Reinvestment in sheep set to benefit from new EID stick reader
13th August 2015
The decision of a Northern Ireland farmer, James Alexander to reinvest in sheep last year is set to receive a boost, as he becomes the most recent winner of a free EID stick reader kit curtsey of NSA and Shearwell Data.
NSA teamed up with Shearwell at the beginning 2015 to give away 12 EID stick reader kits. So far seven kits have been won, with James being the eighth person to be drawn out. Winners are chosen at random from new members of the NSA and any existing members who have recommended someone to join the organisation.
James says: “I was delighted when I heard I had won the NSA’s prize draw, especially as the kit I’m currently using doesn’t have the range or speed of the Shearwell EID reader. When I bought my digital scales, I was going to buy a stick reader but decided against it as I’d already spent so much money. My digital scales will connect via bluetooth to the wand so it will fit well in our system.”
James farms 800 acres with his father, Nelson, on an owner-occupied farm in Randallstown, Country Antrim, Northern Ireland. There is never a dull moment for this partnership, with the farm running up to 1,000 head of cattle and 800 sheep at one time, alongside their used tractor business. The cattle run on a grass based system and James plans to lamb 500 ewes next year alongside 200 dry ewe lambs. Five years ago, rising cattle numbers lead to the sale of the sheep on the farm, however this decision was short lived and reinvestment in the current flock took place in 2014. The time saving potential of the Shearwell stick reader is therefore set to be an asset for James.
The farm’s flock of commercial Cheviot Mule ewes are put to a Suffolk tup and lambed through from the last week in March into most of April.
James says: “I am aiming to breed a good, early maturing finished lamb, whilst also producing ewe lambs fit for selling as breeders when they’re either ewe lambs or gimmers. I sell at two markets in the area so, to get the most out of my flock, I try to produce lambs I can sell at either rather than just relying on the generic prime lamb market. I received promising prices for my first crop of ewe lambs recently, so I’m hoping the system will work out okay.”
“One of the main reasons I joined the NSA was to keep an eye on what’s happening in the market place, as well as being able to advertise for lambing assistance on the NSA Lambing List. I think technology should be embraced into modern livestock farming, it’s just a shame there is so little money about for farmers to invest in it.”
NSA is giving away a total of 12 readers between 1st December 2014 and 30th November 2015. Full terms and conditions and membership application forms at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/draw.
Notes to editors:-
- For more information or high resolution images contact NSA Communications Officer Hannah Park on 01684 892661 or hannah@nationalsheep.org.uk.
- The National Sheep Association is an organisation that represents the views and interests of sheep producers throughout the UK. It is funded by its membership of sheep farmers and its activities involve it in every aspect of the sheep industry. More at www.nationalsheep.org.uk and www.nsanextgeneration.org.uk.
