Sheep FarmerDECEMBER/JANUARY 2017/2018 A NATIONAL SHEEP ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT WEIGH-CRATE WINNER ANNOUNCED ZOONOSES DISEASE SURVEILLANCE WOOLLY ROADSHOW REPORT DASHBOARD LAUNCHED NSA POLICY UPDATE CYBERCRIME: ARE YOU AT RISK? TMR FEEDING CAN REDUCE COSTS your business your future Uncertainty continues Sheep At 20% sugar Farmer December/January but outlook is positive 2017/2018 edition Vol. 36, No 6 ISSN 0141-2434 The clock ticks on and closely at our resources A National Sheep Association publication. now, with less than and strengths and making you can’t ‘beet’ 500 days to go, we sure that we’re making Contents still have no detail or the most of them and certainties whatsoever tapping into their full 2 News round-up about trade or the future potential. 4 NSA reports: devolved nations of farm support for the In the future, some 6 NSA reports: English regions sheep industry. There producers will see 8 NSA Winter Fair preview molassed Supabeet are indications of what efficient productivity may be and there are as almost their only 10 Sheep Breeders Round Table signals that are open goal. At the other end report to interpretation. But of the spectrum, some 12 Weigh-crate winner there’s still not enough to producers will see the 14 Latest NSA activity allow sheep producers to make inform provision of public goods and benefits 15 News analysis: cybercrime business decisions. as equally important alongside their, The 500 days may be extended for hopefully, efficient sheep flock. And, of 18 Bedding options a further 700, or more, if we achieve a course, there will be much in between. 20 FARM FEATURE: NSA Northern transitional period. But still nothing is The New Zealand system is often Ireland Region Chairman Brian clear. The UK and the EU have agreed highlighted as a model that we should Jamieson positions on dividing the tariff rate quota follow, but I would say that the Kiwi 22 Interest-rate increase update • supa performance held by New Zealand, but the Kiwis are experience should be understood, learnt 24 TMR feeding making the case to the WTO that they from, and adapted to our very different want the flexibility to place the total situation here in the UK. We don’t need 26 LAA comment • supa nutrition volume into either nation if required – to go through the pain that their sheep 27 RamCompare project their 1 + 1 = 1 formula. And then there producers did in the 1980s. We have 28 Disease surveillance is the Irish border. We’re far from any time for transition and we have much to 30 Tackling liver fluke • supa value decisions being made about that and learn regarding optimising grassland and there is also a worrying absence of any livestock production, although our best 31 Tagging benefits real options. is every bit as good as our New Zealand 32 Zoonotic diseases: reducing risk But you have to have some sympathy peers. Maybe part of the change that is 34 Coccidiosis: control and with those trying to find a way through coming will drive more people to where treatment this massive task. There are legal New Zealand producers are, but there 36 Responsible antibiotic use and operational steps to be taken, are also things that they could learn consultations to be carried out, and from us about integrating production 37 Woolly Roadshow report hundreds of new staff – who are needed and environmental management and, of 38 BWMB update to get this job done – must be brought course, our domestic market creates a 39 Sheep directory up to speed. very different dynamic. 40 NSA Next Generation It feels as if NSA has been effective in getting the voice of sheep producers Invest wisely The front page picture was taken by heard. Many politicians and civil servants ‘Sweating your assets’ is a term that professional photographer John Eveson and are saying the right things about the many producers will have heard and, features North Country Cheviot ewes being sheep industry and are aware of its essentially, that is the best advice fed ahead of lambing time. value and the risks it faces. We need to anyone could offer at the moment. Invest This NSA magazine is published with design and continue this work and do what we can wisely and make those investments work production services provided by Ladies in Print. do shape the future but, looking in the hard, but don’t undermine their value. other direction for a moment, one of the If my recent experience at the NSA most valuable things that we can do for Next Generation conference in Welshpool our members is to help and play our part was anything to go by, we will have a in preparing them for change. Because positive future. With more than 125 Email: [email protected] change is going to come and one of the highly enthusiastic and hard-working Tel: 01684 899255 keys to survival is the ability to adapt. young people there (headed up by the We need to help producers to read the NSA Young Ambassador group) and with Paper is FSC® certified. It is Don’t miss the Sugar rush this winter sourced from responsibly signs as well as they can and the do the calibre of delegates as strong as the managed forests. whatever is in their power to change their numbers, the conference served as the No part of this magazine may businesses accordingly. perfect example of what will be needed be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or shared to succeed in the future. And with many in any form (be in electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior consent of NSA. Identifying strengths organisations and individuals keen to Every care is taken when compiling this magazine and This doesn’t mean that there must be come along and play their part in sharing NSA and Ladies in Print take no responsibility for errors one ‘blueprint’ for successful sheep information and giving guidance from and omissions arising from publication. Views expressed Call your local merchant! and information contained in Sheep Farmer are not farming. Indeed, we should be striving experiences learnt, it also highlighted necessarily those of NSA or Ladies in Print and neither what a strong and collaborative industry party cannot be held responsible for any reason arising to use our diversity as a strength. But it from them. Neither NSA or Ladies in Print endorse any delivering you growth does mean that we should all be looking we can be. services or products advertised. DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018 1 www.tridentfeeds.co.uk 16791 TRIDENT_SHEEP FARMER A4 Advert.indd 1 21/11/2017 15:33 National Sheep Association Notice is hereby given that: Merry Christmas to all News • The Annual Members Meeting of NSA our members Central Region will be held at the Merry Christmas and a Happy New NSA Head Office NSA Regions Bluebell Inn, Tissington, Ashbourne, Year to all our members. We hope Derbyshire, DE6 1NH, 7pm on 2018 is a prosperous year, whatever NSA, The Sheep Centre, Malvern, Central Wednesday 24th January. is in store! If you’re looking for gift Alastair Sneddon Anne Payne Update Worcestershire, WR13 6PH. Call 01684 Regional Chairman Regional Manager • The Annual Members Meeting of NSA inspiration for a ‘tricky to buy for’ family 892661 (Monday-Friday 9am-5.30pm) 01629 812777 01142 883241 South East Region will be held at the member or friend, why not consider an or go directly to one of the team below. alastair.sneddon@bagshaws. [email protected] com Scab research Angel Hotel, Gosport Road, Privett, NSA membership? Any NSA members Phil Stocker The University of Surrey Veterinary West Tisted, Alton, Hampshire, purchasing this gift will automatically NSA Chief Executive Cymru Wales School is looking for sheep producers, GU34 3NN, 4pm on Wednesday 7th be entered into a prize draw to win a [email protected] Llew Thomas Helen Davies who have experienced sheep scab in Regional Chairman Regional Development Officer February. tempting lamb box, kindly supplied by 01267 253374 01691 654712 their flocks within the past 10 years, Lanhill Lamb - perfect for the freezer for until Friday 15th December. Contact NSA Julie Jennings • The Annual Members Meeting of NSA 07974 386394 07976 803066 to help in a project investigating the the coming months. This offer will run Head Office for details. Association Secretary/PA to Chief Executive [email protected] [email protected] Northern Region will be held at the spread of the disease and its economic [email protected] Tynedale Function Suite, Hexham repercussions. Lynx ‘licence’ latest Eastern Mart, NE46 3SG, 7.30pm on Tues- Hannah Park Dan Phipps Jonathan Barber If you would like to be involved day 13th February. Several months after the Lynx UK be commended for supporting the zoo Communications Officer Regional Chairman Regional Manager then please visit: https://surrey. 07836 590996 01953 607860 Trust submitted its licence application owners as they continued to try to [email protected] 07836 287281 07712 659262 onlinesurveys.ac.uk/sheepscab and • The Annual Members Meeting of NSA to release lynx into Kielder Forest, capture the animal. [email protected] jonathan@ceressolutions. fill-out an online questionnaire. All Scottish Region will be held at Airth Katie James co.uk Northumberland, a verdict is still to be The lynx was eventually shot after respondents and any data generated will Castle Hotel and Spa, Airth, Stirling- Communications Support Officer heard. straying into a caravan park, near [email protected] remain anonymous. shire, FK2 8JF, 4pm on Wednesday Marches But at the beginning of November, Aberystwyth town centre, almost two Antony Spencer Hannah Park A summary of project outcomes will 14th February.