A link between Scrapie and BSA? I meant BSE of course - though I do like the
idea of sheep riding motorcycles...
Gordon.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Apologies for the delay in replying Ann. Excellent! but how did it get as far as
it has?
That's a good question... It all harps back to the foot and mouth fiasco of 2001
where it was discovered that traceability and movement tracking were hoplessly
inadequate. Add to that the panic about a possible link between Scrapie and BSA
(since disproved) and the scene was set for doing something drastic, which EID
is. The most intriquing comment was in an article in The Economist magazine
which pointed out that once EID is up and running, that will prove the
technology for ID cards which will hold an EID transponder chip. Then Big
Brother will be able to install scanners at airports, stations, ports, public
toilets, anywhere at all and your presence will be noted. Scary...
Gordon.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Excellent! but how did it get as far as it has?


----- Original Message -----
From: "BlackSheep" <westergladstone@...>
To: <soaysheep@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 7:43 AM
Subject: [soaysheep] RBST EID Press Release - in case anyone is still out
there...



EC to Consider Impact of EID on Agricultural Biodiversity



  This follows a recent meeting of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) and
the Shetland Sheep Society with officials from D G Sanco, the European
Directorate General for Health and Consumer Affairs which is responsible for
the new EID measures.

At the Brussels meeting, concerns were expressed by Tim Brigstocke, RBST
Executive Chairman and David Trotter, Chairman of the Shetland Sheep Society
that little or no attention had been paid to the impact on other EU
legislation when the EID regulations were being drawn up. Particularly
affected is the European biodiversity programme for agriculture, Council
Regulation EC 870/2004 (“The Biodiversity Regulation”). This recognises the
need to increase the use of under utilised native breeds and it clearly
seeks to assist native sheep breeds with low numbers by imposing a duty on
National Governments to frame regulations in accordance with the aims of the
Regulation.

Said Tim Brigstocke, Executive Chairman, “It was a good meeting, but in the
course of the discussion it was clear that the officials implementing the
EID legislation were completely unaware of this other Council Regulation.
RBST has taken legal advice and in their view the Biodiversity Regulation is
binding and among other things requires the EU and National Governments to
frame all regulations including those relating to EID in the light of their
obligations towards the keeping and promoting of Native breeds of sheep
particularly those considered to be at risk.”

  With the preservation of Farm Animals Genetic Resources (FAnGR) and of
Breeds at Risk (BAR) not having been considered in the course of the framing
of the EID Directive, David Trotter expressed great concern for the future
of primitive breeds of sheep, including the Shetland, which were largely
kept by enthusiasts rather than commercial farmers. The implementation of
EID could be a disincentive to the keeping of native breeds where the
additional cost represents a high proportion of the sale value of the sheep.

  Tim Brigstocke explained that a recent survey by RBST had indicated that a
sufficient number of keepers of Breeds at Risk would cease to keep sheep as
a result of EID.

  Said Tim Brigstocke, “We were pleased with the outcome of our meeting. The
EC officials will be sending a note of ideas to rectify any potential
problems that the introduction of EID might bring and in future they will
give greater consideration to Breeds at Risk and the effect that any
legislation may have on a country’s Farm Animal Genetic Resources.”

  It is hoped that even at this late hour Defra and the National Standing
Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources will pay attention to the effect
of EID on our Rare and Native Sheep Breeds and at the very least monitor the
situation with greater attention than they have hitherto shown towards this
matter






EC regulators are set to consider the impact of Electronic Identification
(EID) on biodiversity and on sheep breeds at risk (BAR).


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

Soay sheep email discussion group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soaysheep/

Post message: soaysheep@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe:  soaysheep-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe:  soaysheep-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner:  soaysheep-owner@yahoogroups.com


Yahoo! Groups Links

EC to Consider Impact of EID on Agricultural Biodiversity



  This follows a recent meeting of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) and the
Shetland Sheep Society with officials from D G Sanco, the European Directorate
General for Health and Consumer Affairs which is responsible for the new EID
measures.

At the Brussels meeting, concerns were expressed by Tim Brigstocke, RBST
Executive Chairman and David Trotter, Chairman of the Shetland Sheep Society
that little or no attention had been paid to the impact on other EU legislation
when the EID regulations were being drawn up. Particularly affected is the
European biodiversity programme for agriculture, Council Regulation EC 870/2004
(“The Biodiversity Regulation”). This recognises the need to increase the use of
under utilised native breeds and it clearly seeks to assist native sheep breeds
with low numbers by imposing a duty on National Governments to frame regulations
in accordance with the aims of the Regulation.

Said Tim Brigstocke, Executive Chairman, “It was a good meeting, but in the
course of the discussion it was clear that the officials implementing the EID
legislation were completely unaware of this other Council Regulation. RBST has
taken legal advice and in their view the Biodiversity Regulation is binding and
among other things requires the EU and National Governments to frame all
regulations including those relating to EID in the light of their obligations
towards the keeping and promoting of Native breeds of sheep particularly those
considered to be at risk.”

  With the preservation of Farm Animals Genetic Resources (FAnGR) and of Breeds
at Risk (BAR) not having been considered in the course of the framing of the EID
Directive, David Trotter expressed great concern for the future of primitive
breeds of sheep, including the Shetland, which were largely kept by enthusiasts
rather than commercial farmers. The implementation of EID could be a
disincentive to the keeping of native breeds where the additional cost
represents a high proportion of the sale value of the sheep.

  Tim Brigstocke explained that a recent survey by RBST had indicated that a
sufficient number of keepers of Breeds at Risk would cease to keep sheep as a
result of EID.

  Said Tim Brigstocke, “We were pleased with the outcome of our meeting. The EC
officials will be sending a note of ideas to rectify any potential problems that
the introduction of EID might bring and in future they will give greater
consideration to Breeds at Risk and the effect that any legislation may have on
a country’s Farm Animal Genetic Resources.”

  It is hoped that even at this late hour Defra and the National Standing
Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources will pay attention to the effect of
EID on our Rare and Native Sheep Breeds and at the very least monitor the
situation with greater attention than they have hitherto shown towards this
matter






EC regulators are set to consider the impact of Electronic Identification (EID)
on biodiversity and on sheep breeds at risk (BAR).


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Stirling Mart is holding a rare Breeds Sale on Sept 26th, which will include the
Hebridean Sheep Society Scottish Show and Sale.  There will also be a poultry
sale.  Closing date for entries is Sept 12th

They are very keen to make a go of their rare breeds sale and were encouraged by
the good prices for Shetlands and Hebs at the first rare breeds sale last year. 
This year is the first time the Hebridean show and sale is being held there,
having moved across from Oban.  Stirling is easily reached from the north of
England, southern Scotland and the Highlands so is ideally placed to be a
central venue, attracting vendors and buyers from a wide catchment area. Gordon
assures me that the cafeteria does excellent bacon rolls too !!

Please give your support to this sale by putting some of your stock through and
hopefully buying in some fresh blood for your flock.  Finding a mart which
actively wants rare and traditional breeds sales is a rarity in itself so please
help to make it a success.

Millhall Auction Mart, Stirling, FK7 7LS   www.caledonian-marts.com   01786
450922

They have put a link on their website to the HebWeb - why not get them to do the
same for your society?

Juliet Johnston

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Climate change is causing a breed of wild sheep in Scotland to shrink, according
to research.

Scientists say milder winters help smaller sheep to survive, resulting in this
"paradoxical decrease in size".

Classic evolutionary theory would predict that wild sheep gradually get bigger,
as the stronger, larger animals survive into adulthood and reproduce.

Reporting in Science journal, the team says this shows the "subtle interplay"
between evolution and the environment.

Scientists first began studying Soay sheep, on the island of Hirta in the St
Kilda archipelago, in 1985.

Since then, the sheep have decreased in size by 5% - their legs getting steadily
shorter and their body weight decreasing.

This strange phenomenon was first reported in 2007, but the reason for it
remained under debate.

'A natural laboratory'

The lead researcher in the study, Tim Coulson from Imperial College London, said
the island provided an ideal opportunity to tease apart the factors driving the
sheep's physical change.


        In the past, only big, healthy sheep... could survive the harsh winters
on Hirta

       Tim Coulson
       Imperial College London
"The island is almost like a natural laboratory - there are only the sheep and
the vegetation there," he said.

He and his team had access to detailed information about the sheep that had been
collected over more than two decades.

"We have so much great data," said Professor Coulson, "that we were able to
write a ledger of how much of an effect each of the different factors had on the
sheep."

They used a formula called the "Price equation", which was designed by
evolutionary theorist George Price to predict how a physical trait, such as body
size, will change from one generation to the next.

With all of this data, the team was able to "rearrange the equation" and use it
to work out how much of a contribution each driver made to the sheep's body
size.

They found that the local environment had a stronger effect on the animals than
the evolutionary pressure to grow larger.

"In the past, only the big, healthy sheep and large lambs that had piled on
weight in their first summer could survive the harsh winters on Hirta," said
Professor Coulson.

Because of climate change, he explained, grass for food is now available for
more months of the year on the island.

"Survival conditions are not so challenging - even the slower growing sheep have
a chance of making it, and this means smaller individuals are becoming
increasingly prevalent in the population," he said.


       "Young mums" tend to give birth to smaller lambs
The team also found that younger sheep tended to give birth to smaller lambs - a
phenomenon they termed "the young mum effect".

This effect, said Professor Coulson, combined with environmental changes had
"overriden what we would expect through natural selection".

As for the future of the sheep, the team believes that they are still shrinking.

"The next step is to extend our description of past change into a predictive
model," said Professor Coulson.

"But it's too early to say if, in 100 years, we will have chihuahuas herding
pocket-sized sheep."


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It has been announced tonight that the Army is to withdraw completely from St
Kilda.  This is bound to have an effect both on the Soay sheep on the island and
on their observation by scientists.  On the one hand the sheep will have less
human contact, but on the other, without the Army helicopters and back-up,
scientific access and observation will surely be more difficult.
Juliet

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The Rare Breeds Sale at Stirling will be held on 26 September 2009.
Details will be posted shortly on the website: http://www.caledonian-marts.com/

Gordon.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bluetongue fears as Scots farmer imports bull from France

Published Date: 03 April 2009
By Dan Buglass
Rural affairs editor
A BORDERS cattle breeder who imported a pedigree bull from France has been
condemned by farmers and veterinary experts amid fears that his action could
lead to an outbreak of the deadly Bluetongue virus in Scotland.
Bryan Walling, who farms at Over Whitlaw, near Selkirk, has imported a pedigree
Salers bull from France, in defiance of official guidelines and advice from the
National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS).

Walling's move has provoked fury in the farming world as the Massif Central
region where the breed originates has serious problems with bluetongue over the
past two years.

Following advice from its chief vet, Charles Milne, the Scottish Government last
year brought in a compulsory vaccination regime for all cattle and sheep north
of the Border at a cost of £4 million.

In England and Wales a regime of voluntary immunisation has been established.

However, official advice has consistently been to steer clear of imports for the
greater good of the livestock industry.

Yesterday, Walling's action was widely condemned by neighbouring farmers, the
farmers union and Scotland's senior vet.

Billy Renwick, who farms at Blackhouse at the head of the Yarrow Valley, near
Selkirk, and is the president of the local NFUS branch, led the criticism.

He said: "We simply cannot understand why anyone would want to take such a
chance. Mr Walling is not popular, and that is putting it politely."

Jim McLaren, president of NFUS, was equally blunt. He said: "I am extremely
disappointed that the industry's voluntary ban on importing animals from
BT-infected zones appears to have been broken.

"I have tried to speak to the farmer concerned to highlight that importing
animals from Europe, although legal if certain conditions are met, presents the
greatest risk of bringing bluetongue to Scotland."

There are known to be at least 26 strains of bluetongue circulating throughout
the world, but BTV8 and BTV1 are regarded as representing the greatest threat to
European livestock production. BTV8 arrived in the south of England in the
autumn of 2007, but no incidences have to date been reported in Scotland.

McLaren said: "The imported bull has almost certainly been vaccinated against
not only BTV8, but also BTV1, raising fresh concerns about the problems that
could arise from the arrival of a second strain in the UK."

Milne, who will shortly step down from his post as Scotland's chief vet, was
equally concerned. He said: "I am aware that one bull has been imported from
France to the Borders. The local animal health office is monitoring the animal
and making appropriate checks.

"While this import is legal, I would urge farmers to think very carefully about
where they source stock and to avoid taking any unnecessary risks.

"Bluetongue can have a catastrophic effect on herds and flocks and a farmer's
livelihood can easily be torn from him."

Attempts to contact Walling, the senior business partner at the B&F Walling
business that runs the farm, have proved unsuccessful.

The level of anger in the farming community is a reflection of the fears over
the possible effect of a Bluetongue outbreak in Scotland. Vets and industry
leaders have urged farmers to do everything possible to keep Scotland free from
the disease which was first identified in northern Europe almost three years
ago.

The virus, which invariably results in death among livestock and a massive drop
in fertility and productive efficiency, had previously been confined to
Mediterranean countries and north Africa.

There have been a number of confirmed cases of BTV8 in England in imported
cattle in recent months following testing.

The animals were subsequently slaughtered with no compensation: the vast
majority of farmers believe that this was the appropriate action.

In February The Scotsman revealed that two farmers in Northumberland had
imported pedigree cattle from Belgium, provoking anger north and south of the
Border.

Bluetongue tends to emerge in summer and autumn when midges, which spread it,
are active.

As of mid-October 2008, there had been more than 20,000 incidences of BTV8 and
3,000 of BTV1 in France.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Jean
I am not happy about Halal killing but I meant more perhaps Polish folk where
the animals go to a normal slaughterhouse but are cooked whole.  We did have an
offer where the tup would be killed in the garden and the wool singed off - I
declined that !!
The fact that we now have 4 Soay and one Hebridean tup needing to go illustrates
that I will certainly not just do anything to get rid of them - they are all old
friends!   There is a butcher near us who occasionally takes tups for 'mutton',
but not so many at once.  I feel that old tups are not the best animals to use
for mutton - no wonder it has a bad name !  When we produce mutton it is from
2-5 year old wethers and is delicious.
We are making sausages from some older cull ewes but I don't want to add the
tups into that in case the taste is too strong - friends spoiled a whole batch
of sausages by adding in one mature tup.
What to do with ones old tups is obviously something we all have to deal with
and, yes, we must do it humanely.
What do others do?
Juliet

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Juliet  Would you want your old tups to be part of a special ethnic feast ? I
wouldnt I would want a lest stressful death for them as they had in life and I
wonder what conditions these animals would be killed under?

G & J Johnston <westergladstone@...> wrote:          Hi All

Hasn't this list been so quiet for a while.

I was wondering what others do with their old tups (rams). There is apparently a
small market for whole tups for special ethnic feasts but our Soays seem to be
too small for that.
Any ideas ?

Juliet

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi All

Hasn't this list been so quiet for a while.

I was wondering what others do with their old tups (rams).  There is apparently
a small market for whole tups for special ethnic feasts but our Soays seem to be
too small for that.
Any ideas ?

Juliet

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Now available to download from www.ylc.co.uk . You have to register before you
can download. Easily done on the website.

Gordon.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Highlands and Islands sale of

Rare and Native breeds



In conjunction with the Hebridean Sheep Society




Saturday 27th September

Commencing immediately after the sale of Pedigree Hebridean Sheep

All animals will be sold in guineas


Animals will be sold in Lot Order


Crossbred and unregistered animals will be sold after the main sale





List of Vendors


Robertson, D

Easter House farm, Cobbinshaw, West Calder, West Lothian. EH55 8LN

Lot nos: 110, 111, 132, 133, 134



Robb, S

10 East Field, Tarbert, Argyll

Lot nos: 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117



Meikle, G.E

St Baldreds, Tyningham, Dunbar, East Lothian

Lot nos: 109



McKechan, George

18 Mains Road, Beith, Ayrshire

Lot nos: 129, 130, 131



MacDougall, R

Wood Cottage, Croft, Tobermory, Isle of Mull

Lot nos: 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128



MacDowell, John

Lettermore Farm, Isle of Mull

Lot nos: 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144
Sheep



Shetland Ewes


G.E.Meikle

Lot 109  ST BALDREDS ESMARELDA 044013  DoB 06.04.07

             Sire:  St Baldreds Solomon 041907         Dam:  Islam Elaine 043760


D. Robertson

Lot 110  GALTRESS DINGBAT 036836  DoB 04.04.02

             Sire:  Galtress Forbes 031734       Dam:  Galtress Drusilla 027272


Lot 111  WOODPARK DRINA 036069  DoB 14.04.03

             Sire:  Rench Argus 034348           Dam:  Millsteads Bryony 026789





Zwartbles Ewes


S.Robb

Lot 112  AGNES UK384828 - 012h  DoB 08.03.02

             Sire:  UKWE0687 - 033D               Dam:  UKUK0204 - 033D


Lot 113  MURIEL UK106836 - 080K  DoB 22.03.04

             Sire:  UKWE0687 - 024D               Dam: UK106816 - 017J


Lot 114  BLACKIE UK544456 00349-257  DoB 04.02.07

             Sire:  UK702487 - 501J                  Dam:  00289 - 047L





Jacob Ewe Lambs


S.Robb

Lot 115  UK544450 - 000100  DoB 22.01.08

             Sire:  Marbell Ram 1186J-158       Dam:  Betty UK544456-43345-73


Lot 116  UK544456 - 101  DoB  20.01.08

             Sire:  Marbell Ram 1186J-158       Dam:  Jenny 32053-347





Jacob Rams


S.Robb

Lot 117  FRANK 4334J-88  DoB 30.01.07

             Sire: Marbell Nimrod 11865-144   Dam:  11905-95





Crossbred and Unregistered Stock



MacDowell, John

Lot 118  Jacob Gimmer, born 04/07


Lot 119  Jacob Gimmer, born 04/07


Lot 120  Jacob Gimmer, born 04/07


Lot 121  Jacob Gimmer, born 04/07

Lot 122  Jacob Gimmer, born 04/07



Lot 123 Jacob Gimmer lamb, born 04/08


Lot 124  Jacob Gimmer Lamb,born 04/08


Lot 125  Jacob Gimmer lamb, born 04/08


Lot 126  Jacob Gimmer Lamb, born 04/08



Lot 127  Jacob Shearling ram, born 04/07


Lot 127  Jacob Shearling ram, born 04/07


Lot 128  Jacob tup lamb, born 04/08




McKechan, George

Lot 129  Soay Tup - BRIAN


Lot 130  Soay ewe


Lot 131  Soay ewe




Robertson, D

Lot 132  Shetland X ewe with lamb at foot


Lot 133  Shetland X ewe

Lot 134  Shetland X ewe


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The Carlisle Sale catalogue is available to download on the Harrison &
Hetherington website.

http://www.livestock-sales.co.uk/2008/rare_breed/0913.html

Gordon

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Two proven rams, two gorgeous ewe lambs that I held back for this
year's breeding. Greener Pastures Jerry Garcia (Registered SOA, slender
body, amazing W-I-D-E horns), Peony Creek Pepper (thick soft wool,
meaty build, nice horns), Promised Land Eclipse (dark face), and
Promised Land Elsie(red with light face) all can be documented to SOA,
listed in Open Flock Book.

We are in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Please contact privately, off-list: familyfarm at isp.com
Thank you!

I lifted this from the Hebridean Sheep Society website. Although Hebs make up
the majority of sheep entered, there are usually plenty of other breeds, notably
Shetlands and Soays. Gordon.

OBAN Show and Sale of Hebridean Sheep (Hebridean Sheep Society 8th Highlands and
Islands Show and Sale)
Location: Caledonian Marts, Oban, Argyll, Scotland
Date: Show - Friday 26 Sept at 4pm; Sale - Sat 27 Sept at 11 am
Classes:Other breeds of sheep, cattle, goats, ponies and poultry may be entered
for sale.
Judge: Helen Brewis
Closing date for entries: 6th September 2008
Catalogues,schedules and entry forms for Hebridean Sheep classes from:
Stirling Office, tel: (01786 450922), fax: (01786 473332)

Catalogues for other breeds available from The Oban Office (01631 570 631)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Where can one obtain entry forms please.
Gilbert

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Oban Rare Breeds Sale 27 September. Closing date is Sat 6 September. Confirmed
this morning (11 Aug).
Gordon.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Defra has today announced that the Bluetongue Protection Zone will be
extended again on Thursday 7 August.  This follows the delivery by
Merial of over two million additional doses of Bluetongue serotype 8
(BTV- 8) vaccine.

The Protection Zone will be extended to cover those parts of
Shropshire (District of Oswestry), Cheshire (Districts of Vale Royal,
Chester, Ellesmere Port and Neston), Greater Manchester (Metropolitan
Boroughs of Wigan, Bolton, Bury, Trafford and Salford) and North
Yorkshire (Districts of Richmondshire and Craven) previously in the
Free Area, and all of Merseyside (including the Metropolitan Boroughs
of Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral), the Unitary
Authorities of Halton and Warrington, and Lancashire (including the
Unitary Authorities of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen).

Vaccination is only permitted within the Protection Zone.  We will
continue to expand the Protection Zone and to roll out vaccination to
the free area as vaccine is delivered, in line with the vaccination
roll-out plan.

The additional vaccine is available for use in the existing
Protection Zone from today, along with any existing supplies of
Intervet vaccine. Livestock keepers in the areas coming into the
Protection Zone will be able to obtain the vaccine from Thursday.
However, they are encouraged to order vaccine so that they can
protect their livestock at the earliest opportunity.

Protection Zone restrictions will apply to those keepers coming into
the extended zone. Animals can only be moved out of the Protection
Zone if they are vaccinated, naturally immune or moving for
slaughter, subject to meeting certain conditions. Please refer to the
Defra website for further guidance.

Bluetongue has recently re-emerged in large areas of France. All
livestock farmers are strongly encouraged to be vigilant and to
vaccinate at the earliest possible opportunity.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080805a.htm

Gordon,

I couldn't agree more when you say that rare breed keepers are keener
to vaccinate. I am surrounded by commercial flocks of sheep yet as far
as I am aware I am the only one who has so far bothered to vaccinate
any of their sheep.
Only another 100 Soay to vaccinate today.....

Julie

I refer to the above mentioned news release:
Professor Geoff Simm, Chair of the National Standing Committee on Farm Animal
Genetic Resources said:

   “We are concerned that some keepers of rare and traditional breeds, especially
those with smaller flocks and herds, may not have heard the vaccination message.
It is a vital step in helping to protect our rich heritage of livestock breeds,
therefore we are also urging vets to contact their clients with these breeds to
encourage them to vaccinate".



   What make Professor Sim think that keepers of rare breeds may not have heard
about vaccination? In my experience, rare breed keepers are amongst the most
concerned about Bluetongue and the keenest to vaccinate. I would like to see the
data which Professor Sim bases his conclusion.



   Gordon Johnston

   Hebridean Sheep Society

   List Owner, Shorttailed Sheep.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Just a note to say how I agree with Phil Tomlinson's most recent mailing
Sorry we haven't contributed to the discussion owing to family commitments re
big (ie old) birthdays & daughter from N Zealand who helped organise it all.
Interestingly I think Peter Jewell used to say that true black was always
self-coloured............. !  I throw this into the melting pot!!
Inidentally how many of our members have been able to vaccinate against
blue-tongue?  also do you realise the implications of EID in 2010?
Regards to all
Ann

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Just a note to say how I agree with Phil Tomlinson's most recent mailing
Sorry we haven't contributed to the discussion owing to family commitments re
big (ie old) birthdays & daughter from N Zealand who helped organise it all.
Interestingly I think Peter Jewell used to say that true black was always
self-coloured............. !  I throw this into the melting pot!!
Inidentally how many of our members have been able to vaccinate against
blue-tongue?  also do you realise the implications of EID in 2010?
Regards to all
Ann

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Just a note to say how I agree with Phil Tomlinson's most recent mailing
Sorry we haven't contributed to the discussion owing to family commitments re
big (ie old) birthdays & daughter from N Zealand who helped organise it all.
Interestingly I think Peter Jewell used to say that true black was always
self-coloured............. !  I throw this into the melting pot!!
Regards to all
Ann

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear All,



Please note that within 48 hours my email address paulthornton@... will
cease to function due to beeb.net closing down.



Please amend your address book to use either paulthornton@... or
drpaulthornton@...



An outlook contact card is attached.



BW,



Paul



Dr Paul Thornton

Pear Tree Surgery

28 Meadow Close

Kingsbury

Warwickshire

B78 2NR





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thank you for that Paul - what a brilliant programme and presumably more on
Thursday. So far they have studiously ignored the sheep !
Juliet

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Interesting program about St Kilda on BBC 1 last Thursday.



Available to UK web users on BBC iplayer at the link below for the next 4
days only.



http://tinyurl.com/4dgduw



Paul





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

So it doesn't always pay to be the horniest one of the bunch!
Oh dear, when I grow up....

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

When it comes to winning mates, larger horns are an asset for male Soay
sheep. But those that grow them may be putting their young lives on the
line, according to a study published online on 15 May in Current Biology, a
publication of Cell Press.

The new findings show that allocation of resources to horn growth can spell
the sheep's premature demise if the environment takes a turn for the worse.

'We find that large horns decrease males' first-year survival when
environmental conditions are poor,' said lead author Matthew Robinson of the
University of Edinburgh. 'Therefore, in an unpredictable environment, high
allocation to early horn growth is a gamble, the pay-offs of which depend on
the environmental conditions an individual encounters during its first year
of life.'


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