NSA voucher giveaway 2016: Darren Hough, Greater Manchester

2nd November 2016

After signing up to become an NSA member just a few months ago at NSA Sheep 2016, sheep farmer Darren Hough is certainly seeing a quick return on his investment. He has been announced as a winner in NSA’s penultimate prize draw this year, taking home a £200 voucher for FecpakG2.

NSA has teamed up with FecpakG2, Cox Agri/Richey and JG Animal Health to give away three £200 vouchers during a free prize draw giveaways every other month this year. 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 the sheep farming association. Darren is one of three winners in the fifth of six draws for 2016.

Darren says: “I’m delighted to have won this competition and excited to put my £200 voucher to use, be it through purchasing my own FecpakG2 kit or working with a vet. I think it will be the latter, as a starting point, but whatever I decide will certainly benefit my flock.”

Based on the outskirts of Saddleworth Moor near Grasscroft, Greater Manchester, Darren has had an involvement in sheep all his life and runs a commercial flock of 800 ewes alongside a pedigree Texel flock. He explains the two: “The main of our commercial ewes are put to the Texel, while some of the smaller ewes are put to the Suffolk to add weight for the prime lamb trade. We also use the Charollais on shearlings to encourage easy lambing, which takes place inside starting mid-March. I established the pedigree Texel flock in 1994 and subsequently decided to start breeding my own rams after finding it a challenge to keep those I’d purchased alive at 1,200 feet where I farm. I sell surplus stock to other hill men, my sell being that my rams will live and thrive anywhere.

“I have several friends who are members of NSA and, having heard great reports, had been meaning to sign up as a member for a while. It was an added bonus to do it at NSA Sheep 2016 and get into the event for free. Since reading various literature from the organisation and seeing what it does for the sheep industry in the UK, I think it’s well worth been a part of.”

Full terms and conditions, plus NSA membership application forms, at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/draw

Darren Hough with Pip the dog and ewes on the outskirts of Saddleworth moor