Roy new president of Hampshire Down Breeders’ Association

Bridge of Allan Hampshire Down breeder Roy Mcfarlane has been appointed the first Scottish president in the breed’s 128-year history.

Mr Mcfarlane and wife Sheena established their Lecrop flock 10 years ago and his enthusiasm has been key in increasing flock numbers in Scotland from three in 2007 to more than 30 last year.

One of his targets during his two-year period as national president is to increase the breed’s market share.

Mr Mcfarlane described the Hampshire Down as a “great terminal sire leaving crossbred commercial lambs that are able to survive in extremes of temperature” and said there was growing interest in the breed from both pedigree and commercial producers.

“It does take a wee while for farmers to buy a Hampshire Down ram, however once they have seen how the lambs perform and grow, they more or less always come back for another,” he said.

“Whilst the Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders’ Association does not have the power or money to promote the breed as much as other societies, I believe the breed has everything.

“They are hardy, good grass converters, easy to lamb, the lambs have plenty of vigour and they will to get up and ‘sook’ within a couple of minutes.

“Furthermore, Hampshire Down cross lambs are fast-growing and fast-finishing. What else could you wish for when farm labour is tight and feed costs are continually rising?”

The new vicepresident is Judith Galbraith, a vet who manages the Graylen flock with husband Graham on their mixed livestock unit at Kendal.

Jim Wilson says the challenge now is to find a simple way of combining all the data provided by the UAVS.

Roy Mcfarlane farms at Bridge of Allan.