Suffolk E-Newsletter Issue 5 January 2016 Welcome Welcome to our Suffolk E-Newsletter I would first like to wish all readers a prosperous 2016 and to inform you of some changes within Suffolk HQ. There has been a complete change in the Suffolk administration team in the Society office. Gale Anderson has moved to live and run a family farm in Scotland and Orla Butler has taken up the part time position as Northern Ireland Branch Secretary. I would like to wish both of them well and thank them for their efforts.
New Staff Members Laura Finlay enquiries@suffolksheep.org Laura commenced employment in July and will deal with all enquiries relating to registrations, birth notifications and new members. Laura lives locally in Ahoghill, but is originally from Broughshane. She is currently studying part time for her Business Degree at University of Ulster and has completed her HND in Business with Merit. Margo Graham accounts@suffolksheep.org Margo also started in July and will deal with accounts and invoicing queries. Margo comes from a farming background as her family owns a farm in Carnlough. She graduated in 2011, with a BSc Hons in Business Studies and has previously worked within a training organisation.
2016 Yearbook There is still time to advertise in the Suffolk Sheep Society 2016 Year Book. Please contact Laura @ enquiries@suffolksheep.org
Do You Need a Catalogue Prepared for a Sale? Are you planning a production, dispersal or female sale? If you are preparing a sale the Society can create your catalogue for a total cost of ÂŁ30+Vat. All you have to do is provide the Society with a list of registered sheep and lot order. The information will then be extracted from Basco and placed into a word document and sent via email. The Society will advertise your sale and catalogue on the Society website. The Society would appreciate any pictures and reports from sales, shows etc. so this can be added to the website or used in Society publications.
Email: lewismcc@suffolksheep.org enquiries@suffolksheep.org accounts@suffolksheep.org
www.suffolksheep.org Society Website Members can advertise semen, stock rams and general pedigree stock for sale, free on the Society Website. www.suffolksheep.org Just send the details, price, photo and contact details to enquiries @suffolksheep.org
New online Suffolk access to BASCO Before you can register for member online services you must be set up for Direct Debit with the Society. Login today and complete your Birth Notifications, Register Females and Update your Flock at anytime from anywhere. Simply go to www.basco.org and login. If you have not registered yet simply click into ‘new to the basco front end’ and ‘register for free here’. This will then allow you to enter the email address we have on system and your name and password (which you create). An activation email will also be sent to your email, click the link and this will be you up and running on Basco! Any queries though please do not hesitate to contact us at the Society office anytime.
Society Merchandise Society Merchandise orders must be placed by telephone: 028 2563 2342 All society clothing has the Suffolk sheep logo embroidered on the left as standard. In addition to the society logo, you can have your prefix embroidered. Visit our website www.suffolksheep.org for the full range of products and prices. Gift vouchers are also available by contacting the Society office. Photograph Copyright The Society would like to advise
Facebook Keep up to date with what is happening with the Society by searching for ‘Suffolk Sheep Society HQ’ and liking our page to never a miss a thing again!!
that any image forwarded for use in Society Publications must be owned by members and is not subject to Copyright cost. Any image that is subject to Copyright will be met by the member.
Unit 19, Ballymena Business Centre Fenaghy Road, Galgorm Ballymena Co. Antrim , BT42 1FL Tel: 028 2563 2342
Reminders
2015 FLOCK BOOKS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. IF YOU WISH TO ORDER
A COPY PLEASE CONTACT THE SOCIETY OFFICE
.
BIRTH NOTIFICATION FORMS WILL BE SENT AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY AND MUST BE RETURNED BY 31ST MAY 2016. PLEASE SEND ONLY THE INDIVIDUAL EID NUMBER.
2015 Show Results Royal Ulster Show - Judge, J Douglas (Cairness flock) Champion G C Beacom Aged Ewe R. Champion G C Beacom Ram Lamb
JFF:13:020 JFF:15:01673
Three Counties Show - Judge, G Beacom (Lakeview flock) Champion C J Holmes Ram Lamb DND:15:00442 Res Champion Mike Davies & Sons Ewe Lamb NLH:15:00589 Royal Highland Show - Judge, S Buckley (Sitlow Flock) Champion Stuart G Mair & Sons Aged Ewe NAJ:13:057 Res Champion W G Troup Shearling Ram A12:14:01014 Great Yorkshire Show - Judge, R Holmes (Willmar Flock) Champion Mr&Mrs A Glaves Aged Ewe G34:12:071 Res Champion Lilburn Estates Shearling Ewe G34:14:18396 Royal Welsh Show - Judge, H Sleigh Champion W H Sinnet & Sons Res Champion Dafydd Jones
Shearling Ewe Shearling Ewe
72H:14:02670 NAT:15:01887
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Unit 19, Ballymena Business Centre, Fenaghy Road, Galgorm Ballymena, BT42 1FL Tel: 028 2563 2342
Yearbook Advertising To advertise in the Suffolk Sheep Society 2016 Year Book details / Artwork must be received by email to enquiries@suffolksheep.org Prices are as follows Members Full Page - £250 Half Page - £125 2 Pages - £400
Commercial Full Page - £300 Half Page - £150
This newsletter is only as good as ‘ewe’ make it, if you have any topics that you wish to discuss, or any news updates or something you wish to advertise within the newsletter please email Laura at: enquiries@suffolksheep.org
AGM/Council Meeting The next Council meeting will be held on Thursday 25th February 2016. if you have any issues that you wish to be raised please contact your local council representative or the Society Office.
Branch & Club Reports Could all Club and Branch Secretaries please have their reports with the Society via email to Laura at enquiries@suffolksheep.org Club Secretaries, reports should be no longer than 400 words and have a maximum of two pictures. Branch Secretaries reports should be no longer than 600 words and have a maximum of three pictures. The Suffolk Sheep Society accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Suffolk Sheep Society, save where otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, editor or publishers. The editor reserves the right to make publishing decisions on any advertisement or editorial article submitted to this magazine and to refuse publication or to edit any editorial material as seems appropriate to the editor. The Suffolk Sheep Society does not endorse any goods or services advertised, nor any claims or representations made in any advertisement in this magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the copyholder and publisher, application for which should be made to the publisher.
Email: lewismcc@suffolksheep.org enquiries@suffolksheep.org accounts@suffolksheep.org
www.suffolksheep.org Breed Promotion - 2015 Review 2015 has been a busy year in terms of Suffolk breed promotion. 3,000 Yearbooks and 2,500 commercial leaflets have been distributed at numerous events. A welcome and refreshments was given to all visitors and members that came on the stand. The Society would like to thank those that assist promote and sell the breed. T The Society had a breed stand at the following NSA sheep events during the Year. • Bakewell 29 January • Welsh Sheep 19 May • North Sheep 3 June • Highland Sheep 9 June • South Sheep 16 June Stands were also present at the Royal Highland Show and the Royal Welsh Show. These events saw the launch of a new DVD display highlighting both pedigree and commercial stories relating to the Suffolk breed. This has gone down well with members and customers. This will be continually updated on an annual basis. In addition to this the Society provides financial assistance to both Irish branches to promote the breed in their area. A breed stand was present at the NSA Ballymena event on 6 July and at the National Ploughing Championships in Southern Ireland. The website and Facebook pages are continually updated and again at members request we hope to have a members forum site active. It is envisaged that both the Chairman and CEO can actively debate issues with members.
Chairman’s Message to Members This has been a difficult year for many sectors of our industry with low prices for most Commodities. The sheep industry also reflected downward prices of between £25 to £30 compared to 2014. With prime lambs, regardless of breed, this has had a negative effect on ram sales with less capital to reinvest. A reduction in breeding ewe numbers has not helped. We have a tremendous breed with excellent weight gains and early maturing abilities. Suffolk cross females are very popular on commercial farms. Suffolk rams are still excellent as terminal sires on most ewes giving very distinctive markings on there faces and are in demand by lamb finishers in the market place. With all these hybrid and cross rams about both at markets and on farm sales my message for the future is we must all cull harder in the spring. Select lambs, both male and female with good carcase conformation, gigot's, broad shoulders, length, correct legs and mouths. These all very important requirements in the modern market place of today. On my many travels to different parts of UK and Ireland it is very gratifying to see so many young breeders interested in our breed for the future. As your Chairman I wish all members a very successful lambing in 2016 hopefully better prices next year for us all.