Monitoring sheep breed changes in Britain over 40 years: breed choice responds to economic and political pressures

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Darlene Day
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1 Monitoring sheep breed changes in Britain over 40 years: breed choice responds to economic and political pressures Geoff Pollott Department of Production and Population Health EAAP 65 th Annual Meeting, Copenhagen

2 Monitoring sheep breed use in Britain Annual Census data collected in June and December by ministry No information on sheep breeds or matings In 1970, the newly formed Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) set up study groups to determine technical direction of improvement programmes in each meat species No comprehensive information was available on sheep breeds in Britain initiated 1 st postal survey at mating 1971 Subsequent surveys carried out in 1987,1996, 2003 and 2012

3 The last 40 years in context Total sheep numbers in Britain June census Millions England Wales England & Wales Scotland Britain 30 breeds 60 breeds 75 breeds 106 breeds

4 Economic/political changes last 40 years New markets EU, Asia Less competition New Zealand Subsidies from EU increase followed by decrease Foot and mouth disease Consumer pressure less fat larger cuts of meat Profitability of sheep and competing enterprises

5 Demographic changes breeding ewes 20 Ewes mated (Millions) Number (millions) Britain - Source: Defra December census

A structure of two halves % split between the two structures 1971 1987 1996 2003

6 A structure of two halves % split between the two structures numbers with 2003 numbers in parentheses

Traditional crossbreeding structure Hill ewe numbers decreasing Lw = Longwool crossing breeds e.g. Bluefaced Leicester TS = Terminal Sire breeds e.

7 Traditional crossbreeding structure Hill ewe numbers decreasing Lw = Longwool crossing breeds e.g. Bluefaced Leicester TS = Terminal Sire breeds e.g. Suffolk 2012 numbers with 2003 numbers in parentheses Traditional crossbred types decreasing

8 A growing structure TS = Terminal Sire breeds e.g. Suffolk 2012 numbers with 2003 numbers in parentheses Ad hoc crossbreds increasing

9 Changing hill breed numbers Millions Hill ewes as a proportion of all ewes declined from 57% in 1971 to 31% in 2012 Scottish Blackface All Cheviots Swaledale Dalesbred Roughfell Herdwick Exmoor Horn Welsh Mountain Hardy Specklefaced Beulah

10 Disappearing purebreds? (000) Border Leicester Romney Marsh Devon Closewool Devon and Cornwall Longwool Whitefaced Dartmoor Greyfaced Dartmoor Clun Forest Dorset Horn Kerryhill Llanwenog Total 1,

11 The rise of the crossbred Percentage of ewes Purebred Crossbred Britain - Source: MLC/Defra/EBLEX Sheep Breed Surveys

12 Changes in traditional crossbred types (000) North Country Mule 311 3,233 3,809 1,915 2,094 Welsh Mule Scots Mule Greyface Welsh Halfbred (HB) Scottish Halfbred Masham Suffolk x Mule/HB type Texel x Mule/HB type Suffolk x Hill Texel x Hill Total 2,529 6,284 6,291 4,831 4,538

13 Overall breed number changes in 40 years Year UK Imported Newly imported Lost imported Compo sites New comp osites Lost compo sites Total 1971 ~ ~ breeds imported over 40 years - 7 not found in 2012 ~ 545,000 ewes of imported breeds found in 2012 ~ 20% of all non-hill ewes

14 The rise of the Texel ewe Estimated purebred Texel ewe numbers Texel not found in 1971 survey Thousands 2,000 1,800 1,600 In 1973, 1,400 thirteen Lanarkshire sheep breeders joined forces 1,200with ABRO to import twenty seven Texel females 1,000 and thirteen rams from France Estimated crossbred Texel ewe numbers

15 Terminal sire purebred ewe numbers Thousands Suffolk Texel Charollais

16 A move towards more efficient sheep? Thousands Lleyn Bluefaced 2012 Leicester 60 Charollais 50 Thousands

17 Conclusions and discussion points Stratified crossbreeding structure still found Balance shifting towards crossbreds Many ad hoc crossbreds New breeds and composites still appearing Breeds with real traits to offer find a place

18 Acknowledgements English Beef and Lamb Executive for funding and carrying out 2012 Sheep Breed Survey

19 Demographic changes flocks 90 No. of flocks (000) Number (000) Source: BWMB

20 Demographic changes Average flock size 350 Average flock size 300 Nunber of ewes

21 Distribution of ewes and farms by breeding flock size 54% of ewes are on 13% of farms UK - Source: Defra June census 2012

BEST IN SHOW SHEEP SCHEDULE Entries close on Monday 18 June 2018

21 & 22 July 2018 Brockwell Park London SE24 9BJ CPH No: 27/309/8000 Site O.S. Reference: TQ317739 BEST IN SHOW SHEEP SCHEDULE Entries close on Monday 18 June 2018 Sheep can be admitted to the Showground