Sheep FarmerMARCH/APRIL 2013 THE JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL SHEEP ASSOCIATION PROGRESS ON JAAGSIEKTE DIAGNOSITIC TOOLS SCHMALLENBERG SURVEY GOES LIVE PREVIEW OF FIVE NSA REGIONAL EVENTS IS LIFE REALLY EASIER FOR KIWI FARMERS? MaximiseMaximise EweEwe PerformancePerformance AndAnd IncreaseIncrease ProfitsProfits Efficient Treatment Combination For Only 28 Day Fluke, Worms And Control Of Scab Meat Ensures Cleaner Pastures For Grazing Withhold! Effectively Kills Fluke From Seven Weeks To Adult Order Closamectin Sheep Injection Today To See The Results At Lambing! www.closamectin.com Please read the product data sheet and seek advice before use. The dosing programme should be established by a veterinary surgeon or suitably qualified person. Manufactured and distributed in NI by: Norbrook Laboratories Ltd, Station Works, Newry, Co. Down, BT35 6JP. Distributed in GB by: Norbrook Laboratories (GB) Ltd, 1 Saxon Way East, Oakley Hay Industrial Estate, Corby, NN18 9EX. Legal Category: POM-VPS. 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CONTENTS Sheep Phil Stocker Writes... ........................................................................................ 2 Farmer News in Brief ...................................................................................................... 3 Vol. 32, No 2 Regional Reports ............................................................................................... 4 March/April 2013 NSA Central Region Winter Fair ...................................................................... 6 ISSN 0141-2434 A Shepherd Publication Stamp Out Scab ............................................................................................... 7 Published by Welsh AGM Report ........................................................................................... 8 Shepherd Publishing Ltd The Sheep Centre, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6PH Membership Survey ......................................................................................... 9 Tel: 01684 565533 Fax: 01684 565577 NSA Summer 2013 Events ................................................................................ 10 e-mail: [email protected] The Horsemeat Scandal .................................................................................. 14 Editor: Joanne Pugh Snap Shot of the NZ Sheep Industry ................................................................ 16 Consultant Editor: Phil Stocker, NSA CEO None Go Bye Farm .......................................................................................... 18 Designer: NSA Supports the Export Drive ....................................................................... 20 Hannah Thorley BA (Hons) Publisher: Sheep Research Goes Global ......................................................................... 22 Howard Venters Factors Limiting Lamb Growth and Production ................................................ 24 An Update on OPA ........................................................................................... 26 Feed Purchasing Decisions .............................................................................. 27 An independent body representing the Wool Update ..................................................................................................... 28 interests of UK sheep producers. Breed Society Directory .................................................................................... Chairman John Geldard FRAgS Sheep Farmer 30 Chief Executive Phil Stocker MARCH/APRIL 2013 THE JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL SHEEP ASSOCIA Classifieds ......................................................................................................... 31 NSA, The Sheep Centre, Malvern, TION Worcs WR13 6PH. Tel: 01684 892661 Fax: 01684 892663 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.nationalsheep.org.uk A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England No. 37818. PROGRESS ON JAAGSIEKTE DIAGNOSITIC TOOLS Registered Charity No: 249255 SCHMALLENBERG SURVEY GOES LIVE PREVIEW OF FIVE NSA REGIONAL EVENTS Charity registered in Scotland SC042853. IS LIFE REALLY EASIER FOR KIWI FARMERS? VAT No: 273 3469 44 Shepherd Publishing Ltd gives notice that no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior consent of the publishers. Every care is taken when compiling editorial and advertisements and the publishers can accept no responsibility for errors and omissions arising from publication. Views expressed and information contained in Sheep Farmer are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the National Sheep Association who cannot therefore be held responsible for any reason arising therefrom. Neither the Association, the Publisher nor the Editor endorses any services or products advertised in this issue. Paper is FSC® certified. It is sourced from responsibly managed forests. MARCH/APRIL 2013 1 ROUNDUP Board Chairman John Geldard FRAgS The Sheep Centre Malvern Worcestershire WR13 6PH Tel: 01684 892661 Phil Stocker Writes... Fax: 01684 892663 Central region Chairman Bob Payne - Sheffield Tel: 01142 883241 [email protected]. co.uk Membership Matters Secretary Anne Payne - Sheffield Tel: 01142 883241 [email protected] f we ran a letters section in Sheep side of one being good and the other Farmer it would have been bulging being bad. Cymru Wales region Chairman David Pittendreigh this time round, as the ‘Competition The reality is that diversity is good and Carmarthenshire Vital for Lamb Price’ article from serves different purposes, and there are Tel: 01559 395372 I Norman Bagley of the Association of benefits and dis-benefits of both. Diversity [email protected] Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) in the gives freedom of choice and success or Secretary Mrs Helen Davies - Powys last issue stimulated a lot of responses. otherwise will follow. This debate comes Tel/Fax: 01938 590535 [email protected] Some members felt it was too critical, straight back to highlighting the need to and many more felt moved to say it was communicate to the public and increase Eastern region an accurate portrayal of where we are their understanding of realities on the Chairman Andrew Foulds - Norfolk Tel: 01842 890828 and it needed to be said. farm and through the food chain. Farming [email protected] I knew it was going to be controversial, is different from most other businesses Secretary Jonathan Barber - Norfolk and you can imagine there was some in that it is much wider and deeper than Tel: 01953 607860 agonising over inclusion in the magazine, simply producing food. That is why it is, Fax: 01953 607626 but part of the NSA’s role must be to and should be, of high public interest, Marches region stimulate debate and not to shy away and why it is important to offer the public Chairman Nick Davies from controversial topics, at all times every opportunity to see and hear about Tel: 07818 096647 [email protected] aware of our responsibility of promoting the reality of what is actually happening and protecting the long term interests of on the ground. Secretary Angela Weston - Gloucestershire sheep farming. The UK sheep industry throughout is Tel: 01454 260220 [email protected] Since the article we have seen the fortunate in the diversity it has. Whilst regrettable announcement of intention it might present some challenges, and Northern region Chairman Adam Watson of closure of the Welsh Country Foods maybe doesn’t present the best deal Tel: 01434 381243/07766 720423 plant on Anglesey. The employees and every day, diversity should give strength, [email protected] individuals affected are of immediate resilience, and longer term security. Secretary Mrs Julie A Sedgewick - Co. Durham concern, but this reaction is quickly Market prices for lamb since December Tel: 01325 314650 followed by questions over the fact maybe don’t reflect this – but in our Mob: 07836 773888 [email protected] centralised and distant trading decisions markets we are lucky to have such a can have sudden and catastrophic balanced basket of options – export, Northern Ireland region effects throughout the chain – from job domestic supermarket scale, the ethnic Chairman Maurice McHenry Tel: 02820 762093 losses and business closures, the loss market, domestic independent retail, [email protected] of regional infrastructure that supports direct farm retail. All this provides Secretary Edward Adamson - Co.Antrim regional production, and even down to competition and different markets Tel/Fax: 028 9336 6225 the disruption caused by changes in outlets for different types of sheep. [email protected] national levy collection. Given the variation of climate, landscape Scottish region Since the last issue of Sheep Farmer and pastures we have in the UK, and the Chairman Jim Sinclair - Midlothian we have also seen the episode of resulting diversity of sheep breeds and Tel: 01875 835232 [email protected] horsemeat being found in beef burgers crosses, the variety of markets helps (read more on page 13). The FSA assured support our rich production base. Secretary George Milne - Fife us that although some burgers included Phil Stocker,