1. Pedigree group of ram lambs or shearling rams.

2. Pedigree ewe flock.

3. Suffolk ram running with commercial ewes.

4. Commercial ewe with Suffolk cross lambs.

5. Commercial Suffolk cross lambs weaned in a field of grass or

forage crop.

6. Growing up with Suffolks.

7. A Suffolk winter scene (The winner of this section will be used on

the 2011 Society Christmas Card)

Colour photos must be taken with a digital camera & sent via email to the Society Office before 31st October 2011

Each Category Winner Receives £25

Chief Executive Update

October 2011

Suffolk Sheep Society 125th Anniversary

WWW . SUFFOLKSHEEP .ORG

Christmas time is on its way!

Have you got that special someone that you never know what to get for Christmas?

Why not buy them something from the Suffolk Shop and get it personalised with their Flock code.

Gift Vouchers are also available.

Take a look on the website for more details and images.

2011 Photographic Competition

2011 has been a tremendous year for the sheep industry and it is clear to see that increasing numbers of commercial farmers are returning to the Suffolk breed. This was reflected in the high clearance rate at Suffolk sales throughout the year. The theme used at PR events in 2011 portrayed the Suffolk strength that heavier weight equals increased returns. A specific focus on Suffolk cross female has also been a major driver for influencing commercial demand.

It gives me great pleasure to notify members that a number of fees are being reduced. The business is now running efficiently and it is only right that any surplus is passed back to members. Annual Registration Fees will decrease by £5 to £60. Ram registration fees will reduce by £5 to £25 (cheque) and £20 (DD). In an effort to assist recording flocks BN fees will be reduced to 25p (DD online) and 50p (DD/cheque paper). This decision was taken as recording flocks must BN all their lambs whereas non recording flocks can be more selective. All BNs received after 30 June will be set at £2.00.

The only new fee introduced in 2011 is a charge on ET lambs. This was made in an effort to reduce the narrowing of the genetic pool. Initially a charge was to be applied to the breeder at point of BN but this has been moved to point of registration. Hence, only lambs entering a pedigree flock will incur the charge.

Congratulations to Gary & Linda Beacom on their recent Wedding.

If there is an event, sale or product you want to

advertise, why not do it here. Contact the Society with the details and we’ll do the

rest!

Council Meeting

The next Council Meeting will be held on Thursday 1st December if you have any issues that you wish to be raised at this meeting please contact your local council representative or the Society Office.

2011 Show Results

October 2011

Royal Ulster Show Royal Welsh Show

Champion G C Beacom Shearling Ewe Champion D J Harvey Shearling Ram

Res Champion L & D Aiken Ram Lamb Res Champion V E & B M Samuel Shearling Ewe

Eire Suffolk Championships, Kilkenny

Champion J A Browne Ram Lamb

Res Champion S O’Keeffe Ram Lamb

Three Counties Show

Champion C J Holmes Ram Lamb

Res Champion V E & B M Samuel Shearling Ewe

Royal Highland Show

Champion S Fraser Ewe Lamb

Res Champion R H Wilson Ram Lamb

Great Yorkshire Show

Champion Lilburn Estates Shearling Ram

Res Champion Lilburn Estates Shearling Ewe

Facebook

Keep up to date with what's happening with

the Society on Facebook…just search for Suffolk Sheep

Society HQ and never miss a thing!!

National Sale - Shrewsbury Northern Area Branch Sale - Stirling

Top Price 23,000gns C J Holmes Top Price 90,000gns D Tynan

Clearance 83%Av. £1,240 170 Ram lambs Clearance 87% Av. £2,225 160 Ram lambs

Northern Ireland Branch Premier Sale - Ballymena

Top Price 2,300gns A R Gault

Clearance 95% Av. £632 100 Ram lambs

South of Ireland Branch Sale - Roscrea

Top Price 11,000 gns W J & R Wilson

Clearance 63% Av. €1135 83 Ram Lambs

Carlisle & Northern Counties Society Sale - Carlisle

Top Price 2,400gns H. Martindale

Clearance 97% Av. £716 87 Ram Lambs

2011 Society Sale Results

Dillon Killilea

Richard Wilson

Suffolk Breed Analysis dates for 2011

A decision has been made by council NOT to print ram proformas.

To register a ram members should contact the Society ensuring they have the Flock Book number and a name to call the ram.

Breed Promotion

Suffolk 4 Thursday 6th October Friday 21st October

Could all members please ensure that all relevant information is submitted before the above dates.

For more details contact Signet.

Tel: 0247 647 8829 Email: signet@eblex.org.uk

Ram Proformas

In 2011 the Society invested £6,000 in a new stand which has appeared at three NSA events. These include Welsh Sheep, North Sheep and Sheep South West. At the first of these events the stand was awarded 2nd prize out of all stands present. Pictures contained on the stand include Suffolk Cross lambs out of different commercial ewes. The “Quality Suffolk Lamb” Logo which has been approved by the trademark authorities in both the United Kingdom and Ireland is given centre stage.

Fourteen pop up stands have been given to different clubs and branches. These are lightweight and easy to transport. More will be produced in 2012 and if your club or branch would like a set please contact the Society office. 5,000 leaflets were also produced which were distributed at various sheep events. A fur-ther two leaflets were translated into French and Portuguese and were distributed at Paris Show and at the largest event in Brazil.

In 2012 we will launch two new trailer stickers. More leaflets will be produced on the commercial theme. A bilingual one will be produced in English and Welsh. Four new boards will be produced for the stand based on suggestions made by mem-bers. Please note all suggestions are welcome.

PSGHS Ian Pritchard has been in touch with the Society regarding the lack of response by members of the Society to correspondence that has been sent by the Pre-mium Sheep & Goat Health Scheme. The Society would ask that all members of the Society would complete and return any information that is require by the PSGHS.

Adam Henson receives a Suffolk Ram

The original Norfolk Horn x Southdown lambs that cre-ated the Suffolk breed obtained coverage on Countryfile on two separate occasions. These lambs proved to be the fastest growing lambs on Adam’s farm.

To follow up this successful story the Society has gifted Adam a High Index Suffolk ram lamb to use on an on farm trial against a High Index Texel and a Norfolk Horn x Southdown lamb.

The Suffolk Sheep Society fully support the work that Adam is doing on behalf of all farmers and look forward to seeing Suffolk cross lambs on Adam’s farm during 2012.

Please note that all future correspondence with the Society must be carried out through the

Society Office at Ballymena Livestock Market

this includes all calls, payments,

Autumn Return and

Birth Notification Forms.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. No responsibility can be accepted by the Society for any errors or any reliance on the use of

information by the reader.

Reminders:

AUTUMN RETURN FORMS WILL BE DISPATCHED THIS MONTH, FORMS MUST BE RETURNED

TO THE SOCIETY OFFICE BEFORE THE 30TH NOVEMBER

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL SIRES USED ARE COMPLETED ON THE FORM

Suffolk Sheep Society Unit B, Ballymena Livestock Market 1 Woodside Park Ballymena Co. Antrim BT42 4HG

Phone: +44 (0) 28 2563 2342 Fax: +44 (0) 28 2563 2739 E-mail: lewismcc@suffolksheep.org catherinef@suffolksheep.org zara@suffolksheep.org

This Newsletter is only as good as EWE make it…

if you have any topics that you wish to discuss, or

have any news updates or something you would like

to advertise...

please email: zara@suffolksheep.org or post to the Society Office.

Photograph Copyright

The Society would like to

advise that any image

forwarded for use in Soci-

ety Publications must be

owned by members and is

not subject to Copyright

cost. Any image that is

subject to Copyright will

be met by the member.

Unbeknown to Steve and Louise Buckley the Sitlow portfolio contains a tour bus company

in Killarney. One can expect to see Sitlow rams arriving in luxury transport at the 2012

Suffolk sales!! It is clear to see that Louise is

keen to get behind the wheel!! No one knows

how good Steve will be as a conductor but

time will tell.

Please note that the Suffolk Sheep Society

does not accept any responsibility for any bus

driven by a member of the Buckley family!!

Distribution of Flocks

2010/2011

England 355

Wales 114

Scotland 190

South of Ireland 204

Northern Ireland 145

Total 1008

Flock Book Amendment Yearbook Advertising

To advertise in the Suffolk Sheep Society 2012 Year Book details / artwork must be received by email to zara@suffolksheep.org no later than 30th November.

Prices are as follows -

Members Commercial

Full Page - £250 Full Page - £300

Half Page - £125 Half Page - £150

2 Pages - £400

Semen for Sale

Members can advertise for free on the Suffolk Society

Website.

Just send the ram details, price, photo and contact

details to zara@suffolksheep.org

Old Publications

The Society Currently has a selection of old Year books and Flock books.

If you are missing some from your collection please contact the Society and we

may be able to help.

Club & Branch Secretaries

Could all Club and Branch Secretaries please have their reports with the Society via email to zara@suffolksheep.org no later than 30th November; any reports not received by this date will not be included in the 2012 Yearbook.

Club reports should be no longer than 300 words and have a maximum of

two pictures.

Branch reports should be no longer than 500 words and have a maximum of

three pictures.

Sitlow Empire Keeps Expanding!!