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DORSET HORN & POLL DORSET

SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION

MAY FAIR 2012

May 2012

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DORSETS IN DEMAND WITH INCREASED AVERAGE AT MAY FAIR

A virtual clearance and increased averages from a record entry emphasised the demand for both breeders’ and commercial Dorset sheep at the annual May Fair at Exeter Livestock Centre on behalf of the Poll Dorset & Dorset Horn Sheep Breeders’ Association on Wednesday May 9. A top price of 4,200gns - one of five rams topping 2,500gns and more - went to Northern Ireland breeders William and Karen Carson, achieving the Downkillybegs flock’s best price yet in 33 years, selling to Poll Dorset chairman David Rossiter for his Huish flock at Burton, Galmpton, Kingsbridge, Devon. The event, the largest sale in the country of early lambing ewes, attracted 3,000 ewes and rams, marking the first pedigree sheep sale run by Kivells and Husseys since taking over the Exeter centre in early April this year. Rams averaged £902, more than £200 up on the 2011 average of £693. The flexibility of the Poll Dorset has brought renewed interest in the breed with breeders from across the country who had previously switched from the traditional sheep to continentals returning to this year’s May Fair to buy, according to David Rossiter. “There has been demand for both rams and females from breeders who previously had Dorsets and are now returning to the breed, recognising the ease of breeding and carcase quality,” said Mr Rossiter. “The Dorset allows you to do what you want with your enterprise because of their ability to lamb at any time of the year. The texture and succulence of the finished Dorset lamb is endorsed by the Waitrose Dorset Breed Lamb Group which can’t get enough of a committed, consistent supply for the supermarket,” he added. Auctioneer Simon Alford said it was obvious from the inaugural sale run by the auction company’s that the Dorset breed was ‘in good hands’ with breeders doing the job well and very keen. “The rams made a great average of just over £900 with very few unsold. That was taking into consideration an increased entry and 100gns more on the upset price of 350gns,” he said. “There was a great spread of buyers. Irish breeders had a big influence on the sale by bringing a lot of the entries, but they also took a lot of the bloodlines back with them,” he added. The leading priced ram, the September-2011 born Downkillybegs Strongbow, was first in the pair of lambs for the Carsons of Downkillybegs, Ballymena, Co Antrim, judged by Roger Brown the previous day with Downkillybegs Stetson which made 1,400gns. Both are by Oliver Tree Nik Nak a son of Downkillybegs Hercules and they carry the extra muscling Myomax gene and Strongbow had a muscle depth of 40.9mm at 21 weeks old. “The ram carries the gene for the complete meat package and that coupled with very correct genetics and the figures to back it up made me determined to have him,” said Mr Rossiter. “The muscling has been displayed back through his sire’s pedigree.”

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The ram will be used in Mr Rossiter’s Huish flock of just over 400 pedigree ewes which was the breed’s champion flock in 2011. Run alongside a pedigree Suffolk flock, it supplies early lamb to the Waitrose scheme. The show’s overall champion was a horned September born shearling from Northern Ireland breeder Ben Lamb of Lime Tree Farm, Richhill, Co Armagh. Richhill Peter, judged the show’s overall champion by David Thomas, was sold for 3,400gns to Ross May who runs commercial Polled and horned Dorsets in the Exe Valley seven miles north of Exeter. “He is a good, stretchy ram which I felt was ideal to replenish our horned flock,” said Mr May, a regular purchaser at the May Fair. “We like to buy a decent ram. The ram’s sire Turnavedog is by Richhill Fergie and his dam line is by Poorton Hero. It was only the third ram through the pedigree ring that made the second joint top price of 3,000gns for Northern Ireland breeder and auctioneer Raymond Hill from his Oliver Tree flock at Doagh, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, run with brother David as a hobby. The sale of Oliver Tree Springsteen to relatively new breeder Nick Burrington marked the flock’s best price yet in the decade since it was founded. “The ram is out of the D4 family which has bred very well for me and I’m very pleased he has sold to another breeder,” said Mr Hill.The ram is by Downkillybegs Landmark out of Oliver Tree N8. The ram was the most expensive purchase to date for Mr Burrington who established his flock five years ago at North Covert Farm, Oxton, Kenton, Exeter and now runs 120 pedigree females alongside commercial beef cattle “We have fancied purchasing from Oliver Tree for several years and the D4 family is one of the finest,” said Mr Burrington, who will be judging the Dorset Premier show and sale in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in July, and won last year’s Royal Welsh breed championship and group of three award. It was a ram bred in the Dorset sheep’s heartland that matched the 3,000gns price tag and a flock best for father and son, Richard and Robert Hole, of Hill Street Farm, Holwell, Sherborne, Dorset. The sale marked the 25th May Fair for the family. Robert’s grandfather Bunny Lenthall was the first importer of Polled Dorsets from Australia to the UK in 1956. They run 430 pedigree ewes in their Sherborne flock and they have put the ram’s dam back to the same sire, Sherborne Lewisham. The ram lamb Sherborne Storm had won the Centurion Ram of the Year having topped the Signet recording figures with a maternal index of 292 and a terminal sire index of 376, putting it well within the top 1% for the breed. However it was the muscle score of 3.21 initially picked up in the sale catalogue details and then seeing the ram in the flesh that encouraged Brian Muncaster and Cathryn Pritt to bid to 3,000gns for the ram for their Thornbank flock based at Gosforth in Cumbria. After discovering the attributes of the breed when running commercial Dorsets alongside other crossbred ewes, the pedigree Dorset flock was founded in 2004. Ewes lamb in September-October and January and March and their flexibility fits in with the grass-based system they use for the farm’s herd of 150 commercial Friesian cattle. Keen to promote the breed, Cathryn is a committee member of the recently formed Northern Dorset Breeders’ Club.

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Also among the leading prices and notching up an average of £1,275 for seven rams sold was Thomas Wright, of Ballytaggart, Kilraughts, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, whose top priced lamb Ballytaggart Sapphire, made 2,500gns to breeders Les and Heather French, of Launceston, Cornwall. The correctness of the ram, one of the first crop by Downkillybegs Nitehawk, encouraged Mr French to make the only stock sire purchase of the year for his long-established 120 ewe flock. Averages: ewe lambs to £493.50, average £159.63; ewe hoggs to £345.00, average £169.07; rams to £4,410, average £902.78. Leading ram prices: Downkillybegs Strongbow 4,200gns to S&W Carson, Whitesides Road, Downkillybegs, Ballymena, Co Antrim; Richhill Peter 3,400gns B Lamb, Lime Tree Farm, Richhill, Co Armagh; Oliver Tree Springsteen 3,000gns R Hill, The Old Manse, Kilbride Road, Doagh, Ballyclare, Co Antrim; Sherborne Storm 3,000gns R Hole, Hill Street Farm, Holwell, Sherborne, Dorset; Ballytaggart Sapphire 2,500gns TW Wright, Killraughts Road, Ballytaggart, Kilraughts, Ballymoney, Co Antrim; Sandelford Scolari, 2,050gns G Henderson, Old Mill Cottage, Priestland Road, Bushmills, Co Antrim; Poorton Passion 2,000gns, Fooks Brothers, Manor Farm, North Poorton, Bridport, Dorset; 2,000gns Sherborne Striker R Hole, Hill Street Farm, Blackhill Simba 1,700gns JB Dufosee, Farnicombe Farm, Upper Scudamore, Warminster, Wiltshire; Ballytaggart Spitfire 1,550, TG Wright, Kilraughts.

Downkillybegs Strongbow Richhill Peter

Sherborne Storm Oliver Tree Springsteen

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MAY FAIR SHOW RESULTS Class 1 – Best Ewe Lamb Class 2 – Best Shearling Ewe 1st 216 Mark Hayman 1st 194 Jim Dufosee 2nd 223 David Lewis 2nd 189 Fooks Bros. 3rd 196 D W Rossiter 3rd 210 C & T Clarke 4th 190 W & K Carson 4th 204 R & R Hole 5th 212 C & T Clarke 5th 199 Charlie & Janet Withers Reserve Champion Female Champion Female Special Class – Signet Class Class 3 – Best Pair of Ram Lambs 1st 56 R & R Hole 1st 101/103 W & K Carson 2nd 138 Fooks Bros. 2nd 66/67 C & T Clarke 3rd 124 D W Rossiter 3rd 9/11 Ross Sizmur 4th 39 Jim Dufosee 4th 124/126 D W Rossiter 5th 40 Jim Dufosee 5th 55/56 R & R Hole

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Class 4 – Best Single Horn Ram Lamb Class 5 – Best Single Poll Ram Lamb 1st 50 Ben Lamb 1st 14 Ross Sizmur 2nd 138 Fooks Bros. 2nd 100 W & K Carson 3rd 185 R & D Huxter 3rd 120 D W Rossiter 4th 26 B A Wernham & Son 4th 158 Mr & Mrs M Maybin 5th 184 R & D Huxter 5th 2 Gary & Gareth Henderson Class 6 – Best Group of Three Rams Class 7 – Best Shearling Horn Ram 1st 80/81/82 Thomas Wright 1st 49 Ben Lamb 2nd 139/140/141 Fooks Bros. 2nd 43 Jim Dufosee 3rd 58/59/60 R & R Hole 3rd 18 V P, M & A Care 4th 89/90/91 W L & E Sandercock 4th 150 Sam Driver 5th 36/39/40 Jim Dufosee

Champion Male Exhibit & Best Horn Exhibit

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Class 8 – Best Shearling Poll Ram Class 9 – Best Pair of Shearling Rams 1st 142 Fooks Bros. 1st 161/167 W L French 2nd 44 Jim Dufosee 2nd 112/114 A & C Kingdon 3rd 48 David Lewis 3rd 155/157 Andrew Palk 4th 160 W L French 4th 7/16 V P, M & A Care Reserve Champion Exhibit Wool on the Hoof – Rams Wool on the Hoof - Females 1st 185 R & D Huxter 1st 197 D W Rossiter 2nd 136 J B May & Son 2nd 206 R & R Hole 3rd 85 W L & E Sandercock 3rd 223 David Lewis 4th 124 D W Rossiter 4th 193 Jim Dufosee 5th 107 Graham Cubitt

Champion Wool on the Hoof R & D Huxter’s South Ham Sherlock S248

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Progeny Group of Three 1st 101/103/190 W & K Carson 2nd 66/67/212 C & T Clarke 3rd 123/196/197 D W Rossiter 4th 36/39/193 Jim Dufosee 5th 76/225/226 Mrs E Swain Best Pen of 5 or more Rams Class 10 – Best Pen of 5 Ewes Thomas Wright 1st 330 R M & J E Brown

2nd 240 P & M Baker & Son Class 11 – Best Pen of 5 Hoggets Class 12 – Best Pen of 5 Ewe Lambs 1st 285 Fooks Bros. 1st 254 R & R Hole 2nd 215 D J Thomas & Son 2nd 243 C & T Clarke 3rd 223 P & M Baker & Son 3rd 246 David Lewis 4th 235 R J Jeanes & Son 4th 256 Joe Larder 5th 221 Mrs E Swain 5th 255 P & M Baker & Son Champion Pen: 285 Fooks Bros. Reserve Champion Pen: 330 R M & J E Brown

2012 MAY FAIR PRINCIPAL EWE AND RAM PRICES AV

PRICE £

TOP PRICE

£

Ram Lambs W & K Carson 7 av 1527.00 4410.00 MVA/SMN R & R Hole 7 av 1464.00 3150.00 MVA Raymond Hill 4 av 1299.37 3150.00 MVA/SMN Thomas Wright 7 av 1275.00 2625.00 MVA Gary & Gareth Henderson 2 av 1338.75 2152.50 MVA/SMN Jim Dufosee 6 av 917.00 1785.00 MVA/SMN Ben Lamb 2 av 1113.00 1575.00 MVA/SMN T & S Knox 2 av 1286.25 1417.50 MVA D W Rossiter 7 av 907.50 1102.50 MVA/SMN Graham Cubitt 4 av 658.12 1050.00 MVA Fooks Bros. 4 av 826.87 945.00 MVA/SMN Ross Sizmur 7 av 678.00 924.00 MVA W L & E Sandercock 7 av 808.50 892.50 MVA C & T Clarke 6 av 784.00 892.50 MVA

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AV PRICE

£

TOP PRICE

£

Ram Lambs (Ctd.) Seamus Mullan 2 av 614.25 756.00 MVA Caldwell Bros. 2 av 630.00 651.00 MVA Mark Hayman 4 av 464.62 651.00 MVA Joe Larder 630.00 630.00 MVA Mr A D Johnson 577.50 577.50 MVA/SMN Mr & Mrs M Maybin 2 av 525.00 577.50 MVA/SMN Rod Dallyn 2 av 409.50 420.00 MVA/SMN Mrs E Swain 367.50 367.50 MVA Charlie & Janet Withers 367.50 367.50 MVA J B May & Son 3 av 361.66 367.50 MVA Shearling Rams Ben Lamb 3570.00 3570.00 MVA/SMN Fooks Bros. 2 av 1522.50 2100.00 MVA/SMN Jim Dufosee 2 av 1312.50 1470.00 MVA/SMN W L French 7 av 940.50 1260.00 MVA David Lewis 3 av 831.25 1155.00 MVA P W Baker 2 av 840.00 1050.00 MVA Edwin Pocock 2 av 819.00 924.00 MVA V P, M & A Care 3 av 752.50 892.50 MVA A & C Kingdon 6 av 511.00 840.00 MVA/SMN Mr A D Johnson 756.00 756.00 MVA/SMN R M Eglin & Son Ltd. 2 av 682.50 714.00 MVA Andrew Palk 2 av 488.25 609.00 MVA C A Hallett 367.50 367.50 MVA J B May & Son 367.50 367.50 MVA D J Thomas & Son 2 av 367.50 367.50 MVA Single Ewe Lambs Mark Hayman 2 av 362.25 493.50 MVA W & K Carson 2 av 383.25 472.50 MVA/SMN R & R Hole 399.00 399.00 MVA D W Rossiter 2 av 330.75 346.50 MVA/SMN C & T Clarke 315.00 315.00 MVA Jim Dufosee 315.00 315.00 MVA Charlie & Janet Withers 2 av 283.50 294.00 MVA G & E Jones 2 av 215.25 262.50 MVA David Lewis 231.00 231.00 MVA R & D Huxter 189.00 189.00 MVA Mrs E Swain 157.50 157.50 MVA Single Shearling Ewes Jim Dufosee 2 av 346.50 378.00 MVA/SMN Fooks Bros. 367.50 367.50 MVA/SMN C & T Clarke 2 av 336.00 357.00 MVA R & R Hole 2 av 283.50 336.00 MVA R & D Huxter 315.00 315.00 MVA

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AV PRICE

£

TOP PRICE

£

David Lewis 2 av 262.50 315.00 MVA Charlie & Janet Withers 2 av 278.25 283.50 MVA Mrs E Swain 2 av 183.75 189.00 MVA

PENS

Registered Poll Dorset & Dorset Horn Ewe Hoggets £ Fooks Bros. P 200 – 345 2 pens MVA/SMN D J Thomas & Son P 160 – 240 6 pens MVA R J Jeanes & Son P 145 – 202 5 pens MVA W L French P 132 – 202 6 pens MVA P W Baker & Son P 185 – 200 2 pens MVA A & C Kingdon P 160 – 200 6 pens MVA/SMN W L & E Sandercock P 200 1 pen MVA David Lewis P 155 – 178 2 pens MVA S & D Cole P 158 – 175 4 pens David Foot Ltd. P 145 – 170 10 pens MVA M J Freegard P 158 – 160 5 pens Mark Hayman P 135 1 pen MVA R M Eglin & Son Ltd. P 110 – 120 2 pen MVA Mr J Small H & P 100 – 112 2 pens

Registered Poll Dorset & Dorset Horn Ewes £ P W Baker & Son P 175 1 pen MVA R M & J E Brown P 150 1 pen R D Partridge H 125 – 145 7 pen Mrs T Eden P 135 1 pen

Registered Poll Dorset & Dorset Horn Ewe Lambs

£ R & R Hole P 350 1 pen MVA Mark Hayman P 190 – 200 3 pens MVA Joe Larder P 195 1 pen MVA C & T Clarke P 142 – 175 3 pens MVA Miss C L Moorhouse H 170 1 pen MVA Charlie & Janet Withers P 140 – 148 2 pens MVA Cissbury Farm P 125 – 148 3 pen MVA R D Partridge H 125 – 145 4 pens Home Farm, Hursley H 92 – 128 3 pens David Foot Ltd. P 105 – 120 10 pens MVA C A Hallett P 102 – 110 2 pens MVA H P Holden & P D Whitewood P 100 1 pen MVA

Registered Poll Dorset Couples £ R M & J E Brown P 200 – 220 2 pens

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Northern Dorset Breeders’ Club 

Supporting Dorset breeders in the North of England and Scotland

 We now have 20 members signed up to the Northern Dorset Breeders Club representing  over  50%  of  the  society members  in  our  area.    These  are spread  right across and down our  region which  runs  from Birmingham  to the north of  Scotland.   We are now also beginning  to get enquiries  from non‐society breeders.    A number of people have volunteered to be officials  in the club, and have been busy making plans for this years events and shows.    David Eglin has agreed to be Club president and has generously agreed to provide  a  seasonal  points  trophy  for  those  club members who  exhibit  at shows.  Points would be awarded for each exhibit shown, plus graded extra points  for those placed  in the top 3 or 4  in a class.   The number of points awarded for exhibits at club and society shows, and bigger regional shows, ie. Yorkshire Show, Staffordshire Show etc would be double  those  for  the smaller one day shows.    There will be dedicated club classes at  the Yorkshire Show  this year, with £120  in  prize  money  plus  trophies  to  be  won.    Hainsworths  will  be sponsoring a  ‘Wool on  the Hoof’ competition.   This show  is being held on July 10th to 12th and these classes will be  judged by Robert Hole.   The club will also be having dedicated classes at Carlisle show and sale this year and again there will be £120 in prize money to be won.    We are currently organising a dedicated club show and sale at Chelford on Saturday  August  11th.    This  will  be  open  to  all  breeders,  whether  club members or not, in our Northern area, and both MV and non MV stock will be accepted.  All classes of Dorset stock male, female, aged, lambs, in lamb, registered or unregistered will be able to be entered.  More information will be  available  later  on when more  of  the  details  regarding  classes,  times, 

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prize  money  etc  have  been  decided.    Frank  Marshalls  will  be  the  host auctioneers.   The A.G.M,  a meal,  and  farm walk  is  scheduled  to be held  at  Thornbank Farm, Gosforth near Seascale, Cumbria, kindly hosted by Cathryn Pritt and Brian  Muncaster.    This  should  be  a  very  interesting  event  given  their frequent lambing system which is integrated with their Dairy herd.    We  hope  to  hold  other  farm  walks/barbecues/events  on  farms  in  the southern and northern part of region during the summer.  This should give breeders in those areas the opportunity to view how other farmers systems use Dorsets to their advantage, whilst socialising with other breeders in the area.     Currently, Edwin Pocock has been nominated as chairman/co‐ordinator for the  steering  group,  with  Cathryn  Pritt  as  vice  chair.    James  Royan  has volunteered  to  deal  with  promotion  and  publicity  for  the  club  and  the breed.  We hope to see some of you at the various events detailed above.  ============================================================

Dorset sheep flock wins top award for genetic progress for second time

The Dorset sheep winner of the EBLEX Improved Flock Awards for 2012 is the Stratasys Flock, owned by James and Barbara Stratton who farm near Charlton Mackrell in Somerset. Organised through the Sheep Better Returns Programme, this award is presented to the performance recorded flock that has shown the most impressive improvement in genetic merit over a 12-month period, within English recorded flocks for the breed. This is the second time they have taken top spot, also winning in 2009. The Stratton’s established the pedigree flock at Priory Farm 13 years ago with 30 ewes. They have since built numbers up to more than 100 Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset ewes with six to ten stud rams. Selective breeding based on Estimate Breeding Values (EBVs), is now producing high quality breeding females with proven maternal ability, and outstanding rams that can sire fast-growing, well-muscled rams and high performing ewes.

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Recording performance The flock has been Signet recorded since 2000 and rapid progress has been made since then, coming in the top two for genetic improvement within the breed in four out of the past five years. As well as following the Signet terminal sire index, the Stratton’s also record ease of lambing and try to retain the out of season breeding capability of the breed. Mr Stratton aims to improve the genetic base each year through individual mating decisions. He carefully selects sires for each ewe to ensure an appropriate match, based on the animal’s overall index and EBVs for important traits such as growth rate and eye muscle depth. In 2010 the genetic index was 269. This has risen to 313 points in 2011. His ram team consists of lambs and shearlings to accelerate the progress. “I set a target index to achieve each year,” explains Mr Stratton. “For the ewes I am looking to gain 50 points and last year their target was an average lambing index of 300. “The first ram I bought was unrecorded and turned out to have an index of 15. My rams now have indexes over 300 with 2 in the 400s.” New technology The Stratton’s are also embracing the latest technology such as the use of genetic markers to help reduce the likelihood of diseases such as Scrapie and to improve carcase characteristics. The Stratasys flock is one of the few UK sheep flocks to incorporate the LoinMax gene to increase the meat yield. Sheep identified with this marker have 10% more loin muscling than those without. As this is a valuable part of the carcase, selecting for this gene leads to higher carcase grading. The gene was first found in Australian Poll Dorset sheep and introduced into the Stratasys flock via semen from a New Zealand ram in 2008 who was a half carrier. At the same time they purchased some Poll Dorset ewes which also carried the gene, having been sired by two different New Zealand rams. This combination of rams and ewes with the gene has helped boost flock index, and provided the framework around which selection decisions are made. To take them to the next level, the Stratton’s now aim to achieve LoinMax Gold status, where animals carry a double copy of the gene. The Stratton’s also carry out ultrasound scanning of the loin muscle. In contrast to the New Zealand method which measures the whole muscle area, the Signet method they use is a linear measurement through the depth of the muscle in cross-section. Those scanned score highly with the top ram, a LoinMax carrier, scoring 5.29 for the muscle EBV (overall index 422.) Practical focus The flock is managed commercially and the Stratton’s are totally committed to providing rams that will suit non-pedigree customers producing progeny for finishing. All the lambs are reared on grass and stubble turnips, with no supplementary feeding.

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Previously the flock only lambed in autumn with the lambs finished on stubble turnips in spring. However, lambing now also takes place in spring. They lamb indoors for ease of management. Each lamb is weighed and recorded at birth and given an electronic tag. The ewes and lambs stay in a mothering-on pen for a week before being turned out to grass. No creep feed is given and the lambs are weaned at 12 weeks. They stay on grass all year round. Long term uplift from superior genetics The Stratton’s focus on the genetics and rapid progress of the flock is now being widely recognised within the industry. EBLEX sheep breeding specialist Samuel Boon believes that one of the major benefits of improving the genetics of any flock is the cumulative and permanent way it lifts performance. “The time and effort involved will pay dividends for years, not just in the winning flock, but also in the flocks that buy rams from them,” he says. “With lamb prices at an all-time high, the difference between choosing the right recorded ram for the farm, or an animal of average breeding merit, could be worth £1,000 or more. So there has never been a better time to invest in superior genetics. “James and Barbara recognised the value of doing this quite a few years ago. This strategy has served them well as they now have the highest indexed Dorset flock in the country. “The use of home-bred, high-index rams and their meticulous selection process has produced outstanding results and are the main reasons for this second win. Congratulations, once again, to them both.”

The Sheep Better Returns Programme (Sheep BRP) is funded by EBLEX and aims to help English sheep producers get better returns from their enterprises by improving their skills in five key areas:

o Better Breeding o Better Lamb Selection o Better Feeding and Forage o Better Fertility and Health o Better Systems and Costing

James Stratton with one of his new-born Every lamb in the Stratasys flock is

Dorset lambs weighed and recorded at birth.

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Clwb Defaid Dorset Cymru / Welsh Dorset Sheep Club Club members enjoyed a highly successful Annual Dinner on the 21st of January at the Teilie restaurant, Bwlchllan, Ceredigion. The Downes family [SIAND flock] welcomed approx 50 members to their family run business and proved to be outstanding hosts, treating us to a first rate 3 course meal. The guest speaker for the evening was the Welsh TV personality and champion of rural affairs Dai Jones Llanilar who compared Teilie restaurant to heaven, stating that it was a place that was difficult to get to, but ‘lovely once you have arrived!’ Dai proved to be at his ebullient best, entertaining us in his own inimitable fashion before handing the reins to another ‘Dai’- our Breed Council Chairman and honorary Welshman David Rossiter, who once again demonstrated his commitment to the breed and to the membership by travelling the considerable distance from Devon to be amongst his many friends in the Principality. Rowland our chairman provided a précis of the previous year, and sad to record of course the considerable loss of two of our stalwarts, Rowland’s father Mr J R Davies Dolclettwr and our national President at the time Mr David Matthews; the membership observed a few moments silence in their memory. David Rossiter kindly presented glass goblets to our retiring secretary Huw Williams and treasurer Ceredig Jones before making the formal presentations of prizes to the following recipients: Best Ram Griffiths & Davies Best Ram Lamb Griffiths & Davies Best Ewe G & E Jones Best Yearling Ewe Griffiths & Davies Best Ewe Lamb G & E Jones Best Untrimmed Ewe Lamb Myrddin James Overall Best Show Team Griffiths & Davies The evening ended in traditional Welsh fashion with singing, and many thanks to Mr Brian Jones (Brian the Organ) for accompanying us on the organ. Sincere thanks to the Downes family and the host of individuals from within the club who had made the evening such a resounding success. Best wishes for a successful season in 2012.

Ceredig Jones, President of the Welsh Dorset Sheep Club presenting Dai Jones, dinner guest speaker with the Dorset Society book.

David Rossiter presenting a glass goblet to David Rossiter presenting a glass goblet to Huw Williams, former Club Secretary Ceredig Jones, former Club Treasurer.

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David Rossiter presenting a glass goblet to David Rossiter presenting a glass goblet to Bethan Davies – Griffiths & Davies for the best ram Myrddin James for Best Untrimmed Ewe Lamb David Rossiter presenting Elin Jones – G & E Jones David Rossiter presenting Rowland Davies–Griffiths a glass goblet for Best Ewe Lamb & Davies a glass goblet for Best Yearling Ewe David Rossiter presenting Geraint Jones – David Rossiter presenting Iolo Davies – Griffiths G & E Jones, a glass goblet for the Best Ewe & Davies a glass goblet for the Best Ram Lamb

David Rossiter presenting Rowland Davies a cup Geraint Jones presenting Rowland Davies with a for the Overall Best Show Team glass shoe to thank him for all his hard work during the year on behalf of the club

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TATTOOING VOTE

A large number of members responded to the recent postal vote on whether tattooing should be made optional or not – approximately 66% - a very big thank you. Members will be notified of the outcome in the next newsletter following the Council meeting on 19th July.

WORCESTER SALE

SATURDAY, 14TH JULY, 2012 As with May Fair, the Worcester entry forms are only being posted to members who have sold at the sale over the past four or five years. If you are on e-mail they will be e-mailed to you. They will also be available to download off the website if you have access to this. If you would like to receive entry forms for the Worcester sale by post please ring the office.

ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY, 15TH JUNE

2012 FLOCK COMPETITION

You will find the entry forms for the 2012 flock competition attached/enclosed with this mailing and again they are available to download off the website. The judges, David Rossiter and Joe Larder are planning carrying out the judging in late July/August. Do please try and support the competition – it will be well worth the effort

ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY, 6th JULY

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EWE REGISTRATIONS

Don’t forget that if you are taking any shearling ewes (year letter P) or ewe lambs (year letter S) to any sales, in order to be sold as registered they must be registered

before the sale so that certificates can be produced in time for you to take these certificates to the sales with you.

2012 BREED BROCHURE If anybody would like copies of the 2012 Breed Brochure to take to any shows or sales,

please let the office know.

SHOW RESULTS

BALMORAL, Northern Ireland Champion: Mr & Mrs R Hill Reserve Champion: T & S Knox Ram, any age: 1. Mr S Caldwell 2. T & S Knox Ewe, two shear 1. Mr S Caldwell 2. Mr & Mrs R Hill 3. Shane Wilson 4. J & C Robson & upwards: 5. Mr & Mrs R Hill 6. Jack Patterson Ram Lamb: 1. R & M Coulter 2. J & C Robson 3. Mr S Caldwell 4. R & M Coulter

5. Mr A Knox 6. Mr & Mrs R Hill 7. Mr & Mrs R Hill Ewe Lamb: 1. T & S Knox 2. Mr & Mrs R Hill 3. Mr S Caldwell 4. Mr S Caldwell 5. Mr G Cubitt 6. R & M Coulter 7. J & C Robson 8. T & S Knox Shearling Ewe: 1. Mr & Mrs R Hill 2. T & S Knox 3. J & C Robson 4. Mr S Caldwell 5. Jack Patterson 6. Mr & Mrs R Hill 7. T & S Knox 8. Mr S Caldwell

DEVON COUNTY

Judge: Mr William Carson

Champion: Mr N Burrington Reserve Champion: C & Clarke Champion Male: C & T Clarke Reserve Champion Male: C & T Clarke Champion Female: Mr N Burrington Reserve Champion Female: Mr N Burrington Overall Wool on the Hoof Res. Champ: R & D Huxter Champion Shortwool: R & D Huxter

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Group of Three: 1. C & T Clarke 2. Mr M Hayman 3. Mr N Burrington Shearling Ram, or older: 1. C & T Clarke 2. Mr N Burrington 3. C & T Clarke 4. Mr N Burrington Ram Lamb: 1. C & T Clarke 2. Mr N Burrington 3. Mr M Hayman 4. R & D Huxter Aged Ewe: 1. Mr N Burrington Shearling Ewe: 1. Mr N Burrington 2. C & T Clarke 3. Mr A Palk 4. Mr M Hayman Chilver Lamb: 1. Mr N Burrington 2. Mr M Hayman 3. Mr M Hayman 4. C & T Clarke

NEWARK AND NOTTS

(Any Other Native)

Champion: Graham Baker (Henry Tickler) Champion Male: Graham Baker (Henry Tickler) Reserve Champion Female: Graham Baker (Henry Tickler) Trimmed Ram Lamb: 1. Graham Baker (Henry Tickler) Untrimmed Ram Lamb: 1. Graham Baker (Henry Tickler) Trimmed Ewe Lamb: 1. Graham Baker (Henry Tickler)

DORSET HORN & POLL DORSET SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION

DISCLAIMER Agriculture House, Acland Road Dorchester, Dorset The Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset DT1 1EF Sheep Breeders’ Association produce Tel/Fax: 01305 262126 this newsletter in good faith and

cannot be held responsible e-mail: dorsetsheep@xlnmail.com for any inaccuracies contained website: www.dorsetsheep.org therein. Breed Secretary: Marguerite Cowley