The Annual General Meeting of the Manx Loaghtan Sheep Breeders’ Group will be
held at 5pm, on Friday 11th September in the Exhibition Rooms, Melton Mowbray
Market.
All paid up members of the Group are very welcome.
This is your AGM, allowing you to hear first hand about the activities of the
Group, and plans for the future, as well as vote in the new committee, and to
raise any issues that concern you.
We will provide wine and snacks, and the new Group merchandise will be available
to view and purchase.
And of course we hope you will join us afterwards for the Traditional and Native
Breeds Show and Sale Dinner (tickets available from Melton Mowbray Market, 01664
562971).
Agenda
Apologies for absence
1. Minutes of previous meeting
2. Matters arising
3. Chairman’s report
4. Treasurer’s report
5. Election of Officers
6. Election of Committee
7. Revision of the constitution during the next 12 months
8. Setting up an CFB flock number to deal with breed conservation purchases (see
attached proposal)
9. A.O.B. (at Chairman’s discretion)
Manx Loaghtan Sheep Breeders Group 2009/2010 Committee Nominations
| Post | Name |
| Chairman | Jeff Clarke |
| Vice Chairman | Suzanne Taylor |
| Treasurer | John Hedges |
| Secretary | Carol Kempson |
| Newsletter Editor | Caroline Lewis |
Committee
Nick Bohemia
Andy Bryan
Jayne Drinkwater
Mary Knibbs
Barry Lewis
12-5-2009
21st BIRTHDAY WORKSHOP, SHOW, SALE AND CELEBRATION DINNER
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June 2009
Woodbine Farm,
Grandborough Fields,
Nr. Rugbymore information:
Workshop Invitation download
Workshop Programme download
Show & Sale Entry Form download
Driving directions download
Manx Loaghtan survey download
2-5-2009
Read the article here
Response from the Breeders' Group by Jeff Clarke:
Sir – In the Daily telegraph letters page on 2nd May 2009, William Whitworth asked about the status of Manx Loaghtan sheep reared off the Isle of Man, in light of the Protected Designation of Origin awarded to the ‘Isle of Man Manx Loaghtan Lamb’.
The Manx Loaghtan Sheep Breeders’ Group is delighted with the interest in these wonderful ancient sheep, and we draw your attention to the wording in the PDO: “Isle of Man Loaghtan Lamb is the name given to meat raised from pure bred Manx Loaghtan sheep, registered with the Breed Society, which have been born, raised and slaughtered on the Isle of Man.” It goes on to say: “In recognition of the fact that Manx Loaghtan Lamb is being produced off the island the applicants confirm that use of that term on the packaging/labelling of that product can continue provided that the lamb being marketed by producers off the island derives from pure bred Manx Loaghtan sheep and that the origin of that product is clearly shown.”
There is a growing market for Manx Loaghtan Lamb on mainland UK, due to its fine flavour and texture, and the breed is well represented across the country. The sheep bear multiple horns, and are a mousy brown colour, with darker brown legs, face and belly. The Breeders Group is active in ensuring that the breed continues to grow and that its pure bred status is properly maintained. For more details, please see our website, www.manxloaghtansheep.org .
Jeff Clarke,
Chairman, Manx Loaghtan Sheep Breeders’ Group
22-3-2009
GENETIC PROFILE OF YOUR MANX LOAGHTAN FLOCK
The Manx Loaghtan Sheep Breeders’ Breed Analysis and Advisory Group is pleased to be able to offer you a genetic profile of your flock as recorded in the RBST Combined Flock Book in May 2008. The analysis will show the contribution of each of the 25 Foundation Rams, that still have live progeny, in each of your animals, registered or notified up to May 2008.
Those members who are interested in maintaining diversity in the breed and strengthening the weaker Foundation lines in their own breeding plans will find the information fascinating.
If you would like a copy of your flock’s genetic profile, please e-mail
John Hedges
3-9-2008
EC Electronic Identification puts Rare Breeds at Risk
Rare Breeds Survival Trust is calling on the European Community to let the UK
decide for itself about introducing electronic identification (EID) for sheep
and goats. At the very least RBST wants the EC to remove the burden of
compulsory EID - both for small flock keepers and for those with larger flocks
of breeds that are at risk.
This call follows a recent survey by RBST which shows that the proposed EU
regulations may endanger the future of the UK’s rare sheep and goat breeds.
A survey of RBST livestock members suggested that 56% of respondents expected to
abandon keeping sheep and goats within the next three years:
If this forecast becomes a reality, many UK breeds of sheep and goat could
become critically endangered.
Evidence suggests that EID will have greatest impact on small flock owners who
maintain most of the national populations of ‘at risk‘ breeds of sheep and
goats. Defra’s UK EID Evidence Report states that "The costs are
proportionately higher for lowland keepers or keepers of small numbers of
sheep".
EC member states with national sheep and goat populations of fewer than 600,000
do not need to comply with the EC regulation and RBST is asking that similar
derogation be applied to small flocks with less than 50 breeding females and for
those keeping at risk breeds up to 200 breeding females. Said RBST Chairman,
Peter Titley "This sensible approach should apply in the UK and throughout other
member states. EID is not viable for many of our livestock owners particularly
those with small flocks and it is essential that the EC adopts a more flexible
approach to ensure that EID does not damage farming generally or, specifically,
put our native breeds at risk."
RBST recognises that the aim of the Regulation is to improve the management of
disease outbreaks which threaten Europe’s sheep and goat breeds. However the
effectiveness of EID as a means of disease control remains unclear: Defra’s UK
EID Evidence Report gives conflicting points of view on the cost and benefit of
EID and it also questions its effectiveness by declaring that the "equipment
does not perform well in wet and/or cold conditions" Other difficulties arise
from the alleged complexity and incompatibility of electronic and computer
packages which all make for added problems at a time when the livestock industry
already feels besieged.
RBST Chief Executive, Richard Clarke said "The introduction of EID threatens to
undermine many years of RBST action to support our native breeds at risk. It
will also have a negative impact on the conservation of farm animal genetic
resources as envisaged in both the UK National Action Plan and the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Global Plan."
Notes
Contact: Sally Renshaw RBST 024 7669 8764
sally@rbst.org.
1. RBST was established in 1973 as the world’s first national non-governmental
organisation created for the genetic conservation of farm animal genetic
resources. During the first seven decades of the 1900’s, 26 native breeds of
livestock became extinct in Britain. Since the formation of the RBST no native
breeds have been lost.
2. At Risk Breeds. The RBST monitors the female breeding numbers of the UK’s
livestock (sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and poultry) and equines to determine the
viability of a breed. Those most at risk are placed on the RBST Watchlist.
Currently 2 breeds of native goat and 22 breeds of sheep are listed on the
Watchlist.
3. Reports referred to:
RBST Livestock Survey appeared in The Ark October 2008. Further details of
survey available from RBST.
National Action Plan for
Farm Animal Genetic Resources
UK EID Evidence Report: Electronic identification of sheep and goats: Commission
report in connection with article 9(4) of Regulation (EC) No 21/2004
Electronic Identification (EID) of Small Ruminants in accordance with Regulation
(EC) 21/2004: Cost Analysis for Small Ruminant Holdings in Member States.
Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources: FAO, Rome.
4. The impact of the cost of implementation of EID is estimated by Defra’s UK
EID Evidence Report to all sheep keepers at £3.24 (€4.54) per ewe, but states
‘The costs are proportionately higher for lowland keepers of keepers of small
numbers of sheep, where the fixed costs of equipment and support are high’
(p14). Even at the average cost EID represents a significant percentage of the
market value of some critically endangered breeds.
5. The cost-benefits of EID on controlling disease outbreak are unclear. On the
one hand Defra’s UK EID Evidence Report states ‘The introduction of individual
identification using a full electronic system could reduce costs of managing an
outbreak of exotic disease over the current UK system by up to 15%’. However it
goes on to say ‘Furthermore, once the cost of EID is taken into account, the
existing batch tagging and recoding (sic) system produce a higher cost/benefit
ratio than any system of EID.’
29-8-2008
Annual, Minority & Traditional Breed SHOW AND SALE
SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 2008 - 10.00am
RBST Approved
Sheep, Goats & Llama: 400 head with 18 Manx Loaghtan.
15-8-2008
The Melton Mowbray Sale Catalogue is available at the Grassroots website or
here
(PDF).
Also York Rare Breed Sale entries can be done (?) on line www.ylc.co.uk
Thanks to the Hebridean Sheep Society for info.
26-7-2008
Closing date for the traditional breeds show & sale at Melton Mowbray on 12 &
13th September is this Sunday 27th July.
Grassroots have extended the 'on line entries' to midnight on Monday 28th in
order to give people a chance to get their stock in and decide what they are
going to bring. They cannot push it back any further and still get catalogues
proof read and printed in time for the event.
We currently have 26 Manx Loaghtan entries in 2008.
Jayne Drinkwater
13-7-2008
The Telegraph Weekend section has a fine photo of a Manx Ram - under the
heading 'ewe too can be a top model'!
See
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2263271/Sheep-Gallery.html.
The ram is Fawley Patrick, photographed as a shearling at Singleton show last year.
All in the name of a new book called Beautiful Sheep.
17-6-2008
Just received from Grassroots:
Entries are now open for the Traditional Breeds Show and Sale at Melton Mowbray on Friday 12th & Sat 13th September 2008.
To download a schedule and do on line entries please visit the website
Paper Closing Date: 20th July 2008
On line Closing Date : 27th July 2008
The catalogue pages will appear on the same web site as soon after the closing date as possible. They all have to proof checked by the various breed societies.
We look forward to seeing you there
Libby Henson
28-9-2007
Bluetongue confirmed as circulating in South East England
link to DEFRA website
7-9-2007
A primitive breed won the Sheep Interbreed Championship at one of the first livestock shows and sales to be held following restrictions imposed after the foot and mouth outbreak in Surrey.
A Manx Loaghtan ram, bred by Cathy Wainright and Darren Cassie of Lutterworth, Leicestershire, beat the competition of 22 other rare and native breeds at the National Tradition Native Breed Sale at Melton Mowbray on 8 September.
press release
article in the Farmers Guardian
picture in the Farmers Guardian
article in the Lutherworth Observer
THE POTENTIAL FOR SPECIAL LIVESTOCK BREEDS TO DELIVER
HIGHER VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS
ADAS has been commissioned by Defra to undertake this piece of work, with
the aim of examining current and future potential to supply value-added mea
products and highlighting research needs to secure a viable future fo
special breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. We attach a list of th
breeds that are being considered. The study is restricted to meat products
In order to ensure that important topic areas are not overlooked, we would
like to gather views from a range of key organisations and their members.
We are therefore inviting written responses if you feel that you would like
to contribute some information or opinion to the study. We would appreciate
the views of both special breed producers and those involved in butchering
and marketing them. We would therefore be grateful if you could circulate
this letter to your members.
We are especially interested in - :
1) Examples of where special breeds are
particularly well suited to the production or processing of a particular
food product - for example, where successful curing requires a particular
level of fat cover.
presenting difficulties in slaughter or processing, perhaps due to
logistical issues, e.g. long horns affecting safe handling, low killing out
percentages of certain breeds, hide/bristle issues in pigs.
2) Supply chain and distribution issues - availability and / or cost of
suitable slaughter, cutting and processing facilities, difficulties with
distribution, e.g. mail order.
3) The impact of legislation on the sector, whether in production (e.g. TB
movement restrictions) or in slaughter and processing (e.g. 24-30 month
issues for cattle slaughter).
4) Examples of where barriers have been overcome; especially for subjects 1
to 3 outlined above.
5) Success stories with production, processing and marketing of special breed products.
6) Any forthcoming issues that you feel will have a major impact either positive or negative, on the commercial use of special breed animals.
All contributions will be acknowledged and you may be contacted by the study
team for further information. However, it will not be possible to include
all submissions in the final report. Closing date for submissions is 21st
Sept 2007.
Information can be sent to julia.hawley@adas.co.uk or to Julia Hawley, ADAS
Gleadthorpe, Meden Vale, Mansfield, Nottingham NG20 9PF.
Yours faithfully
Mrs Julia Hawley
Senior Rural Business Consultant
07-09-2006
A Manx Loaghtan ramlamb from Caroline and Barry Lewis in Daventry was set in fire.
Read the article (PDF)