The final weekend of July saw young breeders flock to FarmGene to understand how to make the most of their tups and what to check out when carrying out pre purchase checks.

The day began with an introduction from owner and vet Ian McDougal MRCVS who introduced the business and the services on offer to pedigree breeders before running through a PowerPoint on how to inspect a breeding ram. Starting with the mouth and finishing at the business end, the testicles.

Following on from this attendees had the opportunity to watch the two senior stock sires of Tom Chester’s Chapel House flock, along with an up-and-coming ram lamb, have samples collected before being processed. Members were shown how semen is processed and talked through the abnormalities that can occur and what the potential ramifications of these are.

Tom Chester MRCVS then gave the group a hands-on session on carrying out the breeding examination. Members were shown where to feel key parts of the rams testicular anatomy on the scrotum before being let loose with a tape measure and their new found knowledge onto the Southdown rams there along with 4 Texel shearling rams kindly provided by James Draper.

The morning finished with a Q&A session on all things ram fertility, advanced breeding and how members could best prepare for the upcoming tupping season. Feedback from attendess was excellent and it really epitomises what the Young Breeders Group is all about, young breeders passionate about the Southdown breed coming together, learning and asking questions in a pressure free environment whilst socialising at the same time.

The next event will be hosted by kind permission of Stephen Cobbald and his Lavenham flock, Acton Suffolk in October and all young breeders are invited to attend.

If anyone would like to host an event or have any ideas for future events then please get in touch with Tom Chester or Emily Yates.