You may have heard that changes are taking place with the Scrapie Monitoring Scheme as a result of amended EU regulations. I have summarised these below. We have updated the rules and conditions of the SMS scheme and you can see them at; www. Common reasons for the loss are detailed below. SMS - Common reasons for loss of status.

Please make sure you are not in any of the categories above. Can I also remind you as an SMS member that ALL FALLEN STOCK should be submitted for testing. Regards Ian Pritchard PSGHS Manager. Amended EU regulations, effective from July 1stbring EU trade requirements more in line with World Organisation for Animal Health OIE.

In order to demonstrate Scrapie freedom an increased surveillance period of seven years is now added and is required for some countries. There will be 2 categories of status for SMS members. Some South American countries also stipulate animals of Negligible Risk status. This is similar to the current situation. Controlled risk flocks may achieve Negligible risk status after being monitored for 7 years.

Why have these changes been introduced? When will these changes come into effect? These changes came into effect from 1 July Is there a transitional period?

What is this transitional period? The transitional period only relates to how the holding of origin is classified in terms of the classical scrapie risk. However, from 1 Januaryit must be through such a scheme which, in the United Kingdom, is the Scrapie Monitoring Scheme SMS.

The SMS is provided by SAC Consulting: Premium Sheep and Goat Health Scheme PSGHS. The criteria are broadly equivalent to those for a scrapie free establishment as recommended in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code - namely that of demonstration of freedom from classical scrapie for at least 7 years.

This is subject to the following: This reflects the status quo demonstration of freedom from classical scrapie for at least three years. If this does not happen progress to Negligible Risk status will be delayed. It is advisable to join the SMS. Please contact the Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes PSGHS office on or at psghs sac. If you have a query over how these changes will be managed who should you contact?

If you are a current member of the SMS or intend to join in the future before 1 January please contact the Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes PSGHS office on or at psghs sac. If you have any general queries on exports who should you contact? Please contact the exports team at AHVLA Carlisle on if you have any general queries in relation to these changes. How many fallen stock must I test? The new rules state ALL FALLEN STOCK. In effect these are animals, over 18 months of age, dying on the holding.

It does not include animals that enter the food chain. There is a derogation for goat herds in that it does not apply to animals culled at the end of their working life. Where do I send fallen stock? These should be delivered to your local SAC Consulting: Veterinary Services Centre or the local centre of AHVLA.

The onus is on you to get fallen stock tested - there will be a charge for this. Submitting carcases to knackeries, hunt kennels, etc. Where can I see a current list of SMS members? Please look at www. If your name is not on list please contact PSGHS on or at psghs sac. The list published will only include producers who have authorised PSGHS to publish their details.

The list will identify negligible risk and controlled risk breeds and holdings. Defra and AHVLA are issued with updated list monthly. Q; Where can I see the rules and conditions of Scrapie Monitoring Scheme SMS A: The Shropshire Sheep Breeders' Association is affiliated to the National Sheep Association.

ALL SET FOR NSA CENTRAL REGION WINTER FAIR: With less than week to go before the NSA Central Region Winter Fair it is all systems go for the event on Thursday 29th January at Bakewell Mart, Derbyshire. You can find everything you need to know about the event here and download an Event Guide here. Commenting ahead of the event, Alastair Sneddon, senior partner for NSA Central Region Winter Fair hosts Bagshaws, says.

Essential to any defence is the latest knowledge, and I am confident that a day spent at the NSA Central Region Winter Fair will stand you in good stead and provide an essential transfusion of technical and political information.

Spread the word, because if you bring along a friend or neighbour who is not currently an NSA member and they sign up on the day they will get their entry fee refunded and you BOTH get entered into the prize draw to win a Shearwell EID stick reader kit. This week saw the end of a lengthy and difficult selection process for the NSA Next Generation Ambassador Group. Word had spread of the success of the programme last year and we were overwhelmed with top quality applications this time around, making it a tough job for NSA staff and regional committees to select just 12 people for the final group.

All applicants have now been contacted to confirm if they have gained a place or not and we look forward to sharing the final line-up early next week. NSA had the opportunity to take part in an upland science workshop in Cardiff on Thursday, where researchers from across a wide range of disciplines social science, soils, water and agriculture met to discuss work being done and future needs for the hills and uplands of Wales.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, was invited to speak at the workshop about the future of livestock in the hills and uplands. In my view there is much that can be done in the uplands to actually increase their contribution to food security whilst not just maintaining but improving our environment. Conversely there is evidence that past policies have not just reduced productivity but degraded some of our upland ecology at the same time.

George Milne, NSA Scottish Region Development Officer, attended the meeting and suggested the need to start looking at sheep diseases in order to identify one that could follow a similar scheme to that of BVD.

The idea was welcomed by the Scottish Government and other stakeholders, and another meeting will be held in the near future when George will be able to share the views of NSA Scottish Region following discussions the next time they get together. A trip to China by UK Secretary of State Liz Truss has been followed up by the announcement of a new position — a UK Agricultural and Food Counsellor — to be based in China to further future trade opportunities.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, comments: We are still some way from securing direct access into China for sheep meat, and to have someone based there and working for us will undoubtedly help pave the way. It is a big investment but should be a use of levy funds that reaps rewards in due course. All three are open meetings starting at 6pm and providing opportunity to discuss recent changes to the assurance standards and a proposed move to whole life assurance for beef.

Bryan Griffiths, NSA South West Regional Chairman, comments: The concept has since been developed and expanded to include NFU and NBA, as well as NSA members. Running alongside these Red Tractor Assurance meetings, RTA is also currently consulting on new standards for livestock markets and collection centres. Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: We accept that standards cannot stay still forever, but our fundamental position is that the requirements must be proportionate, avoid duplication and at a level that encourages participation.

NSA and NFU met this week to prepare for a jointly organised and delivered meeting to seek solutions to the problems caused by tooth eruption and carcase splitting. The meeting, to be held in early February, will involve livestock industry bodies, unions, Defra and the devolved administrations, Food Standards Agency, Chief Veterinary Officers and others. NSA will keep members informed as this important meeting takes place. NSA members and supporters who attended the NSA Scottish Region annual dinner the other day will know that the two NSA Next Generation Ambassadors from Scottish were invited to speak at the event.

Jennifer Craig from Lanarkshire spoke about the Ambassador Programme and how it had benefited her family business, but Andrew Prentice was preventing from travelling across from Iona when bad weather stopped the ferries. He instead sent a video message, which you can view on the NSA You Tube channel at www. The dinner followed the NSA Scottish Region AGM, where Sybil Macpherson and Ian Hepburn were elected for another term of office as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively.

Other office holders also remain in position. The Welsh Government is seeking to appoint a chairperson and seven independent members to the Upland Forum for its fourth term The Upland Forum was established in to advise the Welsh Government and National Assembly for Wales on issues that have an impact on the hills and uplands of Wales.

Appointments will be made by Rebecca Evans, Deputy Minister for Farming and Food. Applications close on Tuesday 10th February; click here for more information. NSA REGIONAL CHAIRMAN HOSTS SHEEP VET SOCIETY: The Sheep Vet Society held their spring conference near Weston Super Mare from Monday to Wednesday this week 19thst May attracting just over delegates, mainly practicing vets.

On the second day they visited NSA Marches Region Chairman Kevin Harrison near Bath for a farm tour and there were many positive comments that followed from both delegates and Kevin. Phil Stocker attended part of the conference. The age range also suggests there is no shortage of new entrants into this strand of our industry and sheep farmers should feel confident that we have a society here in the UK SVS that is world renowned for its involvement in sheep health and disease research and practical application.

I would encourage all NSA sheep farming members to ask their vet if they are part of SVS — by doing so they will undoubtedly provide an improved service for you, and together we can continue to drive the health and productivity of our sheep in the right direction. The end of last week saw NSA office holders meet with Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead to discuss CAP reform, including payment regions and voluntary coupled support.

The concern is that the area payment for rate for rough grazing will not do that. George Milne, NSA Scotland Regional Development Officer, says: One suggestion was to look at Pillar Two funding and see if some form of top-up could be administered to add additional support to those with higher stocking densities.

Discussions around a voluntary coupled scheme also took place, and while this may be an option, it is certainly not a solution and comes with a vast amount of conditions and red tape. It is felt by the majority of NSA Scottish Region Board that this is not the best way forward for the sheep industry, with the use of a better targeted area payments strongly supported instead. NEW LAYOUT SHEEP CENTRE WORKS WELL AT BALMORAL: NSA provided a sheep centre as it does at the Royal Highland and Royal Welsh — a marquee accommodating a NSA presence, breed societies and commercial trade stands.

Our change of layout on the NSA stand got a favourable reaction and exhibitors were pleased. Most questions at our stand involved CAP reform, the expected outcomes and decisions still to be made. The election on 22nd May brought out a not unexpected increased number of politicians but little commitment from them!

The Welsh Government announced on Wednesday 20th May that planned legislation granting open access to land in Wales had been delayed pending further consultation.

A statement by John Griffiths, Minister for Culture and Sport, which includes reference to more consultation before any legislation is drafted, can be read here. It was agreed that a meeting would be set up in the near future, inviting all interested parties to fully investigate the current situation. Since writing to all police forces in the UK to raise the profile of sheep worrying by dogs, NSA has been discussing all elements of rural crime in recent weeks.

This included Caitlin Peck, NSA Communications Officer, attending the Herefordshire Rural Crime Conference yesterday Thursday 22nd May when key members of the West Mercia force called for the police and the public to work together to tackle rural crime. Discussion at the meeting, attended by farmers and industry representatives, focused on a drive to increase trust and co-operation, with Mayor Patrick Darling High Sheriff of HerefordshireDavid Shaw Chief Constable of West Mercia Police and Bill Longmore Police and Crime Commissioner among those who appealed for members of the rural community to help the police act on rural crime by reporting incidents and sharing information.

There were also pledges of a renewed effort among police forces in the area to prioritise rural incidents. I can't honestly say we've given some of you the focus you deserve. We need to form what is in the true sense a partnership.

The project has been a success in Kingham and will now be rolled out across Herefordshire; farmers in that area should contact their local police to express an interest. With the show and sale season approaching it is a time when many of our sheep are on view. It may be a little late in that docking will already have been done, but NSA would like to remind all sheep farmers of the legal requirements of docking sheep.

The Welfare of Livestock Prohibited Operations Regulationsas amended by the Welfare of Livestock Prohibited Operations Amendment Regulationsprohibits tail docking of sheep unless sufficient tail is retained to cover the vulva in the case of female sheep and the anus in the case of male sheep.

This relates to stated withdrawal periods being properly met and the NSA encourages all sheep farmers for the sake of confidence and trust in our product to adhere closely to withdrawal periods and to ensure that medicine books and flock registers are up to date. ASULAM NOW ON SALE FOR EMERGENCY USE FROM JULY: The Bracken Control Group reports that, as anticipated, asulam has been granted an Emergency Authorisation for bracken control in The Emergency Authorisation has two periods — the one permits purchase and storage of asulam products between Monday 19th May and Monday 15th September, and the other permits application between Tuesday 1st July and Friday 31st October.

It is illegal to apply or store asulam outside those dates. There are rules about methods of application e. GET SHEEP MARKET PRICES ON NEW EBLEX APP: Eblex has launched a new mobile app providing the latest market prices and trends along with access to the most popular areas of the Eblex website. Users will be able to view events, news, localised weather reports and other tools and resources on their mobile phone. James Wilde of Eblex says: It means producers, processors and other industry stakeholders can access key services without waiting until they are in front of a computer screen.

NEW SHEEPDOG TRIAL AT NSA SOUTH SHEEP: The competition, which will take place in a picturesque valley setting on the event site, is being organised by the Sussex Sheep Dog Society and will feature Open and Novice classes. Anyone wishing to enter should send their details, including name, address, telephone number and email, to John Marsh, West End Farm, Gatehouse Lane, Goddards Green, Hassocks, West Sussex BN6 9LE, or westend talktalk. Find out more about the sheepdog trial and other events at NSA South Sheep here.

SIX SHEARING COURSES IN NI IN JUNE: The courses are two days each 9. THREE FARM WALKS FOCUSING ON LAMB GROWTH RATES: All three farm walks will focus on maximising lamb growth rates in early season through good grazing and flock health management, plus optimal weights for selling lambs. Register your attendance with Kirsty at QMS on or info qmscotland. FOCUS FARM EVENTS TO LEAD EBLEX HEALTH AND WELFARE CAMPAIGN: Eblex is creating a network of 19 sheep focus farms across England as part of a campaign addressing health and welfare issues.

The farms will play host to a series of events during the month project, starting with a programme of summer meetings focusing on lameness and the five-point lameness management plan. Both upland and lowland farms have been selected. The first focus farm meetings will be held in Callington, Cornwall, on 28th May and Dorchester, Dorset, on 5th June. As well as the activity on the focus farms, Eblex will be running a number of sheep health workshops designed to help farmers focus on issues on their own farms.

These sessions will cover health planning, lameness, infertility and scab. ENTRIES OPEN FOR BRITISH FARMING AWARDS: If you know someone who has made a change or innovation in their sheep farming business, why not nominate them for Sheep Innovator of the Year? You can even nominate yourself!

Entries close on 31st July. Find out more here. Pearly Sanjita Garg and Sophie Turrell both 17 are looking for a two-week placement on a sheep farm anywhere in the UK, ideally in mid-July. Both are A-level students looing to study veterinary science and have experience working with animals, including the two of them completing a lambing course. They would like to be placed together and are keen to take on any sort of farm work, saying they are enthusiastic and keen to learn.

They are based in Woodford Green, Essex, so would require accommodation if travelling any distance. You can contact the pair on pearly. NEW L EGAL HELPLINE ON OFFER FOR NSA MEMBERS: NSA is delighted to offer a new legal helpline for members, at no extra cost over the existing membership fee. You can call Clarke Willmott LPP, a national law firm, for up to 30 minutes of free advice on the telephone, after which you can instruct them to take further action if appropriate or use an alternative company.

There is no limit to the number of times you can use the service, so you can access additional minutes sessions if you have more than one legal issue over a year, but you must have your NSA membership number to hand.

New Zealand lamb attracted a lot of attention but we know the vast majority of lamb from NZ is to halal standards and is also pre-stunned, giving the best possible welfare at point of death.

NZ processors do this so they have the widest access to all the markets they supply, and this is no different from our main processors here in the UK. Defra has made it clear that the Government does not intend to take away the rights of religious communities, so non-stun slaughter will continue, but the derogation to the slaughter regulation is to allow for where this demand exists and as far as possible should be limited.

The event focused on the need for pedigree breeders to meet the demands of the commercial farmer and a full report can be read here. Pictured below pedigree breeders Dai Morris far leftMargaret Lawrence centre and Tim Tyne far right with commercial farmers Sion Jones left and Martin Greenfield right — they all provided case studies of the working relationship between breeders and producers.

A separate summary report has also been sent to all NSA affiliated breed societies. LOTS OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR NSA BOARD MEETING: This Wednesday 7th May saw the NSA Board of Trustees met at the Sheep Centre, Malvern, for the second of its meetings in Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, explains the set-up here: Suffice to say our Trustees went home looking more tired than they arrived!

C AP, TSEs AND EID TOLERANCE DISCUSSED AS SECRETARY OF STATE SPENDS DAY WITH NSA: NSA Chairman John Geldard invited Mr Paterson to visit his farm near Kendal, Cumbria, when he first replaced Jim Paice in the.

PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO? With the nation getting excited about the launch of Lambing Live this weekend visit the dedicated BBC page here now is the time to put your own filmmaking skills to the test and enter the brand new NSA video competition ahead of the NSA Sheep Event on Wednesday 30th July.

We all know how rewarding living and working in the countryside can be, producing top quality lamb for British and international consumers, so this is your chance to shout about it and encourage youngsters to consider taking a shepherding job or a role in ancillary services when they are older.

Show off how beautiful your corner of the UK is, how proud you are of your stock and why there are enough good things about your job to outweigh the days when it just never stops raining! This is how the competition will work: Tips for sending in footage include taking shots of your farm and you at work, as well as spoken bits to the camera.

British Agricultural Revolution - Wikipedia

You can send the footage in any format but, particularly if you are using a video on a mobile phone, please select a high setting so the filming is of high quality. Sent your video to enquiries nationalsheep.

Click here for full terms and conditions. There are just 10 days left before the end of the month when the second draw will be made it the NSA membership recruitment campaign to win an Advantage 3-in-1 Feeder pictured. Everyone who joins the NSA automatically gets entered in the draw and existing members can also get their name in the hat if they recommend a friend or neighbour to sign up.

There is no limit to the number of entries per person the more people you recommend the more entries you get! Find membership application forms, more information and terms and conditions at www. However, at this stage, all options remain open. We also discussed the possibility of splitting rough grazing into two regions, and it may well be that the use of land classifications may be an option to do this. Also discussed in detail was the splitting of the budget between region one and region two.

The conclusions will be up for debate following the closure of the consultation, but at this stage we now have enough information to progress with a response that will provide the best outcome for the sheep sector. The Glastir consultation in Wales closes a week today Friday 28th March and NSA has been firming up its response. As well as feeding opinions to NSA, farmers in Wales are also able to respond individually if they chose — click here.

A few significant points include the ability to enter into targeted agreements without being part of an entry level scheme, the shifting of resources more towards targeted initiatives and away from entry level schemes for all, and proposals to offer advanced schemes and payments to all land over the metre moorland line rather than just common land this is possibly the ANC, areas of natural constraint approach, although no ANC in Wales has been confirmed yet.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, adds: Any views from members would be well received and copies of our draft response to help with individual responses can be provided by email. Followers of the Lib Dem MP Tim Farron may have seen that Tim has claimed to have secured the abandonment of the six-day standstill rule in England byfollowing a meeting with Farming Minister George Eustice.

NSA welcomes this intervention but we would not like members expectations to be falsely built. The one decision that has been confirmed in England is the extension of the five-mile radius requirements to a 10 mile radius in We will continue to keep members informed of decisions as they are made, and keep up the pressure on Defra in this area.

OFFICIAL DEFRA GUIDANCE ON NEW MOVEMENT REPORTING OPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE: Defra has posted its new official guidance document to all registered sheep keepers in England today Friday 21st March so you should receive your copy in the coming days. If you do not know how to log into the members-only area at www. NEW EBLEX BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED: AHDB has appointed seven new EBLEX board members, including NSA Vice President and former Chairman Peter Baber.

The other five new farmer members are Ed Green, Steve Conisbee, Philip Abbott, James Evans and Duncan Nelless, and public health nutritionist Gill Fine is joining as an independent member. All six incoming farmer members run sheep as part of their farming enterprises.

Gill Fine is a former director of consumer choice and dietary health at the Food Standards Agency FSA. The new appointees will take up their posts on 1st April. GET THAT SPADE OUT TO ASSESS WATER DAMAGE: We may not have seen much frost or snow this winter but the amount of rainfall certainly made up for it and shows again that we are living in changeable and uncertain times. All soils and regions will vary but getting that spade out and taking a look here and there to identify compaction and moisture below the surface should be the first thing that is done before we rush out with harrows, grass slitters and sub soilers.

Before anything else, making sure soils are in optimum physical condition and ensuring the pH is within the right boundaries, is the best place to start. NSA has been contacted by Brian Hawes, Director of Paragon Rubber, who has become aware of a very poor and dangerous copy of the Pritchard Screw on Lamb Teat pictured.

The Chinese copy has no name on the cap and the nipple is made of very thin moulded synthetic rubber. It breaks very easily and our fear is that this may be swallowed by a lamb with disastrous effect. We wish to disassociate ourselves from this product and all resulting problems caused by it.

A newly developed sheep lameness guide is being offered for free to sheep farmers in Northern Ireland, thanks to AgriSearch, LMC and AFBI. The practical, pocket-sized publication helps producers diagnose the cause of lameness in sheep, identify treatment and prevention options, as well as follow best practice for foot bathing and foot trimming. Designed to fit in the pocket and stand up to use outside as you work with sheep, the ring-bound booklet combines photographs with bullet points on each possible cause of lameness.

Following the success of the competition, Menter a Busnes it looking for five teams of three Welsh farmers to compete against each other in producing a profitable pen of lambs grazed on a crop of their choice. Although the five selected teams will not have to deal with day-to-day husbandry they will have full responsibility over choosing crops to be established, managing them and implementing grazing strategies, plus all other elements of animal nutrition and health, and deciding when lambs are ready to be marketed.

Teams will be judged by a panel of industry experts on their management skills and profitability of the lambs, with a top prize of an electronic tablet device each for the winners. Click here for an application form, which must be completed by 24th April Details from Gwawr Hughes on or gwawr.

Eblex has invited NSA members to an event it is running with the British Society of Animal Science BSAS looking at improving ewe efficiency through better feeding. The event, held on Tuesday 19th April at Nottingham University, will look at traditional ewe wintering diets compared to grazing swedes, options for replacing soya bean meal in ewe diets and whether the currently held metabolisable protein requirements for ewes are correct.

WELSH LAMB TRIUMPH IN SWEDEN: A new supermarket opening on the Swedish-Norwegian border in April will stock nothing but PGI Welsh Lamb, following a successful trade mission by HCC Meat Promotion Wales. The deal, which is tied up with Swedish importer Farskvaruhuset, will see in excess of tonnes of Welsh Lamb per year supplied to this supermarket alone, including retail and vacuum packed chilled products and 1, whole carcases every six to eight weeks to suffice the demand of Norwegians across the border.

Farskvaruhuset also plan to take four to six tonnes per month of retails packed Welsh Lamb for another Swedish supermarket chain with up to stores. HCC says Scandinavia has opened its borders to Welsh red meat as a result of its PGI credentials, which guarantees authenticity, provenance and quality and can only be applied to sheep and cattle born and raised in Wales and slaughtered in approved abattoirs.

While the value of agriculture to the economy is frequently overlooked in the UK, it was the main focus at a CAP conference held in Seville, Spain, on Tuesday 18th March organised by Asaja and Copa-Cogeca Spanish and cross-European farming organisations respectively. Speakers acknowledged the positive role of agriculture in the economic crisis and the crucial role CAP played in facilitating it, which is being ignored in the current CAP reform. While there was much discussion about ways for farmers to mitigate falling CAP payments, there was also a powerful example of the need to communicate the importance of CAP to consumers.

The campaign will also hold an event in the European Parliament in Brussels next week to portray positive images of agriculture and show the crucial role farmers play in providing quality, healthy food and environmental services, maintaining rural areas, for society, thanks to the CAP.

Hopefully this will raise the profile of agriculture with MEPs who misunderstand the role of CAP. OFFICE FURNITURE, FREE TO A GOOD HOME: NSA is in the process of finding a new tenant for empty office space at The Sheep Centre, Malvern, and has been advised to clear out all our old office furniture. We have amassed a considerable number of desks, tables and metal filing cabinets which we would prefer to re-home than throw away.

If you would like any office furniture or know a business in the Worcestershire area that might be able to use them, please call or email enquiries nationalsheep. All the furniture is free, but you will need to collect it. SEARCH FOR SOMERSET FARMERS TO HELP WITH SHEEP BEHAVIOUR STUDY: Destiny is aware of how specific her request is but would welcome enquiries from anyone who thinks they might fit the criteria. She will then set up video cameras to measure the movements of the sheep to monitor their behaviour.

My aim is to develop implements to encourage natural grazing behaviour within lambing sheds, which can be put into practice next season in the hope of achieving less assisted lambing and less stress to the ewe.

Jeremy Fern from the veterinary research company Ridgeway Research is looking for sheep farmers interested in completing a survey linked to the development of a diagnostic tool and new methods to undertake faecal egg counts FEC.

Jeremy and his co-researchers at Bristol University hope the new tool will allow farmers to conduct quick, cheap and easy pen side faecal worm tests in order to decrease the use of wormers and the build up of potential resistance.

The survey will find out what farmers would want from such a product and what their general worming practices are.

Events

Each person whom completes the survey will be sent a free FEC kit with full instructions and a stamp addressed envelope to return the sample at a time of their choosing. To volunteer to complete the survey please contact Jeremy on or jeremy ridgewayscience.

NSA has been approached by Hugh Abbiss and Sam Hodsell, two year-old agricultural students from New Zealand planning a farming tour of the UK this May. Our main priority is visiting farms, so at the expense of sightseeing if needs be. NSA MARCHES REGION COMMITTEE MEETING: All NSA Marches Region members are welcome, not just committee members.

NSA is giving away six of the feeders this year in a free prize draw for both new NSA members as well as existing members who encourage a friend or neighbour to join the association. Mr Spencer, who filled in a membership form at the Lamma machinery show in January, says: I found myself at the Advantage Feeders stand and was quite surprised to see NSA there too.

I had been meaning to re-join for quite some time and am very glad to be a member of the NSA again. And I was absolutely over the moon to hear I was the lucky winner of the feeder as a result of joining up. New members of NSA get automatically entered into the free prize draw, while existing members get one entry for every person they refer to NSA with no limit to the number of entries. Full terms and conditions can be found at www. The first training session for the NSA Next Generation Ambassador Group pictured was held this week Monday 24th to Wednesday 26th February in Worcestershire and was a huge success.

Those present took advantage of the information on offer and the chance to meet likeminded people with a passion for sheep farming. A team from Eblex delivered the three days of training, with superb practical skills discussed on performance recording, grassland management, body condition scoring, minimising lambing losses and increasing efficiency. Click here to meet the Ambassadors. ENGLISH COMMITTEE WELCOMES NEW REPS AND ELECTS OTHERS: The NSA English Committee met in London on Thursday 27th February and welcomed Alan Derryman as a new NSA South West Region representative.

NSA Northern Region also elected a new rep at its recent AGM, Greg Dalton, who will be joining the English Committee at the next meeting. NSA SCOTLAND WORKSHOP ORGANISED TO DISCUSS CAP: NSA Scottish Region has organised a CAP workshop on Monday 10th March for NSA members and non-members to give their views on issues around CAP in the sheep sector.

There will be a focus on the options for splitting area payments between regions and on the possibility of the use of coupled payments. NSA Scotland Regional Development Officer George Milne says: NSA PICKS UP THE CHALLENGE OF RAISING AWARENESS OF CLA IN SHEEP: Following recent discussions at NSA English Committee and NSA UK Policy and Technical Committee about the growing problem of CLA in the UK sheep flock, we welcomed today Friday 28th February Dr Mike Fontaine from the Moredun Institute to NSA Head Office to discuss with a small group of NSA members and vets the issues and potential solutions to overcome this damaging disease.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, reports: While the Australian vaccine Glanvac is quite widely used under special licence here in the UK, keeping CLA under control in many sire-producing breeding flocks, its use means that blood tests to determine infection are fairly meaningless the vaccine confusing the test results. Additionally the immunity gained from vaccination is fairly short-lived with a need for an annual vaccination, something that very rarely happens with dangerous consequences.

The answer seems to have been pending for some time but does appear to be getting closer — a new vaccine and a more accurate blood testing process that are not mutually exclusive. In the meantime NSA will continue to work to raise awareness of CLA and encourage transparency between breeders and buyers with the aim of reducing the risk of CLA and its associated costs to both breeders and commercial sheep farmers.

FOUR NSA MEETINGS THIS WEEK! There are four more NSA Electronic Database Meetings the week after in Ashford, Bakewell, Kendall and Hexham - check out the diary at the bottom of this email. AMENDMENT TO EUROPEAN EID LAW TAKES ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO REALITY: The option for farmers to tag sheep with their holding number on a single plastic tag i. The law is a long way from being completed or implemented, but the adoption of this amendment tabled by Scottish MEP Alyn Smith and supported by NSA and the Shetland Crofters by a majority of 28 votes to 12 is an important hurdle cleared.

Having tried to tell the European Commission on several occasions over the past few years that these regulations were unworkable on a practical basis, it would now seem that they have finally woken up to the situation. She says the UK is lobbying hard to ensure the new law sets the framework but leaves the detail to Member States, and that all decisions are based on risk, evidence and science.

Not surprisingly, the new law has potential pitfalls too, such as passing inspection costs back to farmers and UK forfeiting power to Europe, and so the forthcoming negotiations between the European Parliament, European Council of Ministers and European Commission are crucial. The law is not expected to be passed until at the earliest, after which there will be a three-year transition before full implementation.

NSA will keep members up-to-date on progress. CAP REFORM, THE MOORLAND LINE AND OPEN ACCESS DISCUSSED BY WELSH COMMONS FORUM: Dem and Conservative spokesmen for Rural Affairs where issues of CAP reform and the moorland line, along with the open access and recreation discussion paper, were discussed.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker reports: Discussion on this subject on Monday focused on liability relating to access, and where the responsibility for insurance cover lies or should lie. Land management restrictions post Glastir agreements came up again and, while assurances have been given that the requirements only last as long as the agreements, with a simple Environmental Impact Assessment required before substantially changing management, communication received by farmers makes the whole process look far more complicated and uncertain.

Finally a thorough discussion was held on the need to communicate all the very good things public goods that come from sheep farming in upland areas. We have a good story to tell and we need to be telling it more! In other news affected common land this week, Minister for Natural Resources and Food Alun Davies, has announced that the current paper based registration system for common land in Wales established in the s will be replaced with electronic registers by The electronic system will replace the current large paper legers and maps held by local authorities, making the records easily accessible online and more straight forward to update.

Common land in Wales accounts for 8. The six-monthly SCOPS Steering Group meeting on Thursday 13th February covered a wide range of topics linked to sustainable control of sheep parasites and made some important decisions about priorities for SCOPS this year and beyond.

It was agreed that the basic messages about administering wormers and flukicides correctly could not be reiterated enough, particularly as the majority of reports of a product not working are link to incorrect administration rather than a drug resistance. NSA members are reminded that they always need to calibrate drench guns before use, including when the gun is brand new.

Use a calibration pot or remove the plunger from a 10ml syringe, put your thumb over the end and squirt the dose into it, making sure you have got rid of any air bubbles first. Adjust the gun until the dose delivered is correct. Drenching guns should also be well maintained and replaced regularly. Clean with warm soapy water after use and check springs and tubes to make sure there are no kinks that will form air bubbles.

Click here for more information. RABI OFFERING EMERGENCY GRANTS TO FLOOD-HIT FARMERS: The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution RABI says it wants to give emergency grants to flood-hit farmers and will accept applications as soon as farmers have the recovering from the immediate crisis of keeping themselves and livestock safe.

RABI has fast-tracked the application process in readiness and is accepting enquiries via and email grants rabi. RABI has set up a special fund with the Royal Bath and West of England Society to receive donations from businesses and individuals, which it will distribute with the help of a number of agencies to farming businesses to help their recovery.

Click here to donate or find out more at www. In addition, as a result of many people offering donations of forage rather than cash, Sedgemoor Livestock Market is coordinating collection and distribution of deliveries. Contact Rebecca Horsington to arrange a delivery time on or rhorsington hotmail.

The booze ban has been organised by the Farmers Guardian to mark its th anniversary, which falls this month, and Farmers Guardian staff and other industry representatives are also taking up the challenge. NSA faces giving up their pints include NSA Chairman John Geldard pictured top leftNSA South East Regional Chairman Andrew Barr top rightNSA South East Regional Manager Bob Blanden bottom left and NSA Central Region Committee Member and Newton Rigg Head of Agriculture Matt Bagley bottom right.

DATE OF NSA BREED SOCIETY FORUM ANNOUNCED: The date of the next NSA Breed Society Forum has been announced as Thursday 8th May at Hafod-y-Hendre, Royal Welsh Showground.

NSA-Affiliated Breed Societies will be able to send two representatives each and will be sent the full itinerary in the near future. Industry opinion suggests these numbers are too high, so these forecasts continue to assume a lower figure for lamb numbers. While production forecasts for the first half of are higher than previous levels, they are still substantially below year-earlier levels, as the carryover of lamb from made production in early unusually high.

A lower number of adult sheep culls are also currently expected, after what has mostly been a better season. Although supplies may be pinched, there are global opportunities for the UK industry, Mr Heyhoe said. Whereas most EU flocks are dwindling, the UK flock is not. A continued fall in EU production is predicted, as China ups its imports.

While New Zealand focuses on this new market, demand from Europe and the US continues — this, Mr Heyhoe points out, is a big opportunity for the UK. But the challenge for UK sheep farming is profitability, he warned, advocating increased output and streamlined costs as the key to on-farm success. PLEA TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR STOLEN PEDIGREE SHEEP: Lancashire farmer Dan Towers has asked NSA members to keep an eye out for 58 pedigree Beltex and cross-bred recipient ewes stolen on Friday night between 6.

All the animals can be identified by red marks on the backs of their heads and scan marks on their huggin bone. Some of the recipients with implanted embryos have marks on their backs and notches out of the end of both ears and at the top of the right ear.

NSA continues to hear reports of sheep rustling and we urge farmers to stay vigilant, and ask others to do the same, in order to protect their flocks. Over 40 Hampshire Sheep Group members turned their backs on the effects of the weather with some even travelling from the Isle of Wight and attended a presentation and discussion with NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker at Stockbridge do banks make money when they foreclosed Thursday evening 13th February.

The familiar Red Tractor logo can only be used on primary products, such a pack of lamb chops or a roasting joint, so the new logo allows the farm assurance logo to be used on products where the meat is only one element of the product.

NSA members have been invited by Strutt and Parker to attend a series of free events they are funding with financial support from the Rural Development Programme for England. The events are targeted at farmers with a least half their land in SDA and start at 6.

There is no fee to attend bulk liquidation stock you must book a place by calling or emailing ben. We have received a request from Hayley Jackson, a student in her final year at the Royal Agricultural University, for sheep farmers in England and Wales to complete a questionnaire about how to make money fast in kingdoms at war supplements and administration methods.

Click here for the survey, which is anonymous and should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete. If you have questions about the questionnaire please email Hayley on hayleyjayne. Agriculture student Rebecca Bradley 19 is looking for a level 2 apprenticeship in Northern England, which involves 40 hours per week working on farm plus one day at college for a month period. Rebecca has already completed her level 2 diploma in agriculture and the first year of her level 3 at Newton Rigg College.

She lives in Seaham, County Durham, but is willing to travel for a placement. Rebecca has experience lambing, is happy to work with all livestock and is very keen to learn. She has a full UK driving licence, experience driving tractors and can carrying out basic maintenance. She can provide references and can be contacted at rebeccax btinternet.

NSA DIARY OF EVENTS. Contact Jane Smith on or jane nsaramsales. With only a couple of weeks left until the NSA Eastern Region Winter Fair on Friday 31st January at Melton Mowbray Market, Leicestershire, there has been a last minute flurry of activity with more trade stands booked that at the previous event and lots of excitement about an action-packed day.

It is also not too late to enter the Young Shepherd of the Year competition at the Eastern Region Winter Fair. Click here to download an entry form. Click here a booking form, which must be returned by Monday. The dinner will be proceeded by the NSA Scottish Region AGM at 4pm, with a drinks reception at 7pm ahead of the dinner and guest speaker. We look forward to seeing lots of members at both the AGM and dinner. OTHER REGIONAL ACTIVITY INCLUDES an NSA Central Region Committee Meeting on Wednesday 22nd January and an NSA Marches Region and Eblex Lambing Management Meeting evening on Tuesday 4th February - times and venues at the bottom of the page.

The Marches lambing event will focus on the nutritional and health requirements of ewes in the critical pre-lambing and post-lambing periods, a market update and outlook, a summary of health auto how to become a millionaire with binary options welfare issues at lambing, and a discussion on sheep scab, how to keep it out of your flock and treatment greedy stock market practice.

The event is open to NSA members and non-members so spread the word. Contact the Eblex events office on or brpevents eblex. WALES TO ADOPT Rajkamal stock options blogspot MODEL FOR FUTURE CAP PAYMENTS: We are very worried about the future for farms that are predominantly moorland and will ensure we continue to work hard to influence Pillar Two of the CAP rural development so money is available to farmers to top up their shrinking allocation from Pillar One direct payments.

MEANTIME, THE CAP FIGHT CONTINUES IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND. The consultation period in Northern Ireland draws to a close before the end of January and NSA NI Regional Development Officer Edward Adamson reports a lot of activity this week to ensure the voice of sheep farmers is heard in the negotiations.

However, there are interested parties proposing an alternative two-region model which would reduce payments to farmers in the Severely Disadvantaged Areas, which includes some beef and dairy farmers as well as many sheep farmers. This week has seen several meetings to try and counter these latest proposals. It will be several weeks before we know the final outcome to be decided by DARD and our Minister of Agriculture - we wait in anticipation! We will be working on this over top boston stock brokers next two months and an updated CAP presentation will be made to NSA members at the Scottish AGM on 31st January.

I am also available to attend meetings in your area if required. TOP LEVEL MEETING TO KEEP SHEEP IN THE POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT: On Tuesday 14th January NSA Chairman John Geldard and NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker met with George Eustice Minister for Farming, Food, and Marine Environment and a team of top ranking Defra staff to discuss sheep farming.

In the uplands stocking rates are still being driven down on conservation grounds, and often well below rates that are essential to optimise biodiversity. In the lowlands the role of sheep in rotational farming and as soil improvers is not being recognised, and cross compliance penalties and an absence of EID and movements recording tolerance is seriously discouraging many mixed farms and large arable estates from retaining or setting up sheep enterprises.

Furthermore there are undoubtedly production gains that could be made if we could encourage sheep farmers to adopt the best possible health and disease control management.

WORK CONTINUES ON BAD WEATHER PLANNING: Regular readers of niche websites make money NSA Weekly Email Update will have recently read our warning about the need for good winter feed planning and contingency benefits of binary options demo account no deposit the threat of bad winter weather.

Information provided to the meeting suggested 27 of the 35 cases of recent EU relaxation were for the Central bank of the philippines currency exchange rate, but as an island our weather is undoubtedly more changeable and unpredictable than on mainland Europe and this needs to be understood.

So every effort should be made fitschen keith. building reliable trading systems (wiley) watch weather forecasts and ensure reasonable stocks of delivered feed.

It is also worth reminding farmers that you can clear and grit roads to enable access to farms - and red diesel can be used to carry out this work. This work culminated on Tuesday 14th January at an AHWSSG meeting when the group agreed the proposal would be put forward to Alun Davies, Minister for Natural Resources and Food.

If Mr Davies agrees the eradication plan can go out to consultation we will be one step closer to tackling sheep scab in Wales. We also encourage NSA members in Wales to consider applying for one of the public positions, as we would very much like to see active farmers taking up the new roles. SHEEP RUSTLER SENT TO PRISON FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS: KEEN SHEARER LOOKING FOR A GANG IN YORKSHIRE: We have been contacted by year-old Alex Clapham who is looking for a shearing gang to join in West Yorkshire or somewhere near.

He is a keen option trading ira account and is looking for more work and experience this coming season.

Alex can be contacted on alexclapham live. The British Wool Marketing Board is inviting nominations for board members in its English Southern, Welsh Northern and Scottish Southern regions. Board members are expected to work approximately 30 days a year attending board meetings over a period of two or three days each month, as well as other local and national BWMB business.

Email nominations to jeanmurphy britishwool. AgriSearch in Northern Ireland is looking for a sheep farmer with a passion for progress and problem-solving to join their Sheep Advisory Committee. Advisory committees usually meet three times a year to develop ideas for new research and review research proposals, and committee members are paid travelling expenses to attend meetings.

Applications close on Friday 24th January. Contact Jason Rankin on or visit www. REGISTER NOW FOR OPEN FARM SUNDAY: NSA members intending april stock option expiration date host an Open Farm Sunday event on 8th June are coles anzac day trading hours adelaide to register as soon as possible at www.

You can also use the website to find details of free information events being held between February and April to provide advice, tips and new ideas for host farms. Annabel Shackleton, Open Farm Sunday Manager, says: Events can be any size 30 seconds binary options strategy xposed auto trader format to suit your farm, ranging from a guided farm walk through to a full open day.

One of the great things about Open Farm Sunday is the uniqueness of each event so it is up to you to decide on the size and type of event you run. As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, the British Texel Sheep Society is planning two overseas tours for members — one to Switzerland and another to New Zealand. Closer to home will be a series of receptions, a large presence at the NSA Sheep Event on Wednesday 30th July and celebratory events at their four national sales, with anniversary medals presented to class winners.

The ruby anniversary celebrations will culminate with an AGM and social weekend in Chester from 7th to 9th November Details from the society office on or office texel. SHEEPY NUMBER PLATE ON OFFER: NSA members have been offered first refusal on the personalised number plate C9 BAA. A joint event held by NSA and RASE on Tuesday 8th October in Wiltshire saw NSA take the next step in our project to support young people in the sheep sector, by launching a NSA Next Generation website and opening applications for the Ambassador Programme.

It also brings together all the existing NSA activity, including our very popular matchmaking service for students looking for on-farm placements at lambing time. The website will be added to over time and we welcome comments from people with suggestions for additional content - forex balikbayan box dallas tx email youngentrants nationalsheep.

Earn money with etoro the end of this year we will have selected up to 12 young people with a real enthusiasm for the sheep sector and provide them a unique experience throughoutoffering technical and personal development, covering elements such as market selection, food chain development, sheep husbandry, brand development and adding value, optimising genetics, time management, business planning, presentation skills, conflict resolution and promotion of the sheep sector.

With ambassadors selected from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the programme will provide the opportunity to meet likeminded people throughout the UK, as well as key people within the sheep sector.

Application forms can be found on the new website and we urge you to have a look, either for yourself or someone else you know. Tim provided an inspirational presentation and farm walk about his route into farming, while NSA South East Committee Member Marie Prebble talked about her own individual experience of starting out. Catherine Nakielny and Rob Hodgkins talked about their Nuffield Scholarship travels learning about innovative sheep breeding techniques, and Charlotte Johnstone of RASE forex fibonacci retracement strategy an informative video presentation by Sam Bullingham, who won the NSA Sheep South West Shepherd of the Future competition, describing his experiences as a first generation contract shepherd.

The event saw much interaction, resulting in deep discussion and lively debate amongst the delegates. Charlotte from RASE says she has already received positive feedback from those who attended and is considering organising a follow on event. Are you are Sheep Contractor or carry out certain aspects of sheep husbandry for others?

Are you thinking you might like to set up a contracting business in the future or just interested in finding out more? If so this event is not to be missed.

Being held near Cirencester Market in Gloucestershire on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th November, the event will provide the opportunity for contractors to meet likeminded people and compare trades, while speakers and other guests will cover practical topics, including advice from the British Wool Marketing Board on shearing, a make simple money origami at different control methods for sheep ectoparasites, and tips for running a contractor business managing cash flows, accounts and billing systems.

There will also be a sheep handling workshop to help contractors think about efficient and effective ways to move sheep through handling systems. Please register your interest with NSA Head Office on or enquiries nationalsheep. Previous winners are sheep consultant Catherine Nakielny, Welsh shearing champion Gareth Daniels, NSA Cymru YFC Committee Rep Marc Jones, who also works for ADAS, and Lleyn breeder Dylan Jones.

Novartis Animal Health has highlighted findings from their Farming Against Wormer Resistance FAWR campaign, to underline the importance of quarantine treatments for bought-in animals. All these practices are likely to increase the risk of spreading resistant worms. Quarantine is the only effective defence against a number of serious health threats, including resistant worms and sheep scab.

Quarantine should be regarded as an investment in your flock. So it can never be regarded as being expensive to spend a bit of money on these few animals - even though they are only small proportion of the flock - because you are protecting the rest.

HALAL ASSURANCE SCHEME TO BE DISCUSSED: A draft halal assurance scheme will be one of the things discussed at the first Eblex-organiseed halal forum on Thursday 24th October at Chesford Grange Hotel, Warwickshire. Also on the agenda will be a discussion on forthcoming legislation and a look at a new slaughter education film, laying out the different methods of religious slaughter.

The event is open to all - please email alex. GLASTIR REMINDERS FOR FARMERS IN WALES: The Welsh Government is urging Glastir applicants to respond promptly if they are contacted by a Welsh Government Divisional Office or Natural Resources Wales representative for additional information, as delayed responses may prevent a Glastir contract being in place by 1st January Other important dates include: A quick guide with tipps on getting ewe's and ram's ready for 'TUPPING' Click Here.

The seminar tent also proved to be a draw throughout the day. They also answered questions on the new electronic movement database for England and what was being done to engage with New Zealand and prevent them repeating their marketing strategy. Another popular seminar was Dr Fiona Lovatt tackling liver fluke, Schmallenberg and scab. As a practising vet who recently set 1 binary options broker biz her own sheep consultancy business, Options for volatile markets 2nd edition said she's seen the impact of fluke on many farms in recent months.

She urged farmers to test for triclabendazole TBZ resistance rather than assuming a treatment failure automatically meant the farm had resistance and to also quarantine incoming stock.

There were several quarantine options to stop fluke getting onto fluke-free farms and TBZ-resistant fluke getting on TBZ-susceptible farms, forex trading plan checklist so Fiona urged farmers to talk about quarantine options with their vet. NEXT UP IS THE NSA YOUTHFUL SHEPHERD EVENT: This will be a unique opportunity for new and potential new entrants to have access to industry leaders and influencers, gain information and advice, and have 95 binary options trading software say about what the industry can do to better support young people.

The event starts at 2. It is organised by NSA Eastern Region but open to young people from around the UK. The event will include: The event will conclude at 6pm with a BBQ, to which all NSA Eastern Region members are invited for a social evening. This replaces the NSA Eastern Region farm walk. AND THEN Berapa spread roboforex SHEEP SOUTH WEST: The penultimate NSA summer sheep event.

Tuesday will be an action-packed day with plenty going on, including farm tours, carcase and fleece competitions, stockjudging challenges, a sheepdog sale and Young Shepherd and Student Shepherd of the Future competitions.

For the first time a seminar programme has also been introduced. Find out more at www. NSA INVOLVED IN MEDIA ACTIVITY AROUND 'MEAT AS A LUXURY PRODUCT': This Tuesday 4th June say the House of Euro sterling exchange rate september 2010 Select Committee on international development release a report on global food security, which hit the mainstream press in the papers, radio and TV.

This subject relates to the highest level of policy work the NSA is involved in, as it is likely to underpin many policies for future food production and land use. The report's headline essentially said that the growing global population should eat less meat, but when you dug a little deeper it was saying clearly that increasing grain-fed meat was likely to be unsustainable whereas grass-fed meat would be an essential part of sustainable meat production and consumption.

In addition to NSA's regular work on CAP reform, the English Committee also invited Gail Soutar, NFU Senior CAP and International Affairs Adviser, to provide an update at their meeting last week Wednesday 29th May. One of the most pressing issues to come out of the discussion with Gail was a reminder that anyone interested in Entry Level Stewardship ELS only had until 1st September to apply, with the final ELS agreements to be offered on 1st December HLS closes at the end of July but Gail suggested Natural England already had to be aware of your interest and so no new applications could now be submitted.

ELS and HLS schemes will then permanently close and be replaced with a new scheme from 1st Januarywhich is expected to be a middle tier between ELS and HLS. Meanwhile IN WALESthe Glastir deadlines are: From reports being received at NSA HQ it would appear that fewer lambing flocks are now experiencing SBV compared to those lambing before Christmas and early into the New Year.

This might be shetland livestock marketing group ltd on two fronts - as the tupping season progressed midge activity should have reduced, and probably more of the early lambing flocks were synchronized compared to those lambing now.

We now have some additional information from a recent European Food Standards Agency EFSA meeting: SBV world largest forex broker a very high level of 'vector competence' compared to other viruses and it sharecash make money uploading files this that is accounting for the fast and wide spread of the virus across the country.

EU Members States, including the UK, are still saying that on an industry level SBV will have a low impact although everyone recognises that for those farmers affected the suggestion that it is low impact can be offensivebut the impact on synchronized flocks can be far higher. There is talk of the virus being present and infective in semen but this is not proven. AHVLA are to do some research into this, and scientists are very skeptical that in natural mating or AI this spread of infection would happen.

Approval of the application for authorisation of a SBV vaccine is still underway and Ministers, Defra, AHVLA, and VMD have all been made aware of the importance of this vaccine to the livestock industry. To finish with some good news — there has been exhaustive research completed that has shown there is no risk to human health of the current Schmallenberg virus.

You should have all received an email letting you know the industry-led Lambing Survey is now online and will be available until the end of May for farmers to fill in once they have finished lambing. The questions are designed to help get an impression of the lambing season as a whole, but specifically the impact of Schmallenberg SBV.

NSA called for such a survey back in December, when it became clear AHVLA would not be collecting any detailed information about SBV on individual farms. This has resulting in the Lambing Survey, which is a joint initiative between NSA, AHVLA, Eblex, HCC, NBA, NFU and QMS. The survey can be found at https: The survey should be completed producers livestock auction market report you have finished lambing, and should be completed twice or more if you lamb ewes in two or more batches.

If you know any NSA members without internet access please tell them they can contact the NSA to complete the survey over the phone instead - weekdays 9am The ewe was working hard to lamb but progress was slow. On first inspection the legs were jointed giving the impression of front legs. BUT there was a tail where the head was expected and in actual fact this lamb was presented backwards. Lambing progressed very slowly and it became apparent that the front legs were fused bent at the knee joint.

Very luckily and with great care she was lambed normally. If this lamb had been presented normally our vet said that a caesarian would have been needed. From the hip down to the foot each joint was back to front.

The front legs could only be moved and straightened by breaking the knee joint. This particular ewe was 8 days overdue and had been looking uncomfortable but not showing any obvious signs of lambing. On investigation the cervix was not open. The following day she started to push and show signs of lambing but progress was very trader binary options demo account. There was a jumble of lambs legs in the birth canal.

It proved too difficult to lamb this ewe as it was obvious the lambs were deformed and the vet was called. She eventually managed to draw out two stillborn lambs which had been entangled.

These lambs had been dead for some time 2 - 3 weeks. Although this ewe had been scanned carrying twins the vet then felt another lamb inside. This lamb was huge and very bloated and could not be lambed naturally therefore a caesarian was conducted. Although the lamb was dead it would appear that the placenta was still feeding the lamb which caused the oedema. This was a very difficult caesarian. The appearance of this lamb was that of a bloated rugby football with deformed leg appendages and very large head with undershot jaw.

These weak lambs require lots of attention to get them going but once they do they seem to be quite robust. Lambs appearing normal at birth which, in spite of attention, have then 'faded' and died within a few hours.

Newborn lambs from a normal deleivery being very slow to suckle and requiring time and patience to get them drinking. In some cases it has been more efficient to take colostrum off the ewe and feed it to the lamb. Having recently attended an NFU livestock meeting for sheep farmers in Hereford market, where we had an interesting talk on SBV, by a large veterinary practice. The one overwhelming anecdote is that is that once an area is affected the level of impact is very random i.

Many other shepherds are reporting that they have had live lambs that have been smaller than usualthese lambs start of ok but then days later may go off their feet and fade away and will certainly require TLC if they are to survive. These weakly lambs have been tested positive for SBV. Some farmers have had deformed lambs, that have been tested positive but on testing the mothers they have shown no anti bodies, which the vets are finding this a little puzzling.

This will be a short note to keep breeders and flock owners up to date on the practical side with the Schmallenberg virus SBV. There are many stories, rumour and half truths circulating and they seem to be gathering momentum.

I have unfortunately been affected with SBV in my flock, so I would like to share a few snippets that might be of help to others. You can read the theory on the internet at http: The lambs with fused joints [as in the photo] nearly always come breach, these are boxed shape with the leg joint fused and often the neck is fused back towards the spine.

Great care is needed when assisting these ewes to lamb in order to avoid tearing the womb with the fused feet. If in doubt seek veterinary help. Some lambs come with very spindly legs and a rugger ball belly, forex income engine 3.0 are neurologically miswiredthey can suck but are unable to stand, others are born weak, some with a curved spine.

In addition to the problems with SBV the weather has played its part leading some ewes to produce weak lambs this season probably due to the lack of nutrition after such an appallingly wet summer and autumn that has leached all the goodness from the grass. Even for seasoned Shropshire breeders this lambing is one of the most difficult ever. If you have any queries on SBV please e-mail Sue Farquhar on hansnett talktalk. Some positive Schmallenberg reports are emerging - and survey asc 718 stock options be available soon.

Our sympathy is with those early lambing flocks that have been hit very hard by Schmallenberg SBV and we know how nervous many members are about ewes that are yet to lamb. Employee stock option scheme and employee stock purchase scheme guidelines 1999 was therefore nice to receive one very positive report from NSA member Dan Phipps this week.

Dan suffered large losses from SBV last year but has just finished lambing ewes on the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border without seeing a single lamb with SBV-like symptoms. He marked individual ewes that produced affected lambs last year and all of these had healthy, strong lambs.

However, he did experience a higher barren rate than in previous years, with ewes carrying raddle marks but scanning empty being moved into the later lambing flock.

These will be scanned next week, and regardless if they are in lamb or not fingers crossed they are Dan would like to know if their infertility is linked to SBV. Questions such as this, and the huge disparity across the country of some flocks suffering losses and others not, underline yet again how vital it is that we collect information on a large-scale to improve our understanding.

It has been designed to be completed online once you have finished lambing each batch of ewes - i. As long as you have basic information to hand such stock option calculator volatility scanning rate, number of losses telemarketing jobs from home charlotte nc then it will not take long to fill in.

We will alert you as soon as the survey is available, and NSA Head Office will happily complete the survey over the phone with any NSA member who does not have the ability to do it online. The emergence of Schmallenberg reiterates how important disease surveillance is, and will be a key consideration as NSA completes the consultation paper that has been issued by AHVLA about surveillance on a greatly reduced budget. NSA representatives have also been attending AHVLA-ran workshops in the last fortnight to get a better understanding of what surveillance might look like in the future when the chance of all existing AHVLA centres remaining open is very slim.

Please email joanne nationalsheep. This lambing season has seen cases of the Schmallenberg Virus affecting Shopshire Sheep flocks. The Society thought that it might be of help to other flock members of theses situations that have presented themselves. Below are records of individual's encounters and in some cases what had to be done to deliver the lambs, and their findings.

Please be aware that this virus is affecting sheep and cattle, all breeds and is not just specific to the Shopshire Sheep Breed and the SSBA have published this information for the possible benefit of experience from other breeders.

Hopefully this will give people more information on the subject as we all seem to be learning as we go and hopefully to understand that we are not alone should it happen to you. Should you wish to know more information on the Virus then have a look on the net and to talk to your own vet. Remember that should you ever be in difficulty with your sheep's health and well-being then please raise your concerns with your vet as is normal practice.

In summary from the findings below. The virus seems to manifest it's self in different ways According to figures published by Defra, a total of holdings had been affected by mid January.

The virus can have a devastating impact on unborn lambs. All binary option brokers vic AHVLA website states that. In adult cows the acute forex global solutions cyprus resulted in diarrhoea, fever, a reduction in milk yield, with a full and rapid recovery over several days".

Schmallenberg Virus is not a notifiable disease but breeders are advised to contact their veterinary surgeon if they encounter cases of ruminant neonates or foetuses which are stillborn. A Europe-wide risk assessment has concluded that Forex virtual private server review virus is very unlikely to cause illness in people.

On investigation Tues evening the cervix was not open however yesterday Wed she started to push and show signs of lambing but progress was very slow. During a further internal examination the cervix was gently manipulated to help dilate it which caused the waters to break releasing an extraordinary amount of birth fluid. Once the ewe had passed all this fluid a jumble of lambs legs were in the birth canal. It proved too difficult to lamb this ewe asb forex converter it was obvious the lambs were deformed and the vet was called yet again.

This lamb was huge and very bloated and there was no way it could be lambed naturally therefore a caesarean had to be conducted. This was a very difficult caesarean as although the lamb was stillborn it would appear that the placenta was still feeding the lamb which caused the oedema. It weighed 6 Kg. If this ewe had been left she would have shed her afterbirth and succumbed to toxaemia and died.

Please be very aware when delivering Schmallenberg affected ewes that you check there are no more lambs inside. Don't rely on scanning, this ewe had been scanned carrying twins and in fact had triplets. Of our other affected ewes, one was scanned with twins yet delivered triplets. Sharing our experiences certainly help me keep a calm head in the early hours of this morning. I kept thinking back what you had all found which helped us to lamb a ewe. The ewe lambed herself and produced a nice healthy lamb.

She went down to have the second lamb and I noticed a nose but nothing else. The lamb was alive but had both legs back. Found the legs and brought them forward so everything looked ok and normal.

Gave a pull and the lamb started to come out then got stuck behind the shoulders. Went to investigate but couldn't find anything wrong, lots of room, back legs not tucked under, everything seemed fine but couldn't understand why we couldn't get it out.

My husband tried, but had no joy so we decided to call the vet. Whilst waiting for the vet to arrive the ewe gave a big push and he saw the lamb move slightly so he gave another pull and it came out. Unfortunately the lamb was dead but its belly was so distended and the hind legs very thin. The vet has taken it away to test for schmallenburg.

Thank td ameritrade roth ira investment options for the 'stories' as I thought back to the previous message with the rugby ball. This is an important update produced by the Charollais Sheep Society concerning the reported incidence of Schmallenberg Virus in flocks that have lambed from options deep in the money covered calls December to date.

Carroll Barber has kindly allowed the use of this information by the SSBA. We are sorry to report that many Charollais flocks are reporting cases of deformed lambs being born which are most likely to be as the result of Schmallenberg infection. Breeders have contacted us from the South West, Midlands, Home Counties and South Wales.

We are very sorry for those of you who are affected and can only hope that the level of problems drop back as we proceed with lambing. We thought it ford motor company stock ticker symbol be helpful to set out a few facts on the disease. Classic signs of SBV are extended limbs which are fused, deformed heads and lambs that show few signs of normal behaviour 'stupid lambs'.

Infection is generally quite sporadic. You require the midge as the host for transmission of the virus. We would suggest that anyone who suspects that they may have the infection on their farm to contact their veterinary surgeon.

We know that they cannot do anything to alleviate the problems, but we do need to get the disease fully recorded. This is so the vaccine is pushed to market as soon as possible; which might help later lambing flocks in Veterinary surgeons should then contact their local AHVLA Laboratory England and Wales or SAC Disease Surveillance Centre Scotland if they suspect infection with the virus and arrange to have the dead lambs tested to confirm.

It would also be helpful if you could let the office SSBA know if you have had a problem. It will give us a picture of the spread of the disease and put us in a better position to push hard for the arrival of the vaccine. We need to be able to advise farming groups and bodies just how devastating this disease is.

We are sorry to bring you bad news, but hopefully many healthy, strong lambs will be born. Remember you are certainly not alone in this horrid situation. Schmallenberg virus circulating in Britain again 24 July By Alistair Driver. Defra has announced the virus was identified on seven late-lambing farms between mid-April and May - two in the Channel Islands and one each in Dorset, West Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Kent.

According to Defra Deputy Chief veterinary Officer Alick Simmons, the ewes carrying these lambs must have earn money for paypal fast infected in January or early February. This suggests that the disease probably over-wintered in midges. We probably have more infection transmitting out of the infected areas moving westwards and northwards was we speak, "he told Farmers Guardian on Tuesday.

Mr Simmons announced that Defra is set to embark on a major nationwide SBV surveillance programme and urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of disease. He said the re-emergence of the virus was 'no surprise', given the speed and efficiency with which it has already been shown to spread in midges in mainland Europe. But he said it was impossible to estimate 'how far and how fast' the infection would spread in Britain this year.

Animals that have already been infected, including a high proportion in southern and eastern England last year, will have built up immunity. The virus is therefore expected to travel, via midges, 'like a moving front' westwards and northwards from the infected areas, Mr Simmons said. As the virus causes most of its damage in pregnant animals - leading to stillborn and deformed lambs and calves that characterise SBV - infection during the summer months is relatively harmless.

The real danger time is the autumn breeding period. One could argue that the quicker infection moves across the country and infects areas before ewes and cows go to the ram or bull, the better it will be because they will become immune before they get pregnant.

It arrived in August or September last year so there was no time for broker ecn forex to gain immunity before they get pregnant, but there is time this year, Mr Simmons said. However, the areas where the disease strikes in the autumn breeding season could endure a similar experience to the most infected southern and eastern counties in the early month of this year.

He stressed, however, that only small proportion of infected pregnant animals go on to have deformed and stillborn offspring. He added that Defra was unable to give farmers any advice about reducing the risk because of the gaps in the knowledge about its spread and impact. Looking for signs of SBV Defra is urging farmers, particularly along the edge of the risk area, to look out for, and report to their vets, signs of SBV in adult cattle, such as milk drop, fever and diarrhoea.

AHVLA will also shortly be launching a web-based survey to assess the prevalence of the virus in the national sheep flock. The survey will use samples taken as part of the sheep and goat survey for Brucella melitensis. The aim is binary options on sessions test sufficient samples to provide 95 per cent confidence that less than 6 per cent of the flocks in these regions were exposed to the virus.

Schmallenberg has been found on farms in England, in sheep, 53 in cattle and three in both, although very few new cases have been identified over the summer. There have been 5, cases in nine member states so far, with France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and UK the worst affected. It has also been found in much smaller numbers in Luxembourg, Italy, Spain and Denmark. AHVLA conducts survey to measure impact of Schmallenberg virus on sheep farms. As this is a new disease, the main aim is to assess possible losses to farmers and to better understand how the disease has affected animal health and welfare in Great Britain.

There are 30 questions, which should take less than 30 minutes to complete. Links to English and Welsh versions of the questionnaire can be found below:. SBV survey AHVLA - English version. SBV survey AHVLA - Welsh version. A summary of the survey results will be published on the AHVLA websitebut no individual farms will be identifiable from these results.

The closing date for answering the online questionnaire work from home jobs in kr puram 15 July Any questions about the survey should be sent to SBVsurvey ahvla. More information about Schmallenberg can be found on the Schmallenberg virus pages of the AHVLA website. Fluke and CAP reform dominate NSA UK Policy and Technical meeting. Tuesday this week 26th February saw the NSA UK Policy and Technical Committee, which meets four times a year to discuss key policy areas, gather in London.

There was an extensive agenda but the two items drawing passionate comment from our English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish euro exchange rate date wise were liver fluke and Defra's attitude to CAP reform. There was real strength of feeling about the damage caused by liver fluke and the lack of understanding about the different products available - and specifically that triclabendazole products are the only ones that kill immature fluke but care needs to be take not to cause resistance to the drug.

As always, NSA recommends members visit www. Frustrations around CAP reform was also voiced and specifically that Defra and Owen Paterson are still calling for smaller budgets and increased modulation despite opposition from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and every single farming stakeholder group. Ideas were discussed to keep up NSA pressure in this area.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker and NSA Chairman John Geldard both attended complex binary options strategy 60 seconds NFU conference on Wednesday and Thursday 27th and 28th February and noted the number of commitments to build sustainable transparent and trusting supply chain relationships, as a result of the horsemeat scandal.

The silver-lining in the black cloud of the horsemeat situation is surely the opportunities to come out of it, and the important thing will be taking advantage business cycles and stock market returns evidence using industry-based portfolios promises from retailers and trying to make sure it is not just a short-term scare that disappears quickly with everyone falling back into the same old mode.

On CAP, Phil reports: Day trading options jeff augen pdf free download does not seem to grasp that virtually no livestock farms would be viable without Pillar One Single Farm Payment and Pillar Two RDP and agri-environment schemes and how he thinks they can get that viability from the market is baffling.

Sgx single stock options some ways his drive and determination is valuable to us, but in others not helpful at all. At least there is more talk of LFA farmers being birkenstock cheap uk recognised, with increasing acknowledgement of the special public goods they provide and the fact there needs to be better ways of rewarding them.

NSA Scotland's George Milne challenges Secretary of State for Scotland. Last week saw NSA Scotland Regional Development Officer George Milne spent the day with Michael Moore MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, visiting a family-ran upland farm in Perthshire.

Mr Moore heard about the challenge facing the sheep sector including distribution of levy money throughout the UK from NSA Scotland, NFUS and QMS. George also specifically raised the issue of having to split older carcases and gave Mr Moore a copy of the NSA report "The complementary role of sheep in Less Favoured Areas".

A wonderful sight will be hitting later this month with the Campaign for Wool set to transform Somerset House in central London into 'Wool House' to show all the different ways wool can be used for home furnishings, fashion and top-notch design projects.

NSA is supporting the project by sourcing live sheep for visitors to see alongside the wool exhibits, and hopes the 777 binary option fake money will turn increase awareness of the sheep and wool sectors. If you happen to be visiting London on 13thth March sheep present 14thth please come and see us - admission is completely free of charge between 10am and 6pm.

Given we are taking sheep into the centre of London, the exhibition at Wool House on 14thth March will require people familiar with sheep to be present the entire time - not only to watch the sheep but also answer all the questions visitors will have about sheep farming.

We particularly need a volunteer for Saturday 16th March and will pay all travel costs and related expenses for them to get to London for the day 10am-6pm. If you would like forex trading la gi help out, or know someone who would, please email joanne nationalsheep.

Also during the week of 'Wool House', a Mutton Renaissance day is being held on Monday 18th March at the Innholders Hall, 30 College Street, London, EC4R 2RH.

The event will be looking at ways forward for the Mutton Renaissance and will include a review and discussion of the research programme carried out into the operation of the mutton supply line by England Marketing.

There will also be an excellent yahoo currency nzd usd under the direction of Herbert Berger, a member avis sur trader forex the Academy of Culinary Arts. Pre-booking is essential - call or email magsbarrow pastral.

Confirmation came on Wednesday 27th February that Asulam products will be permitted for use this summer, under emergency authorisation permits. Authorisation will have to be sought each year and in can be issued from 20th May, for spraying from 1st July to 16th September.

Anyone wishing to seek authorisation should contact their local asulam distributor; more information can be found at www. Big promotion of English meat www forex tradingcharts com weekend - and massive boost to Scottish lamb on the way.

Look out for promotion of British meat in your newspaper this weekend, as both Red Tractor Assurance RTA and NFU have paid for adverts to appear across the national press. This is in direct response to the horsemeat scandal and the adverts are designed to reassure consumers that products carrying the Red Tractor logo are traceable and trustworthy. The RTA adverts, which carry the Red Tractor, Quality Standard English Beef and Quality Standard English Lamb logo, states: All fresh beef, lamb, pork or bacon that carries the Red Tractor or Quality Standard labels meets high production standards and is fully traceable back to independently inspected farms in the UK.

It's the easiest way to be sure of the provenance of the meat you're buying. This is in direct response to pressure from the sheep sector including a one-to-one meeting with NSA Scotland and a cross-industry meeting chaired by NSA Scotland for Mr Lochhead to support lamb producers struggling with low farmgate prices. The number of thin ewes about has prompted SCOPS to urge farmers to take immediate action.

Peter Baber, sheep farmer and SCOPS chairman, says: The challenge from high levels of liver fluke on pasture continued throughout the first two months of and many farmers seem unaware that if sheep are put back on high risk pastures they will need to be re-treated with a flukicide five to six weeks later to avoid losses. This means treatments are required more frequently than farmers are used to and SCOPS suspects that there is also confusion because some products used are persistent against worms, but not against liver fluke.

Segregate thin ewes and increase feed levels according to a forage analysis. Even though treatment may have removed the parasites, some ewes will have badly damaged livers and will need additional inputs to get them through lambing. Follow up any sheep going direct to an abattoir. Ask for feedback and if livers are rejected, find out why. Investigate losses and other possible causes of thin ewes - ask your vet to carry out post mortem examinations on deaths and discuss actions to minimise losses in the run up to lambing.

Make sure clostridial vaccinations are up to date; Black Disease is a major risk where livers have been damaged by fluke. SCOPS also says farmers need to start planning ahead now to minimise the impact of liver fluke next season: Reduce the amount of pasture contamination this spring by using a treatment that kills any adult liver fluke that have survived in the sheep.

Consult your vet or adviser to make sure you choose the right product. Implement management controls where possible. These include identifying the high risk areas on the farm and putting measures in place that will avoid them. Practical steps include fencing off wet areas and attending to leaking troughs, pipes and drainage.

Plan to test that your flukicide is working. On high risk farms where triclabendazole TCBZ has been heavily relied on it is vital to check that it is still working effectively. While there is some resistance to this treatment it remains an important weapon against immature fluke and SCOPS is concerned that many people have mistaken re-infection this winter with treatment failure. More information can be found at www. NSA Northern Region welcomes a new Chairman and recognises a stalwart of the industry.

The NSA Northern Region AGM on Wednesday evening 13th February saw Geoff Lawn complete his two years as regional Chairman and hand over the reins to Adam Watson of Brampton, Northumberland. Mr Watson is a keen supporter of sheep genetics and the next generation of producers; he appeared in Farmers Guardian last week, talking about his role as NSA North Sheep Chairman - read the article here.

Also at the AGM, the T. Allinson Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to the sheep industry in the North of England went to auctioneer Stuart Bell. His nomination from the North of England Mule Sheep Association said: A group of 10 delegates from supermarket chain Intermarche the largest supermarket chain in Europe with 1, stores and processor SVA Jean Roze have spent three days visiting processors, producers and butchers, discussing UK lamb production and new cutting techniques.

There were firm words from Stuart Annand of Quality Meat Scotland this week when he urged more farmers to take up performance recording.

Craig Massie is at Harper Adams University and looking for a paid work placement on a large-scale sheep and arable farm preferably lowland for a minimum of 12 months between July and September I feel experience of sheep production and arable on a larger scale than what I have on the family farm would be very beneficial. Tomas Richards is studying Agriculture with Animal Science at Aberystwyth University and is looking for a work placement preferably paid on a large sheep farm with a focus on breeding and genetics.

He is looking for a placement from January to September anywhere in the UK, but will require accommodation if travelling any distance from his home in north Herefordshire. Tomas has some experience working with sheep and can be contacted at tomas.

Request for farmers in NSA Northern region to help with university dissertation. Northumbria University student Leanne Defty is looking for help with a project on organic versus non-organic farming.

She needs both conventional and organic farmers to fill in her minutes questionnaire at www. Anyone wishing to contact Leanne directly can do so at leanne. Well over an hour was spent discussing current issues around the sheep industry in Wales and future CAP reform options.

The Minister started by demonstrating a clear understanding that food production and sheep farming is part of the fabric of Wales and the Welsh economy. Ensuring its future success is a key focus of policy, research, knowledge transfer, and market development activities. The Minister was very accepting of our views and agreed that the type of scheme we were proposing had the potential to help take livestock farmers in the direction it needed to go.

Legacy of liver fluke is evident in thin ewes. NSA and other organisations and individuals involved in SCOPS met on Wednesday 6th February and liver fluke was once again high on the agenda. Understanding of the lack of persistency of flukicides are raised again as an issue, with some producers not appreciating that flukicides only kill fluke in the animal at the time it is treated and do not protect it from picking any more up as soon as it returns to graze fluke-infected pasture.

Information can be found on the SCOPS website by clicking herebut we urge you to talk to your vet if you have any specific questions or concerns about your flock. The legacy of the unprecedented fluke challenge is evident in fields and lambing sheds all around the country, with ewes approaching lambing time in less than ideal body condition. Split ewes into separate groups according to their condition score taking into consideration, if your scan, whether they are carrying one lamb or multiples.

C heck the dry matter of feed and encourage intakes of poor silages by adding 0. High protein additives like distillers dark grains can help low protein hay or straw, but any changes to the diets should be made gradually and not upset the rumen. Remember the over-fat ewes too and give them only the amount of silage they can clear up in a few hours, or replace silage with straw at weekends.

Dr Vipond reminds farmers of the importance of the last six weeks of pregnancy: Supplementary protein is important for all ewes but especially thin ones. It must be digestible undegradable protein DUP to be effective. Consider feeding an extra g of soya bean meal per lamb carried per day for the last three weeks of pregnancy.

It also provides energy, so concentrate levels can be reduced accordingly. Also on the fluke theme, there was also a real blow for milk producers sheep and cattle this week with the announcement of an EU ban on administering a flukicide to animals producing milk for the food chain, even during their dry period. Our understanding is that treatment is still permitted in specific scenarios and that any product currently held in stock can still be used on milk animals so it is important that anyone affected contacts their vet to discuss options.

Request for NSA members to give their views on sheep identification — and prizes on offer! NSA member Diana Willoughby is doing a PhD at Exeter University studying the effect of legislation on the UK sheep and goat industry, specifically regarding e lectronic ear tags and individual identification. She would very much appreciate fellow members completing her survey at https: Please direct any questions to Diana on or dw ex.

News from the levy boards — research of the Halal market, celebrity endorsement of Scotch lamb and positive news about red meat consumption. Eblex is starting new research in March into the Halal meat market, as a result of the Office of National Statistics Census highlighting a 1. Eblex will look at issues including how and where Muslim consumers shop for meat, which species and cuts they buy most frequently and what influences the decision of where to shop.

Scottish TV weather presenter Cat Cubie has been promoting Scotch lamb and sympathising with farmers about the challenges they have been facing as a result of the exceptionally wet conditions. A team of experts studied data from previous scientific papers and concluded that including red meat as a staple of your diet, whatever your age, can help cut the gap between recommended intakes of essential minerals and the current lower rates for many people, while helping to boost the immune system and stimulate cognitive function.

Many of you will have noticed the mistake in last Weekly Update, in that the Farmers Club is of course based in London and not Ludlow. The fault lies in the writer of that particular paragraph visiting South Shropshire far more often than London! Apologies for any confusion. NSA is watching market prices carefully and recognising that they are not where they should be in order to even cover costs.

This week has shown a glimmer of light with prices having risen very slightly, and this is particularly encouraging when you consider numbers sold have been slightly higher too.

The situation is particularly bad for lighter hill type lambs and there is little respite from the poor prices and few easy options for the farmers. The wet weather and snow, along with limited abattoir slot availability, has contributed to a backlog of lambs on farm and I guess the forecast for weather and market alike is unsettled and turbulent, although brighter times will surely come. NSA and NFU meet with potential providers of the England Sheep Movements Database.

In all, four companies had the opportunity to explain their approach to the tender and to ask and receive questions from industry with the hope that their tenders will reflect sheep farmers' interests and needs, including ensuring no additional costs for reporting statutory information. Bids have to be submitted by 6th March with Defra's decision following on from then. Both NSA and NFU have made it clear that we will work constructively with the future provider to ensure the database is as straightforward and practical as possible whilst giving the industry maximum protection and ensuring safe governance of information held.

NSA continue to fight on CAP reform. NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker and Chairman John Geldard took the opportunity of a meeting with Owen Paterson's Senior Adviser in Nobel House on Tuesday 29th January. This made a good opportunity to get our views across regarding his lobbying position on CAP reform and to emphasise the importance of both First and Second Pillar payments to the precarious viability of many sheep farms.

We also had the opportunity to impress on him how this last season has highlighted our vulnerability in terms of food security and that, for agriculture to optimise its contribution to economic growth, the Government must play its part in reducing red tape and investing in maintaining infrastructure such as drainage ditches and rivers.

We also explained our proposals for the potential Animal Health Scheme under RDP Pillar Two and reinforced our view that this scheme has the potential to shift CAP drivers closer to our political and social needs - resource efficient and climate friendly food production while maintaining and enhancing our environment. This week also saw Wales open a consultation period on the future of the RDP.

While NSA will be responding to that consultation we have also tabled our proposal of the Animal Health scheme to the Welsh Government, and have engaged with the majority of stakeholders who sit on the Welsh Government's Animal Health and Welfare Steering Group. Work will continue in this area, hopefully gaining widespread acceptance of the Animal Health Scheme as it is a scheme would see money in farmers' pockets rather than the alternative proposal of groups accessing RDP funding to deliver training programmes and schemes for farmers instead.

The NSA has a number of Vice Presidents, who have traditionally been previous Chairmen of NSA but also include individuals who have been nominated and approved at AGMs. They therefore have deep knowledge and long involvement in the association and it was a great occasion on Wednesday 30th January to have many of them meet together at the Farmers Club in Ludlow, led by NSA President the Duke of Montrose.

As you would expect with the depth of knowledge within the room, there were some very detailed discussions around some of the more difficult issues we need to address on behalf of the sheep industry.

The meeting started with a review of NSA activities over the last year and went on to identify work that was needed to address barriers to the sector. TSEs, scrapie and SRM controls, particularly when no risk has ever been identified and we are seeing cattle controls being relaxed. Sheep scab, acknowledging that this has become a bigger issue for the industry and we need to encourage best practice as widely as possible well, as put pressure on those who should be enforcing existing controls.

Issues around differing policy and regulation due to national devolution, including the share of red meat levies. Deadline extended to fill in British Sheep Breed Survey. For anyone who did not fill in the British Sheep Breed Survey, the deadline has been extended to 28th February. This survey will provide vital information for the industry so we do urge you to fill it in.

If you've lost the paperwork, visit the Signet website by clicking here. Poppy Frater, EBLEX livestock scientist says: However, we're keen that as many flocks as possible are represented, so we have decided to extend the deadline to the end of February.

Ouessant ewes and Beltex-Soay crosses have been among the surprises so far, so the results are guaranteed to make interesting reading! New tools on offer from Eblex - data on competitor countries and carbon footprint calculator. Eblex has extended its website with reports from the major nations that produce, consume and trade sheep and beef products.

The reports provide information on livestock populations, slaughtering and production, trade in products and live animals, prices and outlooks, for countries such as the USA, New Zealand, Australia and France. These reports replace the biannual International Meat Market Review and will be updated each time new information becomes available.

Click here to find them. Also click here to find Eblex's new Sheep Carbon Footprint Tool, created in partnership with the E-CO2 Project, and designed to help lamb producers find the where the most efficient gains can be made in cutting the environmental impact of their own sheep enterprise.

Users can input information on fertiliser use, feed per lamb and daily liveweight gain to see their current carbon footprint and then manipulate the values to see, for instance, how their footprint would be affected if they managed to get a greater daily liveweight gain or reduced fertiliser use.

The online carbon calculator tool is free to use, but a log-in identity does need to be created by each user the first time they access it. Money-making opportunity for sheep farmers with fields near Cheltenham Festival. We have been contacted by a company who would like to investigate promotional opportunities with sheep farmers who have fields next to roads that visitors use when travelling to and from Cheltenham Festival.

If you farm in this area, or know anyone who does, please contact Clemmie on clemmie jscsport. NSA regions are all set for this summer's sheep events. There will be five NSA Sheep Events this summer and all five organising committees are working hard to put on fantastic events in their area. This week the NSA North Sheep committee announced the appointment of Heather Stoney as Assistant Organiser, to compliment the work of Julie Sedgewick by assisting with pre-show logistics and the organisation of many of the show classes.

These will include stockjudging, lamb selection, NSA North Sheep Young Shepherd of the Year, Ready Steady Cook, a new sheep shearing competition, demonstrations of rural crafts and a traditional farmers market and craft stalls. The dates of the five events are: Tuesday 21st May at Beili Ficer Farm, Llansawel, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, SA19 7JT.

Thursday 30th May at Dingwall Mart, Dingwall, Ross-shire, IV15 9TP. Wednesday 5th June at Crimple Head Farm, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 1QT. NSA Sheep South West. Tuesday 11th June at Moortown Barton, Knowstone, South Molton, Devon, EX36 4RZ. NSA Sheep Northern Ireland. Monday 1st July at Ballymena Market, Woodside Road, Ballymena, County Antrim, BT42 4HX.

Email Edward Adamson for more information by clicking here. The NSA Central Region Winter Fair, held at Bakewell Agricultural Centre yesterday 24th Januaryproved to be a big success despite the wintery weather conditions. Three separate competitions for young people added to the positive atmosphere of the day and full congratulations must go to the NSA Central Region and the event organisers for putting such a great event on.

It was a particularly good day for Ellen Helliwell, who proved her shepherding abilities by taking the Overall and Under 21 titles in the Young Shepherd Competition. For full results click hereand find more on the event's seminars later in this Weekly Update email. Significant step forward in removing EID from cross compliance. MEPs voted this week to remove sheep EID from cross compliance. Although there is still some way to go before this might be implemented it is a significant step forward and is evidence that the work of NSA and other farming bodies has an impact and that policy makers do listen to reason.

The Agriculture Committee in Brussels backed a proposal from a German MEP to remove EID from cross compliance rules when voting on amendments to the CAP reform package on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, said: George Milne, Development Officer for NSA Scotland, said: MEPs must be congratulated for taking this decision, as although it still has to be approved by the full parliament, it is a significant step forward.

Thoughts for those affected by the threat of closure at Welsh Country Foods. With the future of the Welsh Country Foods plant on Anglesey hanging in the balance, and the future of several hundred jobs at threat, the NSA is concerned that the sheep industry and the businesses that surround it are so locally vulnerable to decisions made nationally.

Shetland cattle

The reasons behind Asda's decision to move their supply away from Welsh Country Foods are for them, but the wider impacts that come from this decision are getting clearer by the day and our thoughts go to the people and families whose livelihoods are now at risk. We are where we are with abattoirs and slaughtering capacity and levy collection tooand there would be few who had not questioned the 'unintended consequences' of our slaughtering becoming so centralised and rationalised.

While in an ideal world the entire supply chain would use triple bottom line accounting of the effects of their decisions, the reality is somewhat lacking. NSA Scotland meets Richard Lochhead to discuss action on lamb prices. Reporting on a meeting between NSA Scotland and Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead on Wednesday 23rd Januarywhich discussed a better deal for the sheep industry by repatriating levy funds and increasing lamb consumption in Scotland, George Milne says: For the immediate situation we welcomed the Cabinet Secretary's offer to look at a funding package to explore a number of initiatives to help the current desperately low prices.

One option here would be to have a credit assurance scheme to underpin export markets. This would significantly help the sales of lamb into other EU countries, such as Spain and Portugal, and may well lead to new markets for Scotch Lamb elsewhere in Europe.

Commenting on the longer term Jimmy Sinclair, NSA Scotland Chairman, says: The aim of this would be to see Scotch Lamb recognised worldwide in the same way as Scotch Beef, Scotch Salmon and Scotch Whisky. Huge appetite for seminars at NSA Central Region Winter Fair. The four seminars at the NSA event yesterday 24th January attracted incredible interest, with standing room only a several points through the day.

Phil Stocker reports on the two seminars he was involved in: David Mottershead, Defra's lead negotiator on Pillar One Single Farm Payments in the EU updated delegates on progress in CAP negotiations, saying there was still a lot has to be decided, including the budget, and so it was not accepted that the earliest implementation could be January not the originally plan for January The detail continues to include greening, capping of payments and the definition of active farmers, all of which are hugely influential for the UK.

Peter Garbutt spoke about the position and concerns over some of the proposals and emphasised the most important issue was protecting the current level of Pillar One payments and avoiding further modulation of funds to Pillar Two RDP. Phil Stocker outlined NSA proposals for a potential Animal Health Scheme as part of Pillar Twp, making the case that neither Pillar One or Pillar Two currently incentivize what we need to see - i.

Discussion focused around the need for incentives for young people and the case that the problem was not attracting young people into agriculture but making sure there are steps on the ladder exist for them.

The case was also strongly made that keeping money within the farming community led to greater economic activity, which had wider benefits. This brought up the definition of an 'active farmer' and if it was right that substantial amounts of CAP monies went to shareholders of national companies not associated with primary farming, or to landowners that were not involved in productive agriculture.

The 'Landscapes, leisure, and livestock - have we got the balance right? Although there is still work to do, particularly in ensuring better regional consistency of approaches, it seems to tide is turning with our conservation bodies and agencies agreeing farming and farmers are a central part of the attraction of these areas, and also central to the successful future management. Will we ever get the balance right? Probably not for everyone all of the time, but public needs and wants can change remarkably quickly and the farming community has always demonstrated resilience and innovation whatever is asked of them.

The mood of delegates seemed to agree that the balance of environment and farming was completely interdependent and intertwined - and that the economic benefits of greater environmental recognition would continue to be important in the future.

There does seems to be a far better acceptance that sheep farming has been a central part of the ecology of upland areas and that stocking level reductions and removal have gone too far in many cases, but it is also clear there are always opportunities to do more to protect environments and improve water and wildlife habitats. The areas of contention were more in the areas of tenancy agreements, moves towards shorter term agreements and issues of who receives the agri-environment scheme payments.

For a while the seminar went in the direction of wildlife management and protected status of species, in particular badgers and their unrecognised effect on ground nesting birds - but that is another subject entirely Eblex has issued a reminder to present only clean, dry stock for slaughter or risk paying penalties to processors, who have to meet strict Food Standard Agency rules and will put in place additional controls if necessary such as clipping animals pre-slaughter or operating on a reduced kill line speed.

Eblex recommends switching stock to a drier ration and providing adequate straw prior to slaughter. Visible signs of dirt can also be removed by clipping as a final consideration. Earlier in the process, sheep can be dagged before being introduced to finishing diets. This week saw official publication of Matt Bagley's appointment as the new Head of Agriculture at Newton Rigg College.

He will oversee land-based courses in agriculture, countryside management, gamekeeping, forestry, horticulture and engineering, having previously been Programme Leader for the Agriculture and Sheep Unit at Reaseheath College. Matt sits on the NSA Central Region and the NSA English Committee and will continue to be active in this region for the time being, despite Newton Rigg's location in Cumbria.

Commenting on his new role, Matt said: Working with young people to provide first class education across the land-based sector is not only a privilege but vital to the success of Britain's agricultural industry and efficient food production. Newton Rigg is also the National Centre for Uplands. NSA EVENTS DIARY all NSA events, including next year's ram sales can be found by clicking here. Tuesday 29th January, 7. Panel to include speakers from NSA, BWMB and Dunbia; open to members and non-members; refreshments available.

Details from Helen Davies onor helen nationalsheep. NSA NI Lambing Meeting: Open to members and non-members. NSA Northern Region AGM: Wednesday 13th February, 7. Monday 18th February, 2pm at Hafod Y Hendre on the Royal Welsh Showground, followed by Prof. Click here for an agenda. NSA South West AGM: Wednesday 20th February, 7.

NSA Scotland AGM and Dinner: Saturday 2nd March at Dunblane Hydro, Stirling - 4pm for the AGM, 7pm for the Dinner. A look at the lamb market in the festive season, from Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive. Finished lamb prices are in the doldrums with a backlog now building up and affecting store values too. Deadweight prices currently being offered should be close to 3.

Upland wether lambs are being reported at giveaway prices, cull ewes just as bad, and anything members can do to hold these without going out of spec or dramatically increasing costs must make sense. So given a hungry world and reported food inflation, where is it all going wrong?

Well two things are clearly behind the current price malaise; the weather having resulted in the seasonal high tide of lamb sales being later than usual and farmers being forced to sell because of a lack of keep, combined with many underfinished lambs being taken on and finished with a bit of hard feed; and then this combining with NZ lamb hitting our shores.

Disappointingly we have had many reports of supermarket offerings being heavily biased towards imported lamb with UK lamb seeing little shelf space, and even reports of supermarket staff who are telling questioning customers that 'UK lamb is out of season'.

It is all very well moaning, but what can we do? According to official data, lamb sales have been up over the last quarter so the key has to be to encourage consumers to choose UK lamb and for supermarkets to sell it in preference. I know it's not easy, but anything that can be done at a farm level to market lambs in a more regimented way and more evenly through the year will help the supply chain and probably help the bottom line too.

Finally, for the post-Christmas market keep focused on hitting the weight and grade specifications through planned feeding and frequent handling - out of spec lambs don't usually pay and they also disrupt the wider market.

An event at Bristol University on Monday 17th December presented data on the stress caused by transport to different aged sheep, and while the final figures will not be published until next spring, they appear to indicate that sheep are incredibly robust when it comes to transportation and time in auction marts. Discussion by various stakeholders at the event concluded that addition rules and regulations are not needed, but rather enforcement of current laws surrounding transport as NSA argued at the time of the Ramsgate incident.

Support for NSA suggestion of collection Schmallenberg data. We have received a great deal of positive feedback from last week's Weekly Update, in which we suggested that the industry should overcome the inability of AHVLA to collect information on Schmallenberg and do it ourselves. We are continuing to work on this and will know more in the New Year.

In the meantime, we have received interesting information from XLVets and SAC. XLVets says activity between 49 vet practices has allowed them to test bulk milk samples from up and down the UK and confirm SBV is 'widespread across most parts of the UK'.

Charles Lambert of XLVets says: Scotland remains largely clear and most of England and Wales have returned strongly positive samples, but with a more variable pattern in the far north of England. This patchy pattern in Northern England probably reflected local weather and the numbers of midges blown in by particular winds.

Brian Hosie of SAC says "Our vet labs in Scotland have received many blood samples from cattle and sheep for testing for Schmallenberg virus antibody in the past few months. Many of those from England and Wales are seropositive for SBV antibody. All of the positive sera from animals in Scotland are from animals imported from England, Wales and the Netherlands. It might be worth considering the merit of pre-testing animals imported from the continent.

We also have examined aborted and stillborn foetuses for evidence of SBV with the assistance of colleagues in Moredun. So far all have been negative for SBV. Please be aware that fraudsters are operating at this time of year, in the knowledge that many farmers have received large deposits into their accounts for Single Farm Payments. The fraudsters tend to pretend to be the fraud department from you bank, so be on guard. RPA and banks have issued the following advice:. Farmers in England have until 31st December to return annual return later deadlines for Wales, Scotland and NI.

All producers should have now received their Sheep and Goat Annual Inventory forms, which carries a legal obligation to be completed and returned by 31st December England7th January Northern Ireland or 31st January Wales and Scotland.

Defra has asked NSA to remind members that not sending in a completed annual inventory form does increase the risk that a keeper will be selected for a cross compliance inspection.

Rhidian Jones, SAC Sheep and Beef Specialist, has prepared a list of ideas to consider when faced with wet weather at lambing time: Or it may be possible to use plastic sheets or tarpaulins to fashion temporary roofs.

Having a full belly and being on their feet is the best insulation a lamb can have! BBC Inside Out is doing report on the author Thomas Hardy and wants to film some sheep in Dorset on 30th December, along with a farmer or shepherd willing to talk about how farming has changed in recent decades.

If you are available please contact Charlotte Westgate directly - Two people with new jobs for are John Macfarlane, director of the Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group and now Chairman of XLVets, and Liz Bowles, a farmer from Cullompton in Devon and now President of the Shropshire Sheep Breeders' Association.

Second chance to offer your help or receive some: The universities and colleges will give the list to students after the Christmas holidays, so more enquiries should follow then too. If any members know of someone looking for work at lambing time, please ask them to email gill nationalsheep. They will come individually or in pairs depending on the farmer's preferencemostly come from agricultural backgrounds and all have an active interest in sheep farming.

They are aged and require no payment, just accommodation and food. Anyone in Wales or the Borders should email tara. She has some experience and two working dogs. I'm eager to learn and not afraid to work hard. I have a lot to give and would be so grateful for an opportunity.

I only require accommodation and food. All the details are at www. Tuesday 22nd January, 7. NSA Central Region Winter Fair: Thursday 24th January at Bakewell Auction Mart by kind permission of Derbyshire Dales District Council. For enquiries speak to Bob and Anne Payne of the Central Region on oror Helen Davies, Event Organiser, on or Booking forms for trade stands and breed societies can be found here.

Other details as above. Wynne Jones OBE, FRAgS speaking about ' How will CAP Reform affect sheep farming in the future? What kind of shepherd will there be in 20 years' time? All producers will shortly be receiving their Sheep and Goat Annual Inventory forms, which carries a legal obligation to be completed and returned by 31st December England7th January Northern Ireland or 31st January Wales and Scotland.

Independent research suggests problems with EID are more likely to be caused by the reader than the eartag. Responding to claims by farmers that EID technology does not work, the Approved Livestock Identification Manufacturers' Association ALIDMAwhich includes the majority of UK eartag manufacturers, commissioned research into the readability of EID tags in working situations. Results from the study, which was conducted independently by Adas, were presented at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair on Monday 26th November.

The successful read-rates were not always a first-time read, but investigation of non-read tags often showed the tag was not faulty, drawing attention to the importance of accurate installation, set-up and maintenance of reading equipment.

This might be something complicated like the use of electro-magnets on kill-lines interfering with readers at abattoirs, or something very simple like a farmer not changing the batteries in his handheld reader. ALIDMA said it hopes the research will reassure farmers the tags they buy are reliable, but that the industry needs to act to reduce the small number of tags that do break.

The research is also vital for NSA and other stakeholder groups working with Defra to argue that tolerance is needed on EID, particularly as the high read rates in the research were the result of several re-reads, something that is not possible in a working situation. As well as her role as an independent sheep consultant, and her work increasing production levels on the family farm at Talley, Carmarthenshire, Catherine sits on the NSA Welsh Committee, represents Wales on the NSA UK Policy and Technical Committee, is County Chairman of Carmarthenshire FUW and Chair of the FUW's Animal Health and Welfare Committee.

She is also a Wales representative for the Moredun Research Institute and a Farming Connect Rural Leadership Programme participant. Her recent Nuffield Scholarship - called ' Maximising returns through reducing methane emissions: Read more about Catherine and her scholarship here.

Other awards presented at the Welsh Winter Fair included the first farmers to pass a course on liver fluke with Dunbia, Novartis Animal Health and Lantra. The day-long courses assess participants to see how much their knowledge has increased, which Dunbia says will help farmers improve efficiency on-farm and also help Dunbia receive a more consistent product.

More courses are being developed, including for grassland management. Having suspended live exports from Ramsgate in September and then 'temporarily' reinstating trade until the outcome of a judicial review, Thanet Council has now removed all opposition and asked operators of the ship 'Joline' to drop its legal proceedings.

It is not yet clear if the High Court hearing, sought by Joline's owners and transporters using the crossing to challenge the council's decision to impose the ban, will go ahead on 11th December. Local media coverage and activity against the trade is still active, particularly since recent bad weather has forced Joline to return to port twice in the last 10 days.

It has been suggested that protesters have created a great deal of pressure for Joline to sail in high winds, as the activity of protesters means the police have to be present each time the ship loads, making organising and re-organising shipments very difficult. Society has choices to make on land use and wildlife management, says Richard Benyon MP. Addressing an audience at Reading University last night 29th NovemberRichard Benyon, Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, spoke about food, farming and the countryside, saying society had choices to make regarding both land use and how we manage our wildlife.

Mr Benyon, who is the MP for Newbury and also a farmer, stressed that most of our landscapes and wildlife are related to farmland and farming activity, and that we have gone too far to think a natural balance in wildlife populations was possible. Addressing the question of 'What do we want our countryside to look like in ?

While this might chime with recent NSA work there is still a clear ambition from Ministers to reduce support to agriculture and 'release UK farmers from restraining EU policies'.

Interesting thoughts indeed and, while many may agree with the general sentiments, how we get there is a challenge lacking answers. Remember flukicides are not persistent and at-risk sheep may show clinical signs just weeks after treatment. NSA is receiving reports of many farmers seriously struggling with fluke, which is no surprise given the wet weather, but is causing high losses on some farms.

The advice from SCOPS is, if you do not already have a fluke control plan, urgently contact your vet or prescriber to discuss one, as the traditional treatment times are just not applicable this year.

Flukicides kill fluke at the time of application, but are not 'persistent', so the minute animals graze fluke-infested pasture again they get re-infected.

And fluke numbers are currently so high sheep may show clinical disease weeks after treatment. In the autumn acute disease caused by immature fluke is most likely, meaning triclabendazole TBZ is the treatment of choice, unless it is not effective on your farm. Resistance to some flukicides does occur but reinfection is more common. Another reason for drenches apparently not working is underestimating the weight of the animals, especially adult ewes. SCOPS says using a flukicide may not be enough in very badly affected areas, so move animals to dry ground if possible, or even house them.

Also be aware that while rumen fluke has been diagnosed on some farms, liver fluke is still the main threat - and that if you treat rumen fluke with oxyclozanide only adult liver fluke will be killed, leaving animals at risk from acute liver fluke. Click here for the SCOPS website. Successful lambing will rely on keeping an eye on ewe condition scores and forage quality - and modifying diets if necessary.

He warns that while supplementing poor quality silage may be necessary, there is a risk of over-feeding starchy cereals or causing metabolic upsets with sudden dietary changes.

Supplementary feeding levels by lambing will need to be higher at around 0. Do not leave it too late, score your ewes now and make planned changes to rations. One of the key developments continues to be the 'cuts not carcase' approach. In contrast the positive figures for exports of bone-in and boneless cuts speak for themselves, which is very encouraging.

Confirmation by the UK Statistics Authority means the farm statistics are now being released, with media coverage of some aspects of the figures - for example, the BBC reported on the 23, female farmers now active in the UK, an increase of 6, compared to the number of men dropping by 5, Click here for more statistics. More information at www. NSA South West Open Meeting: Monday 3rd December at the Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, EX17 6DF.

A meeting with three speakers, open to members and non-members and followed by a supper. NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker will speak, as well as Brian Dallyn from the British Wool Marketing Board and also Bill Harper of Harpers Home Mix on the challenges facing the ewe flock during tupping and as the.

We would urge all new flocks to join the Maedi Visna Accreditation Scheme. SAC vets are urging sheep farmers who sell breeding sheep to join the Maedi Visna MV Accreditation Scheme, as the disease becomes more common in non-accredited flocks. SAC Veterinary Investigation Officer Catriona Ritchie said: In the unlikely event that there is a breakdown, early testing provides the best opportunity for eradication. By joining the scheme, your flock will benefit from regular testing.

There are also losses from the premature culling of adult sheep because of mastitis, occasionally arthritis and paralysis. If you want to check which flocks are in the scheme then consult their website www. The number of flocks infected with Maedi Visna MV virus has doubled in a 15 year period, increasing from 1.

The survey is the first to look at the level of MV infection in the GB flock since In addition to the evidence showing an increase in MV, the number of flocks suffering significant economic effects due to high levels of infection has also risen in recent years. However the number of cases diagnosed is currently low, compared with other common sheep diseases. There is no cure for MV and no vaccine to prevent or control it. Infection spreads through close contact, so intensively-managed flocks tend to have more infected sheep.

By the time that signs of infection are seen, usually years after the virus has been introduced, it has reached such a high level it is very difficult to control.

Visible signs of MV are not usually seen until about half of the adult flock is infected. The key signs are loss of body condition, poorer fertility, mastitis, increased twin lamb disease, smaller and weaker lambs born, leading to increased mortality.

Fortunately MV is not a disease that affects humans. In heavily infected flocks an increased number of deaths in adult sheep are usually reported, often due to a secondary Pasteurella pneumonia. In this flock, in a short period of six months, sixteen ewes had developed severe arthritis or hind limb paralysis, caused by MV, and had to be culled. The flock had been experiencing a high level of mastitis for some time but it was not discovered until a few years later that MV was the underlying problem.

Sheep farmers in GB are fortunate the level of MV infection in the national flock is still at a relatively low level compared to countries like Spain, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands, with significant numbers of infected flocks. However flock owners should not be complacent. As this survey shows, levels of MV are rising.