NSA voucher giveaway 2016: Caroline Nelson, Kelso
25th January 2016
'Surprised and delighted’ was the reaction of NSA member Caroline Nelson, after she received the phone call to say she was a winner in NSA’s first prize draw of 2016.
NSA has teamed up with FecpakG2, Cox Agri/Richey and JG Animal Health to give away three £200 vouchers at a free prize draw giveaway every other month in 2016. New NSA members are automatically entered into the draw, as well as existing members who have recommend a friend or neighbour to sign up to NSA.
Suffolk breeder Caroline, from Kelso, Scottish Borders is the recipient of a Cox Agri/Richey voucher. She describes her interest in sheep, and Suffolks in particular, as beginning after rearing a few orphan lambs with a friend. She says: “I’m steadfastly loyal to the Suffolk breed. it remains the proven, unsurpassed provider of fast growing, quality lean lamb with the ability to finish off grass. Due to a number of factors, I keep the flock down to around 10 breeding ewes and their followers. Female replacements are sourced from breed dispersal or genuine reduction sales. For a small flock such as mine, purchasing semen from proven, quality tups allows the desired genetics to be carefully sourced and thus avoid inbreeding. Whilst I do maintain a good stock tup, AI is used and occasionally and Embryo Transfer is undertaken”
Caroline continues: “Lambing takes place indoors around the beginning the year to suit the Breed’s preferred lambing pattern, if of the standard, selected tup lambs and the occasional female are offered at the Breed’s National Sale, Shrewsbury and the Northern Branch Sale at Carlisle. Others go to the local Mart, St Boswells, where the flock regularly ‘tops’ – I consider it vital that these sheep also suit the commercial market.”
Caroline also attends around five agricultural shows each year, which included NSA Scot Sheep in 2014, where she had the winning pair of Suffolk gimmers. Caroline says she will be using the £200 voucher to purchase some much sought-after show and sale equipment, as well as some day-to-day necessities, including some new waterproofs!
NSA is giving away a total of 18 £200 vouchers between 1st December 2015 and 4th November 2016. Anyone who qualified for the draw but is not lucky enough to win the first time has their entry rolled over to the subsequent draws, and there is no limit to the number of entries existing members have, so the more new members they recommend the higher their chance of winning. Full terms and conditions and membership application forms here.
