Most sheep farmers suffered the wrath of Mother Nature at lambing, but all that was put to rest at Scotsheep on Wednesday where producers were re-invigorated by key seminars, a quality show of stock, and a record number of 215 breed, technical and industry trade stands.
Add in some much needed ‘craic’ from sector specialists and fellow sheep farmers and the National Sheep Association event was hailed a roaring success by organisers having attracted a record attendance.
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The event, staged at Aikengall, Dunbar, by kind permission of the Hamilton brothers, John, Charles and Harry and their mother Vanessa, was also a tribute to their father, the late John Hamilton who committed to host the Scotsheep in 2019.
With a General Election fast approaching, the big day also provided an opportunity to hit out at the lack of government support to an industry which provides so much to those in the towns and cities but feel they get little back for those who live and work in the countryside.
In his opening ceremony, Ken Fletcher, former editor of The Scottish Farmer stressed the difficult job sheep farmers have when they not only have to endure all weathers at lambing time but also increasing numbers of uncontrolled predators and particularly sea eagles.
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“The long hours of toil in wet, windy and cold conditions have taken their toll,” he said.
“ It had a huge impact on ewe and lamb survival but more importantly, it has had a full-on impact on the mental health and well-being of many whose life and work is in their sheep flocks.
“It is heart-breaking to see that a ewe has a healthy lamb one day and then have it taken away be some of the rogue flying barn doors that are now so prevalent in the west of Scotland.
“There needs to be more of a balance between the needs of those who live and work on the land and those of the white-tailed sea eagle.”
There has to be room for both but at the present time there are no credible control methods and somebody sometime has to face up to the fact that controlled culling or breeding is the only way forward. So, who is going to stand up and be counted on this? Not one politician, so I’d say let them do a lambing on Mull or Skye to see if that would re-shape their opinions.”
Put another way, Mr Fletcher highlighted politicians’ dearth of interest in the farming because if a supermarket providing food service across much of the west coast had a nightly break in for three months of the year – there would be something done about it.
“For these farmers and crofters losing lambs to these birds is the same thing as shop lifting and no one should underestimate the effect that predatory attacks by some sea eagles are having on the mental health and well-being of those farmers and crofters.”
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