National Sheep Association

that the majority of aborted ewes tested have been exposed to either toxoplasmosis or EAE – and sometimes both. This is consistent with a recent AHPA analysis showing that over recent years (2002 to 2019), EAE and toxoplasmosis have been the most common diagnoses of sheep abortion2.

According to Dr Kat BaxterSmith, both these infectious disease causes of abortion can be responsible for reducing the number of lambs per ewes mated, which can increase workload and stress during lambing. Profit may also be reduced significantly2, she stresses, but using FlockCheck can help in improving a flock’s potential and overall economic performance.

Farmers interested in taking advantage of the subsidised FlockCheck diagnostic service and reducing the risk of lower productivity should contact their local practice as soon as possible. This year’s FlockCheck scheme commenced on 1st February 2022 and runs until 30th June 2022.

Highly regarded sheep farmer recognised with prestigious award

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is delighted to announce Helen Roberts as the 2021 recipient of the NSA George Hedley Memorial Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the sheep industry. In addition to her wide-ranging personal interests in many aspects of the sheep industry Helen is NSA Cymru/Wales Regional Development Officer and Corporate Sales Manager.

Helen has long been involved with the industry, working with her father on their ‘Horton’ flock of Suffolk sheep and with her husband Clive on the England/Wales border where they keep 500 Welsh Mules, Texel and Beltex cross ewes in addition to small pedigree flocks of Beltex and Blue Faced Leicesters. Helen has also taken on wide-ranging commitments and activities on several committees, as

2022 – a busy time for all

By Grace Reid, NSA Scottish Region Coordinator

We have started 2022 with an animal health and welfare theme and are pleased to announce that NSA Scotland have accepted to Chair the newly established Scottish Government OPA working group in addition to the Scottish Government sheep scab working group. Whilst it seems that OPA is very widely spread, there is no current cure or treatment for sheep farmers once it has been found in their flock. What we do know is that it is a virus which affects the cells in the lungs whereby tumours form and replace normal lung tissue. It can be transmitted predominantly via aerosol routes, via infected colostrum and milk and it has an incubation period from months to years. Unfortunately housing, trough feeding and high stocking densities all help the spread of OPA and diagnosis can be particularly difficult even with regular ultrasound scanning. All ages and breeds are susceptible which means that this is only going to become a much bigger problem if steps are not taken as a priority. But what can be done? The Moredun Research Institute have had dedicated experts working on this disease for quite some time and the hope is to put this research to use with funding to ensure the historical foundations of our flocks can continue into the future.

Members will also be aware of shortages of products used throughout lambing such as Spectam Scour Halt. This oral antibiotic for lambs is the only licenced product for the prevention of watery mouth in neonatal lambs. Whilst, the importance of good ewe nutrition, correct body condition score, hygiene at lambing and in the lambing environment, and colostrum supply to newborn lambs to prevent watery mouth are all key there will inevitably be many who will need to consult their vet to ensure cases are treated appropriately.

NSA Scotland wish success to all those lambing in 2022 with the hope that the weather will not be detrimental as that seen in previous years. We look forward to seeing you all at NSA Scotsheep 2022 by kind permission of Robert and Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg Farm on Wednesday 01 June 2022.

NSA and Te Pari Prize Draw

Enter NSA’s 2022 prize giveaway to WIN a Te Pari Racewell HD3 mobile sheep handling system including EID and scale system worth £20,000! Both NSA members and non-members can enter via the NSA website https://

www.nationalsheep.org.uk/ draw/nsa-and-te-pari/

a director of Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers, for the past 18 years as Secretary followed by Regional Development Officer for NSA Cymru / Wales Region, and during the past decade as Corporate Sales Manager for NSA.

On receiving the award, Helen comments: “Throughout my time working for NSA and the wider sheep industry, I have always held the George Hedley award in the highest regard for the very high calibre individuals that have been recognised by this in the past. Therefore, I am extremely honoured to be named as the latest recipient, which enhances the award I received in 2016 when I became the first lady to win the John Gittins Memorial Award.

“I see the UK sheep industry and those that support me and NSA as part of a big family that has an integral part to play in the wider social, economic stability of the UK’s rural communities. The formal presentation of the George Hedley award will be amongst Helen’s many friends and colleagues from the industry at the NSA Sheep Event dinner on Tuesday 26th July 2021, ahead of the flagship event of the association at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire.

Tip-Top Tups: New RamCompare Project farm in Scotland announced

The new Scotland-based RamCompare farm has been named by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) as the project seeks to drive faster rates of genetic improvement in the UK sheep industry.

Saughland Farm, alongside livestock manager Owen Gray, based at Pathhead, Midlothian, will now participate in the programme taking over from Sion Williams and Bowhill Estate who have supported the project since its launch in 2015.

Saughland Farm consists of 50-ha of arable land, 240ha of grassland and 40ha of woodland and hedgerows. Saughland has a maternal composite flock of 1,500 ewes using Romney and Aberfield with everything recorded from birth and 400 ewe lambs. A new pedigree Suffolk flock is being developed with the aim to produce an easy lambing, vigorous flock without compromising carcase quality and growth using CT Scanning, Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and rigorous selection.

Owen is looking forward to seeing what will be uncovered by the data-driven project and what insight into the EBVs of their flock:

“We have a strong interest in progressive farming techniques and using data and science to improve our stock’s performance and output. Almost all of our decisions are made from facts and figures, not guess work.

“It is for these reasons the Ram Compare project really appeals to us. We would love a chance to improve our knowledge and understanding of performance recording and estimated breeding values while exploring the merits of different breeds and how the different ram qualities thrive in their system. In addition, it will help show the benefits of recording sheep systems to the wider agricultural communities.”

As well as gaining unique access to one of the UK’s leading sheep projects, Saughland will receive a payment for the data provided, the provision of a select group of recorded rams for natural mating and funding to cover artificial insemination on a proportion of the flock.

Flocks joining RamCompare face a strict selection criteria. They must provide at least 350 uniformly bred ewes to be mated to rams nominated by the project. They must allocate ewes to single sire mating groups and finish lambs in an identical manner. The farmers must be experienced EID users and supply an abattoir that reports kill data for individual lambs.

The data collection is set to commence with this year’s crop of lambs so keep up to date with the project at https:// www.signetdata.com/technical/ ramcompare/ or via the QMS social media channels.

RamCompare is seeking performance recorded rams and semen from terminal-sires for the 2022 mating season. Please consider supporting us with your ram nominations. Ram nominations opened in February.

Stockmax Pine Shavings to Carry NOPS Badge as Producers Bedmax Lead the Way in Bio-Secure Bedding

For sheep farmers, reducing the loss of lambs to E. Coli infections like watery mouth and scour, whilst minimising the use of antibiotics is a priority. Stockmax pine shavings offer a naturally antibacterial and highly effective alternative bedding solution, and the BETA NOPS Bedding badge certifies that it conforms to the current best practice in minimising the risk

of contamination by naturally occurring substances which can be harmful to livestock.

BETA NOPS accreditation