New maternal evaluations will be launched in 2022 which aim to shift the focus to efficiency rather than purely output, explained Sam Boon, Signet Breeding Services manager at the online Sheep Breeders Round Table conference.

George Cullimore, a Lleyn breeder from Bath, gave an up-date on projects focusing on breeding for parasite resistance at this year’s online Sheep Breeders Round Table conference.

THREE days of Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association C District ram sales at Kirkby Stephen peaked at 60,000.

Blackface rams met a spectacular trade at Lanark, with ram lambs topping at 130,000 and the sale averaging 7,665, up almost 2,000 on the year.

Careful management of suckler cows at this time of year can pay dividends for the future. Veterinary surgeon, Joe Henry, of Black Sheep Farm Health, Rothbury, offers some advice.

A new North Country Cheviot Hill ram record of 24,000 was set at Lairg for a two-shear ram from W.D. Allens Stouphill flock, Alnwick.

THE average for ram lambs was up and the breed record smashed twice at the Farmers Guardian supported show and sale of Bluefaced Leicesters at Hawes.

A record entry of almost 8,000 head of breeding, prime and store sheep at Gisburn included a special fixture for horned and hill-going breeds.