NSA Breed Society Forum 2015
Date: 6th May 2015
Below is an overview of the NSA Breed Society Forum 2015. A full report and copies of presentation is available to NSA members and NSA affiliated breed socities in the members-only area of the website.
The recent NSA Breed Society Forum ensured plenty of opportunity for those involved in the pedigree breeding world to share their views, reports the National Sheep Association, as well as gaining a timely update on work carried out by the organisation on behalf of the sheep sector.
Having moved around the country since its inception in 2012, this year’s Forum (held on Wednesday 6thMay) was at Edenhall, Penrith, Cumbria. NSA Chairman Samuel Wharry travelled from his home in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, to assure breed society representatives that their involvement was highly valued. He also emphasised the importance of keeping the lines of communication open between the two organisations.
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, provided a platform for this two-way dialogue by talking through and inviting comment on a number of areas of activity. This included current policy work, such as NSA’s activity on relaxing carcase splitting rules and opposing the reintroduction of the lynx, but also internal matters such as a refresh to the Articles of Association and moves to a voting system applicable to NSA-affiliated breed societies.
Mr Stocker says: “NSA-affiliated breed societies who attend the forum always provide us with very positive feedback, and this year’s event was no exception. The forum was created in 2012 when the NSA saw some fundamental changes to its structure, and while many societies felt our initial attempt to have two forums a year was too much, there is so much activity going on within NSA and in the pedigree sheep farming world that we are willing to organise twice-yearly meetings if there is demand.
“Two-way communication between us and breed societies is of utmost importance to NSA, not just through the annual forum but also an open invitation for society representatives to sit on NSA regional committees. NSA is proud to be a grassroots organisation and is dedicated to ensuring the views of both pedigree and commercial farmers can come to us through as many different communication channels as possible.”
Two guest speakers at the NSA Breed Society Forum were also well received by those present. David Hall of Eblex presented a largely positive report on the sheep meat market, saying activity to grow demand for lamb (both at home and overseas) was a priority when domestic production was on the rise, following an increase in the national flock and a successful lambing period. While the exchange rate was currently unfavourable for UK exports, Eblex had been running several marketing campaigns to drive consumption. In general, fresh lamb and lamb mince purchases had increased in 2012 to the end of March, compared with the previous year, while sales of chops and steaks had dipped slightly.
Dr Amanda Carson attended the forum both as Secretary of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association and a committee member of Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR). This placed her in an ideal position to talk about the role of the committee in advising the Government on the use of farm animal genetic resources, and how breed societies fit into this. She spoke about current activity to analyse what semen and other genetic resources are currently held independently by NSA, breed societies and other groups, as well as work to track changing populations within the UK sheep flock and the importance of why breed societies should feed into this.
Mr Stocker adds: “Amanda also provided the clearest and most applicable explanation of the EU’s zootechnical regulations that I have ever heard. NSA has 80 affiliated sheep breed societies and associations, but currently only 36 are recognised by Defra under these EU rules. While it is not mandatory for societies to be recognised, I feel we all now better understand why this is and the advantages and disadvantages of it. NSA will share a detailed report from the forum, including the discussion on zootechnical regulations, to ensure affiliated societies who were not able to attend are kept informed.”
The lunch attendees braved the elements for an amazing farm tour around Messrs Jenkinson’s Whinfell Park, where they saw one of the smartest farms imaginable along with some impressive grass crops and flocks of sheep and pedigree Limousin cattle.” NSA extends its thanks to Nick Scholefield and his team at Whinfell Park for taking time to show the group around.
