Whitefaced Woodland Sheep Society Newsletter 69 – March 2010 Chairman’s Message entries forward) carries with it the now usual high costs of inspection by RBST and DNA testing. Woody weather!! The RBST Hill Flock Register is not what we Deserves comment doesn’t it? If only in general want at all, and indeed, we are rather pointedly commiseration with all of us longing to see the excluded from any participation in it whatsoever. colour green return to the landscape and a fresh bite for our long suffering ewes. And after all So, our Society’s committee, now nine strong, that lovely flushing grass in the autumn as well, resolved last month, to continue with our “hill now a distant memory. Still, on the bright side, register” as it was called when started last year, any barrens will be welcome down at the market but to re brand it the Register of Whitefaced with “strong woodlands” making £64 plus at Woodland Sheep. Our Register will continue to Bakewell last week, beating “meated swales” be open to tups (from their second year of birth) which were at £50. Strong woody ewe lambs and ewes (any age) drawn from any flock. Sheep were selling at £72 in Leek towards the end of the will be subject to inspection (free of charge for autumn store and breeding sheep sales, with the time being) by two nominated inspectors (one lesser late born lambs reaching £45. of whom will be a senior inspector) with the criteria for acceptance being achieving a superior Woodland register grade within the card grading system. Members of long standing will be relieved to hear that this matter has now come to a positive The Rules for Registration were set out and conclusion. We were hoping to establish a breed adopted at our AGM in September last year, and register of the quality of sheep required to supply included in the AGM draft minutes circulated to commercial breeders with tups and ewes with a members. They can shortly be viewed on our recorded pedigree. This being the first essential website or further paper copies can be supplied step towards promoting our breed as a strong, on request. So it is with sincere regret that we hardy, prolific and milky hill sheep well suited part company with RBST over this, but let it be for terminal crossing without the need for an clear: RBST has abandoned us, we haven’t intermediate mule. abandoned RBST nor our joint members who register sheep in the CFB. We had hoped to manage the register in cooperation with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Five of our committee register sheep with the (RBST) which of course manages a register of CFB and hope to continue to do so. I myself Whitefaced Woodland sheep in the Combined bought into my flock 20 young CFB registered Flock Book (CFB) along with several other ‘rare females this last autumn. The CFB “A” Register breeds’ of sheep without a breed society. The has some 950 registered animals and these should advantage of cooperation with RBST was that we continue to be a source of valuable breeding could use a common registration system. animals because of the genetic diversity represented within the CFB flock. The CFB However, and despite very clear understandings flock is a conservation flock because of its between ourselves and RBST during the summer diversity and because it is widely dispersed last year, RBST has proceeded without us, and around the UK and therefore able to better without further consultation, to add to their CFB withstand the onslaught of any future Defra collection a further register of Whitefaced disease control cull. Dual registration is of Woodland Hill flocks. This CFB register course quite feasible but members will, I imagine, category, along with the Supplementary Register be led by the market on this point. introduced a couple of years ago (and with no 1 Melton Woodlands Shows and Sales in 2010 We are of course desperately keen to support These are shows with specific Woodland classes CFB registering members and in particular, this – with the exception of the Westmorland County year, to do what we can to rejuvenate Melton as a Show in September, where we are invited to enter show and sale where CFB members and crucially the Rare Breeds classes. We hope that, given their Woodland stock, can change hands. We enough support, we might be able to have our will this year, as we have done previously, supply own classes in future. It is reported to be an a judge and rosette and card graders, but what is excellent show, so perhaps especially breeders in really required is commitment by members to the North West will be encouraged to enter. enter stock, at least for the sale, prior to the mid summer catalogue cut off date. To this end, if Neither the Suffolk Show (2-3 June) nor Wayland members will notify Ann or myself of their intent (1 August) have Woodland classes this year, but to enter stock or perhaps more importantly, to be will be pleased to accept entries in their Native present to buy stock, then we can publish this Breeds classes. For Suffolk entries, contact: Liz information, which may then encourage more to Payne on 01473 707115. Wayland enquiries to come forward prior to the cut off date Gail Sprake on 01986 782251. Woody Word 12 June – Honley Show, Honley, West Yorks. The last edition trailed fleak. Well, as I’m sure Contact: Paul Sykes 01484 680731. Judge: Paul everyone already knows because it’s still in Dixon, Holmfirth common parlance (isn’t it?) a fleak is simply a sheep hurdle, traditionally made from split (riven) 18-20 June – East of England Country Show, green wood rods. Origin unknown, as is extent of Peterborough. Phone 01733 234451 or visit usage. Next edition’s word is starved...possibly www.eastofengland.org.uk. Judge: Chris Steel not what you think it means! 20 June – Harden Moss Sheep Show and Woodland census Sheepdog Trials, Holmfirth. Contact: Christine John Jones, our intrepid enumerator continues his Smith 01484 680823. pursuit of further hill flocks ‘uncovered’ during the initial round of questionnaires last summer. 30 June-1 July – Royal Norfolk Show, Norwich. His results thus far suggest some 950 head in the Judge: John Maxwell, Ely. Schedule from CFB (this tallies with figures supplied by [email protected] or phone 01603 Grassroots) and some 2,250 on the hill. We will 731965. www.royalnorfolkshow.co.uk be following up as soon as we can those 25 or so requests for registration derived from individual 13-15 July – Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate. flock owners during the breed census last year. Contact: Amanda West on 01423 546231 or [email protected]. Judge: James Gill, Woody photos Hoyland. www.greatyorkshireshow.com Karen is collecting photographs of woodies in seasonal settings for inclusion in a 2011 calendar. 14 Aug – Manifold Show, Ilam, Staffs. Contact: If you have any you think may be suitable, please David Belfield: 01538 308362, mob. 07866 465161. email or post them to her (address on back page). We need to make our photograph selection by 15 Aug – Mottram Show, Mottram, near Glossop. late summer, to get everything organised in time. Contact: Angela Oldham 0161 351 1263. Woodland flock profiles Mon 30 Aug – Hope Show. Champion of In this edition we have a profile of James Gill’s Champions follows regular WFW classes. celebrated flock - another of Philip Onions’ Contact.: Mrs H Morris 01663 750318; hope- amazingly gifted pieces. We intend eventually to [email protected] or [email protected]. print these as an anthology, along with a brief repotted breed history. In the next edition...the 4 Sept – Rare Breeds Show & Sale at Skipton. Beckermonds are coming…Followed by Craven Cattle Marts 01756 792375.. Christmas Hill, Byway and Neville Belfield 9 Sept – Westmorland County Show, Kendal Best of luck with your lambing! Rare breeds classes -entries close 16 August Rob Ford www.westmorlandshow.co.uk or 01539 567804. Show information continues on page 7 2 The Man of the Moment success, then it is quite obviously James himself. James is a professional shepherd, Up here on the limestone hills around in every sense of the word. It is his no Hutton Roof we don’t hold much with nonsense professionalism and attention to this celebrity culture that seems to obsess detail, which is the key to his success. our society. Oh I’ve heard that Robbie As soon as my son and I entered Williams on the tractor radio and the lad James’ field, James focussed on his seems to be able to hold a tune and I’m sheep, a soft whistle and his dog was told that David Beckham can kick a away, gathering them up. Modestly James football, but what the heck Paris Hilton is mentions that he was once on “One Man all about, escapes me! and His Dog”. Then he goes on to tell us On the other hand, if there is someone about the breeding behind each sheep. He worthy of some attention, then for me it knows them all well, but doesn’t fuss has to be James Gill! James has smashed about naming them. James points out the record yet again, for his Ram selling sheep after sheep, discussing the best and for the highest price at the annual Bretton worst features of each animal critically Mill Whitefaced Woodland sale. but honestly. I struggle to get a clear photo of his tup lamb, so James politely waits a moment, then gathers them with his dog and snatches the tup from the flock as they pass.