Providing an effective information network for the UK's numerous breed societies is a major remit for the National Sheep Association (NSA).
Many of which came together at the recent NSA Breed Society Forum in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire (held on Thursday 4th May).
All NSA-affiliated breed societies were invited to the annual forum, a one-day event which moves around the country since it began in 2012.
Split into two halves, the morning session provided a platform for a number of speakers to update delegates on important industry messages.
A farm walk, hosted by NSA Central Region Committee Member Charles Sercombe followed in the afternoon and provided an overview of his pedigree and commercial flocks and how he is future-proofing the family-run business.
Industry challenges and prospects
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, welcomed NSA affiliated breed societies to the event and provided an update on some of NSA’s current and ongoing work, particularly around Brexit and some of the challenges facing the industry relating to trade and the future of farm support.
Mr Stocker said: “One of the things we can do through this forum is make valuable connections between NSA-affiliated breed societies and organisations.
“The forum gave me a good opportunity to talk through the detail of some of NSAs work on Brexit, as well as some internal projects the organisation is involved in including a study into ram longevity and work NSA is doing on heritage breeds development.
“As ever breed societies were able to take part in presentations and discussions with a range of industry representatives who brought with them relevant and valuable information on genetics, zootechnical legalisation and a sheep gene bank update to name just a few.”
With a theme of future-proofing the sheep industry as the UK prepares to leave the EU, the NSA Breed Society Forum provided the opportunity to discuss potential industry challenges and prospects.
Speakers from NSA, NSA Ram Sales, Signet, the Farm Animal Genetic Resource Committee (FAnGR) and Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST), gave the group a thought provoking list of updates on how Brexit could impact their various areas of work.
