Catching up with all things sheep

There was a strong Teesdale presence among the thousands of visitors and hundreds of trade stands at North Sheep. Reporter Stuart Laundy enjoyed a day out among the crowds who flocked to Tow Law

JOHN Stephenson is a veteran of events such as North Sheep and has seen them grow in popularity over the years.

“Everybody that’s here is connected with some part of the agriculture industry,” said the secretary of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders’ Association.

“Everything is targeted at sheep breeders and these events have become increasingly popular.”

While Mr Stephenson, from Eggleston, was flying the flag for the Swaledale, another 35 breed associations were represented at North Sheep.

Organised by the National Sheep Association (NSA), it was held at West Shields Farm, just off the A68 at Tow Law.

In addition to the sheep, the stands and the other attractions, a programme of seminars and workshops was organised to keep sheep farmers abreast of the latest information and industry trends.

Eddie Eastham, chairman of NSA Northern Region, said with so many questions marks over the future of sheep farming, it was important for people to be as well informed as they can.

Thanks to Mrs May, it turned out North Sheep – which had been months in the planning – was staged the day before the general election.

As NSA president the Duke of Montrose said in his opening speech, it is very much a question of wait and see for sheep farmers – which, given the subsequent outcome of the election, very much holds true in continuing uncertain times.

Meanwhile, back on the Swaledale breed stand, Mr Stephenson spent a busy day meeting and greeting.

“We are in our own area and it is a case of see and be seen – if we weren’t here we would be much more obvious by our absence than our presence.

“It has been a good day and a busy day with people coming in before 8am.

“There is always someone wanting to join the society – but it is not about today. It could be six months down the line when someone you meet today might ring up.”

Among the other breed association pens, Peter and Susan Addison, from Hayberries Farm, Mickleton, were flying the flag for zwartbles. They had brought along two of their pure bred sheep for visitors to meet. Also on the stand were zwartble cross breeds, courtesy of another breeder, to show what the resulting lambs look like.

“The zwartbles have been in the country for about 20 years, but during the past five years they have become increasingly popular,” said Mrs Addison.

North Sheep came at the start of a busy period for the Addisons, who last year were crowned national breed champions at the Yorkshire Show with a shearling tup.

They are giving this year’s national competition – being held at the Highland Show, in Ingliston, Edinburgh – a miss, but they are heading to the Three Counties Show at Malvern, where they tasted success 12 months ago, before entering the Yorkshire Show again.

Elsewhere on the North Sheep site, Libby Bell, auctioneer and managing director of Barnard Castle Mart, was wooing visitors with cups of tea and coffee.

The event gave her the chance to promote the mart both locally and further afield.

“We have got Barney mart and St John’s Chapel. We are a little independent dales mart, but we are as good as anybody,” she said.

“When you are selling Mules and Swaledales, you need to be promoting the business locally.

“But there are people here from all over the country who will come and talk to us about buying at breeding sheep sales.”

Supporting the mart’s efforts was Marwood farmer David Buck and his son Thomas, who had brought along Mule hoggs and lambs as an example of the breeds which are regularly seen in the ring.

“We regularly buy and sell at Barney mart. Being local is important. The quality is probably better,” said David.

For the first time at a North Sheep event, a festival of British lamb was organised to highlight to farmers changing consumer habits.

This included a demonstration by chef Simon Hicks, of the Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland, Northumberland, showing there was much more to lamb than a simple roasted joint. He produced such tongue ticklers as grilled rolled lamb shoulder and BBQ ribs.
There was a butchery demonstration by Northumberland farmer Jimmy “the lamb man” Bell, during which he highlighted a number of cuts which would not necessarily be the usual top choice for consumers.
Educating the next generation of farmers encouraged staff from East Durham College to North Sheep, where they spent the day extolling the virtues of the new-look Houghall campus.
A £12.75million redevelopment has resulted in a new small animal care centre, agriculture centre, equine centre, science labs and IT suites.
The new agriculture centre includes pig and cattle units to complement the existing sheep facilities while the equine centre boasts stable block for 28 horses, tack room and international standard indoor arena.
Principal Suzanne Duncan described the new facilities as “a real milestone for land-based education in the North East”.
Highlighting the range of support, services and training available closer to home were members of Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services). Project manager Diane Spark said it had been a worthwhile day.
“A lot of people have been surprised that we exist, but they have taken away literature on training, the monthly socials and we had one lady from Northumberland who is keen to see something similar within Northumberland,” she said.
Ms Spark said it was the first time Utass had taken part in North Sheep and the event had given the organisation the chance to raise awareness of what it does and how it fits in with the communities it serves.”