Sheep Breeders Round Table (SBRT) 2026

“Breeding solutions for a changing world” 

Tickets available here.

Enter here: Competition for one-to-one consultancy with Mark Ferguson  - more details below. 

The full conference programme is available: Sheep Breeders Round Table (SBRT) 2026 – speakers announced below. 

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Sheep Breeders Round Table (SBRT) conference which takes place this November at the central location of the Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands. 

The conference 'Breeding solutions for a changing world' will cover sheep breeding topics within the wider role of genetics, the essential building blocks for the future of the UK sheep industry. Over the weekend attendees will gain insight to sustainable solutions, industry resilience, policy direction, profitability and breeding to meet market demands. 

• Where: Radisson Blu Hotel East Midlands, Derby, DE74 2TZ
• When: Friday 20th November, 2pm – Sunday 22nd November 2026
• The conference finishes after lunch on Sunday 22nd
• Group bookings (request the online form) or other queries - contact bridget@bridget-lloyd.com

We have an engaging programme spanning the weekend to discuss all aspects of our sheep breeding world with expert speakers lined up from our UK industry alongside commercial farmers and pedigree breeders – all who will share their experiences, having put science into practice. For more information, please see below. 

This conference is the 'go to event' for all sheep enthusiasts! 
If you’ve never been before, make this one your first, we are certain you will enjoy it and come back again. It is one of a kind and should not be missed! 

Programme summary

• Friday afternoon – Sheep for the environment and using genomics in breeding decisions.
• Saturday morning – Breeding for a sustainable future using data to guide productive enterprises.
• Saturday afternoon – Genetics worth the investment and use of performance for economic progress.
• Sunday morning – Healthy genetics – sheep survive better with them!
• A short summary is shown below – the full programme lists all speakers and presentation titles.
• Reminder: This conference has limited places – please book early to avoid disappointment.

Showcasing the speakers for the SBRT conference 2026 

The SBRT conference Breeding solutions for a changing world has an engaging programme to discuss all aspects of our sheep breeding world with great speakers lined up from our UK industry who will be joined by commercial farmers and pedigree breeders who are putting science into practice. 

Friday afternoon – Breeding sheep for the environment & genomics

• Nicola Lambe, Karolina Kaseja, Joana Lima, Emma Dods and Karl Behrendt, chaired by Janet Roden, explain the genetic influence on flock carbon footprint and environmental breeding goals.
• Samuel Boon, Pourya Davoudi and Melissa Marr explain how genomics can help breed improvement, including a breeder view using DNA to aid objectives.
• Aisling O’Mahony closes our first afternoon with modern ram marketing advice.

Saturday morning – Breeding objectives for our environment and management choices 

• Kim Matthews (Chair), Harriet Bunning and Ann McLaren, will introduce some important UK research initiatives which use data to implement change within our sheep breeding decisions.
• Liz Genever leads a discussion on the place for “low-input sheep” in the UK.
• Simon Lillico illustrates how genes work in the ability to shed wool, he is followed by three breeders who explain their quest to be productive maternal enterprises and go head-to-head in a virtual ram sale.

Saturday afternoon – Genetics worth the investment and performance measures 

• Mark Ferguson explains how genetics can future proof a business, using data to identify traits that make or save money and time, whilst keeping customers happy. He works alongside sheep businesses to find solutions and develop profitable enterprises. For your chance to get involved - see below for more information.
• Laura Eyles, Sean Godfrey and duo, Amey Brassington and Zoe Lloyd, illustrate the benefits of commercial data for economic progress, using farm examples to put science into practice, for terminal sire genetics and ewe performance.

Sunday morning – Healthy genetics – sheep survive better with them! 

• Rachael Tarlington, Eric Morgan, Heather Stevenson and Dave Bartley explain their current research in the quest to understand which parasites or pathogens are important and how genetics can break down barriers.
• David Coen, Eleri Thomas, Janet Roden and Samuel Boon, chaired by Mark Young, discuss the value of maternal traits for improved lamb survival, using hill sheep examples from across the UK.

SBRT competition - win one-to-one consultancy with Mark Ferguson - Genetics: worth the investment. 

Dr Mark Ferguson (as shown on the side of the page), the host of the well-known “Head Shepherd Podcast | neXtgen Agri” is heading to SBRT 2026 from New Zealand. As part of his visit, SBRT are running a competition for three progressive-minded sheep farmers to win one-to-one consultancy from Mark (including online meetings and a farm visit). Using the power of genetics, Mark helps to get businesses ready for the future by focusing on breeding traits that can assist you on this journey. 

"This is a unique opportunity for ambitious pedigree breeders, commercial producers and maternal ewe businesses with an intent to scale-up their enterprise," says George Fell, SBRT Chair. 

All attendees are invited to take part, scan the QR code for more information and to enter the competition. 
Applications open until Friday 31st July 2026 with winners announced mid-August.

Criteria for applicants: 

• Sheep enterprise must be an important income source within the overall farm business
• Must provide details of current sheep enterprise (location, scale, system)
• Must include ideas around future flock objectives
• Willing to feature on Head Shepherd / Sheep Geek podcasts 

Expectations: 

• Finalists will have online meetings with Mark to discuss their current business model and future flock objectives so that Mark can develop a plan for each highlighting areas of improvement.
• Mark hopes to visit each farm in the days prior to the conference to propose his business suggestions.
• Genetics - worth the investment is the Saturday early-afternoon session for the SBRT conference, Mark will use examples from these three farm finalists to illustrate opportunities to become more successful sheep enterprises throughout his interactive session.
• Ideally applicants would be at the conference - SBRT is unable to support the cost of individual conference tickets or travel expenses.

About SBRT: Sheep Breeders Round Table (SBRT) is run by a small volunteer committee to organise a biennial conference that provides a stage for the UK sheep industry to come together to discuss the value of genetics. It involves farmers, geneticists, researchers, breed societies, breeding companies, industry bodies and other interested parties. The conference provides an ideal platform where, together we can learn, expand and share knowledge to debate relevant topics around sheep genetic awareness and improvement. Together we strive to continue looking to the future to ensure our sheep industry keeps one step ahead of change, continuing to produce viable, affordable and efficient products while working in harmony with our natural environment.

Contact us: For more information, contact bridget@bridget-lloyd.com