13.30

Registration

Balancing net zero, innovation and sustainability

We thank Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL) for their sponsorship of this afternoon session for the SBRT conference – this support has helped to keep costs to a minimum for all delegates attending

14.00

1: Research into Practice: Systems and tools to drive update and development of genetics for UK sheep farms

Chaired by Chris Gooderham, AHDB

14.00

Phil Bicknell, Ciel Livestock

Highlights from the CIEL Net Zero report that sets the scene

14.15

Tim Byrne, AbacusBio,

Breeding objectives to help solve the climate crisis (mature size and feed efficiency)

14.45

Samuel Boon, Signet Manager, AHDB

CIEL at Work – The EWEBenefit Project 

15.00

Nicola Lambe, Scotlands Rural College (SRUC)

Grass to Gas Project

15.15

Kim Matthews, Head of Animal Breeding and Product Quality, AHDB

What the Genetic Vision will mean for the beef and sheep producers - AHDB/Defra funded work

15.30

Q&A

15.45

Coffee Break

16.15

2: Future sheep

A)    What are the characteristics needed in sheep for the future?

B)    Driving uptake – how do we get improved genetics adopted widely and rapidly?

Chaired by Mark Young

16.25

Quick introduction and additional thoughts from the panellists

Tim Byrne, Nicola Lambe, Janet Roden & Farmer participant (TBC)

16.35 – 17.30

Open panel discussion

19.00

Welcome drinks reception

20.00

Conference Dinner

Speaker – Dr Jude McCann Farming Community Network (FCN)

The Farming Community Network – Supporting Farmers through change

8.30

Registration

.

9.00

Charles Sercombe

Chairman’s Welcome

9.05

3: Satisfying the consumer

Chaired by John Richards

9.10

Daniel Brown, LambPlan, Australia

Breeding for taste and tenderness - Meat eating quality, fact not fiction

9.40

Eleri Thomas, Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales

Breeding for Muscle Density and an update on the Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project’

10.10

Discussion

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11.00

4: State of the Nation

Chaired by Charles Sercombe

11.05

Allan Ribbink, Chairperson, Canadian Sheep Federation

Genetics influences underlying lamb quality

·         An oversight from the global sheep production forum 

11.25

Phil Stocker, Chief Executive, National Sheep Association

What are the opportunities for the sheep sector?

·         The impact of reduced support, ELMS, LIP, health and welfare pathway, devolved agricultural policy and the environmental challenges.

11.45

Stuart Ashworth – Independent Advisor

Market place dynamics and their impact on prices

·       A financial outlook for lamb, the background to lamb prices, the markets and factors affecting them

12.15

Discussion

12.30

Lunch

Opportunity to view posters

14.00

5: Debate - The use of Advanced Breeding Techniques has positively benefited the British Sheep Industry over the past 35 years

Chaired by Charles Sercombe & Liz Genever

14.05

14.10

Ian McDougall (ABT practitioner and sheep farmer)

Carroll Barber (Pedigree breeder)

For: Use of advanced breeding techniques to develop genetic advances to fast-track breeding development objectives, enhance flock/environmental targets, reduce biosecurity risk for a flock and allow use of genetics across the world.

14.15

14.20

Pen Rashbass, Pedigree breeder (Hebridean sheep)

Amanda Carson, Sheep Veterinary Society (President) & Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association (Secretary)

Against: Views on the benefits of traditional selection methods and concerns regarding the unintended health and welfare consequences that can arise when selection focuses on just a few traits.

14.25

Discussion

15.15

Coffee

15.45

6: Increasing impact of existing schemes

Chaired by Beth Alexander, QMS

15.50

16.10 & 16.25

Janet Roden

Joined by two HCC project farmers 

• Sian & Llion Jones, Moelogan Fawr, Llanrwst

Enhancing the hill flock - maintaining momentum without funding 

·       Hill Ram Scheme Project updates from two project farmers one new to manual recording and one using TSU technology

16.40

16.55

Breeding better terminal sires - Samuel Boon, Signet / Abigail Wells, Egenes

Andrew Walton

RamCompare – what next        

•     What have we learnt and what is the future

•     Shearforce and Primal Yield

•     Breeder impact  

17.10 – 17.30

Discussion

19.00

Wine Reception – sponsor Egenes, SRUC

Poster session with authors present

20.00

Dinner

9.00

7: Responsibility of breeding for better health

Chaired by Lis King, AHDB

9.00

Fiona Lovatt - Vet, Flockhealth

Ensuring the sale of high quality, healthy and disease-free rams

9.20

Ben Strugnell – Vet

Swaledale sheep with neuroaxonal dystrophy

9.50

Tomas Olsson, pedigree breeder and Titti Strömne, independent advisor

Swedish sheep breeding objectives - Traits recorded in the national programme, tail length, health measures within Elitlamm, how farmers use the service, lessons we can learn

10.15

Discussion

10.30

Coffee Break

11.00

8: What will the sheep industry look like in 10 years?

Chaired by Emily Grant, Forrit (Farming & consultancy)

11.10

Tim White – Commercial stud breeder (Exlana) & Sheep Farmer of the Year 2021 (Farmers Weekly)

Exlana selection for health and welfare traits - reducing worms & flystrike whilst simplifying routine sheep management practice   

11.30

Tim Pratt – Pedigree breeder (Poll Dorset and Dorset Horn)

The role of the pedigree in commercial systems – using performance data to guide management decisions

11.50

Matt Harding – Sheep Innovator of the Year 2021 (British Farming Awards)

Linking genetics with commercial forage-based systems - from traditional breeding to a sustainable system (customer perception & lessons learnt)

12.10

Discussion

12.20

Charles Sercombe

Chairman’s Closing Remarks

12.30

Lunch

Ticket type

Includes

2022 price schedule

Friday afternoon ticket – must purchase separately

Conference only on Friday afternoon (lunch not included)

£25 +VAT

Weekend conference ticket (single occupancy) – Friday is not included

Saturday and Sunday conference tickets plus dinner, bed & breakfast (Friday and Saturday)

£320 +VAT

Weekend conference ticket (double occupancy) – Friday is not included

Saturday and Sunday conference tickets plus dinner, bed and breakfast (Friday and Saturday)

£240 +VAT per person

Friday evening dinner

Dinner only on Friday

£30 +VAT

Friday night accommodation only

1 night accommodation single occupancy (includes breakfast)

£110 +VAT

Friday night accommodation only (partners fee for double occupancy)

1 night accommodation supplement (partners fee to upgrade to double occupancy - includes breakfast)

£30 +VAT

Saturday ticket

Conference only (inc. lunch) on Saturday

£75 +VAT

Saturday evening dinner

Dinner only on Saturday

£30 +VAT

Saturday night accommodation only

1 night accommodation single occupancy (includes breakfast)

£110 +VAT

Saturday night accommodation only (partners fee for double occupancy)

1 night accommodation supplement (partners fee to upgrade to double occupancy - includes breakfast)

£30 +VAT

Sunday ticket

Conference only (inc. lunch) on Sunday

£65 +VAT