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WE NEED YOUR HELP
Any donation, no matter how small will help us fund essential conservation work.
Please Help.
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January 2015
Christmas Campaign Update
This Christmas, we asked for help to raise money to help fund semen collections from rare breed rams on the Watchlist. Thanks to RBST members generosity, we have raised a total of £2,851 so far. This is enough to fund four collections and help safeguard some of the rarest breeds of sheep in the UK against extinction.
This year we have already collected from 5 North Ronaldsay rams and 1 Norfolk Horn. There are plans in place to collect from Boreray, Soay, Leicester Longwool and Devon Closewool in 2015.
  
Norfolk Horn Soay North Ronaldsay
Open Farm Sunday
  Open Farm Sunday is a project, which has seen hundreds of farmers across the UK open their farms to the public for one Sunday each year since 2006. Over 1.25 million people have visited a farm through Open Farm Sunday since the project started. It is a great initiative that gives everyone, young and old to discover at first hand what it means to be a farmer.
Do you have a farm with rare breeds? Why not consider opening it up to the public on Sunday 7th June 2015 and sharing your knowledge and experience with visitors. To see how you can get involved, visit the website.
Photos from Open Farm Sunday
Original Population Dairy Shorthorn Update
  In 2013, we appealed for donations to fund embryo transfer work with Original Population Dairy Shorthorn (OPDS). Originally, we had planned to carry out this work using one of the cows we own at Bicton College, but unforeseen circumstances prevented this. However, we successfully flushed two OPDS cows that we own in Lakenheath in Suffolk. Both cows (Twells Moss Rose 168 and Tregear Poynings 167) produced 7 fertile embryos, which is a higher than average number for this procedure.
In 2015, we plan to implant some of these fertile embryos into recipient heifers, the rest will go into long term storage in the RBST Gene Bank. As this work was so successful, we plan to flush Twells Moss Rose 168 again at the end of January and Tregear Poynings 167 will be served by an OPDS bull and have a natural calf in autumn 2015.
Countryfile - Rare Breeds Compilation
Countryfile on Sunday 4th January 2015 will feature all of new and pre-loved rare breed stories. More information can be found on our website.
Join us at Countryfest near Kendal for the inaugural RBST Young Shepherds’ Weekend
The RBST started its Young Shepherds competition to recognise the skills and showmanship of the next generation of rare breed enthusiasts. The calibre of our qualifiers and winners over the years is a testament to the extraordinary dedication of the young people who enter and bodes well for the future of some of our rarest breeds of sheep.
This year, thanks to the RBST Lancashire Support Group and Westmorland County Agricultural Society, we have a brand new event in the RBST Young Shepherds’ calendar – a weekend of workshops, showing classes and social activities at Countryfest, a countryside festival held on the 30th and 31stMay at the Westmorland County Showground, just off junction 36 of the M6 near Kendal. Camping is free, and a hog roast meal on the Saturday evening is included, as are all showing class entries. There will be classes for Primitive, Hill & Heath, Longwool, and Shortwool and Down, restricted to native UK breeds.
There will also be official RBST Young Shepherd’s qualifiers for 8-12 year olds and 13-16 year olds, together with junior handler (under 8 years) and intermediate (17-21 years).
A Novice Adult class is open to anybody over 21 who has never won a first prize showing sheep – there’ll be workshops and demonstrations throughout Saturday on every aspect of showing so please come along even if you’ve never shown a sheep before. “Spare” sheep will be available for those who can’t bring their own!
Ticket prices are just £5 for under 21 years, £15 for over 21 years. Breed society stands and info are welcome, just get in touch beforehand. We would also be grateful for volunteers to assist with workshops and stewarding showing classes, and we are still seeking sponsorship for some of the rosettes so if you think you can help please do let us know.
For more information and a booking form please contact Northern Field Officer Ruth Dalton on 01539 816223 or ruth@rbst.org.uk
Featured Breed
Shire Horse
  
Watchlist; Category 4, At Risk.
The Shire horse is probably the most numerous of the heavy draught breeds in the UK. Originally referred to as the Great Horse it was of enormous importance in Medieval Britain carrying knights into battle. As armour became lighter the need for a strong battle horse declined and the Shire instead became a valuable agricultural workhorse.
Before the introduction of steam engines and tractors to work the land, Shires were essential for the farm. The breed was also a familiar sight in the towns and cities where it was used by hauliers and breweries. Forced into decline by agricultural mechanisation it survived due only to the support of a small number of individual breeders and breweries.
The Shire is a strong character with a placid nature. It is the largest British draught horse, standing over 17.2hh in height, and a mature stallion can weigh almost one tonne. They can be black, brown, bay or grey in colour, and roan is acceptable in mares. The breed has a muscular frame, sloping shoulders and well sprung ribs. It has a profusion of fine silky feathering on the legs. Shires, are still used in some areas by breweries, and for promotional work.
Grazing Advice for Meadows
Did you know that hay meadow species diversity is increased when grazing and cutting are combined, rather than cutting alone? Grazing animals can also take the place of a hay cut on sites where access is difficult or equipment is hard to obtain and native breeds of cattle, sheep or ponies can have a hugely beneficial effect on species richness.
The Coronation Meadows project is able to offer advice and support on grazing through the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's Field Officers, Ruth Dalton (North) and Richard Broad (South) - this could take the form of a phone chat, site visit or even a training session. If you're already carrying out grazing with native breeds and would be willing to host a farm walk with a discussion on the benefits of conservation grazing, please do contact Ruth or Richard.
Ruth Dalton
E: ruth@rbst.org.uk T: 01539 816223
Richard Broad
E: r.broad@rbst.org.uk T: 07772 007399
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