The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Push for more proactive communication from NSA sees new role filled
Regional co-ordinator for Scotland hoped to address lack of conversation with members Family to sell herd after doubt over bull
The Scottish branch of the National Sheep Association (NSA) has vowed to do more to communicate with its members and the wider industry.
NSA Scotland region chairman Jennifer Craig, a Lanarkshire hill farmer, told the association’s regional annual general meeting in Stirling yesterday that she knew communication had been lacking in the past year and steps were being taken to improve this.
Her comments came in response to remarks from former NSA Scotland vice-chairman, Kathy Peebles, who said she was unaware, like many other farmers, of the work the association was doing since her departure from its board.
Ms Craig said the appointment of a new regional co-ordinator for Scotland – Grace Reid – would help solve this issue.
“We’re really happy to have Grace on board at NSA Scottish region,” said Ms Craig.
“She’ll bring fresh enthusiasm and knowledge to the role, and I have no doubt she’ll become a pivotal part of the region’s work. I look forward to working with her.”
Ms Reid, who hails from Northern Ireland and moved to Scotland in 2006, studied agri-business at Harper Adams
The Lancashire Limousin breeders who bought a bull at the centre of a highprofile breed registration crisis are to disperse their herd.
The Handley family, which runs the Gunnerfleet herd, will put the entire herd under the hammer at Harrison and Hetherington’s Borderway Mart in Carlisle on May 16.
The family bought a bull from Dunkeld breeder Stuart Fotheringham’s Ballinloan herd for 24,000gn in October 2015.
The parentage of the bull – Ballinloan Jaegerbomb – was later brought into
University and previously worked in the procurement team at Scotbeef.
She will be tasked with handling NSA Scotland communications, as well as providing logistical and practical support for the association north of the border.
Meanwhile, past NSA Scotland chairman and Aberdeenshire farmer John Fyall, questioned the presence of absentee breed society secretaries on the association’s board. doubt when it was discovered his dam had been mistakenly recorded.
DNA testing later confirmed the correct dam.
After initially being suspended by the British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS), Jaegerbomb was entered back into the herd book and sales of his progeny and semen resumed.
The crisis deepened in May last year when the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) withdrew 62 passports from cattle from the Ballinloan herd or their offspring, including Jaegerbomb sons from the Gunnerfleet herd.
This led to many of these animals having to be sold as unregistered stock.
He said: “If individual breed secretary members don’t turn up at meetings then something needs to be questioned about their continued membership.
“They are so busy and I understand completely why they don’t have the time to be on the committee, but we need to encourage commercial and pedigree farmers in their own right to be on the board and for secretaries to try and use their voice on the committee.”
In a statement on their Facebook page, the Handley family said they felt let down by the Jaegerbomb saga and would be seeking legal action.
The statement said: “We are an honest, quiet family that want to breed quality pedigree Limousin cattle.
“And all we are doing is entering into a potential legal litigation saga,” the statement said.
The family said it was still a firm believer in the Limousin breed.
They added: “The breed will get through this dark time as quality always pays.
“We are proud to have been part of the Limousin breed.”