SOUTHDOWN SHEEP SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2005

CAPTION AND PHOTO COMPETITION See below for details:

PHOTO & CAPTION COMPETITION
Win yourself a Southdown Poloshirt and get your photo in the next newsletter. What is the lamb saying? The best suggestion will be printed in the next newsletter and you will win a Poloshirt.
For the budding photographers, please send your picture for the next caption competition (remember it is only printed in black and white). The best picture will also win a Poloshirt.
Entries to the Editor please – details above

SEMEN ARCHIVE
Rams are still required for the semen archive. They need SOUTHDOWN rams, other than ARR/ARR. If you are interested, please get in touch. You can visit the website www.semen-archive.co.uk or telephone 0845 0060008.

YEAR BOOK 2006
If you have any comments, articles, tips, etc. for the Year Book please can you send them to the Editor? I am truly desperate for your input. Thank you.

Another idea for Diversification?
Forget the Tiger – put sheep urine in your tank.
David Adam, Science correspondent of the Guardian reported the following on Friday June 10. 2005:
“A British bus company is testing a new secret weapon that it hopes will help forward its push to cut its polluting emissions – sheep urine. Stagecoach had fitted a bus in Winchester with a tank containing the animal waste, which is sprayed into exhaust fumes to reduce emissions of harmful nitrous oxides.
Andrew Dyer, Managing Director of Stagecoach South, said, 'It is a novel way of reducing pollution but we believe it will work. There is nothing to worry about – we won’t be asking passengers to leave a sample and we won’t be carrying a resident sheep at the back of the bus.'
The scheme is backed by Hampshire County Council, as part of an effort to reduce pollution. The bus carried its first passengers last month. The urine is collected by the fertiliser industry from farmyard waste and refined into pure urea, which is then sold on to be used in the green engine technology. Ammonia from the urea reacts with nitrous oxides in the exhaust fumes and converts them to nitrogen gas and water, which is released as steam.
Mr Dyer said the idea was no laughing matter. 'I got some laughs when I told a transport conference in Birmingham that sheep urine could be the key to cleaner vehicles but it is becoming a reality. This is the latest in green technology and we believe it will help make our cities better places to be for the public.' New EU regulations to be introduced in October next year will bring tighter restrictions on emissions, he said.
The urea-injection system was developed by Darlington-based engine manufacturer Cummins. Andy Wren of Hampshire county council said, 'We are running many anti-pollution initiatives, but the sheep urine idea gets the attention.'”

Flock Competition 2005

FLEECE COMPETION 2005
(Held at the AGM) - Judge H George Hughes
Champion Peter Ballard
Reserve Anne Lambert
3rd George Elliott
4th Hazel Hobbs
5th James & Sarah Fermor
6th Christopher Ballard

CONGRATULATIONS are due to D. S. & P. Humphrey. They had excellent results at the Fat Stock show at Ardingly. Full results in the Year book.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2005.
The Officers were re-elected. Alan Mummery as Chairman, David Burden as Vice Chairman and Neil Stainthorpe as Hon. Treasurer. Adam Brown and Irvine Pallister were welcomed as new members of Council.

NEW SECRETARY of the SOCIETY
The council appointed Mrs Gail Sprake to take over from Clive Pritchard as Secretary of the Society. This will not happen until April 2006. Fuller details will be given in the Year Book, to be published in 2006.
In proposing Gail Sprake as Secretary, David Burden said that Clive Pritchard, who has served for forty years, will be a hard act to follow, but he is confident that Gail is the right person and will serve the Society well.

NEW MEMBERS
New members were welcomed: L. Todhunter and R. Evered, Graeme Booth, V.M. & V.J. Westhorpe, E., V. & D. Hulme, Miss Annabella Scott, R. S. Beaumont, M. Rawson & W. Thomas, J. Hartshaw, M.B. & D.J. Apicella, R.P. & J. Walker, M. Griffiths, W. H. Roff, N. Clarke & D. Nicholls, Matthew Morris, J.P. & P.D. Howells, Deen City Farm, Paul Wyatt, Ian Warburton, M.S. K. M. Carrington, Mrs. Amy Readhead-Higgins.

LIFE MEMBERS
Cyril Wise was unanimously made a Life Member of the Society. The other life members are: Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Clark, Mr. David Craig and Mr. John Randall.

SHOWS / SALES
Judges for 2007 were nominated. Royal – Mr. J. Cresswell, Royal Welsh – Mr. Irvine Pallister, South of England – Mr. Sid Cook and Kent County – Mr. Paul Humphrey.
Reports were given on the Royal, Royal Welsh, South of England and Kent County shows, the display at Welsh Sheep 2005 and the sales at Maidstone, Melton Mowbray, Dolphin and George Elliott’s dispersal sale, NSA Ram sale at Bluith Wells. The main comment at sales was that buyers were not so interested in rams, but Shearling ewes and ewe lambs sold well.

REGISTERING
The cost of registering a ram was discussed, as the amount had been increased in the registration paperwork sent out earlier. It was agreed that the increase could stand, commencing in 2006. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust are considering giving grants to Breed Societies and it was agreed to apply for one for publicity – brochures and stand etc. The EU Directive, that only Southdowns whose sire and dam are already registered may be entered in the Flock Book, was noted.

AGM
Thanks were expressed to Mr and Mrs Whitcombe for the 2005 AGM and field day.
The 2006 AGM and field day will be held on Saturday 12th August 2006 in Suffolk. Details will be sent to members. Mr David Burden was appointed as the Southdown representative on the South Downs Forum.

TOO MANY ON COUNCIL?
According to the Articles of Association of the Southdown Sheep Society the Council consists of from 12 to 18 members. The Council has the power to change the number. At present we have 18 and some people feel this is too many. When we all stand it is a rather large body and decision-making takes a long time – sometimes more than one meeting. Elections for six members are held each year, with those elected standing for a three year period. So if the Council decided, it could be changed to four or five members per year, which would make the total on Council 12 or 15. President, President Elect, Secretary and Treasurer. What are your views?
Are you happy that you cannot vote if you are unable to attend the AGM?
Council could consider changes at the April 2006 meeting, in time to bring it to the 2006 AGM.
Do you think that two meetings a year, plus the AGM, is sufficient?
If you have an opinion please let someone on council know.

USEFUL TIPS?
1 Cut sleeves off old jumpers to make body warmers for lambs.
2 If a lamb has a foot turned under make a splint by using padding (possibly from the old jumper you cut the sleeves off), use the cardboard from a toilet roll tube cut to size, and secure with a Horse bandage that is water-resistant and sticks to itself.
3 Kaolin and Morphine in your show box, in case your sheep get an upset stomach on the way to a show, or for the Shepherd after drinking too much at the show!
4 For in-turned (Entropion) eyelids try pulling the affected lid and pinching toward the corner of the eye for a few seconds, to encourage the in-turned eyelid to stay out. Additionally, you can lubricate the eye with Antibiotic (use a syringe, but not needle), this will keep the eye more comfortable whilst you either succeed in keeping the eyelid out or call for professional help.
5 Make sure heat lamps are on chains, not on baler twine. The twine can get hot and break, and the result is not pleasant.
6 Ensure lambs cannot drown, place bricks / breeze blacks so that the ewes cannot lay right next to the trough, but can still get a drink. Place blocks in the trough, so if lambs fall in they can easily get themselves out again. Only half fill large buckets with water, or alternatively use smaller buckets (but check and re-fill regularly).
7. When tying hurdles with baler twine cut all loops and loose ends, to prevent lambs catching themselves, by the leg, or worse by the neck.

These are all things that may be obvious to some, but may be of interest to others. Have you any tips to pass on?
As always, please let the Editor know. Nothing is too small or trivial. If it helps one person, it is worthwhile.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING
I was fortunate to have a lady, Judy Sprigings, come to see me to purchase some shearling ewes. Whilst talking, Judy told me about her love of crafts, so I gave her one of my fleeces. She seemed very pleased, but not as pleased as I was, when a couple of weeks later she arrived to collect her sheep, and handed me a pair of gloves – made from some of the fleece I had given her. She then offered to make me a bear. At £37.50 I was thrilled to have something made from my own wool. Even if I had the time (which I haven’t) I do not have the skills when it comes to knitting and/or sewing. I took the little bear, pictured, to the AGM so that people could have a good look.

If you would like anything made from your wool, Judy is happy to take commissions. Please call her on 01798 865519.

AVAILABLE from the Secretary are pedigrees of your Southdowns going back to great grandparents – cost £1 each including postage.

DISCLAIMER The Southdown Sheep Society, Council or Officers take no responsibility for the contents of this newsletter. All items are the responsibility of the persons who wrote them.

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