Sheep - Species information
A national initiative to promote farm health planning in the sheep industry was launched on the 6 June 2007 at the National Sheep Association's North Sheep event. A National Sheep Association press release (Link to National Sheep Association website) has been issued.
Farm Health Planning in the sheep sector
Most farmers already have a fair idea of what works on their farm and what doesn’t. Farm Health Planning is about encouraging best practice tackling health problems early and improving performance.
Peter Morris, Chief Executive of the National Sheep Asssociation said: “The National Sheep Association has supported this initiative from the beginning. It provides sheep farmers across England with a head start in making that all important decision to do something about improving the health and welfare of their sheep through planning and using a living and dynamic health plan.
There are lots of resources out there to help. The Sheep Health Planning initiative pulls together the information and shows improvements in economic performance alongside health and welfare benefits. In most cases local vets, sheep vet specialists or advisers can help farmers and flock masters to scope the flock, decide what needs attention and work with them to set up a meaningful plan that is unique to that farm. Most importantly, the initiative is industry led; all these ideas come from successful case studies and proven techniques from practical farmers earning their living from keeping sheep.
The National Sheep Association has published a report on Farm Health Planning in the sheep sector (Link to the National Sheep Association website).
This website will act as a useful tool to assist sheep farmers to get started in flock health planning and make a real difference to their bottom line.
Nick Davies, head shepherd at Downtown Estates, Downtown-on-the-Rock, Ludlow, Shropshire has used flock health planning to achieve real improvements. Read more in his case study.
More information
In addition to the information on this web-site we will also have details on our stands at specialist sheep shows and the Royal Show. We are developing a number of information booklets on how to save money and make more out of your sheep enterprise through pro-active health planning.
The first two bookelets are now available:
- Improve Your Bottom Line
(375 KB) - Protect Your Flock and Your Profits (424 KB - Link to the National Sheep Association website)
2007 Farmers Weekly Awards – Sheep farmer of the year
Defra is proud to sponsor the Farmers Weekly Sheep Farmer of the Year 2007 award as part of our commitment to the farm health planning initiative.
For more information please visit the Farmers Weekly awards site at: www.farmersweeklyawards.co.uk
West Midlands pilot
Ten farmers in the West Midlands took part in a pilot project to find practical ways of improving performance across a wide range of farm types.
The project focussed on the West Midlands (Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire) where there is a high density of sheep farming and a diverse range of breeds and systems. At the end of 2006, the ten farmers and their vets were approached to take part and act as 'focus farms' (two farms from each of the counties). Flock performance data was gathered and analysed, a flock health plan set up and three disease/husbandry targets set for each farm. Gross margin (GM) analysis was carried out for 2006 to give a baseline for performance against which future progress could be measured. The farms were monitored throughout 2007.
Each of the ten farms hosted three meetings per year to which local sheep farmers were invited to attend. The meetings each had a central theme (preparations for lambing, worm control strategies and bluetongue). Talks on these subjects were delivered by specialist sheep vets, although many other topics were covered that were wide-ranging and often specific to the farm in question. ADAS consultants, the private vets and EBLEX representatives also contributed to the meetings. Focus groups of approximately 20 farmers were created.
Flock performance was monitored closely through the year and flock performance data gathered and analysed. Gross margin analysis was completed for 2007
Without exception all of the focus farmers found the project worthwhile. They appreciated the close scrutiny of their production data and the opportunity to discuss issues and plan disease control/management strategies with their vet and ADAS advisor. Their openess and honesty was an inspiration to other farmers to look more closely at their own flock performance. Although some of the changes implemented on farms have shown cost/benefit within the project year, the effects of many of the changes cannot be assessed until at least one more lambing season has been completed. Further monitoring of performance over lambing 2008 will help to quantify the longer term benefits of FHP.
A report (492 KB) on this project which includes the results of each focus farm is attached.
John Parry of Albrighton, Staffordshire was one of the farmers taking part in the project. Read his case study.
Page last modified:
May 15, 2008
Page published: 17 May 2007