Hot topics come up for discussion

George Milne, NSA Scotland development officer, says: “The three seminars will focus on highly topical and relevant areas to help sheep farmers manage the health, nutrition and husbandry of their flocks more successfully and identify where renewable energy might help to reduce costs and develop a second income stream.”

Sheep health

Chaired by Ken Rundle, SAC’s head of communications

• Sheila Voas, the Scottish Government’s recently-appointed assistant chief veterinary officer, will give an overview of the industry.
• Dr Chris Cousens of the Moredun Research Institute will discuss the growing threat of Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA), which he describe as the ‘silent predator’, as it has recently been found to affect 38 per cent of flocks, even though only 12 per cent farmers have experience of the disease.
• Dr David Bartley, also of the Moredun Research Institute, will talk about ways to minimise the problem of drug resistant gut worms in sheep.

Dr Bartley’s presentation has been prompted by the recent launch of a fourth wormer group, as Moredun wants farmers to use all wormers effectively, to ensure the efficacy of the new anthelmintic, as well as the other existing wormers, is maintained for as long as possible.

“Moredun has developed a practical solution which enables farmers to reduce the amount of anthelmintic they need to use while reducing the development of resistance and maintaining the performance of their lambs,” says Dr Bartley.

Sheep nutrition

Chaired by Jimmy Sinclair, NSA Scotland chairman

• David Thornton, technical manager of Rumenco, will speak about using forage test results to best effect in formulating diets.
• Dr John Vipond, SAC sheep specialist, will meeting the nutritional needs of the ewe, and the consequences of not meeting them.

Renewable energy

Chaired by Sandy Hay, Bank of Scotland’s head of agriculture

• John Gilliland, SAC director and chairman of the rural climate change forum, will talk about his experiences in renewable energy on his own farm in Northern Ireland.
• David Barnes, deputy director of the Scottish Government’s agriculture and rural development division, who will give the Scottish Government’s view on renewable energy.
• Jim Campbell, SAC environment and design consultant, will highlight specific opportunities for sheep farmers.

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