single press, allowing Any incoming calls will be someone who has been in an accident answered automatically and to get aid quickly and easily. The put on speakerphone too. The UrSOSButton system is currently being button works up to 30 metres away trialled by the Irish Farmers’ Association, from your phone and regardless of and is receiving positive feedback. functions on the bare minimum of phone whether the phone is locked. It costs signal. You can use the app without buying a one-off fee of £89. How does the app work? the button, although it is only suitable Only the person who you are finding needs for Android phones. The app is a useful How do I get the system? to have the app on their phone. To locate means of making sure someone is safe The UrSOSButton app is available to them, simply text a code to their phone and of letting the emergency services download from Google Play (https://play. and you will receive an automatic reply know exactly where they are if necessary google.com/store/apps) and you can find containing their GPS coordinates, the – and it’s a handy way to find your lost more information on the system, including nearest postal address to them and a link phone too! on buying the button, at www.ursosbutton. to their location on Google Maps. You can com. also choose to ‘track’ the person; you will How does the button work? NSA has prepared a handy new guide on then receive updates on their whereabouts This is the addition paid-for service offered downloading apps for smart phones; find at an interval of your choice. Because alongside the free app. The button is a it in the members-only area of the NSA the app works through text messaging, it small device, about the size of a USB stick. website at www.nationalsheep.org.uk. Premier Sheep Drench Not all mineral drenches are the same

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 21 Sustainable land management makes stratified system work Farming in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty means Adam Watson works in a truly spectacular landscape, but faces the daily challenge of balancing farming with the environment. He and his family have made the most from this situation at Sanders Close, Slaggyford, Northumberland, working closely with the authorities to ensure they support important plant and wildlife species while also being able to run a thriving farm business. They run just over 900 ewes and 50 suckler cows across 590 hectares (1,450 acres), but two-thirds of that is fell ground and rough grazing managed under HLS, where grazing is not permitted from early October through to late March. The Watsons negotiated on this grazing restriction during the winter months, as the cost and labour of shepherding The youngest Swaledale females are kept pure, to make rapid genetic progress in the 100 ewes over 400ha (1,000 acres), as purebred flock. suggested by Natural England, did not agreement where the hill carried no stock Swaledales kept pure and 510 crossed, stack up for them. Instead they reached an in winter but could have a higher number and it is 400 of these crossing ewes that in the summer. are away-wintered each year. This allows “I like to think we educated Natural room on the better land for the younger England, as all that distance on a quad Swaledales to come down from the hill for bike for only 100 sheep was unworkable,” tupping. Adams says. “In wintertime we can get “Away-wintering would make the winter keep, which is expensive but gimmers too soft for when they go back to cheaper than feed. The environmental the fell the following summer with a lamb payment goes towards it and we still get a at foot,” says Adam, explaining they are sensible stocking rate in the summer.” lamed inside but turned straight out with one lamb each so they remain hefted to Pures and crosses the hill and can heft their lamb too. “It’s The 890-head Swaledale flock is split into all very well shouting about scanning rates gimmers and shearlings to be kept pure and lambing rates but if you turn them for their first two lamb crops, the best back to the fell with more than one lamb ewes to be kept pure (Adam’s ‘golden you end up with three poor sheep instead girls’!), and the rest of the ewes to be put of a good ewe and a single.” to the Bluefaced Leicester to produce The away-wintered ewes return to Adam Watson. North of England Mules. This gives 380 Sanders Close at the end of January, but

22 SHEEP FARMER to clean pasture after lambing, hopefully “Away-wintering with a good bite of grass in front of them. Farm Facts There’s no better substitute than spring • 590ha (1,450 acres) split as two-thirds would make the grass for making ewes milk.” fell and rough grazing and one-third Lambing starts in early March with 20 meadows and improved pasture. gimmers too soft Bluefaced Leicester ewes, synchronised in • Land runs from 200m to 600m above mid-October to produce purebred lambs. sea level (700ft-1,950ft). for when they “We lamb them first so we can concentrate • Farm bought in 1960s and expanded and focus on them,” says Adam. “Ram since; it is a family venture with Adam, lambs from those ewes influence our his parents William and Isobel and go back to the Mules in time, so we have to get it right.” brother Nigel. Adam’s partner Alison Around 15 Leicester tup lambs (usually and daughters Charlotte (12) and Lucy fell the following all homebred plus one bought in for new (6) are also activity involved. bloodlines) are put to 30 Swaledale ewes • Mule gimmer lambs are the main summer with a each in late October, managing to serve output, but also Swaledale rams about 10 ewes each in a week. Those (Sanders Close prefix) and draft ewes, that produce the best Mule lambs are Bluefaced Leicester rams (Thornhope) lamb at foot.” and Limousins (Saunders) all sold for Adam Watson kept as stock rams or sold for breeding at the Lazonby sale as shearlings, this year further breeding. with only 190ha (450 acres) of grazing topping at £1,150 and averaging just short an EID reader has been invested in for available for the entire flock at that time, of £500 per head. future use. Adam says he is enthusiastic Adam chooses to house stock instead. Adam will not use or sell a Leicester about embracing it, but has not yet had “In the first year of environmental male until it had proven it can throw good the time to set up a system he feels stewardship we realised how much Mules, so all matings are recorded and confident he can rely on. pressure it was putting on the rest of the notes made on lambs as they are born, Once the Leicester ram lambs have farm, so we put up a shed for when sheep and checked again when ewe lambs are been in for a week they are replaced come back from away-wintering, and that sorted for sale, to judge the quality of the with older stock rams. Again, one ram means we can put ewes and lambs out sires. This is currently done by hand, but is allocated to each group of Swaledale ewes, but these are rotated after the first cycle to ensure every female is successfully served. Ewes are housed from January, then scanned, and later vaccinated for costridial diseases, before being sorting into groups of singles, twins and triplets to allow for as many sets of twins to be turned out as possible. Shed space The younger Swaledales and ‘golden girls’ are put to a Swaledale tup slightly later (mid-November) so there is shed space available for them once they start lambing in April. Adam says the family spend an entire day sorting through Swaledales to be kept pure, deciding which to put to which ram and avoiding any inbreeding by carefully checking eartags. The gimmers usually scan at 130% (compared to 186% for the older ewes) Bluefaced Leicester tups run with the Swaledale ewes from late October, after giving tup and Adam says his is ‘about right’ as sets lambs a run for one week first. Continued on page 24

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 23 Adam is particularly pleased with this Swaledale tup, bought in Optimising this autumn to introduce a new bloodline. of twins are kept as such but not turned out to hill, meaning they take up valuable grass needed for the Mule-bearing ewes Sheep Nutrition and to make into silage for the cattle and hay for the sheep in winter. Energyze feed-licks have been carefully The value of grass is also the reason the Mule wethers are sold in batches of 50 over two weeks in in July and August. This formulated to address the nutritional year they topped at £61 and averaged at ‘a nice price’ of £54. requirements of the ewe at 3 key stages “We want as much grass as possible for the Mule gimmer lambs, because that’s our main business,” Adam explains. “If you’ve got a lot of Mule wether lambs kicking around it defeats Energyze Forage Booster the object. We move them on because someone else can feed • Feed mid pregnancy them cheaper on a lowland operation.” • Improved forage digestibility & Because the Swaledale wether lambs stay on the hill and utilisation don’t compete for grass, they are kept on until the autumn and • Boosts rumen activity then moved into the lambing shed to be intensively finished. • Low intake This solves the problem of low demand for Swaledale stores and achieves an income of around £80 per head in late January, with a feed cost of £20 each. Energyze Vitality The Mules gimmers are weaned in early August and dipped, • Final 6-8 weeks of pregnancy wormed, vaccinated for costridial diseases and pearl dipped at • Easier lambing least three times over the coming weeks. Each time lambs are • Improved lamb vitality, thriftiness & handled they are sorted for the five NEMSA sales the Watsons survival attend over four weeks in September and October. Up to 12 • Improved colostrum quality & quantity homebred Swaledale shearling rams are also sold in October, at the St Johns Chapel’s Weardale (D District) Sale. Highlights in Energyze Promag+ past years have been top males making £5,200 and £7,000. The money is reinvested straight back into new tups, so with Limousin • For grazing lactating ewes bulls also sold at this time of year, it is a busy time for farm. • Boosts milk production • Promotes ewe & lamb health & Pedigree Limousins performance The majority of the suckler herd calves in March-May, with female • Reduces the risk of grass staggers progeny either retained for breeding or sold at the pedigree sales at Carlisle. Most males are sold as stores through Penrith mart, but the very best are sold for breeding. The best prices achieved are £10,000 for Saunders Stallone when he took the reserve junior male championship at Carlisle in May 2003 and £8,000 for Saunders Handy Andy (from the same dam line) in February this Birkhill Commercial Park year. Coalburn, Lanarkshire ML11 0NJ The sale ring is work enough for the cattle, with forays into the Tel: 01555 820627 show ring reserved for the Swaledales. Adam says it is impossible to describe the pride he felt when he took the 2011 Royal Fax: 01555 820904 Highland Show breed championship with a homebred shearling [email protected] ram, and while he says you can never know if it will happen again, www.strathclydenutrition.com he certainly has two eager assistants with his daughters both being keen young handlers. “The not about the showing when you go up to the Highland; it’s a family thing. It’s a really nice atmosphere and everyone is there promoting the breed,” Adam says. “The stratified system is the backbone of the sheep industry and we are very proud to be part of it.”

24 SHEEP FARMER NSA Christmas book giveaway

The generosity of three authors means NSA has copies of three must-read sheep-related books to give away in the run-up to Christmas. We have a total of 11 copies across three titles and will be putting them into a free prize draw open exclusively to NSA members ahead of the festive period. To be in with a chance of winning simply fill in the entry form below and return it to NSA by Friday 19th December. Or save yourself the cost of a stamp and email enquries@ nationalsheep.org.uk providing the same information. The draw will take place on Monday 22nd December.

Counting Sheep by Philip Walling (Published by Profile Books) This celebration of the pastoral heritage Much Ado About Mutton discovered health benefits and butchery of of Britain tells a story of wool, money by Bob Kennard the meat. The lavishly illustrated volume, and history, of merchants, farmers and (Published by Merlin Unwin Books) which has been positively reviewed by shepherds, and above all, of the soil. With Signed by the author Lynda Brown, Sheila Dillon and Nigella his eye for the idiosyncratic, Philip meets Once more popular than beef, mutton Lawson, includes recipes, a suppliers’ the native sheep that thrive in the UK, has impacted our history, culture and directory and breed guide. telling stories about each breed, meeting landscape. Bob’s fascinating book looks Not lucky enough to win a copy? Buy their shepherds and owners, learning at farming past and present, mutton’s signed copies at www.aboutmutton.com or about their past, and confronting the decline and current revival, its newly unsigned copies from all good booksellers. present realities of sheep farming. Not lucky enough to win a copy? Buy online at Amazon or Waterstones. Free Prize Draw Entry Form Return this slip to NSA, The Sheep Centre, Malvern, WR13 6PH, Dogs of the Shepherds or email [email protected] by David Hancock (Published by Crowood Press Ltd) Name:...... NSA Membership No*:...... This review of pastoral dog breeds is about Address:...... the farmers’ dog – those fussless, selfless, Postcode:...... Tel no:...... strongly motivated, quite admirable dogs Email:...... that down the centuries have herded ** and guarded livestock the world over. It Book preference : Counting Sheep Much Ado About Mutton considers the pastoral dogs’ contribution Dogs of the Shepherds No preference to the working and companion dog scene, * You must be a current member of NSA to qualify for the draw; if you are unable to provide your NSA membership number will be a searching examination of their past, their check against your farm name and post code so please ensure your provide the correct information. ** NSA will do its best to provide your preference of book and post it for delivery before Christmas, but cannot guarantee this. Only one prize will be allocated per NSA performance and their prospects in an membership held. Entries received after the closing date of Friday 19th November will not be entered in the draw. NSA employees, increasingly urban society. trustees their families, agents and anyone else connected to this promotion are not eligible to take part. Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash or exchanged. Names will be published in NSA communications when the draw is concluded, Get a 20% discount when you buy but no contact details will be shared with third parties. By entering the prize draw, entrants agree to be bound by these terms and online at www.crowood.com. conditions.

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 25 Opinion piece: New LAA chairman

By Rod Cordingley, LAA Chairman I am obviously a massive fan of auction marts, which I believe are the best way to keep trade free and open, and I want to see the system survive and thrive. Through the auction marts, farmers have the ability to market their stock and get a fair price. Every time a farmer elects to accept a price that’s dictated to them, this fairer system is damaged. Milk production and pig production have lost their competitive bidding. If we’re not careful lamb production will follow. Other marketing schemes can tempt farmers away from the local live auction, whether that’s deadweight procurement, online auctions, collection centres or marketing groups. But each of these takes a steer from the live system to set their prices. The logic is obvious – if everyone abandons live auctions, who will be left to set the price? Nobody that will be on the side of the farmer, that’s for sure. Livestock markets need to be used to ensure their survival and those who think they can manage without will rue the day when they left it to others to do the supporting. The loudest protests following the closure of a mart often come from those whose failure to support it brought about its demise. Number of movements Abattoirs tell farmers that their supermarket customers are making them restrict livestock movements to a certain number, or specifying that animals can’t have been moved in the last 30 days. But why are they penalising farmers in this way? The supermarkets will tell us it’s because their customers – shoppers – don’t like the animal welfare implications. But what are these animal welfare reasons? I’ve seen no evidence to support this reaction. I believe there is a wider communications challenge around telling the story of the countryside and the role of auction marts in the production of food. It’s down to all of us to raise consumer awareness. People need to understand why livestock is bred in the hills of the west, where grass is plentiful, and why it’s finished in the east, where there’s plenty of fodder. We all know why it’s cheaper to bring the animals to the feed rather than the feed to the animals – but we need to tell this story to consumers. And we need to do so through supermarkets, butchers, agricultural shows, open farms and at every opportunity. Livestock movements are a fact of life and are better done through our licensed premises which are open to public inspection. So use your local auction mart – and next time you visit your butcher, invite them to come with you to find out more about our vital role in the supply chain. Rod Conningley, the newly elected chairman of the Livestock Auctioneer Association, is an auctioneer with Stephenson & Son at York Auction Centre.

26 SHEEP FARMER Reduce the cost of supplementing ewes during pregnancy by safely feeding cereals!

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200 EWES can feed from 1 x 1800 3in1feeders.co.uk Somerset family making the most of sheep focus farm project

Having agreed to become a focus farm in 2011, NSA members Mike and Jo Mouland have worked with a number of delivery partners and funding streams to host on-farm meetings and make the most of the opportunity for their own business. With the help and support of Kat Bazeley, their vet from Synergy Farm Health, and various industry speakers, they have covered all sorts of topics at these meetings. Just one example is foot health, and for the past 12 months the Mouland family has been using the sheep industry’s five-point plan to reduce lameness. Ewe lameness levels were at about 8% previously, but have reduced Mike and Jo Mouland (inside right) are pictured with sons (l-r) Richard, Sam and Nick. to 2% meaning much less time spent on Jenny (a work experience student) is pictured, but son James is not. dealing with lame sheep. point plan). They do not flush ewes unless Farm Fact File They have been culling hard for it is needed and the thin group will receive • Family business involving Mike and lameness for up to five years, and while concentrate for a month before tupping to Jo Mouland and sons Richard, James, Mike admits it was not easy to stop improve their body condition. They are very Nick and Sam. trimming the majority of cases and just aware that body condition of ewes and • Horn Farm, Forton, Chard, Somerset is inject with antibiotics (see pages 30-31 for rams is vital for optimum performance of a 1,330-acre tenanted unit with sheep, more on this approach), but he has seen the flock. beef and arable enterprises. great results and now says he would never With four sons enthusiastic to enter • 300 Dorset cross ewes lambed in go back to the routine trimming he used to the farm business, Mike and Jo have been January, with lambs creep fed for the carry out on the flock. very keen to focus on the future and the early market. Also 1,450 North Country whole family has been working hard on Mules lambed in March and 300 ewe Egg counts developing an even more productive and lambs in April. All lambs sold fat to St As part of another focus farm project, the higher health status flock and suckler Merryn abattoir (Two Sisters). family were supplied with a faecal egg herd. • 400 head of cattle, including 140 counting kit (FECPAK) and combined this They have recently purchased 100 suckler cows. with following SCOPS principles to reduce Highlander ewes, which will kept as a the amount of wormer administered completely separate flock, in the hope without reducing productivity. Previously they will be able to maintain a high family since 2011. She says: “The whole Mike drenched automatically at key times flock health status. If they prove to be a family have been a great success with of the year, but by only treating stock when success, they plan to buy more next year. regards to the focus farm meetings, with the FECPAK says worm counts are high, They have also bought an Abertex ram. great turnouts at every meeting. They wormer use has halved, saving money These new investments will enable them have always been willing to share their and time too. to start breeding their own replacements experiences good or bad to help other At the most recent focus farm meeting, to reduce risks associated with buying in farmers and this has also helped them body condition scoring was covered. The new stock. develop. They are a great example of what Mouland family body condition score can be achieved when the whole family at weaning and then sort the ewes Additional data works together. The future is definitely into four groups, fat, medium, thin and Purchased with grant funding, a new EID bright for this proactive farming family.” lame (although this one has become system with weigh crate is on its way, This article is part of NSA’s support of increasingly redundant due to the five- which will be hugely beneficial and add the Eblex Focus Farm programme. Eblex additional information to the already high has joined up with a number of delivery level of record keeping and aid them in partners to run 19 sheep focus farms getting lambs off the farm at optimum throughout England, with Duchy College’s weights. Rural Business School working with the Another future priority will be grassland Mouland family in Somerset. The family management and getting the best possible joined up with Duchy and Adas on the from the land they have, especially Healthy Livestock project back in 2011, with some of it being restricted within so are continuing in a similar role as a environmental stewardship schemes. focus farm through this Eblex project, Outdoor lambing is an area that is also which is funding by the EU and Defra via Suffolk rams are used on 1,750 Mules, being explored. RDPE. Find out more at www.eblex.org. which are run alongside 300 Dorset Clare Maggs, Healthy Livestock Training uk/returns/cattle-sheep-health-welfare- crosses and 100 Highlanders. Coordinator, has been working with the project.

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 29 To trim or not to trim?

By Fiona Lovatt, sheep cause irregular growth. See pictures on page 31. It is not recommended to carry The five-point plan veterinary consultant out routine foot trimming of sound ewes. Treat – It is essential that all lame sheep Foot trimming was long recognised as are caught and treated effectively, which an appropriate management technique Q. Does trimming feet improve or slow will include use of an injectable antibiotic for sheep, until considerable research the speed of healing? for cases of footrot or CODD. suggested that routine trimming can A. On some farms it has been shown increase levels of lameness. More that trimming infected feet delays their Avoid spread – Both footrot and CODD recently it was shown that even recovery. Whether or not you decide to are infectious disease which will spread trimming the hooves of lame sheep may trim infected feet, it is very important between sheep at areas of high sheep lengthen the time it takes for them to to treat any infection with an antibiotic. traffic and as they are gathered. heal. Careful trimming may be considered in Through a research and development cases of shelly hoof, if the hoof shape is Vaccinate – Computer modelling shows grant, Sainsbury’s funded a project on encouraging debris to accumulate or if the a cost-benefit to vaccination when levels a Gloucestershire farm in early 2013 to hoof is so overgrown that its shape is itself of footrot exceed 2% of the flock at any compare the effects of trimming some causing lameness. one time. randomly selected lame ewes compared Cull out persistent offenders, which to not trimming others. In the summer Q. Is it OK to trim a long hoof that looks means records must be kept so you don’t of 2014 Sainsbury’s funded further untidy? Putting a keep retreating the same ewes. These randomised case-controlled research on A. Cautious trimming, well clear of any ewes are not paying their way and are a a couple of Northumberland farms and sensitive tissue, will probably not cause spring constant source of infection to others. Eblex undertook some informal trials on further harm though you should consider their RDPE-funded focus farms. I have this a ‘cosmetic’ trim and not assume that Quarantine all incoming sheep to avoid been involved in each of these studies and it is beneficial. in their steps for over 30 years the introduction of a more virulent strain amassed a vast library of photographs of of footrot or CODD. sheep feet. Q. Does advising farmers not to trim We knew what the research was saying encourage neglect and risk fly strike? but we were not able to answer farmers A. It absolutely should not. Any suggestion who questioned what feet would look like that trimming is not always beneficial after weeks or months. We now have this certainly does not imply that lame evidence and some answers to important sheep should not be treated quickly and questions. effectively to clear up any infection. Flies are attracted to the smell of footrot, which Q. Is it necessary to trim long and is cured by prompt and effective antibiotic misshapen claws? treatment, not trimming. Sheep that are A. Sheep feet become overgrown and not sound within a fortnight should be out of shape when they are infected retreated and, particularly in the case of with either footrot or CODD. They may be CODD, your vet may advise a ‘stronger’ more likely to become infected if they are antibiotic as well as topical treatment. damaged but not necessarily if they are Application of the five-point plan has been overgrown. It is very important to promptly shown to be very helpful in the reduction treat any infection but not necessarily to of lameness – see panel. trim the foot. See pictures below. High levels of sheep lameness remain one of the great challenges faced by our they consistently have low numbers of Q. Does trimming feet keep them tidy? industry despite proven and effective lame ewes and this means that every one A. Healthy sheep hooves can grow a control measures. Some shepherds that is lame can be treated within a timely couple of inches in a year, and perhaps tolerate too many lame sheep, so on these manner. even more when there has been some farms there is a high weight of challenge With acknowledgements to J insult such as an infection or after they facing both ewes and lambs and causing Sainsbury’s, Eblex, RDPE Skills have been trimmed. Even careful trimming yet more lameness. However on other Framework, Jake Freestone, Phillipa Page, does not mean that the foot will still be farms, there are shepherds who have Rheinallt Jones, Steve Dunkley, Tim Kelsey, Osmonds Lamb Colostrum Supplement a neat shape after six weeks and it may embraced the control measures so that Emily Reeves and Iain Robertson. was the very first colostrum supplement to be sold in the UK. Over 30 years later we continue to produce the highest quality 1 2 3 4 5 Colostrum Supplement so your lambs get the very best start in life.

Animal Nutritionists & Veterinary Suppliers

1. On 16th May 2014 this ewe was identified as severely lame from footrot and treated with injectable antibiotic but not trimmed. 2. On 6th June she was walking much better. She was not trimmed and no further treatment was given. 3 and 4. On 4th July and 1st August she was completely sound and she was not trimmed. 5. On 15th September, she was completely sound and the hooves were virtually Quality Reliability Mixability perfect in shape despite no trimming. This ewe was at grass all summer and had not walked on hard surfaces.

30 SHEEP FARMER Visit www.osmonds.co.uk or call 01948 668 100 Bradeley Green, Tarporley Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 4HD Feet from these three ewes were photographed six weeks after identification of infection/overgrowth and being carefully trimmed. Putting a spring in their steps for over 30 years

Osmonds Lamb Colostrum Supplement was the very first colostrum supplement to be sold in the UK. Over 30 years later we continue to produce the highest quality Colostrum Supplement so your lambs get the very best start in life.

Animal Nutritionists & Veterinary Suppliers Quality Reliability Mixability Visit www.osmonds.co.uk or call 01948 668 100 Bradeley Green, Tarporley Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 4HD Prepare for lambing pitfalls to reduce number of losses By Howard 1: Lambing equipment 2: Tips to remember for Kellock, • Clean, arm length gloves assisted lambings • Clean, waterproof clothing • Repel the lamb sufficiently before Wensom Valley Vets • Lubricant attempting any corrections. • Disinfected lambing ropes and snare Lambing is inevitably a busy time, • Use plenty of lubrication. • Clean buckets with warm water and but slight changes can make a big • Know which limbs are which – fore disinfectant difference to lamb survival and the limbs bend the same way at both joints, • Halter for ewe restraint profitability of the business. hind limbs bend in opposite directions. • Resuscitation drops Nearly 50% of lamb losses occur either • Always return to the ewe once the • Medicines – injectable antibiotic, at lambing or in the 48 hours following, lamb(s) is delivered to check for tears oxytocin, painkiller, blue spray so being well prepared and aware of and other injuries and also for any the potential pitfalls is key to preventing vet for backup can be important. Generally further lambs left inside. avoidable losses and ensuring good early speaking, if you attempt to aid the ewe • If you are struggling for space to growth rates. but are not getting any progress after five reposition the lamb, try repositioning Prior to your expected start date make minutes then you should call for help. Vets the ewe. Having her laid down on the sure you get all your facilities ready. Check can give an epidural or medication to give other side or even stood up can often water and feed provision is suitable with more space and allow more chance of a free up that bit of extra space. outside pipes lagged to prevent freezing. successful lambing with no damage to the • Don’t cut the umbilical cord, gently pull Indoor facilities should be clean, dry, well ewe or lamb. In some cases a caesarean it away until it breaks so that bleeding ventilated and all hurdles and adopters section may be required. is minimised. disinfected. Stock up on equipment well in Other clear reasons to call the vet advance – see panel 1. include: feeling a tight ring at the cervix A newborn lamb should shake its head so you can’t feel the lamb (ringwomb); within two minutes of birth, begin standing Interventions finding a lamb that is too big and you are within five minutes and have sucked During lambing it is important to know unable to get a hand over the back of within 40 minutes. The most important when and how to help a ewe lamb. There the shoulders; and when the ewe is torn thing for the newborn lamb is to ensure are some siutations when a ewe should or injured during lambing and requires that sufficient colostrum is taken within be restrained and you should investigate, attention. the first three hours of life. Colostrum is such as when the head appears on its own After an assisted lambing it is essential to healthy lamb development, without the front feet, or when there is only common practice to give the ewe a dose as it transfers essential nutrients as one leg or a tail. of injectable antibiotic. This will help well as maternal antibody to protect Also intervene if no clear progress has prevent her developing an infection within against diseases. This is where clostridial been made 30 minutes after the water her uterus. Something less commonly vaccination of the ewe is passed down to bag emerged, or if the time for lambing thought of is to provide pain relief and the lamb. has been more than 90 minutes, or if the anti-inflammatory medication. Using a non- ewe is in clear distress. Regardless of why steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is Colostrum you have to interfere with a lambing, there important in these situations. The ewe will If the lamb has not sucked within three are some important common points to be bruised and in pain. Reducing this pain hours, the ewe should be milked and this remember – see panel 2. and inflammation as soon as possible will provided to the lamb by bottle or stomach Sometimes everyone needs a bit of mean she mothers the lamb and gets back tube. A lamb should take 50ml/kg of extra assistance. Knowing when to call the to her food quicker to produce quality milk. colostrum in this time period. Lambs should have their navels 3: Key biosecurity points to be aware of • Have a separate area for sick ewes and lambs to be cared for. • Wear gloves and use antibiotic hand wash between assisted lambings. • Keep bedding dry and fresh when lambing indoors. • Use a disinfectant powder when wet/ dirty areas have been cleaned out. • Remove all bedding and disinfect individual pens after each use. • Remove placentas and prevent access by dogs or wildlife. • Insist visitors wear clean waterproof Lambs should shake their heads within two minutes of birth, stand within five minutes clothing and gloves around the stock. and suck within 40 minutes.

32 SHEEP FARMER Hypothermic lamb decision tree Take temperature 37-39oC – mild Less than hypothermia 37oC – severe hypothermia Dry lamb with towel and put Less than five More than in warm box hours old five hours old Feed with Dry lamb with Able to hold Unable to hold stomach tube towel and head up and head up or from bottle warm box suck then reassess Provide Return to in 30 minutes Feed with intraperitoneal ewe when stomach tube glucose and sucking and then reassess reassess in 30 temperature in 30 minutes minutes returned to Nearly half of lamb losses occur within the first 48 hours of life, so normal prepare now to avoid common pitfalls. dressed with iodine soon after birth. is required. If you have a 40% glucose In order to reduce the disease Ensure that all of the cord and surrounding product dilute it with an equal amount of incidence it is important to reduce the area are covered. Where possible check it water. Hold the lamb with front legs raised pathogen build up through the key points has dried up sufficiently 24 hours later and then inject half an inch to one side and listed – see panel 3. retreat if needed. one inch below the navel with the needle An additional point to consider is Hypothermia is a common cause of directed downwards towards the rump. removing older lambs from the lambing loss in the newborn lamb and can be due Large lambs should receive 50ml and shed, as these will be acting as ‘pathogen to starvation, exposure or a combination small lambs 25ml. multipliers’ in that they will be unaffected of both. To assess for hypothermia use by a bacteria but will be shedding it out a thermometer at around 3cm into the Disease in large numbers. This means younger rectum. Biosecurity at lambing time is important animals in the same environment with • More than 40oC – fever, too hot in minimising disease transmission and less immunity (i.e. newborns) will have • 39-40oC – normal temperature maintaining a healthy flock. It is also to deal with a much greater degree of • 37-39oC – mild hypothermia important to protect yourself, as diseases environment infection. Removing the older • Less than 37oC – severe hypothermia such as salmonella, orf and enzootic animals or preferably moving the ewes still What to do if the lamb is hypothermic abortion are all transmissible to humans. to lamb to a clean, unused pen will greatly can be decided by following the decision The wet, dirty and warm floor of a reduce this ‘pathogen multiplier’ effect. tree – see diagram. When you need to poorly kept lambing shed is a perfect give intraperitoneal glucose to a cold lamb breeding environment for pathogens that For more information on infectious that is still unable to hold its head up five cause disease. Watery mouth can lead to causes of abortion see page 36. Find hours after birth, it is important to do this death and is the result of excessive e.coli out more on the general topic in the before putting the lamb in the warm box. A multiplication within the gut, while navel ill Eblex ‘Reducing Lamb Losses for Better sterile 50ml syringe, one-inch 19g needle is the infection of a wet navel that can lead Returns’ handbook – see www.eblex.org. and warm (but not hot) 20% glucose to joint ill. uk/returns or call 08702 418829.

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000_15_BEDMAX_Sheep_Ad.indd 4 27/11/2014 15:53 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 33 Health and hygiene when lambing

Preparation for lambing starts well gloves and plenty of lubrication will not before the lambing shed, says sheep require antibiotics. “Use antibiotics where veterinary consultant Paul Roger. He they are needed, but do not use them for recommends making a lambing health blanket coverage to cover up defects on plan with a vet not long after the tups your hygiene,” he says. go in, and making sure ewe nutrition is right to ensure good colostrum supply. Bedding Paul also highlights the importance of Paul recommends ‘at least a foot of fresh vaccinating ewes for clostridial diseases in straw’ in lambing pens and a thorough the run-up to lambing, to further enhance clean-down between occupants, using a colostrum. powder disinfectant if there is not time for Mark Pass, an SQP advisor at Beeston anything else. He also says to think about Animal Health in Cheshire, adds mineral what to use for feed and water buckets, so supplementation to the topic of nutrition, lambs do not drown or break a leg. saying to talk to your local merchant about Once turned outside, Paul says to different options for drenches, licks and always provide shelter. If none is available Lambing pens should have at least a foot boluses. naturally then a cross of big bales will of clean straw. “Your local SQP will have useful work well. If bad weather makes turnout knowledge about deficiencies in your a suitable tool box or similar to keep difficult, he says any hard standing is region, but nothing beats getting bloods everything together in the same place. better than overcrowding indoors – but done, so work with your vet and then His shopping list includes iodine, rubber again provide big bales for shelter and involve us to look at the next steps,” he rings, arm length gloves, lubricant, plenty regularly supply dry bedding for stock to says. of disinfectant, stomach tubes, twin lamb lie on. Paul says to prepare your lambing drench and calcium, among other things. shed well in advance, aiming for a clean “It might be stating the obvious, but Alternative bedding environment rather than a sterile one it’s all about pre planning,” he says. Finding that absorbent wood shavings and allowing ewes to get accustomed to it “Also remember lambing aids, because keep lambing pens drier than straw, before lambing down. Mark recommends having those to hand can sometimes save Andrew Phillips from Lamphey, taking an inventory of what equipment you having to call a vet. Chat to your vet about Pembrokeshire, is a convert to this have, stocking up on supplies, and finding whether you should also have antibiotics bedding, despite it being more commonly to hand and what to use. used in horse stables. “The most important thing is artificial Farm assurance reminder He lambs 1,700 ewes indoors and colostrum,” Mark adds. “While there is Under the updated Red Tractor farm goes through 200 bags of Bedmax nothing better than the mother’s own milk, assurance standards in England, scheme shavings, saying it keeps pens more if you need a substitute you need it there members must introduce new staff to a hygienic and significantly reduces lamb and then and not have to wait until the farm and explain their tasks to them. This mortality by cutting watery mouth and shop opens on Monday morning.” includes extra labour at lambing time. scour; antibiotic use has also fallen. Mark and Paul both say using lambing Although this induction does not need Andrew says shavings are comfy for ewes gloves for assisted lambings will reduce to be documented for farm assurance to lie on, less labour intensive, dust-free, antibiotic use. Mark says: “It’s about reasons, writing a quick check list of how easier to throw into pens, and particularly what’s on your hands when you put them the lambing shed works is not a bad idea good on concrete floors where moisture inside the ewe. I know at 12 o’clock at for all units (including non-assured farms) doesn’t run away easily. By choosing a night you don’t want to put a glove on, but as it makes everything clear, and might pine shaving there are also associated if you have a ready stock to hand you are even help yourself before lambs start antiseptic benefits against bacteria such StockTrace Ad 210x80mm.pdf 1 09/09/2014 15:59more likely to use them.” arriving. as e.coli. Paul says a routine intervention using

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Lambing shed tips

When we asked NSA members for tips for inside the lambing shed we got sent lots of clever and novel ideas.

Plastic sheeting for hygiene: Angela Doughty from Crediton, Devon, says the best investment they made was when her husband picked up a roll of thick plastic from a builders’ merchant (the sort used under concrete). “Cut up into six-foot by three-foot sections it makes a perfect bed for lambing pens,” says Angela. “After each ewe and lamb occupation we can pull the mat out with the dirty bedding, roll the whole lot up and put it on a wheelbarrow, unwrap and discard the bedding and recover the mat. A quick wash down with the hose, hang the up mat to dry and everything’s ready to go for the next occupant. Clean bed, clean floor, speedy operation!”

Reusing wine bottles: Anwen Hughes, via Facebook, says: “Pour boiling water into a wine bottle and wrap it in a number of sheets of newspaper and place under a Quality feed blocks hypothermic lamb. Within 10 minutes the lamb will be up on its feet.” for cattle & sheep

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K • Scottish quality cereals and their co-products • Protected rumen by-pass fat Making the most of space: James Davison, County Antrim, says he solved the problem of limited space in his • Omega 3 fish oils lambing shed by keeping the feeding area tight and compact. He came across some free steel from a local distribution company so • Full complement of trace asked his friend to weld up some hurdles with wooden troughs to elements and vitamins contain silage (pictured above). “I only had to buy the paint and the wood and a few bits so it wasn’t expensive,” James says. “The • Sel-Plex, organic selenium shed is not that wide so it makes the most of the space. And I can easily take them down, which leaves the shed free for storage in • High levels of vitamin E and summertime.” selenium Blackboard paint and police tape: Kevin • Active-S, highly available sulphur Harrison, NSA Marches Region Chairman, swears by blackboard paint. He paints a black square on the wooden doors of his lambing pens so very time a ewe is penned up the day, am/pm and number of lambs can be easily and visible recorded. “That way, if you find a lamb running up and down the passageway you can quite easily work out which pen he’s come from. We also Birkhill Commercial Park write ‘F’ for a foster lamb and any problems, like ‘low milk’, so Coalburn, Lanarkshire ML11 0NJ everyone can check them a bit better when feeding up.” Tel: 01555 820627 Plastic tape (the type used by police to cordon off a crime Fax: 01555 820904 scene!) is also used. Red and white tape is tied to the hurdles [email protected] of pens that need suckling or extra checking, while yellow tape www.strathclydenutrition.com superblocks is used on pens with three lambs in. “When we spot a single superblocks lambing we can go straight to a yellow pen and take a lamb out to foster on.”

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 35 Prevent and control abortion- causing infectious disease By Lee Innes If chlamydia infection is established this usually results in abortion, whereas in the flock it may be appropriate to look later in pregnancy you may see stillbirths, and Stewart at vaccination approaches. There are mummified foetuses or birth of a live Cowan, currently two live attenuated vaccines but sickly lamb. If a ewe aborts due to available and your vet will help advise how toxoplasma infection she will be immune Moredun these should be applied. to the same disease going forward and In flocks free of infection great care will be safe to keep for the next breeding Abortion in the flock can be a critical should be taken in buying in replacement season. blow to any sheep farmer and has a stock, as this is a very common way for Diagnosis of infection is critical to significant financial and welfare impact chlamydia-infected sheep to be introduced ensure effective control and prevention – however most abortions are caused to your flock. Where possible, buy in strategies. Submission of dead lambs by preventable disease. replacement stock from EAE-accredited and their placenta if possible to the local Two of the most frequently diagnosed flocks and members of health schemes. veterinary investigation centre will help aid causes of infectious abortions are enzootic the diagnosis. Again, similar to Chlamydia abortion of ewes (EAE) and the parasite Toxoplasmosis abortus, toxoplasma is also a human Toxoplasma gondii. With vaccinations The Toxoplasma gondii parasite is spread pathogen and pregnant women should available for both and increased to sheep flocks by animals consuming avoid contact with lambing ewes. knowledge of how the diseases spread, the oocyst (egg) stage of the parasite this article aims to ensure getting the best which is shed in the faeces of infected Vacination out of your next lambing season. cats, contaminating the environment. The Because sheep develop very strong EAE is caused by Chlamydia abortus oocysts (eggs) can survive for up to 18 immunity following infection with that spreads to the womb and the months in moist mild conditions and may toxoplasma, this disease can be controlled placenta killing developing lambs. contaminate feed and drinking water. very effectively through vaccination. A Abortions usually occur in the last few If the ewe gets infected for the first time live attenuated vaccine is available and weeks of pregnancy and often the first during pregnancy, toxoplasma can spread it is recommended to be used three indication that something is wrong is the to the placenta where it causes disease weeks prior to tupping to give very good appearance of a stillborn lamb two to and can also infect the developing foetus. protection against the disease. three weeks before the expected lambing If infection occurs early in pregnancy, There are no drug treatments that will date. cure animals of infection, although some coccidiostats have been shown to reduce Enzootic abortion the effects of toxoplasma infection in The ewes usually appear healthy pregnant ewes. afterwards, although they may continue As the cat is known to shed the to have a vulval discharge for several infective oocyst stage of the parasite into days. The dead lamb, placenta and any the environment causing widespread discharges from the affected ewe will be contamination it is difficult to maintain a contaminated with chlamydia bacteria closed or ‘clean’ flock. Feed bins on the and these are a source of infection for farm should be kept closed or covered other ewes and also for people. Therefore to prevent cats gaining access and these infectious materials, including any potentially contaminating livestock feed. bedding, should be rapidly disposed of (burning is an effective means of killing Diagnosis the bacteria) and the affected ewe should As with all infectious diseases it is very be isolated for up to 14 days. important to get an accurate diagnosis so Infected lambing pens should be that you know what you are dealing with. cleaned and disinfected. As Chlamydia Your vet or animal health advisor will be abortus is also a human pathogen, it is a able to help you with practical advice on significant risk to pregnant women who how best to manage the health of your should avoid all contact with lambing ewes flock going forward. and any clothing or materials used at lambing time. All NSA members are automatically It is very important to get an accurate associate members of Moredun too and diagnosis of the abortion and to do this as such, receive occasional technical the local veterinary lab will usually require newssheets. A newssheet on flock health the aborted lamb and the placenta to planning is included as an insert with conduct the necessary tests. Your vet will this magazine; if yours is missing please then be able to work with you to advise on contact NSA Head Office. To support treatment of the flock with oxytetracycline, Moredun by becoming a full member or which may help during an active outbreak, by buying Christmas cards please contact and health management in the flock going Cats are key to spreading toxoplasmosis, them on 01314 455111 or visit www. forward. so keep feed covered and bins closed. moredun.org.uk.

36 SHEEP FARMER It’s time to get serious about selenium

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By Harriet Fuller, and protein in late pregnancy and on the ewe being in good body condition. Lambs independent sheep vet, require a minimum of 50ml/kg bodyweight and Dr Jessica Cooke, of colostrum within the first two hours and 200ml/kg within the first 24 hours. Volac young animal Triplet-bearing ewes are a particular specialist problem, frequently having insufficient colostrum to satisfy all three lambs’ Neonatal mortality continues to run at requirements. Feed either supplementary an average of 15% of lambs scanned, colostrum collected from a single-bearing costing around £10,000 in a 500-ewe ewes or artificial colostrum. flock, but 5% is an achievable target on In addition to high quality colostrum, most units. to protect against disease, lambs must be Thin ewes generally produce lambs born into a clean environment and have of lower birthweight, provide less/poorer their navel treated with strong iodine. quality colostrum and do not ‘mother’ Treating lambs with antibiotics at birth is their lambs as well, meaning poor body no substitute for these measures. Routine condition score at lambing is one of the use of antibiotics is discouraged because main underlying causes of neonatal of the risk of selecting for antibiotic mortality. Correct nutrition ahead of lambing will resistant bacteria. Approximately 70% of foetal growth ensure healthy good-sized lambs and a occurs in the last six weeks of pregnancy. ready colostrum supply. Disease To help meet the ewe’s growing nutritional For diseases such as lamb dysentery, demands in late pregnancy and early range. Very small lambs are more at risk of injecting pre-lambing ewes with a booster lactation, introducing rumen protected hypothermia and take longer to stand and clostridial vaccine produces specific fat to diets is an ideal way of increasing suck, whilst very large lambs are at risk of antibodies in colostrum to protect the diet energy density and subsequently dying during birth or suffering trauma that newborn lambs. Infectious abortion maintaining ewe body condition. Scanning delays standing and sucking. Optimal lamb agents such as enzootic abortion and enables rations to be tailored to the birthweights for 70-85kg ewes mated to a toxoplasmosis present within a flock needs of the ewes and blood sampling terminal sire lambing indoors are 5.5-7kg usually results in the birth of weak lambs ewes three to four weeks pre-lambing for singles, 5-6kg for twins and more than as well as typical abortions. Effective will determine if their energy and protein 4kg for triplets. vaccines are available, however their requirements are being met. Early intake of good quality colostrum is uptake remains relatively low and both the single most important factor affecting these diseases continue to have a Body condition a lamb’s survival. Accumulation of significant impact in flock performance. Target body condition score for lowland colostrum in the udder is dependent on More on infectious caused of abortion on ewes lambing indoors is BCS 3, or 2.5-3 the ewe being adequately fed both energy page 36. for outdoor lambing to help minimise lambing difficulties. Poor ewe body condition at lambing usually results from inadequate nutrition or disease, or both. New products for sheep farms The main diseases causing thin ewes footbath solution topped up weekly and at lambing are lameness, liver fluke, mats washed monthly. haemonchosis and sheep scab, so it is vital that these diseases are controlled. New spot-on Lambs of both low and high birthweight Norbrook has launched a new spot-on have a reduced chance of survival product for sheep and cattle. Spotinor compared to lambs in the optimal weight Deltamethrin (pictured) can be used to treat and prevent ticks, lice, keds and The main causes of established blowfly strike on sheep, neonatal mortality and lice and ticks on lambs. A number • Stillbirths – difficult births or infectious of pack sizes and presentations are abortion agents. Footbathing mat available for different sized flocks. • Starvation – failure of lamb to suck G Shepherd Animal Health has launched because too small, too weak or had a new ‘Baa-Mat’ which is designed to a difficult birth, or failure of the ewe fit inside a creep feeder or be secured to provide enough colostrum or to to a fence with a mineral block placed ‘mother’ the lamb. on top (see picture) to tackle lameness. • Infection – (e.g. watery mouth) usually The PVC mat has a thick sponge inside the result of insufficient colostrum. which is soaked with footbath chemical • Hypothermia – more common in small so ewes and lambs’ feet are treated lambs or as a result of insufficient each time them feed. One mat per 100 colostrum. ewes or lambs is recommended, with the

38 SHEEP FARMER Final weeks of nutrition are key

The rapid increase in the nutritional least 16-18% crude protein if feeding hay he says. requirements of a ewe in the last six or silage, or 20% for straw-based rations.” “Both feed sources have a slower rate weeks of pregnancy mean careful Dr Marsden believes that given this of rumen fermentation when compared management is vital, says Dr Michael year’s favourable cereal prices, farmers to cereals, so the risk of digestive upsets Marsden, Trident Feeds technical will be looking to feed as much cereal- is reduced. The feed sources can also manager. based feed as possible. However, too stimulate dry matter intake and provide “Approximately 70% of foetal growth much starch can very quickly upset the more nutrients for milk production.” occurs in the final six weeks, but as lambs rumen, causing acidosis. This can lead to Dr Marsden says to take care when continue to grow in the uterus they take lower birth weights and poor milk quality, feeding wheat by-products, as products up a greater proportion of body space, ultimately affecting early lamb growth from whisky distilleries that use copper reducing the capacity of the ewe’s rumen rates. stills can have a high copper content. and decreasing their appetite by up to He says feeding cereals as part of the This is a key consideration for sheep, 30%,” he says. “It’s important to increase ration is not a problem as long as this especially for breeds where copper is the nutrient density of the ration as the starchy energy is balanced adequately particularly dangerous. However, low gestation period progresses to keep the in the rumen. “This can be managed by copper bioethanol distillers’ feeds are additional nutrient supply at equal pace including a good amount of digestible safe for sheep and offer the high energy with foetal growth. Aiming for an energy fibre, which is available from feed sources content required during the late stages of content of at least 12.5MJ ME/kg DM in such as sugar beet feed and low-copper gestation. the supplementary concentrates, plus at high-protein bioethanol distillers’ feeds,”

Lamb Growth Rates conformation and fat class were similar for both groups. New Trial 350 “Correct ewe nutrition can have a big 345 impact on milk supply and also prevent A new trial from DSM Nutritional 340 ewes losing too much condition,” says Products, overseen by Kate Phillips 335 DSM’s Adrian Packington. of Adas, has shown a significant 330 “It is likely that the faster growth rates improvement in lamb performance. 325 in the later period were due to lambs In the trial, 172 twin-bearing Suffolk 320 receiving a better milk supply from the cross Mule ewes were fed a diet based 315 ewe. By improving the balance of rumen on big bale grass silage and a compound Lamb daily gain g/d 310 microflora, Crina Ruminants has a positive effect on overall fermentation, feed during late pregnancy and into 305 allowing ewes to sustain lactation. In lactation. At housing ewes were split 300 into two groups with one group being ril ay ay addition, Crina is glucogenic which means Ap 7 M 7 M to 9 to to it will have a positive effect on milk yield. supplemented with Crina Ruminants, rth pril irth Bi 9 A B a blend of essential oils designed to “The better milk supply meant the improve the effectiveness of rumen Control group Supplemented group lamb’s requirements for energy were fermentation and feed efficiency. better met allowing them to grow faster Ewes lambed from 12th-15th February from 59-87 days (see graph) and were and finish sooner. This meant they were and all lambs had access to the same 1.3kg heavier at 12 weeks old. sold sooner, giving cashflow a welcome creep feed. There was no significant The supplemented lambs were boost. This benefit is particularly relevant difference in lamb growth rate from birth sold earlier with half being sold in May for early lambing flocks looking for the to 58 days. However, the lambs from compared to only one third of the control premium market and where ewes will supplemented ewes grew 9% quicker group lambs. Cold carcass weight, tend to be fed more concentrates.”

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 39 Definition of records Assessing your sheep A record is defined as something that is collected, either on paper or electronically, e.g. the number of ewes put to the ram, and can be from flock performance individuals or groups A performance indicator uses records This winter is a good to calculate a figure. For example, lambs time to step back and reared per 100 ewes to ram uses the asses what is happening number of ewes put to the ram and total in your business, says number of lambs sold or retained for the Liz Genever, Eblex Senior Livestock relevant production year Scientist, encouraging producers to get A key performance indicator (KPI) is better at keeping records and analysing a performance indicator that has been their figures. identified as important to your business The Eblex Better Returns Programme or system, for example weight of lamb has developed a list of 27 records and 24 reared per ewe put to the ram. performance indicators for breeding flocks, which producers are encouraged to focus Keeping better records on in 2015. Gathering information on lamb numbers “We have a range of tools available to “Of the 24 indicators, we’ve selected and weights will allow flock performance to producers, such as paper and online flock five key performance indicators (KPIs) be monitored. note books and record-keeping posters, which are a combination of information lameness. as well as the Stocktake benchmarking that can be gathered from invoices, The Eblex sheep breed survey found project, to help producers collect and e.g. lamb sales, and indicators that that a third of all producers never weigh analyse their records,” says Dr Genever. are fundamental to sheep production lambs, which will be an issue for this “We have also made efforts to efficiency,” Dr Genever says. indicator. If producers are not able to wean standardise language and calculations “However, it’s important that individual lambs at the appropriate time, weighing across Eblex’s resources and have businesses should identify their own them at around 90 days of age or 100 engaged with other levy boards strengths and weaknesses and look at days from the start of lambing could be and software companies to ensure establishing KPIs that relate to these.” useful. A standardised 90-day lamb weight performance indicators mean the same, irrespective of who has calculated them. 1. Scanning percentage could be calculated to help improve the robustness of this indicator “In addition, in the future we plan on Scanning data is normally provided by the holding ‘record clinics’ at shows to help scanner, so is easy to capture. Industry 3. Lambs reared producers who have queries about what targets are difficult to establish as the The number of lambs reared per 100 ewes records they should be keeping, how to percentage will depend on the resources put to the ram includes all lambs sold analyse this information, or what to do available, however most farms will have finished, as stores or for breeding, any with the results.” identified their ideal levels. Scanning transferred as stores and those retained rates can be used to check the health and for breeding. Some of these numbers can 5. Total lamb weight fertility of the flock. High empty rates act be extracted from invoices or movement The weight of lambs reared per ewes put as a prompt to the producer to identify the records. This indicator is a summary figure to the ram should include the weight of underlying causes and potentially take to help understand how well the system is all lambs sold finished, as stores or for action. performing. The target will vary depending breeding, any transferred as stores and 2. Weaning weight on scanning percentage and resources. those retained for breeding. This indicator Analysing lamb growth rates to weaning is 4. Lamb losses helps evaluate the efficiency of the system very important as it provides information A measure of lamb losses is important as by understanding the weight reared per about maternal performance, grass it’s fruitless to strive for higher scanning ewe. It is a flock measure and should not availability and parasite control. A target percentage when poor survival could be used to compare individuals. The figure of over 300g/day could be established, reduce its impact. This indicator uses the will vary depending on the producer’s but this will vary between systems. The key data already collected for other KPIs in a selling policy, but could be useful to track factor is to understand the reasons for any different way. An ambitious but achievable performance over years. variation between growth rates, such as target is to have a lamb survival of more There is more information on records and ewe body condition score, grass type and than 90%. KPIs at www.eblex.org.uk/returns.

Key performance indicators Measurement Definition Example Scanning percentage % per ewe (Number of lambs scanned in the ewes/Number of ewes put (1070/600) x 100 = scanned to the ram) x 100 178% Average daily liveweight gain to kg per day (Average lamb weaning weight – 4)/Average age at (31 – 4)/102 = weaning weaning* 0.26kg per day Lambs reared per 100 ewes to Number (Overall total of lambs reared/Number of ewes put to the (930/600) x 100 = ram ram) x 100 155 Lamb losses from scanning to % of lambs ((Number of lambs scanned in the ewes – Overall total of ((1070 – 930)/1070) rearing scanned for lambs reared)/Number of lambs scanned in the ewes) x 100 x 100 = 13.1% Weight of lamb reared per ewe kg Total weight of lamb reared/Number of ewes put to the ram 37,300/600 = to ram 62.2kg * Lamb birth weight is estimated at 4kg. Use the actual age if known or use the average age calculated from 10 days from start of lambing.

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 41 Increasing interest in Wool Week

Campaign for Wool’s specially commissioned items from Wool Week in early leading retailers and designers, with more October was a hit once than 8,000 visitors passing through the more, with a wide range exhibition during the week. of consumer-facing “Included in the exhibition was a activities helping to tapestry by Weftfaced and a Desert Rose cement it as a key date in the calendar rug from the Edward Fields Collection for interior design and fashion retailers by Tai Ping, both of which drew plenty of and designers. admiration from visitors.” The week kicked off with the ‘Wool Alongside these more established Ride’, which saw more than 300 cyclists designers and retailers, the Cathedral also donned in woolen clothing ride 13 miles hosted Wool Fringe, a selection of student through the streets of London, taking in award winners and innovative design a range of activities laid on for riders by concepts from the UK and New Zealand to Campaign for Wool (CfW) partners. showcase the versatility of wool in interior Tim Booth, BWMB Head of Marketing, design. says: “The streets of Edinburgh were Those visitors with a keen interest treated to a unique sight too, when Harris in wool and its various uses were also Tweed hosted a ‘Tweed Ride’ and riders invited to take part in a range of knitting workshops and ‘meet-the-maker’ events, took to their bikes in tweed outfits and Items from the Wool Collection exhibition allowing them to gain further insight into stopping off at a number of key venues at Southwark Cathedral. along the route, including tweed retailers, the products and pieces on display. pubs and hotels.” Malcolm Corbett says the growing success Also helping showcase the versatility Wool online of Wool Week was a great endorsement and vibrancy of wool as a fashion fabric Another showcase event also took place for wool as a sustainable fibre which can were a number of high street retailers at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, be used in wide range of fashion and across the capital, including Austin Reed, where wool items from ONEWOOL.com interior design products. “The success of Brora, Jaegar and John Smedley, which put (an online gallery showcasing a large the CfW and with it Wool Week, just goes on special woolen window displays. collection of wool interior products) were to prove how interested the public are in On the interior design front, there was placed on display, says Mr Booth. the products around them. a full calendar of events and activities, “The display featured a range of items “Interest in wool as both a fashion and spearheaded by the ‘Wool Collection: for the public to touch and enjoy and was interior design fibre continues to grow Interiors’ display at Southwark Cathedral, aimed at highlighting the wide range of and that can only be good news for sheep London, explains Mr Booth. uses and applications which wool can be farmers, as a growing demand should “This exhibition featured a range put to in the world of interior design.” help maintain prices at more acceptable of wool interior pieces including some British Wool Marketing Board Chairman levels.” Interest rates lowest since 2008

By Richard Haines, Director can only be a good thing, given the big a structured repayment plan on what for fluctuations in farm gate prices. many has been long-term core debt. This of Old Mill Accountants With the Bank of England base rate is due to working capital requirements At the time of writing we have been at historic low levels and 25-year fixed rising across almost all of agriculture but involved in a deal with a client which rate loans available below 5% total cost, profits remaining stubbornly similar. The resulted in a lending margin below 1%, businesses can hedge interest rate risk reality has seen bigger cash movement something not seen since the early part a very attractive rate. While the very best within the bank account for the same net of 2008. rates are rarely available for refinancing return. Sound familiar? Moving this debt This was for a loan over £1m for alone, where this is combined with an onto a structured term also removes the a strong business, resulting in good investment opportunity many businesses risk of your bank requesting the overdraft completion. But with many other deals have the scope to further reduce be repaid on demand. also seeing well below 2% it is an borrowing costs whilst the banks have the Capitalising your business for the long interesting time for borrowing funds. appetite. term is key for stability, as the banks’ The challenge is what to invest in to appetite for farming businesses change take advantage of these cheap funds. With Moving overdrafts like the wind. With current rates on offer land values beyond a viable agricultural One opportunity for many businesses there seems no time like the present. return based on current commodity who have seen overdrafts rates quietly One thing to remember is, if your financial prices, consider looking at developing increase over the last six years is to look accounts for 2013/14 show reasonably your business or diversification. Looking to move an element of this borrowing. This strong profits, refinancing using the at investment to add business efficiency saves the annual arrangement fee, often current accounts will most likely give you or creating additional income streams attracts lower interest rates and sets out the best opportunity.

42 SHEEP FARMER Sheep Breeding and DON’T FORGET NSA CENTRAL REGION WINTER FAIR, THURSDAY Services Directory 29th JANUARY, AT BAKEWELL MART, DERBYSHIRE. Advertise here from just £30 per edition www.nationalsheep.org.uk/events Contact Helen Davies 07976 803066 e: [email protected] CAMBRIDGE CHAROLLAIS SHEEP QUANTITY WITH QUALITY No 1 Easy Lambing CROSSBREDS OF DISTINCTION Terminal Sire Details from: Alun Davies, Pharm House, Willaston, Neston CH64 2TL WEB charollaissheep.com Tel/Fax: Tel: 0151 327 5699 EMAIL 01539 567973 Email: [email protected] www.beltex.co.uk www.cambridge-sheep.org.uk [email protected] PHONE 01953 603335 British Berrichon Blackface Charmoise “The HARDY, Sheep Breeders’ Like Us on Facebook EASY LAMBING, Hill Sheep EASY CARE Sheep” Association • HARDY Hill Sheep Information on the breed and sale dates • Add SHAPE to your prime lambs For information please contact available on our web site or from:- • EASY Lambing Sue Powell 01989 770071/07974 360807 Aileen McFadzean, Tel/Fax: 01738 634018 • Terminal Sire suitable for www.berrichonsociety.com tupping EWE LAMBS Email [email protected] Please contact David Trow Tel: 01686 688234 email: [email protected] www.scottish-blackface.co.uk www.charmoisesheep.co.uk Hebridean Sheep o Perform all year DORSET er t roun www.hebrideansheep.org.uk Pow d DOWN Hebridean Sheep are enjoying FAST FINISHING a dramatic return to popularity. LAMBS OFF GRASS Dorset Down Sheep Breeders’ Association Contact: Havett Farm, Dobwalls, Liskeard, PL14 6HB HEBRIDEAN SHEEP SOCIETY 01579 320273 [email protected] www.dorsetdownsheep.org.uk 01908 611092 F KING of the PRIME LAMB breed Old Breed for New Times ast Growing Lambs LLeyn Sheep Society Gwenda Roberts - Secretary PD & DH Sheep Easy Care ILE DE FRANCE Breeders’ The breed to meat your grades 01758 730366 Agriculture House The rapidly expanding choice for [email protected] For 3L’s use an Ile de France Acland Road the serious low cost sheep system Heather Stoney - Promotions Lean, Liveweight & Lively lambs Dorchester DT1 1EF Visit www.easycaresheep.com 079666 99930 www.iledefrancesheep.co.uk Tel: 01305 262126 Or Tel: 01407 840250/07788 585309 [email protected] www.dorsetsheep.org Secretary Edward Adamson email: [email protected] Tel: 07711071290 www.lleynsheep.com North of ROUGE The easy lambing terminal sire England producing quick growing lambs with Mule Sheep excellent meat to bone ratio. Secretary: Sue Archer For details of your local breeders call Association Tel/Fax: 024 7654 1766 Tel: 01904 448675 email: [email protected] www.meatlinc.co.uk THE ORIGINAL & www.rouge-society.co.uk NORTH COUNTRY CHEVIOT BEST MULE SOUTHDOWN The ideal The ideal (Bluefaced Leicester x Swaledale or crossing ewe for the traditional, modern terminal sire Northumberland Type Blackface) sire for producing Southdown Sheep Society all hill mules and For full Auction Mart Sales List Details from the Secretary: ewes half-breds Contact Marion Hope Mrs Gail Sprake Tel: 01986 782251 Profit from Quality Store Lambs Telephone 01387 371777 [email protected] Visit www.nc-cheviot.co.uk web: www.southdownsheepsociety.co.uk Contact 01750 82338 or e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] website: www.nemsa.co.uk “The breed that makes ends meat” SWALEDALE Tag Readers & SHEEP Flock Software BREEDERS FREE TRIAL ASSOCIATION England’s Premier Hill Breed. tgmsoftware.com Himalayan Lump Rock Salt Ewes are supreme for breeding Tel: + 44 (0) 28 9268 9681 Competitive prices Mule Lambs. Making EID Work Delivered direct to farm Rams are ideal for crossing Natural Pink Lump Rock Salt with other Hill Breeds for GEORGE MUDGE SHEARING available for sheep and cattle increased lamb production Buy loose in bulk bags, 1200kg, on the hill. New and second hand mains and 12V machines. 1000kg, 500kg and 250kg Secretary: Full range of spares. Buy now from the Salt Depot! John Stephenson All requisites for shearers. Barnley View, Town Head, NZ Super Crook for only £25 Tel 0844 324 9027 or email Eggleston, Barnard Castle, Contact 01822 615456 or [email protected] Co. Durham DL12 0DE [email protected] De-icing salt also available – Tel: 01833 650516 www.georgemudgeshearing.co.uk stock up now for winter!

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014/2015 43

On My Farm - The Next Generation

Our series focusing on young people in the sheep sector continues with Kate Robinson (24) the final of the 11 NSA Next Generation Ambassadors in 2014 to contribute to these pages. Kate is employed as a shepherd by P.G. and C.P. Whitehouse of Bradley Farm in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, taking an active role with the breeding flock and store lamb finishing enterprise. The business also has large scale arable, beef and milking goat units. We run a closed flock of 1,000 breeding ewes, which consist of pedigree Lleyns, pedigree Charollais and a commercial flock of Charollais-Lleyn crosses aimed at Kate was taken on as a shepherd after Kate is enthusiastic about benefits offered producing finished lambs. We lamb the work experience and part-time work. offered by mobile handling and EID. majority of our Charollais and crosses under 2,000 store lambs, which are sold active people remain. I came from a non- indoors in January with the aim to meet straight to slaughter through the nearby farming background and started my full the early finished lamb market, and follow May Hill Collection Centre. time employment as a shepherd with a in March with our Lleyn flock. We find the One of the questions many would ask degree in criminology and psychology! My maternal traits of the Lleyn crossed with is why take such large risks in a market interest in animals and farming has been the Charollais works well for us in the fat which is known to fluctuate so rapidly. encouraged from a young age however, lamb sector, but appreciate there are other For us the store lambs are used largely to and weekend sheep work experience as equally good crosses for lowland flocks. compliment our arable rotation, a demand a teenager with the Whitehouse’s and As a farm we like to embrace new we would struggle to meet with our part time employment within their goat technology. Although it often comes with breeding ewes alone. enterprise have given me the opportunity glitches for a period of time, it allows the From a financial perspective, to employ to enter the sheep sector. opportunity to enhance and tailor it to suit a full-time shepherd on the farm the work Not every individual has the opportunity the farm. EID recording is often frustrating available must justify that employment to develop a flock of their own through and time consuming with few immediate throughout the year. The store lambs financial and industry related inhibitors, results compared to the sense of help facilitate this, but the price needs but I believe the future of sheep farming achievement found in drenching sheep, for to be such that a living and profit can be can continue successfully through example – but with added pressures from made. The price of buying store lambs this new partnerships and employment the Government and other sources, useful year is around the same as last year, but arrangements not previously considered technology is needed within the industry the finished price is starting to increase within the traditional sheep farmer image. for the future. compared to last year, hopefully offering a For this to continue I feel it is important better return. I also spend a lot of time on that the sector as a whole remains open EID benefits the tractor at harvest and lend a hand at and encourages young people, giving them The positives for us include easily meeting different times of the year with different the opportunities similar to those I have farm assurance standards and aiding jobs. That improves my efficiency as an received. the development of our flock health plan. employee. Applications for the 2015 NSA Next Although I believe it’s important to not When considering the future for young Generation Ambassador Group are entirely rely on figures and lose sight of a shepherds, it’s ever more important for open until Friday 12th December at www. good traditional breeding ewe, I also think flocks to be productive businesses. For nsanextgeneration.org.uk. Also visit the the ease of recording will be utilised in the that reason I believe it is important that ‘Case Studies’ area of the website for future to improve the quality of the ewes opportunities for young, interested and more pictures of Kate’s farm. we produce to another level. Another useful development in technology for us is mobile sheep handling systems, which have been crucial to the development of our flock. The farm itself is just under 1,000 acres but we have 15 different landlords with all the rented land we manage. This allows us to keep enough sheep to have efficiencies of scale, but as they are kept on multiple holdings, the furthest being around 14 miles away, the handling system allows us to be able to physically do it. Mobility without the sheep handling system would be more of an exaggerated issue for us later in the year when we buy store lambs. This year we have bought just The Charollais flocks lamb in January, followed by the pure Lleyns in March.

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