NSA links sheep farmers and students during lambing time
3rd October 2016
After the resounding success of previous years, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has once again opened its Lambing List for 2016/17. The intention is simple, to connect sheep farming members who need assistance at lambing time with agricultural and veterinary students looking for a work experience placement as part of their studies.
While NSA provides this service annually to assist members who are looking for help during the lambing season, it also forms part of the NSA Next Generation project to support future shepherds and large animal vets.
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “The Lambing List is hugely valued by both the sheep farmers and students who use it, and I’m delighted it has continued to grow in popularity year on year. It’s a very simple but effective process – we collate a list of NSA members looking for help at lambing time and provide contact details so students can approach them directly to ask for a placement.
“It’s a great service for our members, but also provides a boost for young people keen to get ahead. We know many vet students use the list purely to meet their obligation to complete an on-farm placement, but it also encourages those who genuinely want to be large animal vets in the future, and agricultural students who want to put themselves ahead of the pack. Young people who use the NSA Next Generation website to access the list will also find the online resource is packed with useful information about how to get ahead in the sheep sector.”
The 2016/17 lambing list is now live for NSA members wanting to advertise a placement. They will find a short application form at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/lambing-list asking some basic questions. These include details about the number of ewes to lamb and the lambing system, if the students can be given accommodation and/or meals and if students need some previous experience, Sheep farmer who are interested in using the list but are not yet NSA members can find a membership application form at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/membership.
Once a good number of farmers have placed their adverts, students will be invited to start applying via the work experience areas at www.nsanextgeneration.org.uk.
