Sheep Breeders Round Table returns for a face-to-face conference

Following two years of covid restrictions which led to 2021’s online format, the Sheep Breeders Round Table (SBRT) are delighted to be back delivering their popular in-person conference this November, and you’re invited!

This year’s theme will be ‘UK sheep genetics delivering for the nation’ and the event takes place from Friday 11 - Sunday 13 November 2022 at the Radisson Blu Hotel at East Midlands Airport.

SBRT is an industry initiative, with collaboration from all levy boards AHDB Beef & Lamb, Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC), Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AgriSearch combined with support from the National Sheep Association (NSA).

The conference is a platform for showcasing how we can become more resilient and be amongst the best sheep producers in the world. If you have an interest in sheep production, this event attracts a large audience of progressive farmers and breeders, combined with academic researchers and specialist vets sharing their thoughts and ideas.

Plans for the weekend are in full swing and a range of speakers from the UK and overseas will join the conference throughout the weekend. They will share their experience from current research projects, breeding programmes and farming practice to bring the topics to life.

Key speakers and topics include:

• Phil Bicknell, CIEL, sharing the latest evidence and insight on net zero and livestock
• Tim Byrne, AbacusBio specialising in genetics to solve the climate crisis
• Daniel Brown, LambPlan, Australia specialising in meat eating quality
• Stuart Ashworth, former QMS provides a financial outlook for lamb markets
• Canadian Sheep Federation to provide an insight to genetic influences underlying meat quality
• Ian McDougall MRCVS and his insight to the promotion of breeding techniques to make genetic advances within breeding programmes
• Pen Rashbass FAnGR discussing benefits of traditional selection methods
• Janet Roden, geneticist discussing the impact of research projects and how they can be implemented for different benefits
• Ben Strugnell & Fiona Lovatt discussing the impact of disease amongst pedigree breeds
• Matt Harding – Sheep Innovator of the Year 2021 shares his insight for the next ten years

The SBRT conference will benefit this year from sponsorship provided by CIEL, the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock, to enable the Friday afternoon session.

Phil Bicknell, Head of Business Development at CIEL says: “Ideas and innovation happen best when people come together and CIEL is pleased to support SBRT's conference after the event’s enforced break. Genetics is fundamental and we know that improved genetics deliver, whether that's around enhancing product quality, growing productivity or meeting net zero ambitions. We also know it can be a long-term investment – action now helps underpin continual improvement in the years and decades ahead.”

The full programme will soon be confirmed alongside the opening of online registrations and tickets in June. In the meantime, more information can be found on the AHDB website https://ahdb.org.uk/sheep-breeders-round-table-conference .