Breeding

Sheep Breeders Round Table 2026

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:37:06 GMT

Save the date for the Sheep Breeders Round Table conference: Breeding solutions for a changing world.

This event provides an opportunity for everyone in the sheep industry to come together and discuss the latest genetic developments and the potential impact these will have on the supply chain.

We'll explore some of the questions that surround the industry such as profitability, sustainability, health, environment and carbon reduction.

Draft programme

Friday 20 November

Breeding for the environment (Part I)
Genomics and sheep breeding

Saturday 21 November

Breeding for the environment (Part II)
To shed or not to shed – is that the question?
Genetics – worth the investment? An interactive session
Measuring performance – phenotype is king
Drinks reception followed by an evening meal

Sunday 22 November

Healthy genetics
The hills are alive with lamb survival

The full programme will be announced in April 2026.

Tickets

You'll be able to buy tickets for the conference from April.

Sponsorship opportunities

AHDB is the headline sponsor of the Sheep Breeders Round Table 2026, however, a range of other sponsorship opportunities are available.

Download the sponsorship booklet

If you'd like to be involved with this event or have questions about sponsorship packages, please get in touch with Bridget Lloyd, SBRT secretary, before 20 March 2026.

Email: bridget@bridget-lloyd.com

Carlisle: Right start, right carcase, right market

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:54:04 GMT

You’ve done the hard work, now make every carcase count

From breeding decisions to butchery, this hands-on event will help you unlock the value hidden in every animal.

Join farmers, butchers and market experts to explore:

How to spot the right genetics for market-ready carcases
Where value is gained, or lost, on the hook
Why parasites hit more than performance… they hit price
How to match your stock to the right outlet – retail, high street or farm shop

You'll walk away with a better eye, better tools and a better understanding of how your choices shape the final product.

What to expect:

Hear it straight from the shop floor with live butchery demos
Get hands-on with live animal assessment and carcase walk-throughs
Use Farmbench to see the cost of carcase waste, parasite damage and more

Book your place today and join us along with Farmer Network and Waver Wampool Rivers Trust, for interactive discussions and the chance to ask the presenters all your questions.

Grazing for growth: sheep and arable working together

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:55:10 GMT

Join us for “Grazing for growth: sheep and arable working together” at Bryce Mackellar’s farm in Stafford.

This practical, farmer-focused event will showcase how integrating sheep into arable rotations can boost soil health, improve crop performance, and support ewe nutrition over winter. Through a guided farm walk, expert-led workshops, and plenty of networking, attendees will explore the real-world benefits of grazing cover crops, fodder beet, and early-stage cereals.

Whether you’re an arable farmer looking to enhance sustainability, a sheep farmer seeking better grazing options, or an adviser working in regenerative systems, this event offers valuable insight and collaboration opportunities. Come along to learn, share experiences, and see mixed farming in action.

What the meeting will cover

Benefits of sheep grazing on cover crops and early-stage arable crops
Impacts on tillering, weed control, and crop performance
Soil health improvements from integrating livestock
Nutritional strategies for pregnant ewes grazing stubble turnips/fodder beet
Knowledge exchange between arable and livestock farmers
Practical demonstrations during the farm walk

Speakers

Amanda Bennett – Senior Environment Manager (soil health & nutrient management)
Bek Hirstman – Agronomy & Environment Manager
Nerys Wright – Sheep consultant

Session timings

10:00 – Arrival
10:30 – Housekeeping and introductions
10:45 – Presentations – providing the context
12:00 – Lunch and networking
12:50 – Leave for farm walk
13:00 – Farm walk
15:00 – Close

Are there any points available?

BASIS

Is the event free to attend?

Yes - funded by your levy

Food available & time

Lunch provided at 12:00

Farmbench for better margins: How do the top 15% of breeding flocks turn a profit?

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:31:04 GMT

Farmbench for better margins: How do the top 15% of breeding flocks turn a profit?

Breeds at risk

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:30:26 GMT

Breeds at risk

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for maternal suckler traits

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 11:24:41 GMT

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for maternal suckler traits

New tool will help beef producers breed more environmentally friendly cattle

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:17:56 GMT

New tool will help beef producers breed more environmentally friendly cattle

EnviroBeef

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:19:08 GMT

EnviroBeef

Beef breeding body condition scorecard

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:14:41 GMT

Beef breeding body condition scorecard

Make better-informed dairy breeding decisions

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:40:43 GMT

Make better-informed dairy breeding decisions

Telford: Unlock your herd’s hidden breeding potential

Fri, 23 May 2025 13:55:14 GMT

NB This event has now been cancelled

Discover the untapped potential in your herd at our workshop, where we reveal hidden gems in your herd’s data and you’ll walk away with a tailored report that will take your breeding decisions to the next level.

The choices you make will have a lasting effect on farm profitability as they accumulate over generations. While good selections positively influence your herd for years to come, poor decisions can hinder improvements from good management.

Your milk recording data is already shaping UK genetics through AHDB, which provides the independent evaluations used by breeding companies.

But are you making the most of this data with your herd’s breeding decisions?

What to expect at this workshop

AHDB’s genetic expert will enable you to:

Create clear breeding goals tailored to your farm's requirements
Access and analyse your herd’s genetic potential with a personalised report
Identify your herd's baseline and identify areas for improvement
Evaluate your data and choose the right bulls for your herd

This workshop is designed for anyone with a milk recorded herd who wants to be more actively involved in their breeding strategy.

Whether you make your own breeding decisions, work with your team or a breeding advisor, this workshop will give you what you need to unlock the hidden breeding potential in your herd.

Places at this workshop are available exclusively to dairy farmers and herd managers. Please do not book if you are from a third party.

If you have any enquiries about this event, get in touch through the contact details provided below.

Kelly Seaton, Knowledge Exchange Manager, Dairy

Pwllheli: Lansiad Fferm Laeth Strategol Cefn Gwyn – Bridio i wneud pob buwch yn broffidiol

Wed, 21 May 2025 10:29:36 GMT

Ymunwch â ni ar gyfer lansiad Fferm Laeth Strategol newydd AHDB, lle byddwn yn cyflwyno ein Ffermwyr Llaeth Strategol newydd, Tegid a Hannah Williams o Bwllheli.

Read in English

Yn ogystal â chyflwyniad i gefndir y fferm, gan gynnwys taith o’i hamgylch, byddwn yn trafod sut i wella buches drwy gynyddu dealltwriaeth o eneteg.

Bydd y rhaglen tair blynedd hon yn canolbwyntio ar wella’r busnes – ond er mwyn gwneud cynnydd, rhaid ichi yn gyntaf wybod ble rydych chi arni ar hyn o bryd. Felly, pa offer sydd ar gael i’ch helpu i fesur a meincnodi perfformiad eich buches?

Gyda chostau mewnbwn yn dynn a llafur yn brin, rhaid i bob buwch ar eich fferm gyfrannu at yr elw sylfaenol. Mae deall pa anifeiliaid sy’n gwneud elw, a pha rai sy’n cael eu cario, yn fwy hanfodol nag erioed.

Bydd y cyfarfod yn cynnwys

Sut y gall mynegai bridio helpu buchesi i nodi a chanolbwyntio ar eu hanifeiliaid mwyaf proffidiol, gyda Phennaeth Geneteg Anifeiliaid AHDB, Marco Winters
Rôl genomeg a sut y gall helpu i wneud gwell penderfyniadau bridio
Gweledigaeth hirdymor Tegid a Hannah ar gyfer y fferm a’r amcanion dros y tair blynedd nesaf fel rhan o’r rhwydwaith Ffermydd Llaeth Strategol
Taith o amgylch y fferm a chyfle i ddysgu mwy gan Tegid a Hannah am eu busnes a’u ffigurau perfformio

P’un ai ydych chi eisoes yn tracio data genetig neu ar fin dechrau arni, bydd y cyfarfod hwn yn cynnig offer a syniadau ymarferol, seiliedig ar ymchwil, i’ch helpu i wella effeithlonrwydd a phroffidioldeb eich busnes.

Am fferm Cefn Gwyn

Mae Cefn Gwyn ym Mhwllheli yn cael ei reoli gan Tegid a Hannah Williams. Mae’r fferm 81 hectar yn godro 300 o fuchod croes mewn parlwr saethben 24/48, gan gynhyrchu 5,000 o litrau y fuwch ar gyfartaledd, gyda 3.88% protein a 5.21% braster menyn.

Ceredigion: Lansiad Fferm Laeth Strategol Sychpant – Bridio i wneud pob buwch yn broffidiol

Wed, 21 May 2025 10:18:44 GMT

Ymunwch â ni ar gyfer lansiad Fferm Laeth Strategol newydd AHDB, lle byddwn yn cyflwyno ein Ffermwr Llaeth Strategol newydd, Marcus Ferraro o Geredigion.

Read in English

Yn ogystal â chyflwyniad i gefndir y fferm, gan gynnwys taith o’i hamgylch, byddwn yn trafod sut i wella buches drwy gynyddu dealltwriaeth o eneteg.

Bydd y cyfarfod yn cynnwys

Taith o amgylch y fferm a chyfle i ddysgu mwy gan y perchnogion am eu busnes a’u ffigurau perfformio gyda’r ymgynghorydd fferm, Anna Bowen
Sut y gall mynegai bridio helpu buchesi i nodi a chanolbwyntio re u hanifeiliaid mwyaf proffidiol, gyda Phennaeth Geneteg Anifeiliaid AHDB, Marco Winters
Rôl genomeg a sut y gallu helpu i wneud gwell penderfyniadau bridio
Gweledigaeth hirdymor y ffermwyr ar gyfer y fferm a’r amcanion dros y tair blynedd nesaf fel rhan o’r rhwydwaith Ffermydd Llaeth Strategol

Am fferm Sychpant

Mae fferm Sychpant yng Nghastellnewydd Emlyn, Ceredigion yn berchen i, ac yn cael ei rheoli gan Marcus Ferraro a’i deulu.

Maen nhw’n godro 300 o fuchod ProCROSS mewn parlwr 16/32, ar gymysgedd o 60 hectar o dir sy’n berchen iddyn nhw a 122 hectar o dir rhent.

Mae eu buchod yn cynhyrchu 6,500 litr yr un ar gyfartaledd, gyda 3.65% protein a 4.52% braster menyn.

Ceredigion: Sychpant Strategic Dairy Farm launch – Breeding profit into every cow

Thu, 08 May 2025 15:08:10 GMT

Join us at the launch of the new AHDB Strategic Dairy Farm where we introduce our new hosts, Marcus Ferraro and family from Newcastle Emlyn, Wales.

See this event in Welsh

As well as an introduction to the background of the farm, and a farm tour, we will explore how to drive herd improvement through better genetic insight. This three-year strategic farm programme will focus on business improvement – but to make progress, you first need to know where you are now. So, what tools are available to help measure and benchmark your herd’s performance?

With input costs tight and labour stretched, every cow on your farm must contribute to the bottom line. Understanding which animals are driving profit, and which are being carried, is more crucial than ever.

This meeting will cover

A tour of the farm and an opportunity to find out more from the hosts about their operation and performance figures with farm consultant Anna Bowen
How breeding indexes can help herds identify and focus on their most profitable animals, with AHDB Geneticist, Victoria Ashmore
The role of genomics and how it can support smarter breeding decisions, including within crossbred herds
The hosts' long-term vision for the farm and goals for the next three years as part of the Strategic Dairy Farm network

Whether you're already tracking genetic data or just starting out, this meeting offers practical, research-backed tools and ideas to help you improve herd efficiency and profitability.

About Sychpant

Sychpant in Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion, is owned and managed by Marcus Ferraro and his family. They are milking 300 Pro-Cross cows on a 16/32 parlour across a mix of 60 hectares owned and 122 hectares rented land. Their cows are averaging 6,500 litres each, with 3.65% protein and 4.52% butterfat.

Jamie McCoy, Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager – Dairy

Pwllheli: Cefn Gwyn Strategic Dairy Farm launch – Breeding profit into every cow

Thu, 08 May 2025 14:22:33 GMT

Join us at the launch of the new AHDB Strategic Dairy Farm where we introduce our new hosts, Tegid and Hannah Williams, from Pwllheli, Wales.

See this event in Welsh

As well as an introduction to the background of the farm, including a farm tour, we will explore how to drive herd improvement through better genetic insight. This three-year programme will focus on business improvement, but to make progress, you first need to know where you are now. So, what tools are available to help measure and benchmark your herd’s performance?

This meeting will cover

How breeding indexes can help herds identify and focus on their most profitable animals, with the Head of Animal Genetics at AHDB, Marco Winters
The role of genomics and how it can support smarter breeding decisions
The hosts' long-term vision for the farm and goals for the next three years as part of the Strategic Dairy Farm network
A tour of the farm and an opportunity to find out more from the hosts about their operation and performance figures

Whether you're already tracking genetic data or just starting out, this meeting offers practical, research-backed tools and ideas to help you improve herd efficiency and profitability.

About Cefn Gwyn

Cefn Gwyn in Pwllheli, is managed by Tegid and Hannah Williams. The 81-hectare farm milks 300 crossbred cows through a 24/48 herringbone parlour, producing an average of 5,000 litres per cow, with 3.88% protein and 5.21% butterfat.

James Hague, Knowledge Exchange Manager, Dairy

Somerset: Utilising lean management to improve farm efficiency (colostrum case study)

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 08:44:57 GMT

Join us for an interactive workshop to discover how to unlock the potential of your farm team, enabling them to solve problems and provide sustained, long-term benefits for your business.

Using Dillington Farms as a case study, we will explore how the team have used Lean management to understand how to work with the the cows and calves to optimise the colostrum management and rearing system.

Having used the principles of Lean as part of this review we will follow the process and discuss the changes made to system by the farm team.

This meeting will cover

The principles of Lean management
How to work with your team to focus on effective, long-term solutions with buy-in from everyone
Colostrum management and calf rearing protocols at Dillington Farms

We will be joined by Dan Humphries, vet and consultant with Horizon Vets and Dairy Insights, to discuss how the principles of lean management can be used to review processes which balance the skills and experience of a farm workforce, while considering the requirements of livestock for healthy, productive and profitable dairies.

As a dairy vet/consultant, trainer and communicator, Dan works with farmers, agri-businesses and throughout the supply chain to improve the future for cows and those who work with them.

Find out more about Dillington Farms

Host farms needed to gather commercial lamb data for industry project

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:23:12 GMT

Host farms needed to gather commercial lamb data for industry project

Keeping its place as the number one herd

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:54:40 GMT

Keeping its place as the number one herd

RamCompare hits major milestone

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 08:21:12 GMT

RamCompare hits major milestone

Other lamb castration methods

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 09:00:21 GMT

Other lamb castration methods

Breeding

Sheep Breeders Round Table 2026

Save the date for the Sheep Breeders Round Table conference: Breeding solutions for a changing world.

Draft programme

Friday 20 November

Saturday 21 November

Sunday 22 November

Tickets

Sponsorship opportunities

Carlisle: Right start, right carcase, right market

You’ve done the hard work, now make every carcase count

Join farmers, butchers and market experts to explore:

What to expect:

Grazing for growth: sheep and arable working together

Join us for “Grazing for growth: sheep and arable working together” at Bryce Mackellar’s farm in Stafford.

What the meeting will cover

Speakers

Session timings

Are there any points available?

Is the event free to attend?

Food available & time

Farmbench for better margins: How do the top 15% of breeding flocks turn a profit?

Breeds at risk

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for maternal suckler traits

New tool will help beef producers breed more environmentally friendly cattle

EnviroBeef

Beef breeding body condition scorecard

Make better-informed dairy breeding decisions

Telford: Unlock your herd’s hidden breeding potential

*NB This event has now been cancelled*

Discover the untapped potential in your herd at our workshop, where we reveal hidden gems in your herd’s data and you’ll walk away with a tailored report that will take your breeding decisions to the next level.

What to expect at this workshop

Pwllheli: Lansiad Fferm Laeth Strategol Cefn Gwyn – Bridio i wneud pob buwch yn broffidiol

Ymunwch â ni ar gyfer lansiad Fferm Laeth Strategol newydd AHDB, lle byddwn yn cyflwyno ein Ffermwyr Llaeth Strategol newydd, Tegid a Hannah Williams o Bwllheli.

Bydd y cyfarfod yn cynnwys

Am fferm Cefn Gwyn

Ceredigion: Lansiad Fferm Laeth Strategol Sychpant – Bridio i wneud pob buwch yn broffidiol

Ymunwch â ni ar gyfer lansiad Fferm Laeth Strategol newydd AHDB, lle byddwn yn cyflwyno ein Ffermwr Llaeth Strategol newydd, Marcus Ferraro o Geredigion.

Bydd y cyfarfod yn cynnwys

Am fferm Sychpant

Ceredigion: Sychpant Strategic Dairy Farm launch – Breeding profit into every cow

Join us at the launch of the new AHDB Strategic Dairy Farm where we introduce our new hosts, Marcus Ferraro and family from Newcastle Emlyn, Wales.

This meeting will cover

About Sychpant

Pwllheli: Cefn Gwyn Strategic Dairy Farm launch – Breeding profit into every cow

Join us at the launch of the new AHDB Strategic Dairy Farm where we introduce our new hosts, Tegid and Hannah Williams, from Pwllheli, Wales.

This meeting will cover

About Cefn Gwyn

Somerset: Utilising lean management to improve farm efficiency (colostrum case study)

Join us for an interactive workshop to discover how to unlock the potential of your farm team, enabling them to solve problems and provide sustained, long-term benefits for your business.

This meeting will cover

Host farms needed to gather commercial lamb data for industry project

Keeping its place as the number one herd

RamCompare hits major milestone

Other lamb castration methods

NB This event has now been cancelled