Regional Co-Ordinators

EasyCare Sheep Society Open Day And AGM 2023 PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A WEEKEND EVENT STARTING ON FRIDAY 23RD JUNE 2023

EasyCare AGM and Open Weekend

23rd, 24th and 25th June 2023

Lower House Farm, Cutcombe, Wheddon Cross, Somerset TA24 7AJ

Accommodation Ideas

The White Horse Inn, Exford, Somerset TA24 7PY

Classic double bedded room £150/night (min. two night stay).

There are two ground floor rooms. (Early booking recommended)

01643 831229 Email enquiries@exmoor-whitehorse.co.uk

Crown Hotel, Exford, Somerset TA24 7PP

Standard double bedded room £220 per room for two night stay.

Rooms are on 1st and 2nd floor no lift.

01643 831554 Email info@crownhotelexmoor.co.uk

Exmoor Forest Inn, Simonsbath, Somerset TA24 7SH

Standard double bedded room £135 /night (min. two night stay)

Rooms on 1st floor (self catering cottages available)

01643 831341 email info@exmoorforestinn.com

All rooms are bed and breakfast, you can upgrade at more expense if you wish. Dogs are welcome, there will be an additional charge.

There are loads of B&B’s and self catering cottages in the area as well.

Saturday's evening meal will be at The White Horse, Exford.

Prices and rooms held until mid March, mention the EasyCare Sheep Society when booking rooms. I would advise early booking as popular holiday area.

Please note if you are planning on coming down the M5 or the A303, they will both be busy and slow on a Friday afternoon.

If you can, get up early and get here for lunch time on Friday.

There is a good pub and a shop and fuel in Wheddon Cross.

For those that can arrive earlier, l have arranged a visit to Shearwell Data, factory and offices at 14.30 Friday 23rd (across the valley from the farm).

More details of weekend will follow, please email me if you are planning to come and roughly when so that I have an idea of numbers.

Please contact me if you have any problems on 01643 805055 or lowerhouse.jch@gmail.com

Jo Hewitt

This event is free and anyone who has an interest in EasyCare sheep are most welcome to come along

By kind permission of Jo Hewitt

EasyCare AGM Weekend Itinerary

FRIDAY 23rd JUNE

SATURDAY 24th JUNE

SUNDAY 25th JUNE

Directions, maps and further details to follow

NSA Sheep Northern Ireland

Sheep Northern Ireland will take place on the 4th July 2023 at Tynan Estate, Co Armagh by kind permission of Kate Kingan and Peter Mant.

The Society attendance is attending this event and will have sheep on the stand

Steven Johnston and Campbell Tweed and their families will be organising and providing sheep for the stand

EasyCare Sheep Society Sale 2023 - Exeter Market 2023 Sale is on Friday 8th September

Rams & ewes - Society Sale Protocol

We ask that breeders check their rams prior to selling. Do a check of the testicles, make sure the rams are good with their mobility etc as we will pull out anything we feel is not to breed standard [see the Breed Standard on the website] or is suspect in mouth, legs, feet, or testicles.

With regards to a fertility test we have reserved judgement on this as to be honest it simply states on the day it was tested it was fertile but from the sale in September to the rams going out at the beginning of November onwards anything can happen to them which is beyond the Society's control. Therefore, it is prudent to either put extra rams out or take up insurance.

Ewes must be sound in the udder, legs, and mouth. They must have fully shed their fleece without assistance. They must be clear eyed and free of any injury or lameness. Check mouths for overshot jaws. DO NOT BRING BROKEN MOUTHED EWES

All rams and ewes presented for sale must be tagged with double tags bearing the word EasyCare or EC on their tags.

If you are MV accredited you will need to provide the paperwork beforehand to the auction mart and they will provide separate accommodation. All MV accredited stock is sold first into a clean ring. The Society does not currently require all stock to be MV accredited. Most, if not all markets ask that stock is dipped or jabbed for scab. Withdrawal dates must be noted and stated on the entry form.

With regards other health checks, if the vendor has carried out certain procedures e.g. Heptovac, worming etc we ask that this is made known prior to the sale so it can be put in the particulars. If blood tests have been taken to establish a ram's myostatin status or scrapie status, again the reports for these tests must be shown to the market and the information presented in the particulars. We also recommend you laminate copies of the test results and put them on the selling pen as it makes it clear to prospective purchasers what they are buying. Provide the results to the purchaser after the sale so they have the results for their own records.

Any further health checks are entirely at the vendors discretion we would simply say that it is good farming practice to isolate newly purchased stock for a period to assess their health.

If the seller has in mind to make their stock available for export, they must be MV accredited, must have an up-to-date Brucella test and possibly more legislation could be in force by the time the September sales arrive so a visit to the Animal and Plant Health website is always a good idea.

As a Society we can only make a judgement based on what we see on the day. We make it clear to everyone to present strong, healthy stock in the best condition they can but without overlooking the fact that we are a commercial breed and purchasers don't expect rams to have been stoked full of food or preened and polished.

We do not issue pedigree certificates.

Finally, you must be a fully paid-up member to enter the Society Sales. Membership is £25 per annum.

SALE REPORT FOR EXETER 9TH SEPTEMBER 2022

On the whole a good turnout of quality sheep and good to see so many established and new flock keepers.

Old ewes topped at £105 for Kevin Kearney Buckland Brewer, with good sized well fleshed ewes. Bottom end £79 for very senior broken mouthed ewes from Messrs Hewitt and Wood, Wheddon Cross .

Yearling ewes where a more difficult trade. The top of £181 ahead for 20 from IR &JM Prouse, Holsworthy reflected the quality and strength of the sheep. The others came in at £138 down to £118 for lighter less fleshed ewes.

Ewe lambs topped at £110 for A Hendy Totnes, down to £100 for T Dawe, Lifton.

Almost all rams sold bar 2 . Most where well over upset price and met a good trade. Top prices for Messrs Hewitt and Wood, Wheddon cross 710gns and 510gns for yearling rams .

On a lighter note we all admired the athleticism and enthusiasm shown by Ashley Kirks very typical EasyCare yearling rams . They made 340gns and 280gns.

On behalf of the EasyCare sheep society thank you to David Kivell for his time and to all the team in Exeter market . It was a pleasant and good humoured sale.

Jo Hewitt.

PLEASE FIND THE CATALOGUE FOR THE 2022 SALE IN PDF DOWNLOADABLE FORM ON THE CATALOGUE BUTTON ON THIS PAGE

EasyCare Sheep Society Sale 2023 - Gaerwen Mart, Anglesey 2023 Society sale is Monday 11th September

Rams & ewes - Society Sale Protocol

We ask that breeders check their rams prior to selling. Do a check of the testicles, make sure the rams are good with their mobility etc as we will pull out anything we feel is not to breed standard [see the Breed Standard on the website] or is suspect in mouth, legs, feet, or testicles.

With regards to a fertility test we have reserved judgement on this as to be honest it simply states on the day it was tested it was fertile but from the sale in September to the rams going out at the beginning of November onwards anything can happen to them which is beyond the Society's control. Therefore, it is prudent to either put extra rams out or take up insurance.

Ewes must be sound in the udder, legs, and mouth. They must have fully shed their fleece without assistance. They must be clear eyed and free of any injury or lameness.

All rams and ewes presented for sale must be tagged with double tags bearing the word EasyCare or EC on their tags.

If you are MV accredited you will need to provide the paperwork beforehand to the auction mart and they will provide separate accommodation. All MV accredited stock is sold first into a clean ring. The Society does not currently require all stock to be MV accredited. Most, if not all markets ask that stock is dipped or jabbed for scab. Withdrawal dates must be noted and stated on the entry form.

With regards other health checks, if the vendor has carried out certain procedures e.g. Heptovac, worming etc we ask that this is made known prior to the sale so it can be put in the particulars. If blood tests have been taken to establish a ram's myostatin status or scrapie status, again the reports for these tests must be shown to the market and the information presented in the particulars. We also recommend you laminate copies of the test results and put them on the selling pen as it makes it clear to prospective purchasers what they are buying. Provide the results to the purchaser after the sale so they have the results for their own records.

Any further health checks are entirely at the vendors discretion we would simply say that it is good farming practice to isolate newly purchased stock for a period to assess their health.

If the seller has in mind to make their stock available for export, they must be MV accredited, must have an up-to-date Brucella test and possibly more legislation could be in force by the time the September sales arrive so a visit to the Animal and Plant Health website is always a good idea.

As a Society we can only make a judgement based on what we see on the day. We make it clear to everyone to present strong, healthy stock in the best condition they can but without overlooking the fact that we are a commercial breed and purchasers don't expect rams to have been stoked full of food or preened and polished.

We do not issue pedigree certificates.

Finally, you must be a fully paid-up member to enter the Society Sales. Membership is £25 per annum.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sale Report 2022

Mixed trade reported on the day but no figures provided by the mart or by the co-ordinators who attended

Thanks to all vendors and buyers who attended

EasyCare Sheep Society Sale 2023 - Worcester 2023 Society sale is on Saturday 16th September

Rams & ewes - Society Sale Protocol

We ask that breeders check their rams prior to selling. Do a check of the testicles, make sure the rams are good with their mobility etc as we will pull out anything we feel is not to breed standard [see the Breed Standard on the website] or is suspect in mouth, legs, feet, or testicles.

With regards to a fertility test we have reserved judgement on this as to be honest it simply states on the day it was tested it was fertile but from the sale in September to the rams going out at the beginning of November onwards anything can happen to them which is beyond the Society's control. Therefore, it is prudent to either put extra rams out or take up insurance.

Ewes must be sound in the udder, legs, and mouth. They must have fully shed their fleece without assistance. They must be clear eyed and free of any injury or lameness. Check mouths for overshot jaws. DO NOT BRING BROKEN MOUTHED EWES

All rams and ewes presented for sale must be tagged with double tags bearing the word EasyCare or EC on their tags.

If you are MV accredited you will need to provide the paperwork beforehand to the auction mart and they will provide separate accommodation. All MV accredited stock is sold first into a clean ring. The Society does not currently require all stock to be MV accredited. Most, if not all markets ask that stock is dipped or jabbed for scab. Withdrawal dates must be noted and stated on the entry form.

With regards other health checks, if the vendor has carried out certain procedures e.g. Heptovac, worming etc we ask that this is made known prior to the sale so it can be put in the particulars. If blood tests have been taken to establish a ram's myostatin status or scrapie status, again the reports for these tests must be shown to the market and the information presented in the particulars. We also recommend you laminate copies of the test results and put them on the selling pen as it makes it clear to prospective purchasers what they are buying. Provide the results to the purchaser after the sale so they have the results for their own records.

Any further health checks are entirely at the vendors discretion we would simply say that it is good farming practice to isolate newly purchased stock for a period to assess their health.

If the seller has in mind to make their stock available for export, they must be MV accredited, must have an up-to-date Brucella test and possibly more legislation could be in force by the time the September sales arrive so a visit to the Animal and Plant Health website is always a good idea.

As a Society we can only make a judgement based on what we see on the day. We make it clear to everyone to present strong, healthy stock in the best condition they can but without overlooking the fact that we are a commercial breed and purchasers don't expect rams to have been stoked full of food or preened and polished.

We do not issue pedigree certificates.

Finally, you must be a fully paid-up member to enter the Society Sales. Membership is £25 per annum.

Sale Report - 2022

The sale day was well attended but we had far too many rams and some very, very poor sheep, both male and female that should not have been presented into any Society Breeding Sale, anywhere.

Can I repeat THE SOCIETY BREEDING SALES ARE NOT A DUMPING GROUND! STOP BRINGING SUBSTANDARD SHEEP TO BREEDING SALES! Send them to a cull market please.

That said we had 15 rams over 1,000gns and plenty more in the 600gns to 900gns region. There was strong demand for good rams. Gethin Davies was thrilled to take top spot with a double myostatin gene ram to 2,000gns. However, the ram trade just died towards the end. A lesson for next year, please think about the rams you have and are selling and how many you have. The EasyCare is a resilient breed and lasts a long time so the churn of rams isn't the same as other breeds. Folk don't necessarily need a ram a year.

Sadly there was less demand for good ewes which I can only put down to the 2022 year of extreme drought. Some farms have had worse drought than 1976 and this showed in condition and the coats of some sheep from farms which in other years have been first class. The EasyCare is a very determined animal and they will often not eat the extra hay given to them even if their lives depend on it. I had a few conversations with exasperated shepherds who couldn't encourage their sheep to eat haylage despite there not being a blade of grass available. Livia and Ashlea Kirk of Toller Porcum, West Devon achieved £135/head which was the top ewe lamb price of the day for their well presented ewe lambs. Richard Cook was the top price for the yearlings but he withdrew some lots.

The day was also skewed by the upset price being put to 300gns without consultation and without being announced at the start of the sale. The Society apologises for this and we will take steps to ensure it never happens again. In future the upset price will be printed in the catalogue so even if the auctioneer forgets to tell the buyers and vendors everyone will have had access to the catalogue and can read the conditions of sale. On the day, the change of upset price caused a lot of upset indeed.

Louise Hobson - Society Secretary

EasyCare Sheep Society Sale 2023 - Carlisle Market 2023 Society sale date is Friday 29th September

Rams & ewes - Society Sale Protocol

We ask that breeders check their rams prior to selling. Do a check of the testicles, make sure the rams are good with their mobility etc as we will pull out anything we feel is not to breed standard [see the Breed Standard on the website] or is suspect in mouth, legs, feet, or testicles.

With regards to a fertility test we have reserved judgement on this as to be honest it simply states on the day it was tested it was fertile but from the sale in September to the rams going out at the beginning of November onwards anything can happen to them which is beyond the Society's control. Therefore, it is prudent to either put extra rams out or take up insurance.

Ewes must be sound in the udder, legs, and mouth. They must have fully shed their fleece without assistance. They must be clear eyed and free of any injury or lameness.

All rams and ewes presented for sale must be tagged with double tags bearing the word EasyCare or EC on their tags.

If you are MV accredited you will need to provide the paperwork beforehand to the auction mart and they will provide separate accommodation. All MV accredited stock is sold first into a clean ring. The Society does not currently require all stock to be MV accredited. Most, if not all markets ask that stock is dipped or jabbed for scab. Withdrawal dates must be noted and stated on the entry form.

With regards other health checks, if the vendor has carried out certain procedures e.g. Heptovac, worming etc we ask that this is made known prior to the sale so it can be put in the particulars. If blood tests have been taken to establish a ram's myostatin status or scrapie status, again the reports for these tests must be shown to the market and the information presented in the particulars. We also recommend you laminate copies of the test results and put them on the selling pen as it makes it clear to prospective purchasers what they are buying. Provide the results to the purchaser after the sale so they have the results for their own records.

Any further health checks are entirely at the vendors discretion we would simply say that it is good farming practice to isolate newly purchased stock for a period to assess their health.

If the seller has in mind to make their stock available for export, they must be MV accredited, must have an up-to-date Brucella test and possibly more legislation could be in force by the time the September sales arrive so a visit to the Animal and Plant Health website is always a good idea.

As a Society we can only make a judgement based on what we see on the day. We make it clear to everyone to present strong, healthy stock in the best condition they can but without overlooking the fact that we are a commercial breed and purchasers don't expect rams to have been stoked full of food or preened and polished.

We do not issue pedigree certificates.

Finally, you must be a fully paid-up member to enter the Society Sales. Membership is £25 per annum.

Sale Report 2022

The 2022 sale definitely had a buzz about it that was lacking in 2021 despite the atrocious weather. There were more buyers present and there were less rams forward and only Richard Cook of WE Cook [Farmers] Ltd presented yearling ewes. The stock brought forward to sell were of excellent standard and all but a couple of rams found new homes.

The MV Accredited section was placed in a well lit area directly outside Ring 4 so that buyers were easily able to see the rams on offer prior to the start of the sale. Likewise, the penning of the non MV ewes and rams were well placed, easily located and accessible for Ring 3, the newly named David Thomlinson Ring.

We moved rings from 4 to 3 but it worked fine and we didn't lose anyone on the changeover. It was clear some buyers had come specifically for particular rams and if they didn't get what they wanted they left but, unlike Worcester, we still had an audience at the end of the sale which meant we had the right number of sheep to sell. We had some excellent ewe lambs presented and they sold well to new and repeat buyer homes.

It was very clear the Society's presence at NSA ScotSheep in June had helped bring the breed in front of prospective buyers in Scotland. We will be attending the NSA events throughout 2023 and will need help with stock and volunteers to man the stands.

Top prices

MV Rams

D Steen - 1,800gns ARR/ARH 2 copy carrier

Non MV Rams

J Howard - 1,600gn ARR/ARQ non carrier

Ram Lambs

J Greener - 280gns not tested for scrapie or myostatin

Yearling ewes

R Cook - £220

Ewe Lambs - April born

S Murray - £168

Ewe Lambs - June born

S Murray - £85

Other prices

Rams

Steen 1,200gns, Howard 1,050gns, Steen 1,000gns, Howard 950gns

45 rams average £580.77 including the three ram lambs

30 yearlings average £199

147 ewe lambs average £122 including the June born ewe lambs that were strong but smaller

Carlisle is the last Society Market Sale of the season but there are plenty of sheep to sell on our website 'Stock For Sale' page

Louise Hobson - Society Secretary