Mediaboss Marketing

Two new working groups for sheep farmers looking to improve flock health are to be established in Scotland.

That was the good news story from the National Sheep Association (NSA) Scotland Annual Region Members Meeting (ARMM) at Stirling Agricultural Centre, where chairman Jen Craig told members the Scottish Government is committed to progressing upon animal health and welfare priorities within the sector.

While England, Wales and Northern Ireland has already received finance and initiatives to look into better control methods of sheep scab, the Scottish Government has finally engaged conversations to explore options within Scotland.

Although notifiable in Scotland, sheep scab remains a huge welfare concern and while blood tests and control methods are available to test and eliminate the mites, the disease remains a real challenge in certain areas. As a result, a working group to address the problems has already been established and is currently chaired by NSA Scotland.

NSA Scotland is also actively looking for sheep farmers to join their Jaagsiekte or ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) task force in a bid to find out more about this fatal lung disease in association with the Moredun at Edinburgh, when there is no accurate test or cure for it as reported in The SF three weeks previous.

The organisation also launched its annual survey on sheep worrying incidents by dogs, to further raise awareness and find ways of improving education, guidance and co-operation with dog owners.

Restrictions caused by the Covid pandemic, have however had a negative impact on the finances of the Scottish branch in line with all other NSA regions with the cancellation of two NSA ScotSheep events incurring additional expenditure without any income. Figures released at the ARMM show a balance sheet in the red at -34,087.53 for the end of 2021, which compares to 2019 (pre-Covid) of +7257.75 and 2018 the last time ScotSheep was staged at +11,132.13.

While membership remains unchanged since pre-covid, loss of earnings are nevertheless expected to be restored following this year's NSA ScotSheep at Over Finlarg, Tealing on Wednesday, June 1. Admission is also set to increase to 20 per head with NSA members gaining access at half price.

Election of office bearers saw Jen Craig continue as Chair for another year alongside Maimie Paterson as Vice and Mary Dunlop as Treasurer. Grace Reid continues as NSA Scottish Region Coordinator and Euan Emslie as regional Events Organiser and Secretariat.

For more information on the issue of sheep worrying by dogs and NSAs work on this issue visit http://www.sheepworrying.org.uk

Read the rest here:
ScotSheep admission rises as NSA looks to improved health - The Scottish Farmer