North of England AGM 2010 Pictures - Click on the thumbnail to view the larger picture.

The North of England region entertained over 120 members to a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting weekend at the end of April.  The event was based at the Low Wood Hotel on Lake Windermere.  Following the business part of the weekend; the national AGM and Judges Workshop on Friday, we all relaxed and were entertained to perfection.  The Welsh Region participants at the AGM continued their 'fancy dress' theme and paraded on Saturday morning in nautical attire for the cruise around Lake Windermere.

Judges Workshop Day at Low Foulshaw Farm

As part of the AGM weekend over 60 breeders attended the Judges Workshop event at Low Foulshaw Farm by kind invitation of the Geldard family.  Four activities were organised which where aimed to stimulate debate and discussion. 

Condition of Show Sheep

Australian vet, Ian McDougall is well-known to many Charollais breeders as since 1988 he has carried out artificial breeding (AI and ET) on numerous Charollais farms.  He has also pioneered the breed in Australia through dogged determination to get the authorities to allow the importation of stock from the UK.  His first embryos were implanted 5 years ago and the breed is now expanding.  Both these achievements made Ian the ideal person to talk and discuss with breeders and judges the correct level of condition that is healthy for our breeding animals to carry.  Ian outlined the problems with fertility that will arise if animals are over-fat and encouraged judges to discriminate against such animals.  Ideally animals should be condition score 3/4 in the show ring and certainly no higher.  Below is a link to a diagram on condition scoring prepared by Ian for our breed. 

Condition Scores for Adult Sheep

Ultra sound scanning for muscle and fat measurement

Carol Davies from Signet gave a demonstration of ultra sound scanning in order for breeders to appreciate exactly what is under the wool and skin.  Leicestershire breeder, Charles Sercombe helped members to handle animals to assess fleshing and fat cover.  Members soon appreciated that it is not always easy to assess exactly what is under the skin and the only really way to tell is through technology such as the scanner. 

Fleece Quality

Thanks to expert trimmers, Herbie Kennedy and Jonathan Aiken judges looked at and discussed the merits of different types of fleeces and pondered on 'what is the ideal fleece for a Charollais'.  The two trimmers had trimmed one side and left the other untouched on a number of different ewe lambs, just to show how the trimmer can alter the appearance and feel of the sheep fleece.

Stock Judging

Visitors placed and made comments on two classes of sheep; shearling ewes and ram lambs.  This ensured plenty of debate and just a couple of judges who agreed with the master judge, Mr David Mawhinney from Northern Ireland.  Click on thumbnail images to few everyone in action.