Sheep

sheep NSA turns up the volume on the sustainability of British sheep farming

The National Sheep Association (NSA) agrees deep cuts in emissions can help stabilise climate change, while emphasising that UK sheep farming systems are already contributing to atmospheric cooling.

Recent severe food, drought, and fre related incidents around the globe have sent sobering reminders of the dangers of climate change. Therefore, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) report released yesterday (Monday 9th August), warning we are at ‘code red for humanity’, is something society cannot ignore.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: “The cuts we have seen in grazing livestock numbers in Britain, coupled with effciency gains, are considered by Dr Miles Allen of Oxford University to have already contributed to ‘atmospheric cooling’, there is of course always more we can do. Changing grazing regimes and reducing waste through improved health management are of note, but my strong belief is that British sheep farming is already at a general point of harmony that brings climate, social and biodiversity benefts.

“We should not consider sheep farming as ‘indulgent’ but should look deeply enough to understand that we are involved in maintaining probably the most stable and resilient plant habitats on earth – grassland. Managing grassland, for climate resilience, fre avoidance, health and wellbeing and nature, requires grazing and in doing so also converts plant growth into a highly nutritious food and fbre to sustain us. In addition to pasture-based agriculture, introducing sheep into arable rotations produces soil fertility and raises organic matter and helps us return to a more mixed approach to farming – something most nature lovers would welcome.”

NSA does not claim the UK sheep sector cannot do more, but maintains that reducing the national fock is not the right approach. Mr Stocker continues: “Sheep farming is part of the solution to climate, nature and health problems and needs recognising as such. A clearer distinction must be made between what is essentially a natural gaseous cycle that has been going on for centuries, and the problems caused by fossil fuels and industries heavily reliant on them”.

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of the Scottish Farmer. He was also a breeder of Blackface sheep, who had attained an almost legendary status in his own lifetime – in the year that the Blackface Sheep Breeders Association was established, he won the prize for best Shearling at the Highland Show for an unprecedented tenth year – and he was to continue to do so for another two years.

The committee that was formed to frame a constitution for the new Association was a Who’s Who of leading Blackface Breeders at the start of the 20th Century. Apart from Howatson, it included John Archibald of Overshiels, whose family has played a role in the development of the breed since the 1850’s which rivalled that of Howatson; together with James Hamilton of Nether Wellwood and James Cadzow of Stonehill, members of families which were to play a dominant role in the development of the breed in the frst decades of the 20th Century. Other prominent breeders on the committee were Robert Buchanan of Lettre, John McMillan of Glencrosh, Captain Duncan Stewart of Knockrioch, James Moffat of Gateside and Donald McDougall of Claggan. There was even an English representative, a Mr Rawlinson of Docker Hall, Kendal. The initial meeting also discussed a number of major issues, of which probably the most important was whether it should be a pedigree association with its own fock book. Some of the earliest supporters of the establishment of the Blackface Breeders Association had argued that the Association should maintain and publish a fock or stud book common to the breed. However the general consensus at the meeting seemed to be that it would be impractical to keep a fock book – a view supported by Howatson, even though he was reputed to be able to tell potential buyers the pedigree of any particular Ram stretching back for six generations and the decision not to compile a fock book has, of course remained unchanged to this day. The other major topic of discussion concerned the ideal characteristic of the breed, the principal argument revolved around the merits of long wool with ‘feeders’ such as William Anderson of Cramalt clearly opposed to ’18 inches of wool trailing on the ground’ and arguing that the carcase not the wool was the thing to work for. Predictably, no clear consensus could be reached and similar arguments continue to excite breeders to this day. Although wool in those days would have paid a shepherd’s wage, and nowadays the wool cheque doesn’t cover the shearing costs!!

The new Association properly came into existence the following month when a second meeting drew up the rules and regulations of the Association based upon the work of the committee established in August. Howatson was to become the frst President of the Association, a position that he held until 1912, when ill health forced him to stand down. He was replaced by James Moffat, who had been Vice President since the establishment of the Association. Thereafter the Association adopted the current practice of biennial presidencies, with the Vice President succeeding to the Presidency, subject to the approval of membership at the Annual General Meeting. The new Association immediately turned its attention to the issue of showing and judging sheep, since it was felt that greater consistency needed to be achieved in the interests of breed development. Howatson was therefore asked to represent their views on the matter to the Highland Agriculture Society.

The Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association was up and running and 120 years later on has just over 1290 paid up members. The popularity of the Blackface ewe on the hill has never waned, they are still the most numerous pure breeds in Britain with the vast majority found in Scotland. They are one of the hardiest sheep breeds in the country and are the backbone of the Scottish sheep industry, being the pinnacle of our stratifed sheep industry. As a maternal hill breed, the females have a strong mothering ability to rear lambs in extreme terrain. The breed is easily hefted, making it ideal for large areas of hill country and can produce sheep for every climatic condition, thanks to the different distinct types within the breed, which have evolved over the years infuenced by climate, environment and grazing quality.

Alec Telfer, current President said “It is with great pride that I join the list of illustrious names who have headed the Blackface Sheep Breeders Association since its inception in 1901. Fashions change to suit the markets of the Blackies, which is the most numerous of all hill breeds. However, the enthusiasm and ability of current and future generations of breeders will carry the Association forward into a very positive place”