2018-05-21 |
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Seminars and Workshops a Key Feature at Scotsheep
Industry experts will be giving their views on a range of topics relating to the sheep industry in a comprehensive seminar and workshop programme at Scotland’s national sheep event, NSA Scotsheep 2018, on May 30.
The one-day event, held every two years, will be held on the sheep and beef farm of Kings Arms Farm, Ballantrae, South Ayrshire, courtesy of Robert & Caroline Dalrymple, and is being organised by National Sheep Association Scotland.
NSA Scotsheep 2016
NSA Scotsheep will be officially opened at 10.00 am, by John Scott, MSP for Ayr, who farms at Balkissock, Ballantrae, and a former chairman of NFU Scotland’s hill farming committee.
No fewer than 16 speakers will take part in four hour-long seminars focussing on what impact Brexit will have on trade, marketing and future support, the next generation and sheep health issues. The seminar programme will be complemented by three half-hour workshops and the topicality of subjects is sure to prove a real draw for the thousands of sheep farmers from throughout Scotland, the North of England and Ireland expected to attend the event.
“The seminars are set to create huge interest with a tremendous line-up of speakers, all recognised experts in their particular field,” said organising committee chairman, George Allan, a representative with Carrs Billington Agriculture and Secretary of the Scotch Mule Association.
The first seminar at 10.45am will discuss “What impact could Brexit have on lamb trade and marketing” and will be chaired by John Fyall, NSA Scotland Chairman. The panel of speakers will include Quality Meat Scotland Chairman Jim McLaren, Dunbia/Dawn Meats representative Isla Roebuck, Scottish Institute of Auctioneers & Appraisers President Scott Donaldson, and AHDB Beef & Lamb Halal Manager Awal Fuseini.
At 12 noon, British Wool Chairman Trevor Richards will give a ten-minute introduction to British Wool’s new entrant scheme and will be followed by a 45-minute seminar on “Next Generation – Next Chapter”, chaired by Jennifer Craig an NSA Scotland Committee Member and NSA Next Generation Ambassador. The panel of speakers will include Rory Gregor, Clarke Hibberd and Alister Watson, like Jennifer also NSA Scotland Committee Members and participants of the NSA Next Generation Ambassador programme in recent years.
Steve Raphael, a partner at Academy Vets in Stranraer, will chair a session on the “Resilience of the national sheep flock to sheep diseases” at 1.00pm. The speakers and topics will be Dr Christina Cousens, an expert from Moredun on Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus and ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Marion McMillan and Heather Stevenson, Veterinary Investigation Officers for SAC Consulting, will also contribute on liver fluke and other health issues affecting sheep.
The final seminar at 2.15pm will focus on “What impact could Brexit have on future support” and will be chaired by George Milne, NSA Scotland Development Officer. The panel will comprise of David Barnes, National Advisor on Agriculture Policy at Scottish Government, Phil Stocker, Chief Executive of National Sheep Association, and Jeremy Moody, CAAV Secretary and Adviser.
The workshops will include Bridget Girvan, a veterinary adviser with MSD Animal Health presenting a workshop on stamping out lameness in sheep at 10.30am and 2.00pm.
At 1.30pm a representative from British Wool will talk about maximising the value of your wool by promoting the benefits of excellent fleece presentation and managing the use of marking fluid.
