National Sheep Association

grateful for the support from host farms to help us work with a new generation of vet students during their lambing placements. We are asking them to capture data on deformities seen in lambs over the lambing period which will provide evidence for the spread of SBV, and will offer a key insight of the national picture on SBV at a county level.”

The online survey closes on 16 May 2022, with students asked to complete it as soon as possible after the end of their placement. Once all data is collected and interpreted, a report will be produced and shared with vet students, host farms, and the wider industry in early summer.

For any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing RH&W directly viasecretary@ruminanthw.org. uk.

Data drives performance on Scotch sheep farm of the year

Data is at the heart of every business decision made by this year’s Scottish Sheep Farm of the Year, which is helping to drive performance and long-term sustainability.

Livestock Manager Owen Gray and the team carefully record ewe and lamb performance, allowing them to identify the best stock and select accordingly. Their ultimate aim is to reduce shepherding reliance, maintain scanning, maximise growth rates and reduce days to slaughter at Saughland Farm in The Lothians.

“Recording at lambing flagged up that the previous breed was having a high birthweight and lacking in mothering ability, causing lambs to get stuck and ewes to leave lambs after birth. This made us move to the Romneys,” Mr Gray explains. Consequently, ewes have now been crossed with a New Zealand Romney.

Performance recording Lambing assistance, mothering instinct, eight week weight and monthly weight gain thereafter are also recorded with the best 600 ewe lambs put to the tup. Only in-lamb ewe lambs are retained for the ‘A flock’ to produce replacements, whilst empty individuals are finished. This helps to breed fertility.

A ‘B flock’ includes ‘demoted’ ewes from the ‘A flock’, such as those that have singles more than twice in a lifetime or any other production impacting problems. These are put to a terminal sire.

Mr Gray believes recording is an essential tool for the industry, with both himself and Farm Manager, Ben McClymont passionate about knowledge transfer to the wider industry. “One of our main aims is to show the wider agricultural community the benefits of Signet Recording, using Signet recorded rams and, at the very least, the benefits of removing the poor performers from the flock,” Mr Gray says.

With the view of reducing disease risk from buying in terminal tups and producing a terminal sire to suit their system, the team has recently started a high EBV Suffolk flock.

Mr Gray explains: “Our main aim in the Suffolks is to run them commercially, being quite hard on them and breeding something that doesn’t compromise growth or carcasses quality and with the need for shepherding intervention to be minimal. We will monitor that through CT scanning, Signet recording, and performance based decisions.”

Selecting their own tups fits with their drive to achieve a faster slaughter, which will ultimately help lower their carbon footprint. Mr McClymont adds: “As a management team it’s something we’ll be making more of. We’re currently working through our own carbon audit to set our own goals.”

It’s all about the young folk!

By Grace Reid, NSA Scottish Region Coordinator

Whilst sheep are a fantastic way of providing a start in the world of agriculture, it is increasingly important to ensure that the enthusiasm and passion of the younger generation are not completely extinguished by the harsh realities of farming. NSA have long been supporters of young people in the sheep industry and since 2014 has invested in young shepherds across the UK via its Next Generation ambassador programme. This is no different in 2022, whereby two Scottish ambassadors (from a total of 13) were selected to develop skills, confidence and improve communication and leadership roles. NSA Scotland are pleased to welcome Perry Parkinson (Shepherd, SRUC Barony) and Karyn McArthur (Selfemployed Shepherd and Innovis Technical Sales Adviser) to the programme and are delighted to see their enthusiasm and increasing involvement towards NSA Scotland activities.

Another one of the latest offerings for anyone aged under 35 (who works with their own sheep, is on a family farm, employed as a shepherd or is in a share farming agreement) is the opportunity to apply for up to three hours of professional advice and mentoring to support their sheep farming businesses. This comes as part of a celebration of the first anniversary of the register of Sheep Adviser’s (RoSA). The NSA Samuel Wharry Travel Bursary will also be open in 2022. Make sure you head to the NSA website to take up these fantastic opportunities.

We appreciate it isn’t always easy in the sheep industry when starting out (or being fully established) but we are always looking to help those where we can. If you are a member please do get in touch and let us know if there are any issues in your area needing addressed. The only question left to ask is – how else can YOU get involved?

Finally, after such a long time away due to various factors (not mentioning the “C” word…) we are gearing up for NSA Scotsheep 2022 and the Royal Highland Show. We look forward to seeing everyone there and make sure to keep an eye out for updates closer to the time.