EDUCATION

Aug 6

2 min read

Informative Event

Last week, on 28th July, the National Sheep Association (NSA) held its Sheep Event. The next day NSA said that the Event had been about ‘knowledge exchange, practical demonstrations and lively debate’. The organisations, firms and people showing at the Event - a biennial occasion - represented the wide spectrum of those involved in UK sheep farming and those associated with it. The main audience for the Event was, of course, sheep farmers. Also, and importantly, it offered a picture for the general public of the sheep farming industry and business.

The range of those showing was extensive. A large proportion of stands and presentations were indoors, but some stands etc. were outdoors.

At the Sheep Event many breed societies were present, and with their sheep. Breeders were present too. Organisations at the Event, along with the NSA, included the Animal & Plant Health Agency (among what it was informing about was its Surveillance Intelligence Unit which ‘manages veterinary scanning surveillance activities to quickly detect, characterise and manage threats and risks to livestock … in Great Britain.’ The Humane Slaughter Association promoted its online guides such as Humane Handling of Livestock. British Wool staged competition of sheep fleeces. Stands were displaying products to feed or treat sheep. Several auction marts had stands. There were workshops on various subjects, and some seminars also. A Farming Community Network (FCN) workshop had the title ‘I hate sheep - convince me otherwise’.

Noticeable was that most of the sheep indoors, in warm atmosphere, were panting. And it seemed cruel that a few sheep were crammed together in a handling system. In the main café, the ‘special’ was Lamb and Mint Pasty. This last, while maybe of appeal to some NSA Sheep Event attendees, not of appeal to those who want lambs and sheep to stay alive.

All in all, the NSA Sheep Event was instructive and informational for its audience within the UK ‘sheep world’, but very much too for the wider public beyond.

6th August 2026