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Take a virtual seat at this year’s Sheep Breeders Round Table

The Sheep Breeders Round Table (SBRT) will take place between Monday 15 and Friday 19 November 2021.

SBRT is an industry initiative, with collaboration from AHDB Beef & Lamb, AgriSearch, the National Sheep Association (NSA), Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). It is open to anyone with an interest in sheep production and always attracts a varied audience of farmers, breeders, researchers and vets.

Whilst the country finds its way out of the Covid-19 pandemic, the SBRT committee has taken the decision to host the event as an online conference this year so as not to restrict attendee numbers. This provides an exciting opportunity to invite a wide and global audience to join in with the programme of activities organised.

The event is free of charge and links for registration can be found on the AHDB website 

The move from a face-to-face event to its virtual sphere this year, means that the programme will run over a week, opening with a lunchtime session on Monday 15 November followed by four evening sessions, each hosted by different levy board. The NSA will conclude the event programme with a Friday lunchtime session.

The programme starts with a practical guide for all to explain how and why estimated breeding values (EBVs) can be used effectively within a commercial flock. Each evening from 7pm, levy boards will provide an update on major projects they are involved with. Topics include breeding for maternal performance, the hill ram scheme, terminal sire breeding, and future proofing your sheep business. The NSA conclude the week discussing the future of sheep breeding, using genetics to meet the requirements of farmers, society and policymakers.

A range of international speakers, breeders and commercial farmers will join each session to provide a view from overseas and an open and honest first-hand experience from pedigree breeders and commercial farmers involved in the various projects.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Sharon McIntyre, Genetic Evaluation Manager for Beef and Lamb New Zealand working closely with SIL
  • Dr John McEwan, a principal scientist at AgResearch in New Zealand specialising in sheep genomics.
  • Professor Eric Morgan from Queen’s University summarising the first year of a European Innovation project looking at implementing TST (targeted selective treatments) of Anthelmintics on farms
  • Dr John Gilliland OBE, Devenish, discussing a European Innovation project to accelerate livestock’s pathway to net carbon zero
  • Denis Gautier, Institut de l'Élevage, explaining how ‘The Digital Farm’ in France evaluates innovative technology for breeders and commercial sheep farmers.

Head online to view the full programme and register for the online event

Looking ahead, it’s intended that the traditional face-to-face SBRT three-day conference will return next year between Friday 18 and Sunday 20 November 2022. Please save the date in advance to avoid disappointment.

 

About the author

Bridget Lloyd

Bridget Lloyd – RamCompare Project Coordinator

After finishing university, Bridget worked on two well-known sheep research projects operating out of Aberystwyth University; the Longwool project and the Welsh Sheep Strategy.

In the year 2000, Bridget took a leading role in Cymru Breeding Services, (later Innovis and now known as AB Europe). Bridget was centre manager specialising in ovine fertility, operating a stud for 100 rams and coordinating four vet teams. She has specialised in ovine fertility and has worked closely with pedigree sheep and their breeders throughout her career.

With an extensive background in the sheep industry she now runs RamCompare. Her main responsibility is to liaise with project farms and abattoirs to ensure the data submitted is accurate and delivered on time, as well as co-ordinating the communication plan and ram nominations....and hundreds of other things.