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Latest magazine on its way

May 13: The May/June magazine is on its way - look out for your Members' Badge and, if in the UK or Ireland, your voting paper!

Death of Barbara Carpenter and Wullie Welsh

May 11: We were all very sad to hear of the death of Barbara Carpenter and of Wullie Welsh. Full tributes to both these stalwarts of the sheepdog world will appear in the July/August issue of International Sheepdog News.

Wales World Trial Qualifications Trial Entry

April 11 : World Trial Qualification Trials Entry Forms are now available for downloading here or available

from the relevant Secretaries:

South Wales World Trial Qualification Trials: 31st July & 1st Aug 2013, @ Blaenglowon Fawr, Talgarreg, Llandysul, Ceredigion. Entry forms: Sec. Meirion Owen, Rhos y Hafod, Llanarthne, Carmarthen SA32 8LG, Tel: 01267290282, Mob: 07779600112,    email: meirion.owen@virgin.net    Entries in by 7th June.

North Wales World Trial Qualification Trials: 14th & 15th September 2013, @ Home farm, Plas Newydd Estate, LlanfairPG, Anglesey, LL61 6DQ.  Entry Forms: Secretary: Sue Main, Llwyn Iolyn, Cefn Ddwysarn, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7LN. Tel: 01678530408, Mob: 07881522758, email: sue.main1@btopenworld.com   Entries in by 7th June

Rules of Entry - download here

2013 National Trial Entry Forms

April 3: Trial Entry Forms for the four National Trials were despatched over the Easter Weekend. Please contact the Office if you require extra copies.

Coldest Easter weather for fifty years hits lambing time

March 28: The UK  and Ireland have been hit by the worst weather for fifty years, burying sheep in some Western and central parts in snow up to 14 feet deep. Despite valiant efforts by farmers, dogs and volunteers, hundreds of sheep have been buried alive. See link on the home page. More in the next issue of International Sheepdog News.

Scottish Nursery Final winners

March 3: Congratulations to this year's winners, John G Templeton and Adelph Jip, and to all the prize winners: Back Row, left to right - Cameron Dickson, Duncan Campbell, John G Templeton, Ian Fergie, Alastair Stewart, Alex Watson, Neil Gillon, Davie Kinloch. Front Row - Andrew Campbell, Gilbert Marshall, Tracey Sutherland. (In absentia - Peter Martin). A full report and more photos in the new March/April issue of International Sheepdog News.

                                                                    Photo: Sine Robertson

March/April magazine coming soon

February 24: The March/April magazine is nearing completion and will be going to print early next week as soon as the results of the Scottish Nursery Final are in. As well as all the usual articles, there is an archive photo special on some of the Internationals held at Cardiff, plus coverage of the North of Ireland and North and South Wales Nursery Finals, plus a review of Sue Main's useful "Hints & Tips" book.

Society News from the Annual Meetings

February 10: See the Home page for the headline news. More details in the March/April issue of International Sheepdog News.

Warning on ewe nutrition

November 21: SAC Consulting, a Division of SRUC (Scottish Rural College), is advising sheep farmers to take important ewe nutrition steps for winter, in preparation for successful lambing next Spring.

Difficult weather has led to variable ewe condition scores and low quality/low intake forages. This means farmers may need to modify sheep diets and keep a closer watch on ewe condition score, says SAC Consulting animal nutritionist Dr Colin Morgan.

Colin said: “Silage composition has suffered badly in some areas as a result of the weather conditions. It is essential that silages are analysed so that they can be supplemented appropriately.”

In meeting the nutrient needs of the ewe, energy and protein requirements will be determined by her weight, condition score and numbers of lambs carried.

Colin explained: “With poor quality forages ewes may need more supplementary feed but it is important to manage this to avoid overfeeding starchy cereals or sudden dietary changes that can cause metabolic upsets. Manage the use of body reserves to ensure ewes lamb in condition score 2 ½ - 3 when lambing in March or condition score 2 – 2½ for ewes lambing at grass.”

The stressful weather combined with an increase in sheep diseases caused by parasites has meant a difficult year for ewes, so their condition scores may be lower than usual. For thin ewes, feeding should start earlier at nine weeks pre-lambing. Supplementary feeding levels by lambing will need to be higher at around 0.75kg compound /cereal per day split into two feeds. “Do not leave it too late, score your ewes now and make planned changes to rations,” said Colin.

It is also advisable to supplement thin twin-bearing ewes in mid- to late-pregnancy. Immediately after scanning separate thin ewes out for extra feeding. Supplement with cereal at 0.5 kg per day if the ewes are on low quality silage. Try to at least maintain or improve condition score by up to half a score between scanning and the last three weeks of pregnancy. Low bushel weight cereals are excellent for this purpose and can be a best buy. Feed thin grains whole as less tends to come through in the dung than with plump grains.

International trial

September 8: Congratulations to Ian Brownlie and Boredale Gus, 2012 International Supreme and Scottish National Champions. For details, visit the Scottish National trials website here and the International trials site here.  

Pic: Sine Robertson

Irish National trial

August 11: Congratulations to Toddy Lambe and Sam, 2012 Irish National Champions. For details, visit the Irish National trials website here.     Pic:Brian Kelly

English National trial

August 5: Congratulations to Ben Smith and Meg, 2012 English National Champions. For details, visit the   English National website.

Just added: Points breakdown

Welsh National trial

July 21: Congratulations to the 2012 Welsh National Champions Arthur Roberts and Chip. For details of the Welsh National, visit the Welsh National website.

Just added: breakdown of points here.

Adam Telfer commemoration

June 13: The campaign to recognise Adam Telfer in his home town of Cambo is still gathering pace.

Alongside is our familiar friend Old Hemp, No 9 in the Stud Book, bred by Adam Telfer in 1893 and regarded as the "father of the breed", and thus the first modern Border Collie.

Simon Falla, who lives not far from Cambo, home of the Telfer family, has started a campaign to have Adam Telfer commemorated for his work for sheepdogs.

You can add your support to his Facebook campaign here, and there is also a campaign video on YouTube here.

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