All partakers of the visit concluded that the exercise was extremely successful in allowing a productive analysis of the common problems of sheep farming. These features became a main focus of the visit as the farmers later participated in a tour of McCambridge s sheep farm. A group of sheep farmers are debating the efficiency of their businesses after a recent visit to high performing farm in Co Antrim. The opportunity allowed sheep farmers to compare statistics with each other using a...

The event will include tours of the natural lands, beekeeping demonstrations, music, face painting, sheep sheering and, of course, food and refreshments. The three-year-old operation uses organic and sustainable methods to produce fresh produce that it sells to the Bon Appetit kitchens on campus. Bon Appetit, the food service provider to the college that recently awarded the farm a $3,000 grant, then incorporates the food into daily meals for St. The farm is home to such livestock as...

The Wool Clip is a Cumbria based co-operative of 15 people with interests in wool fibre production and wool products and brings together spinners, weavers, dyers and sheep and goat farmers. Founded in 2001 in the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth epidemic, The Wool Clip business is committed to adding value to wool and wool products. The low value of wool, particularly from upland sheep breeds, is of major concern to the farming community. The shop is geared to the marketing of products from...

Adams noticed scratches and neck wounds on his sheep, he thought it was the work of a bear or coyote. Its owner, Jennifer Brauer, of 51 Crest Road, had been caught at least three times allowing it to run loose illegally, according to the town animal control officer. After the dog attacked the sheep, Adams said, he had no choice but to shoot it. Fifteen sheep were wounded in the July 10 attack, which was carried out by an unlicensed dog. He was just flinging them around, trying to kill...

The banks then were saying there had to be some collective effort to make the industry profitable for both farming and processing. Lamb prices make interesting readingReports of ewe lambs being killed rather than kept for breeding is symptomatic of the almost complete lack of farmer confidence in the future of the sheep meat industry. The sheep meat industry, despite being the safest meat protein available due to BSE and Bird flu, has seen farm gate returns halved from the highs of a few...

Wool is sold at auction on the open market, so if we took into account our costs and tried to sell at a higher price than comparable New Zealand wool types, we wouldn't sell at all. This year's wool price has been hit by the effective closure of the Chinese market after the anthrax outbreak in Wales, which meant UK "greasy" wool could not meet animal health requirements needed to export wool. Wool is traded in US dollars and the weaker dollar against sterling means that our wool is...

At a time when many livestock farmers in the region were seriously considering their future in the aftermath of the foot and mouth epidemic, a couple realised their long held ambition to sell their home-produced rare breed meats direct to the public through a farm shop. At a time when many livestock farmers in the region were seriously considering their future in the aftermath of the foot and mouth epidemic, a couple realised their long held ambition to sell their home-produced rare breed...

The event will also feature a presentation from Australian Wool Innovation on new wool harvesting technologies, while the seminar will close with an open group discussion on wool production this past year. The research found that in ewes there are two times when the diameter of wool decreases, first in autumn, and then when the ewes are pregnant in spring, Dr Campbell says. This seminar will provide wool growers with valuable information as to how to evaluate what shearing time best suits...

Pigs have been described as the greatest asset a smallholder can imagine, being fast breeding animals that can produce large litters and which can be fed on almost anything. Emphasis has been placed on cattle, which is fine, but more attention needs to be given to goats, pigs and sheep for several reasons. And frequently it is possible to raise such small stock on waste from the farm, minimising the amount of commercial stockfeed. Traditionally, goats are raised on many Zimbabwean farms,...