Summer 2011 Newsletter
The AGM and Open Day this year was held on June 18th at Aspartia, Cumbria by kind permission of Mr Harry Ward. Over 80 people attended and a lively constructive good humoured discussion was held with several very interesting and salient points raised.
The Sales will soon be with us and the prospects of a good trade look very promising. You will see from the entry forms that there have been some changes to the rules particularly regarding the rams. The entry fee has gone up to £10 and there will be an upset price of 200 Gns. This is to try and discourage poorer quality rams that would be sold at killing price.
Pre Sale inspection this year will be on a scale of 1 to 5 since there were some border line cases when we described them as ‘pure bred’ or ‘grading up’. The categories will be shown on the pens and announced when selling. All sheep must carry an ‘Easy Care’ tag. They will be available at the sales at £1 each but if you have the society double tags already which show ‘Easy Care’ then there will be no need to purchase separate ones. These tags are available through the society at £1 per pair.
Scrapie Geno types is again voluntary but for ram producers highly recommended. After the great work done to have our sheep in type 1 or 2 it would be a great shame to use a rogue ram which could spoil the flock. Innovis is the firm that will blood test your rams for the specially agreed price for members of £15 for 1 – 10 samples, £12 for 11 – 29 and £9 over 30. These prices are only available until July 31st. The address is Innovis Ltd, Bro Gerddan, Penrhyn Coch, Aberystwyth, SY23 3ED. enquiries@ innovis.org.uk phone 01970 828236.
International Hair Breed conference is to be held in Osnabruck, Germany on September 17th. Our society has been invited to send a delegation, I am planning to go from the 14th until the 18th flying ‘BSkyB’ from Manchester to Hanover and am booking in at the Hotel Lingemann www.hotel-lingemann.de if you would like to join me. This visit should qualify for Tax relief as a business trip and funding is also available from Eblex or H.C.C Wales. .
Membership There are a few that have not paid their subscription, please do so as soon as possible or your pictures will be posted upside down and free darts issued to everybody!
The name ‘Easycare’ should be changed according to one member. Personally I don’t think so, what are your views?
Iolo Owen, M.B.E., F.R.Ag.S., N.Sch.
Secretary