There are just seven-weeks to go until the 2021 Sheep Breeders Round Table (SBRT), online event takes place this year between Monday 15 and Friday 19 November. The event is free of charge and links for registration can be found on the AHDB website https://ahdb.org.uk//sheep-breeders-round-table-online-conference

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

The programme will run over a week, opening with a lunchtime session on Monday 15 November followed by four evening sessions, each hosted by a different levy board. The NSA will conclude the event programme with a Friday lunchtime session.

A range of international speakers, breeders and commercial farmers will join each session to provide open, honest, first-hand experience from their involvement in the various projects.

Beth Alexander, QMS Cattle and Sheep Specialist says:

“The SBRT conference is a fantastic opportunity to participate in valuable knowledge exchange, with an impressive line-up of domestic and international speakers, all from the comfort of your farm. On Wednesday 17th November, QMS are joined by two respected breeders, Irene Fowlie and Scott Brown and Nicola Lambe from the SRUC CT scanning unit to discuss terminal sire breeding. The second session takes a look back at the difficult past 18 months and the way 2 breeders, John Scott and Neil McGowan have adapted to selling their stock.

“We’re pleased to collaborate again with AHDB, HCC, NSA and the SBRT committee to deliver what we know will be truly worthwhile discussions, providing the industry with the tools and information to improve productivity and profitability.”

Confirmed speakers include:

o Sharon McIntyre, Genetic Evaluation Manager for Beef and Lamb New Zealand working closely with SIL

o Dr Nicola Lambe, Sheep Geneticist from SRUC will discuss how the CT scanning service benefits sheep breeding businesses

o Dr John McEwan, a principal scientist at AgResearch in New Zealand specialising in sheep genomics

o 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

o Dr John Gilliland OBE, Devenish, discussing a European Innovation project to accelerate livestock’s pathway to net carbon zero

o 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 events https://ahdb.org.uk//sheep-breeders-round-table-online-conference

The committee intends to return to the traditional three-day face-to-face SBRT conference next year between Friday 18 and Sunday 20 November 2022. Please save the date in advance to avoid disappointment.