Latest news with #CampbellTweed
Agriland
31-07-2025
- General
- Agriland
Ni Sheep Farmers Need Parity on Financial Supports Available in South Breeder
The importance of retaining sheep numbers in hill areas in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain has been emphasised by leading members of the UK sheep farming community. According to Rob Rennie, from Kelso in Scotland. who judged the sheep classes at this year's Omagh Show: "Sheep add so much to the economy of rural areas, both from a production and environmental protection perspective. 'It is also important that government support for sheep reflects the key role these animals must play in hill and upland areas. 'In Scotland at the moment, I believe that we are losing too much hill grazing land to forestry.' Co. Antrim EasyCare sheep breeder, Campbell Tweed agrees that sheep numbers must be encouraged in upland areas. He told Agriland: 'The need to deliver additional support for sheep is obvious. "And there are mechanisms through which Stormont and the Westminster government can make this available. These options must be explored. 'With regard to the actual monies required, sheep farmers in Northern Ireland need parity with the measures already available south of the border. This works out at approximately £20/ewe.' Tweed represents both the Ulster Farmers Union and the National Sheep Association (NSA) on Northern Ireland's Sheep Taskforce. The grouping met recently with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs' (DAERA's) policy division to discuss future support policy for sheep. This was the first in a series of meetings that will be held over the coming weeks. Tweed added: 'There are a number of steps that can be taken to quickly reflect the support needs of the sheep sector. 'One of these is the full recognition of sheep grazing systems within future environmental schemes. 'Grazing livestock have a key role to play in maintaining and improving the hill and upland environment. 'Recent years have seen our hill areas more predisposed to fire risks. In part, this is because sheep have not been allowed to graze down rougher vegetation during the winter months.' Tweed also highlighted that tick-borne diseases are 'becoming more prevalent in both animals and humans". "Louping Ill is now a growing challenge within sheep flocks while reported instances of Lyme disease in human are on the rise," Tweed said. 'Both of these issues can be significantly attributed to poor vegetation control, matters that can be directly addressed if the decision is taken to include sheep within future environmental schemes.' In principle, Campbell Tweed wants sheep to be included within Northern Ireland's Ruminant Genetics' Programme. He said; 'This issue has been agreed to in principle. It's a matter of coming up with the correct delivery vehicle.'
Agriland
31-07-2025
- Science
- Agriland
Genomics Can Deliver Real and Positive Change for Sheep Sector Specialist
Genomic information can have a variety of potential uses for sheep breeders. Senior Signet Breeding specialist, Laura Eyles, has highlighted the potential of genomics within the sheep sector. She spoke at a recent EasyCare open evening, hosted by Co. Antrim breeder, Campbell Tweed. Eyles said: 'We are at the dawn of a genomic age, moving from genetic predictions that are based solely on pedigree and performance data to those that now include genomic data, information about the variation in an animal's DNA and the individual genes it possesses. The specialist explained that genomic information has a variety of potential uses from sire/dam verification. "This can be important for pedigree societies," she said. "Even flocks looking to move away from single sire mating can use DNA to identify parents - this is quite common in our hill breeding programmes. 'Genotyping also reveals the presence of major genes such as those related to scrapie resistance, myostatin-linked muscle growth, or major fertility genes." According to the Signet representative, genomic data adds massively to our knowledge of traits that are only expressed in one sex (like milk), expressed later in life (like longevity), and are hard/expensive to measure (like methane or meat-eating quality). EasyCare open evening host, Campbell Tweed with Rebecca Rainey from Co. Kildare Eyles further explained: 'Genomics can also be used to identify sheep suited to specific breeding programmes at a younger age.' Currently, Signet operates genomic evaluation systems linked to seven hill breeds and three terminal sire breeds. "Within our maternal breeding programmes, we are currently working with various research projects, levy funders and individual breeders to collate genomic data, with a view to move several of the larger maternal breeds to genomic breeding values in the next couple of years. 'Our genomic evaluation has been extended to Northern Ireland, where we are working in association with AgriSearch to build on our ever growing bank of genotypes. 'Genomic assessment can deliver real and positive change within the sheep sector. But making this happen will require high levels of collaboration involving individual farmers and all the stakeholders involved," Eyles said. Campbell Tweed's Ballycoose flock is home to a selection of the most progressive EasyCare bloodlines available in the UK and Ireland. Attending the EasyCare open evening, (l-r): Merrik Napper, Ardee, Co. Louth with Laura and Aaron Mccarragher, from Killylea in Co. Armagh Performance recording all the sheep born on the Tweed farm over many years through both the Signet and Sheep Ireland programmes has been at the heart of this ongoing success story. According to Campbell: 'EasyCare sheep are synonymous with wool shedding. But this is only part of the story. "At the very heart of the Ballycoose development programme is an absolute commitment to breed ewes that perform well, making best use of grass, maintaining the highest levels of animal health and lambing each year outdoors with the absolute minimum level of human intervention. 'And it is the results generated from the flock recording programmes that have allowed to make this happen.' Meanwhile, EasyCare numbers continue to grow across the island of Ireland. Campbell said: 'This reflects a growing recognition that the sheep allow flock owners to make best use of their time while also maintaining exceptionally high levels of performance.'
