Dorset Sheep Newsletter May 2012

DORSET HORN & POLL DORSET SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION May 2012

MAY FAIR 2012

D O R S E T D I A R Y 1

DORSETS IN DEMAND WITH INCREASED AVERAGE AT MAY FAIR A virtual clearance and increased averages from a record entry emphasised the demand for both breeders’ and commercial Dorset sheep at the annual May Fair at Exeter Livestock Centre on behalf of the Poll Dorset & Dorset Horn Sheep Breeders’ Association on Wednesday May 9.

A top price of 4,200gns - one of five rams topping 2,500gns and more - went to Northern Ireland breeders William and Karen Carson, achieving the Downkillybegs flock’s best price yet in 33 years, selling to Poll Dorset chairman David Rossiter for his Huish flock at Burton, Galmpton, Kingsbridge, Devon.

The event, the largest sale in the country of early lambing ewes, attracted 3,000 ewes and rams, marking the first pedigree sheep sale run by Kivells and Husseys since taking over the Exeter centre in early April this year. Rams averaged £902, more than £200 up on the 2011 average of £693.

The flexibility of the Poll Dorset has brought renewed interest in the breed with breeders from across the country who had previously switched from the traditional sheep to continentals returning to this year’s May Fair to buy, according to David Rossiter.

“There has been demand for both rams and females from breeders who previously had Dorsets and are now returning to the breed, recognising the ease of breeding and carcase quality,” said Mr Rossiter.

“The Dorset allows you to do what you want with your enterprise because of their ability to lamb at any time of the year. The texture and succulence of the finished Dorset lamb is endorsed by the Waitrose Dorset Breed Lamb Group which can’t get enough of a committed, consistent supply for the supermarket,” he added.

Auctioneer Simon Alford said it was obvious from the inaugural sale run by the auction company’s that the Dorset breed was ‘in good hands’ with breeders doing the job well and very keen.

“The rams made a great average of just over £900 with very few unsold. That was taking into consideration an increased entry and 100gns more on the upset price of 350gns,” he said.

“There was a great spread of buyers. Irish breeders had a big influence on the sale by bringing a lot of the entries, but they also took a lot of the bloodlines back with them,” he added.

The leading priced ram, the September-2011 born Downkillybegs Strongbow, was first in the pair of lambs for the Carsons of Downkillybegs, Ballymena, Co Antrim, judged by Roger Brown the previous day with Downkillybegs Stetson which made 1,400gns. Both are by Oliver Tree Nik Nak a son of Downkillybegs Hercules and they carry the extra muscling Myomax gene and Strongbow had a muscle depth of 40.9mm at 21 weeks old.

“The ram carries the gene for the complete meat package and that coupled with very correct genetics and the figures to back it up made me determined to have him,” said Mr Rossiter.

“The muscling has been displayed back through his sire’s pedigree.”

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The ram will be used in Mr Rossiter’s Huish flock of just over 400 pedigree ewes which was the breed’s champion flock in 2011. Run alongside a pedigree Suffolk flock, it supplies early lamb to the Waitrose scheme.

The show’s overall champion was a horned September born shearling from Northern Ireland breeder Ben Lamb of Lime Tree Farm, Richhill, Co Armagh. Richhill Peter, judged the show’s overall champion by David Thomas, was sold for 3,400gns to Ross May who runs commercial Polled and horned Dorsets in the Exe Valley seven miles north of Exeter.

“He is a good, stretchy ram which I felt was ideal to replenish our horned flock,” said Mr May, a regular purchaser at the May Fair. “We like to buy a decent ram. The ram’s sire Turnavedog is by Richhill Fergie and his dam line is by Poorton Hero.

It was only the third ram through the pedigree ring that made the second joint top price of 3,000gns for Northern Ireland breeder and auctioneer Raymond Hill from his Oliver Tree flock at Doagh, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, run with brother David as a hobby. The sale of Oliver Tree Springsteen to relatively new breeder Nick Burrington marked the flock’s best price yet in the decade since it was founded.

“The ram is out of the D4 family which has bred very well for me and I’m very pleased he has sold to another breeder,” said Mr Hill.The ram is by Downkillybegs Landmark out of Oliver Tree N8.

The ram was the most expensive purchase to date for Mr Burrington who established his flock five years ago at North Covert Farm, Oxton, Kenton, Exeter and now runs 120 pedigree females alongside commercial beef cattle “We have fancied purchasing from Oliver Tree for several years and the D4 family is one of the finest,” said Mr Burrington, who will be judging the Dorset Premier show and sale in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in July, and won last year’s Royal Welsh breed championship and group of three award.

It was a ram bred in the Dorset sheep’s heartland that matched the 3,000gns price tag and a flock best for father and son, Richard and Robert Hole, of Hill Street Farm, Holwell, Sherborne, Dorset. The sale marked the 25th May Fair for the family. Robert’s grandfather Bunny Lenthall was the first importer of Polled Dorsets from Australia to the UK in 1956.

They run 430 pedigree ewes in their Sherborne flock and they have put the ram’s dam back to the same sire, Sherborne Lewisham.

The ram lamb Sherborne Storm had won the Centurion Ram of the Year having topped the Signet recording figures with a maternal index of 292 and a terminal sire index of 376, putting it well within the top 1% for the breed. However it was the muscle score of 3.21 initially picked up in the sale catalogue details and then seeing the ram in the flesh that encouraged Brian Muncaster and Cathryn Pritt to bid to 3,000gns for the ram for their Thornbank flock based at Gosforth in Cumbria.

After discovering the attributes of the breed when running commercial Dorsets alongside other crossbred ewes, the pedigree Dorset flock was founded in 2004. Ewes lamb in September-October and January and March and their flexibility fits in with the grass-based system they use for the farm’s herd of 150 commercial Friesian cattle. Keen to promote the breed, Cathryn is a committee member of the recently formed Northern Dorset Breeders’ Club.

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Also among the leading prices and notching up an average of £1,275 for seven rams sold was Thomas Wright, of Ballytaggart, Kilraughts, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, whose top priced lamb Ballytaggart Sapphire, made 2,500gns to breeders Les and Heather French, of Launceston, Cornwall. The correctness of the ram, one of the first crop by Downkillybegs Nitehawk, encouraged Mr French to make the only stock sire purchase of the year for his long-established 120 ewe flock.

Averages: ewe lambs to £493.50, average £159.63; ewe hoggs to £345.00, average £169.07; rams to £4,410, average £902.78.

Leading ram prices: Downkillybegs Strongbow 4,200gns to S&W Carson, Whitesides Road, Downkillybegs, Ballymena, Co Antrim; Richhill Peter 3,400gns B Lamb, Lime Tree Farm, Richhill, Co Armagh; Oliver Tree Springsteen 3,000gns R Hill, The Old Manse, Kilbride Road, Doagh, Ballyclare, Co Antrim; Sherborne Storm 3,000gns R Hole, Hill Street Farm, Holwell, Sherborne, Dorset; Ballytaggart Sapphire 2,500gns TW Wright, Killraughts Road, Ballytaggart, Kilraughts, Ballymoney, Co Antrim; Sandelford Scolari, 2,050gns G Henderson, Old Mill Cottage, Priestland Road, Bushmills, Co Antrim; Poorton Passion 2,000gns, Fooks Brothers, Manor Farm, North Poorton, Bridport, Dorset; 2,000gns Sherborne Striker R Hole, Hill Street Farm, Blackhill Simba 1,700gns JB Dufosee, Farnicombe Farm, Upper Scudamore, Warminster, Wiltshire; Ballytaggart Spitfire 1,550, TG Wright, Kilraughts.

Downkillybegs Strongbow

Richhill Peter

Sherborne Storm

Oliver Tree Springsteen 4

MAY FAIR SHOW RESULTS Class 1 – Best Ewe Lamb

Class 2 – Best Shearling Ewe

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

216 223 196 190 212

Mark Hayman David Lewis D W Rossiter W & K Carson C & T Clarke

Reserve Champion Female

194 189 210 204 199

Jim Dufosee Fooks Bros.

C & T Clarke R & R Hole Charlie & Janet Withers

Champion Female

Special Class – Signet Class

Class 3 – Best Pair of Ram Lambs

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

56 138 124 39 40

R & R Hole Fooks Bros.

D W Rossiter Jim Dufosee Jim Dufosee

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101/103 66/67 9/11 124/126 55/56

W & K Carson C & T Clarke Ross Sizmur D W Rossiter R & R Hole

Class 4 – Best Single Horn Ram Lamb

Class 5 – Best Single Poll Ram Lamb

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

50 138 185 26 184

Ben Lamb Fooks Bros.

R & D Huxter B A Wernham & Son R & D Huxter

14 100 120 158 2

Ross Sizmur W & K Carson D W Rossiter Mr & Mrs M Maybin Gary & Gareth Henderson

Class 6 – Best Group of Three Rams

Class 7 – Best Shearling Horn Ram

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

80/81/82

Thomas Wright 139/140/141 Fooks Bros.

58/59/60 R & R Hole 89/90/91 W L & E Sandercock 36/39/40 Jim Dufosee

49 43 18 150

Ben Lamb Jim Dufosee V P, M & A Care Sam Driver

Champion Male Exhibit & Best Horn Exhibit

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Class 8 – Best Shearling Poll Ram

Class 9 – Best Pair of Shearling Rams

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

142 44 48 160

Fooks Bros.

Jim Dufosee David Lewis W L French

161/167 112/114 155/157 7/16

W L French A & C Kingdon Andrew Palk V P, M & A Care

Reserve Champion Exhibit

Wool on the Hoof – Rams

Wool on the Hoof - Females

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

185 136 85 124 107

R & D Huxter J B May & Son W L & E Sandercock D W Rossiter Graham Cubitt

197 206 223 193

D W Rossiter R & R Hole David Lewis Jim Dufosee

Champion Wool on the Hoof R & D Huxter’s South Ham Sherlock S248 7

Progeny Group of Three 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

101/103/190 66/67/212 123/196/197 36/39/193 76/225/226

W & K Carson C & T Clarke D W Rossiter Jim Dufosee Mrs E Swain

Best Pen of 5 or more Rams

Class 10 – Best Pen of 5 Ewes 1st 2nd

Thomas Wright

330 240

R M & J E Brown P & M Baker & Son

Class 11 – Best Pen of 5 Hoggets

Class 12 – Best Pen of 5 Ewe Lambs

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Fooks Bros.

D J Thomas & Son P & M Baker & Son R J Jeanes & Son Mrs E Swain

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

254 243 246 256 255

Champion Pen: Reserve Champion Pen:

285 330

Fooks Bros.

R M & J E Brown

285 215 223 235 221

R & R Hole C & T Clarke David Lewis Joe Larder P & M Baker & Son

2012 MAY FAIR PRINCIPAL EWE AND RAM PRICES AV PRICE £

TOP PRICE £

1527.00 1464.00 1299.37 1275.00 1338.75 917.00 1113.00 1286.25 907.50 658.12 826.87 678.00 808.50 784.00

4410.00 3150.00 3150.00 2625.00 2152.50 1785.00 1575.00 1417.50 1102.50 1050.00 945.00 924.00 892.50 892.50

Ram Lambs W & K Carson R & R Hole Raymond Hill Thomas Wright Gary & Gareth Henderson Jim Dufosee Ben Lamb T & S Knox D W Rossiter Graham Cubitt Fooks Bros.

Ross Sizmur W L & E Sandercock C & T Clarke

7 av 7 av 4 av 7 av 2 av 6 av 2 av 2 av 7 av 4 av 4 av 7 av 7 av 6 av 8

MVA/SMN MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA

Ram Lambs (Ctd.) Seamus Mullan Caldwell Bros.

Mark Hayman Joe Larder Mr A D Johnson Mr & Mrs M Maybin Rod Dallyn Mrs E Swain Charlie & Janet Withers J B May & Son Shearling Rams Ben Lamb Fooks Bros.

Jim Dufosee W L French David Lewis P W Baker Edwin Pocock V P, M & A Care A & C Kingdon Mr A D Johnson R M Eglin & Son Ltd. Andrew Palk C A Hallett J B May & Son D J Thomas & Son Single Ewe Lambs Mark Hayman W & K Carson R & R Hole D W Rossiter C & T Clarke Jim Dufosee Charlie & Janet Withers G & E Jones David Lewis R & D Huxter Mrs E Swain Single Shearling Ewes Jim Dufosee Fooks Bros.

C & T Clarke R & R Hole R & D Huxter

2 av 2 av 4 av

2 av 2 av

3 av

2 av 2 av 7 av 3 av 2 av 2 av 3 av 6 av 2 av 2 av

2 av

2 av 2 av 2 av

2 av 2 av

2 av 2 av 2 av 9

AV PRICE £

TOP PRICE £

614.25 630.00 464.62 630.00 577.50 525.00 409.50 367.50 367.50 361.66

756.00 651.00 651.00 630.00 577.50 577.50 420.00 367.50 367.50 367.50

MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA

3570.00 1522.50 1312.50 940.50 831.25 840.00 819.00 752.50 511.00 756.00 682.50 488.25 367.50 367.50 367.50

3570.00 2100.00 1470.00 1260.00 1155.00 1050.00 924.00 892.50 840.00 756.00 714.00 609.00 367.50 367.50 367.50

MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA

362.25 383.25 399.00 330.75 315.00 315.00 283.50 215.25 231.00 189.00 157.50

493.50 472.50 399.00 346.50 315.00 315.00 294.00 262.50 231.00 189.00 157.50

MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA

346.50 367.50 336.00 283.50 315.00

378.00 367.50 357.00 336.00 315.00

MVA/SMN MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA

David Lewis Charlie & Janet Withers Mrs E Swain

2 av 2 av 2 av

AV PRICE £

TOP PRICE £

262.50 278.25 183.75

315.00 283.50 189.00

PENS Registered Poll Dorset & Dorset Horn Ewe Hoggets £ Fooks Bros.

P 200 – 345 2 pens D J Thomas & Son P 160 – 240 6 pens R J Jeanes & Son P 145 – 202 5 pens W L French P 132 – 202 6 pens P W Baker & Son P 185 – 200 2 pens A & C Kingdon P 160 – 200 6 pens W L & E Sandercock P 200 1 pen David Lewis P 155 – 178 2 pens S & D Cole P 158 – 175 4 pens David Foot Ltd. P 145 – 170 10 pens M J Freegard P 158 – 160 5 pens Mark Hayman P 135 1 pen R M Eglin & Son Ltd. P 110 – 120 2 pen Mr J Small H&P 100 – 112 2 pens

P W Baker & Son R M & J E Brown R D Partridge Mrs T Eden

Registered Poll Dorset & Dorset Horn Ewes £ P 175 1 pen P 150 1 pen H 125 – 145 7 pen P 135 1 pen

Registered Poll Dorset & Dorset Horn Ewe Lambs £ R & R Hole P 350 1 pen Mark Hayman P 190 – 200 3 pens Joe Larder P 195 1 pen C & T Clarke P 142 – 175 3 pens Miss C L Moorhouse H 170 1 pen Charlie & Janet Withers P 140 – 148 2 pens Cissbury Farm P 125 – 148 3 pen R D Partridge H 125 – 145 4 pens Home Farm, Hursley H 92 – 128 3 pens David Foot Ltd. P 105 – 120 10 pens C A Hallett P 102 – 110 2 pens H P Holden & P D Whitewood P 100 1 pen

R M & J E Brown

Registered Poll Dorset Couples £ P 200 – 220 10

2 pens

MVA MVA MVA

MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA/SMN MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA

MVA

MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA MVA

MVA MVA MVA

Northern Dorset Breeders’ Club Supporting Dorset breeders in the North of England and Scotland

We now have 20 members signed up to the Northern Dorset Breeders Club representing over 50% of the society members in our area. These are spread right across and down our region which runs from Birmingham to the north of Scotland. We are now also beginning to get enquiries from non‐society breeders.

A number of people have volunteered to be officials in the club, and have been busy making plans for this years events and shows.

David Eglin has agreed to be Club president and has generously agreed to provide a seasonal points trophy for those club members who exhibit at shows. Points would be awarded for each exhibit shown, plus graded extra points for those placed in the top 3 or 4 in a class. The number of points awarded for exhibits at club and society shows, and bigger regional shows, ie. Yorkshire Show, Staffordshire Show etc would be double those for the smaller one day shows.

There will be dedicated club classes at the Yorkshire Show this year, with £120 in prize money plus trophies to be won. Hainsworths will be sponsoring a ‘Wool on the Hoof’ competition. This show is being held on July 10th to 12th and these classes will be judged by Robert Hole. The club will also be having dedicated classes at Carlisle show and sale this year and again there will be £120 in prize money to be won.

We are currently organising a dedicated club show and sale at Chelford on Saturday August 11th. This will be open to all breeders, whether club members or not, in our Northern area, and both MV and non MV stock will be accepted. All classes of Dorset stock male, female, aged, lambs, in lamb, registered or unregistered will be able to be entered. More information will be available later on when more of the details regarding classes, times, 11

prize money etc have been decided. Frank Marshalls will be the host auctioneers.

The A.G.M, a meal, and farm walk is scheduled to be held at Thornbank Farm, Gosforth near Seascale, Cumbria, kindly hosted by Cathryn Pritt and Brian Muncaster. This should be a very interesting event given their frequent lambing system which is integrated with their Dairy herd.

We hope to hold other farm walks/barbecues/events on farms in the southern and northern part of region during the summer. This should give breeders in those areas the opportunity to view how other farmers systems use Dorsets to their advantage, whilst socialising with other breeders in the area.

Currently, Edwin Pocock has been nominated as chairman/co‐ordinator for the steering group, with Cathryn Pritt as vice chair. James Royan has volunteered to deal with promotion and publicity for the club and the breed.

We hope to see some of you at the various events detailed above. ============================================================ Dorset sheep flock wins top award for genetic progress for second time The Dorset sheep winner of the EBLEX Improved Flock Awards for 2012 is the Stratasys Flock, owned by James and Barbara Stratton who farm near Charlton Mackrell in Somerset.

Organised through the Sheep Better Returns Programme, this award is presented to the performance recorded flock that has shown the most impressive improvement in genetic merit over a 12-month period, within English recorded flocks for the breed. This is the second time they have taken top spot, also winning in 2009.

The Stratton’s established the pedigree flock at Priory Farm 13 years ago with 30 ewes. They have since built numbers up to more than 100 Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset ewes with six to ten stud rams. Selective breeding based on Estimate Breeding Values (EBVs), is now producing high quality breeding females with proven maternal ability, and outstanding rams that can sire fast-growing, well-muscled rams and high performing ewes.

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Recording performance The flock has been Signet recorded since 2000 and rapid progress has been made since then, coming in the top two for genetic improvement within the breed in four out of the past five years. As well as following the Signet terminal sire index, the Stratton’s also record ease of lambing and try to retain the out of season breeding capability of the breed.

Mr Stratton aims to improve the genetic base each year through individual mating decisions.

He carefully selects sires for each ewe to ensure an appropriate match, based on the animal’s overall index and EBVs for important traits such as growth rate and eye muscle depth. In 2010 the genetic index was 269. This has risen to 313 points in 2011. His ram team consists of lambs and shearlings to accelerate the progress.

“I set a target index to achieve each year,” explains Mr Stratton. “For the ewes I am looking to gain 50 points and last year their target was an average lambing index of 300.

“The first ram I bought was unrecorded and turned out to have an index of 15. My rams now have indexes over 300 with 2 in the 400s.”

New technology The Stratton’s are also embracing the latest technology such as the use of genetic markers to help reduce the likelihood of diseases such as Scrapie and to improve carcase characteristics.

The Stratasys flock is one of the few UK sheep flocks to incorporate the LoinMax gene to increase the meat yield. Sheep identified with this marker have 10% more loin muscling than those without. As this is a valuable part of the carcase, selecting for this gene leads to higher carcase grading. The gene was first found in Australian Poll Dorset sheep and introduced into the Stratasys flock via semen from a New Zealand ram in 2008 who was a half carrier.

At the same time they purchased some Poll Dorset ewes which also carried the gene, having been sired by two different New Zealand rams.

This combination of rams and ewes with the gene has helped boost flock index, and provided the framework around which selection decisions are made. To take them to the next level, the Stratton’s now aim to achieve LoinMax Gold status, where animals carry a double copy of the gene.

The Stratton’s also carry out ultrasound scanning of the loin muscle. In contrast to the New Zealand method which measures the whole muscle area, the Signet method they use is a linear measurement through the depth of the muscle in cross-section. Those scanned score highly with the top ram, a LoinMax carrier, scoring 5.29 for the muscle EBV (overall index 422.)

Practical focus The flock is managed commercially and the Stratton’s are totally committed to providing rams that will suit non-pedigree customers producing progeny for finishing. All the lambs are reared on grass and stubble turnips, with no supplementary feeding.

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Previously the flock only lambed in autumn with the lambs finished on stubble turnips in spring. However, lambing now also takes place in spring. They lamb indoors for ease of management. Each lamb is weighed and recorded at birth and given an electronic tag. The ewes and lambs stay in a mothering-on pen for a week before being turned out to grass. No creep feed is given and the lambs are weaned at 12 weeks. They stay on grass all year round.

Long term uplift from superior genetics The Stratton’s focus on the genetics and rapid progress of the flock is now being widely recognised within the industry.

EBLEX sheep breeding specialist Samuel Boon believes that one of the major benefits of improving the genetics of any flock is the cumulative and permanent way it lifts performance.

“The time and effort involved will pay dividends for years, not just in the winning flock, but also in the flocks that buy rams from them,” he says.

“With lamb prices at an all-time high, the difference between choosing the right recorded ram for the farm, or an animal of average breeding merit, could be worth £1,000 or more. So there has never been a better time to invest in superior genetics.

“James and Barbara recognised the value of doing this quite a few years ago. This strategy has served them well as they now have the highest indexed Dorset flock in the country.

“The use of home-bred, high-index rams and their meticulous selection process has produced outstanding results and are the main reasons for this second win. Congratulations, once again, to them both.” 

The Sheep Better Returns Programme (Sheep BRP) is funded by EBLEX and aims to help English sheep producers get better returns from their enterprises by improving their skills in five key areas: o Better Breeding o Better Lamb Selection o Better Feeding and Forage o Better Fertility and Health o Better Systems and Costing

James Stratton with one of his new-born Dorset lambs

Every lamb in the Stratasys flock is weighed and recorded at birth.

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Clwb Defaid Dorset Cymru / Welsh Dorset Sheep Club Club members enjoyed a highly successful Annual Dinner on the 21st of January at the Teilie restaurant, Bwlchllan, Ceredigion. The Downes family [SIAND flock] welcomed approx 50 members to their family run business and proved to be outstanding hosts, treating us to a first rate 3 course meal.

The guest speaker for the evening was the Welsh TV personality and champion of rural affairs Dai Jones Llanilar who compared Teilie restaurant to heaven, stating that it was a place that was difficult to get to, but ‘lovely once you have arrived!’ Dai proved to be at his ebullient best, entertaining us in his own inimitable fashion before handing the reins to another ‘Dai’- our Breed Council Chairman and honorary Welshman David Rossiter, who once again demonstrated his commitment to the breed and to the membership by travelling the considerable distance from Devon to be amongst his many friends in the Principality. Rowland our chairman provided a précis of the previous year, and sad to record of course the considerable loss of two of our stalwarts, Rowland’s father Mr J R Davies Dolclettwr and our national President at the time Mr David Matthews; the membership observed a few moments silence in their memory.

David Rossiter kindly presented glass goblets to our retiring secretary Huw Williams and treasurer Ceredig Jones before making the formal presentations of prizes to the following recipients: Best Ram Best Ewe Best Ewe Lamb Overall Best Show Team

Griffiths & Davies G & E Jones G & E Jones Griffiths & Davies

Best Ram Lamb Griffiths & Davies Best Yearling Ewe Griffiths & Davies Best Untrimmed Ewe Lamb Myrddin James

The evening ended in traditional Welsh fashion with singing, and many thanks to Mr Brian Jones (Brian the Organ) for accompanying us on the organ. Sincere thanks to the Downes family and the host of individuals from within the club who had made the evening such a resounding success. Best wishes for a successful season in 2012.

Ceredig Jones, President of the Welsh Dorset Sheep Club presenting Dai Jones, dinner guest speaker with the Dorset Society book.

David Rossiter presenting a glass goblet to Huw Williams, former Club Secretary

David Rossiter presenting a glass goblet to Ceredig Jones, former Club Treasurer.

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David Rossiter presenting a glass goblet to Bethan Davies – Griffiths & Davies for the best ram

David Rossiter presenting a glass goblet to Myrddin James for Best Untrimmed Ewe Lamb

David Rossiter presenting Elin Jones – G & E Jones a glass goblet for Best Ewe Lamb

David Rossiter presenting Rowland Davies–Griffiths & Davies a glass goblet for Best Yearling Ewe

David Rossiter presenting Geraint Jones – G & E Jones, a glass goblet for the Best Ewe

David Rossiter presenting Iolo Davies – Griffiths & Davies a glass goblet for the Best Ram Lamb

David Rossiter presenting Rowland Davies a cup for the Overall Best Show Team

Geraint Jones presenting Rowland Davies with a glass shoe to thank him for all his hard work during the year on behalf of the club 16

TATTOOING VOTE A large number of members responded to the recent postal vote on whether tattooing should be made optional or not – approximately 66% - a very big thank you.

Members will be notified of the outcome in the next newsletter following the Council meeting on 19th July.

WORCESTER SALE SATURDAY, 14TH JULY, 2012 As with May Fair, the Worcester entry forms are only being posted to members who have sold at the sale over the past four or five years. If you are on e-mail they will be e-mailed to you. They will also be available to download off the website if you have access to this. If you would like to receive entry forms for the Worcester sale by post please ring the office.

ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY, 15TH JUNE

2012 FLOCK COMPETITION You will find the entry forms for the 2012 flock competition attached/enclosed with this mailing and again they are available to download off the website.

The judges, David Rossiter and Joe Larder are planning carrying out the judging in late July/August.

Do please try and support the competition – it will be well worth the effort

ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY, 6th JULY

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EWE REGISTRATIONS Don’t forget that if you are taking any shearling ewes (year letter P) or ewe lambs (year letter S) to any sales, in order to be sold as registered they must be registered before the sale so that certificates can be produced in time for you to take these certificates to the sales with you.

2012 BREED BROCHURE If anybody would like copies of the 2012 Breed Brochure to take to any shows or sales, please let the office know.

SHOW RESULTS BALMORAL, Northern Ireland Champion: Reserve Champion:

Mr & Mrs R Hill T & S Knox

Ram, any age:

1. Mr S Caldwell 2. T & S Knox

Ewe, two shear & upwards:

1. Mr S Caldwell 2. Mr & Mrs R Hill 3. Shane Wilson 4. J & C Robson 5. Mr & Mrs R Hill 6. Jack Patterson

Ram Lamb:

1. R & M Coulter 2. J & C Robson 3. Mr S Caldwell 4. R & M Coulter 5. Mr A Knox 6. Mr & Mrs R Hill 7. Mr & Mrs R Hill

Ewe Lamb:

1. T & S Knox 2. Mr & Mrs R Hill 3. Mr S Caldwell 4. Mr S Caldwell 5. Mr G Cubitt 6. R & M Coulter 7. J & C Robson 8. T & S Knox

Shearling Ewe:

1. Mr & Mrs R Hill 2. T & S Knox 3. J & C Robson 4. Mr S Caldwell 5. Jack Patterson 6. Mr & Mrs R Hill 7. T & S Knox 8. Mr S Caldwell DEVON COUNTY Judge: Mr William Carson Champion: Reserve Champion: Champion Male: Reserve Champion Male: Champion Female: Reserve Champion Female: Overall Wool on the Hoof Res. Champ: Champion Shortwool: 18

Mr N Burrington C & Clarke C & T Clarke C & T Clarke Mr N Burrington Mr N Burrington R & D Huxter R & D Huxter

Group of Three:

1. C & T Clarke 2. Mr M Hayman 3. Mr N Burrington

Shearling Ram, or older:

1. C & T Clarke 2. Mr N Burrington 3. C & T Clarke 4. Mr N Burrington

Ram Lamb:

1. C & T Clarke 2. Mr N Burrington 3. Mr M Hayman 4. R & D Huxter

Aged Ewe:

1. Mr N Burrington

Shearling Ewe:

1. Mr N Burrington 2. C & T Clarke 3. Mr A Palk 4. Mr M Hayman

Chilver Lamb:

1. Mr N Burrington 2. Mr M Hayman 3. Mr M Hayman 4. C & T Clarke

NEWARK AND NOTTS (Any Other Native)

Champion: Champion Male: Reserve Champion Female: Trimmed Ram Lamb:

1. Graham Baker (Henry Tickler)

Untrimmed Ram Lamb:

1. Graham Baker (Henry Tickler)

Trimmed Ewe Lamb:

1. Graham Baker (Henry Tickler)

Graham Baker (Henry Tickler) Graham Baker (Henry Tickler) Graham Baker (Henry Tickler)

DORSET HORN & POLL DORSET SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION Agriculture House, Acland Road Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1EF Tel/Fax: 01305 262126

DISCLAIMER The Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Association produce this newsletter in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies contained therein.

e-mail: dorsetsheep@xlnmail.com website: www.dorsetsheep.org Breed Secretary: Marguerite Cowley

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