What are RoSA advisers?

RoSA has a range of members covering a number of subject areas including vets, financial planning consultants, EID software and hardware specialists, nutritionists, feed advisers and environmental scheme consultants.

Our membership therefore reflects the wide range of topics that sheep farmers and those involved in the sheep supply chain need to understand. However, all members are required to carry out continuous professional development (CPD) across all areas of sheep production, therefore ensuring all RoSA advisers have a well-rounded knowledge of the sheep industry and UK sheep farming.

Working with a RoSA adviser ensures your business will be provided with the most up-to-date advice on sustainable sheep production, whether you are a sheep farmer, processor or any other business working within the supply chain. To be accepted on to the professional register, RoSA advisers must demonstrate suitable qualifications, experience and engagement within the sheep industry. Once they have joined the register, all RoSA advisers are required to collect a specified number of CPD points through the year to demonstrate they are continuing to keep up-to-date and develop their knowledge. This continuing professional development also ensures all RoSA members have a well-rounded understanding of sheep production, as it must cover topics ranging from genetics and animal welfare through to forage management and livestock nutrition.

While this approach of receiving independently verified professional advice is a fairly new approach for the sheep sector, it is already being widely used in other areas of UK agriculture. For example, anyone receiving advice on crop production would expect their adviser to be a member of the BASIS Professional Register. Our hope is that in years to come anyone advising within the UK sheep industry would be expected to meet these requirements and be a member of RoSA.

As with every client-adviser relationship, finding the right person who can provide the support you require for your business is essential, and identifying the best adviser for you can be a challenge. Fortunately, using a RoSA adviser can provide you with assurance of the quality of service you will receive and a list of RoSA members will be available soon to allow you to find someone who has the knowledge to meet the specific requirements of your business.