Spread the word; sheep are amazing

Officially opening the Scotsheep event, Mr Henson told farmers to be less nervous about having people on farm.

“Yes, you might have a lame ewe, or a dead one, or one that prolapses, but so does everyone,” he said, explaining Lambing Live had set out with a ‘no blood and gore’ policy but, because the public asked more and more questions, by the fifth night it was a ‘gynaecological, biological feast’.

But farmers did need to take care when promoting the industry, not so much on the animal health side, but the human side. Mr Henson said too many farmers gave a ‘grim’ impression, whinging about being over worked and underpaid.

When judging the competition for best breed society stand at Scotsheep, Mr Henson spoke to the people on each stand for that very reason.

Market

He said societies needed to market their breed and the industry as a whole, telling people it was ‘sexy, innovative and full of opportunity for young people’.

The society that did that best, he said, was the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders’ Association. Second place were the Scottish Blackfaces, followed by the Beltex.

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