Dorset Horn and Poll Sheep: the only sheep breed that can breed all year round - ideal for controlling your lambing times.

2013 Flock Competition Report

Firstly we would like to thank everyone who entered the flock competition this year, making it a thoroughly enjoyable and educational process. The generous hospitality we received during our week of travels was very much appreciated and to be able to sit down and discuss the breed with you all, was a real pleasure.

Judging the competition allowed us to see the breed all over the UK, from large commercial operations focused on better lamb production, to the smaller flocks where the sheep are almost part of the family! The factors each different flock has to contend with, in their own different environment and management situations, from poor windswept hill sides to lush clover meadows just shows the versatility of the breed.

> Read full report and results

PRIOR NOTICE OF 2013 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

As you may or may not be aware the Welsh Club have very kindly offered to host the 2013 AGM. This is to be held on Saturday, 2nd November at the Gwesty Marine Hotel, Aberystwyth.

This will be followed by a trip to Innovis and lunch and then in the evening there will be dinner and entertainment at the hotel!!

Definite timings and any other information will follow in due course.

The hotel has accommodation at £75 for double/twin rooms and their contact details are as follows:
Tel: 01970 612444 e-mail: info@gwestymarinehotel.co.uk | www.gwestymarinehotel.co.uk

WORCESTER DORSETS TOP AT 640gns

The Dorset Horn & Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders Association’s Annual Show & Sale at Worcester proved a selective trade with good sound demand on the better sheep culminating in a top of 640gns for the Overall show Champion, ‘Manor Croft T486’ a ram lamb from Mr T Clarke’s Crediton based flock, he was secured by WD Roberts, Llangefni, Anglesey. The same vendor struck lucky with another ram lamb having won 5th in the class, he hit the 350gns mark to T. Pratt, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Other ram lambs sold to 355gns for Huish T114, a third prize winner from David Rossiter’s flock purchased by MJ & T Edwards, Astwood Bank, Worcestershire.

> Read full report

N.S.A. North Sheep Harrogate

Even though the weather was sunny and warm, a large crowd of farmers attended this event. It was too early for many of them to start either silaging or shearing so they had a good day out mixing business with pleasure. The business aspect revolved around a visit to the many trade stands, including a very informative EBLEX exhibition. The pleasure came from the free drinks etc on the breed stands plus a trailer ride around the Wilson families 1,000 or so acres of grassland. They carry mainly Masham and Dalesbred ewes on this fairly high land, much of it reclaimed moorland. They did have a small pedigree Texel flock as well. Not exactly fertile territory for promoting early lambing lowland sheep you would have thought! >> read more

THREATS TO OUR FLOCK – OATRIDGE COLLEGE 20TH AUGUST 2013

SAC Consulting Veterinary Services would like to invite you to a free knowledge exchange day at Oatridge College on 20th August focussing on current and future disease threats to flocks. It is hoped that a diverse audience of farmers, vets and experts from the sheep industry will generate useful debate on the subjects to be discussed. An outline of the programme and a booking form are attached. If you are unable to attend please pass this invitation to an interested colleague.

To reserve places at this event please respond by telephone (01387 267260), fax (01387 250028) or e-mail to VCDumfries@sac.co.uk

Heather Stevenson SAC Consulting – Veterinary Services St Mary’s Industrial Estate Dumfries DG1 1DX Tel: 01387 267260 Fax: 01387 250028 Email: VCDumfries@sac.co.uk

The effect of the 2012/13 weather on the Ruminant Industry

Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently undertaking a project through the University of Warwick examining the effects of the 2012/13 weather on the Ruminant Industry. The study is split into 5 main areas of Production, Animal Health, Indirect Effects, Social and Financial.

Whilst I have attended some livestock markets and shows to interview farmers, I am trying a variety of different methods to collect data. Below is a link to an online survey which focuses on the weather and the effect of farming practice. I would be most grateful if you could possibly circulate this link around the members of your society. The survey is completely confidential, I do not require any details from your members at all and the survey takes 3 - 5 minutes.

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/people/rlillywhite/warden

I would be most grateful for your assistance on this matter,

Yours Sincerely, Sarah Warden

EBLEX are now accepting nominations for the 1st round of the 2013 Sire Linkage Programme

We are inviting all sheep breeders who performance record their flocks to take part.

The scheme, which offers the opportunity to develop rapid genetic improvement while also increasing EBV accuracies within the breed, will provide each successful candidate with £2,500 for the collection and storage of semen straws. The 350 semen straws will then be made available free of charge to breeders.

All breeders who performance record their flock are invited to nominate their rams before the first round deadline of 5 July 2013. Two rams are chosen in each round.

For a copy of the SLP guidelines and to nominate a ram, please contact Dylan Laws on:

Tel: 024 7647 8892 | Mob: 07964 117469 | Email: dylan.laws@eblex.ahdb.org.uk

EBLEX Sire Linkage Programme Guidelines

Free Coach Travel to Livestock Event 2013 - The NEC Birmgham - 3rd & 4th July

Conscious of the difficult times farmers have faced over the past 12 months, RABDF is offering FREE COACH TRAVEL to those attending this year’s Livestock Event at The NEC, Birmingham on 3rd & 4th July.

For just a £20 ticket (same as gate price) purchased in advance on line at www.livestockevent.co.uk/book-tickets farmers can get free coach travel, there and back, from any one of 20 auction marts across the UK.

FREE Coach Departure Times | Livestock Event Flyer

MAY FAIR – SHOW & SALE 2013

DORSET RAMS PEAK AT 4,800GNS BOOSTING CONFIDENCE AT EARLY SALE

The annual Dorset May Fair in Exeter Livestock Centre on Wednesday (May 8) on behalf of the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Association provided a positive early barometer for the year’s sheep trade with six rams making 2,000gns and more to a top of 4,800gns, and averages well above the sale two years ago.

Read all of report >>

EBLEX BRP Improved Flock Awards 2013 - Hall Lane Flock

Dorset sheep flock wins top award for genetic progress

The Dorset sheep winner of the EBLEX Improved Flock Awards for 2013 is the Hall Lane Flock, owned by Edwin and Jenny Pocock at Totley Hall Farm, near Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Organised through the Sheep Better Returns Programme, this award is presented to the English performance recorded flock that has shown the most impressive improvement in genetic merit over a 12-month period, within the breed.

Edwin and Jenny Pocock established the pedigree flock ten years ago with 50 ewes and the tup, Blackhill Champion. They have since built numbers up to more than 175 Poll Dorset ewes with 125 of these lambing in November and December. There is also a commercial flock of Texel ewes which lamb in March and April.

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The Dorset Horn Sheep Breeders' Association was established in 1891 for "the encouragement of the breeding of Dorset Horn Sheep at home and abroad and the maintenance of the purity of the breed".

During the late 1950's hornless Dorset sheep, developed in Australia, were introduced to the UK and rapidly grew in popularity. By 1974 there were more Poll Dorsets registered than Dorset Horns and in recognition of this the Association's name was changed in 1981 to the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders' Association.