Yet another season of expansion of our breed, with several new breeders. The bluetongue restrictions have been a big problem especially regarding exports to Ireland where a number of orders have had to be postponed to another date.

Our annual open day at Glen App was a huge success with about 200 farmers witnessing a particularly well-organised farm visit thanks to Charlie Russell and his staff. The social side was good too with the south Ayrshire coast looking at its best.

The N.S.A events at Scot Sheep and ‘Sheep 08’ at Malvern saw our stand well patronised all day and several orders taken. A new innovation this year was to have a small pen on the ‘Rumenco’ stand at the Royal Welsh Show, this was in a very conspicuous position and attracted an enormous amount of interest. Next year we are looking forward to attending the three N.S.A events at Betws y Coed 19th May, Preston 3rd June and Oak Hampton on the 9th June.

Our AGM and annual open day will next year be at the home of the well-known sheep breeder William Steele of Pershore in Worcester on Thursday June 18th. The Three Counties Show is not far away and that will commence the following day (19th for 3 days). More details will follow but in the mean time remember to put Thursday the 18th June 2009 in your diary.

Recording is something that some breeders are already doing, so far as a society we have not coordinated this very important work and so I would like to hear from those of you who are already, or intending to record, what you are recording for and what system you use etc. So that we may hopefully be able to compare and identify the best breeding sheep.

As more of the original members of the society are reaching their optimum numbers, more females are available for sale. The demand seems to keep ahead of supply but by next Summer I think we will have enough to start a society sale. This will also enable breeders to obtain fresh bloodlines in the rams. I have been in touch with McCartney’s of Worcester, no date has yet been fixed but you will be kept informed.

The society trip to Germany was a great success and our thanks to Jo Hewitt for her work in organising it. We were well looked after by our host Prof Rolf Minhorst who organised seven farm visits both in North West Germany and Holland. Our ‘home’ was a very jolly German tavern in Osnabrook where the hospitality was matched by the wonderful food and wine. Dr Steven Johnston of Green Mount College, Northern Ireland gives a more detailed report but interestingly one farmer we visited, which had been decimated by Blue Tongue last year, said that it was evident that wolless breeds were less likely to be affected than long wool breeds.

Another outcome of our visit was the discussion on the feasibility of formation of a multinational sheep breeder organisation under the auspices of the European Economic Interest Grouping (E.E.I.G.)

Back to earth, we are indebted to our members who represent us on the N.S.A council, Dr John Parsons, Isle of White, who will be joined by Mr Brian Harrison of Hereford.
 
Iolo Owen, M.B.E., F.R.Ag.S.
Secretary, Easy Care Sheep Society

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