JACOB SHEEP SOCIETY
SOUTHERN REGION WINTER NEWSLETTER
Chair – Daphne Rice – Tel: 01798 815732
Editor – Neil Dickens – Tel: 01525 242253
Everyone recognises 2012 is a very special year for events, with the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games. So you may have
overlooked the opportunity of participating in the JSS Annual General
Meeting. This is a chance not to be missed as we host the event in the
Southern Region on the 27th 28th & 29th April.
Your Committee has planned a spectacular weekend and it is hoped it
will be enjoyed by the Society membership. We hope to be honoured
by the presence of our Patron, HRH Princess Alexandra.
The venue at the Norton Park Hotel, near Winchester, ticks all the
boxes with excellent facilities. It is still not too late to sign up for the
weekend so do come and support your region and the Society.
Thank you very much to those of you who sent a contribution
towards the costs of the event. For those who cannot attend we
would still be grateful for anything you can send however large or
small! Cheques payable to JSS and sent to Daphne Rice
NATIONAL AGM PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION.
Now come on you budding photographers, here is the opportunity of
displaying your Digital photography skills. During the weekend of
the JSS AGM there will be a display and judging of photographs
entered into the competition. There are three categories: Open Days
 Shepherd and Flock
 Jacob Sheep and animal friends.
Photographs should please be no smaller that A6 or larger that A4.
They can be black and white or colour: close-up, wide-angled or
telephoto. Either landscape or portrait format.
It would be helpful if you could please send them to me , Neil Dickens.
Red Barn Farm, Tythe Close, Stewkley, Nr Leighton Buzzard. Bucks
LU7 0HD by no later than 7th April. If you are coming to the AGM you
could bring them with you as long as I have them by 6pm on Friday
27th,although ideally I would like to have them before that weekend.
WOOL CUP & AILEEN KENNEDY TROPHY.
If you are not into photography and have the skills to work with
Jacob wool then you could enter these competitions, either as an
individual or part of the Southern Region Group. Items can include
knitting, crochet, waving, spinning, tapestry, felt, embroidery,
macramé, fleecy sculptures, fleecy pictures or anything else.
Alternatively you could enter the competition for the best skein of
hand spun Jacob yarn.
Entry forms accompanied the recent copy of the Winter JSS Journal,
otherwise contact Dianne Hall on 01829 760348 who will assist you.
SOUTHERN REGION AGM
Some 28 members attended the Southern Region’s first AGM on the
27th November at Holmbury Farm, the home of Virginia and Richard
Lloyd. The business of the day was quickly dispensed with and we all
then enjoyed a lovely lunch. This was followed by a presentation on
cheeses which proved extremely popular. We sincerely thank
Virginia and Richard for their generous hospitality in allowing us to
meet at their home
Your committee decided that rather than having a novice class at one
show we would have a prize for the best result by a novice at any
show. Chris Bone took reserve champion at the Kent show with her
ram lamb so she was presented with the new novice cup at the AGM.
Chris also won the Aldington cup at the Kent show for the best Jacob
fleece.
Bob Brewis
Bob Brewis, who died in November aged 91, was a founder member
of the Society and a great supporter and member of the Southern
Region. He judged sheep of many different breeds, particularly
Jacobs, as well as the rare and minority classes, and was a fixture at
many shows in the region. He was particularly associated with the
Rare Breeds show at Singleton which he attended ever since it
started in 1985. Two years ago he judged the Best in Show there, and
was always to be seen round the sheep pens giving words of wisdom
and advice and sharing a joke with his many friends.
He was devoted to his own flock of Jacobs – the New Troy Flock –
which is now continuing under the ownership of his son Alistair in
Oxfordshire.
There will be a longer appreciation of his life in the next journal but
we couldn’t let this newsletter go without remembering his
particular association with this region. He will be greatly missed by
all his friends.
AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE
For the benefit of members I felt I should advise you of a problem
Pam and I have experienced with our flock of Jacob ewes over the
Christmas period. A few days before Christmas I noticed one of our
ewes had a discharge from one eye that was bloodshot. After
48hours there had been no improvement, we consulted the Vet who
prescribed an eye ointment named ‘Urbenin’ to be inserted into the
infected eye daily. Whilst he did not examine the ewe he felt the
problem was ovine keratoconjunctivitis, commonly called ‘Pink eye’.
We were advised to isolate the ewe because this is extremely
infectious . Within a few days twelve ewes had developed the
problem in both eyes. Whilst the eye is initially bloodshot it
eventually clouds over and the animals become virtually blind. Our
friends in the Society know how we maintain our sheep in excellent
conditions and we could not account for how this infection had got to
the animals. I personally feared we would be losing the whole flock.
The Vet attended and confirmed his earlier diagnoses. Treatment
was to inject antibiotics, with a fine needle, into the side of each eye.
You will appreciate that was quite a task! By now several of the ewes
were virtually blind and were seen walking into fences and gates.
Our Vet assured us that all would recover and I am pleased to report
that matters are now on the mend and just two remain partially
affected. They should lamb very shortly so let’s hope all goes well.
Where the problem came from – who knows - but the message is
clear – watch your sheep carefully & regularly.
Neil Dickens.
Events
Open Day 2012.
Fiona Gordon has kindly agreed to hold an Open Day at her home
near Maidstone on 23rd June. Please put the date in your diary and
more details will follow nearer the time.
Flock Assessment
This year we will be holding a flock assessment in the region It will
be in the autumn, towards the end of September, beginning of
October.
AGM and Open Day
We will be having our regional AGM probably on Sunday21st October
Venue yet to be arranged
SHOW TIME
Southern Region shows with Jacob Classes.
Surrey County
4th June
Alton
1st July
Kent County
13th/15th July
Singleton
22nd July
New Forest
24th/26th July
Cranleigh
5th August
Edenbridge & Oxted
26th/27th August
Romsey
8th September
Royal Berkshire 15th/16th September.
Surrey County Show has announced an extra £1,500 in prize money
this year. The sheep section enjoys the biggest overall rise in prize
money. The prize for the Champion Sheep has doubled to £50 with
£25 for the Reserve Champion. First prizes have increased from £20
to £30. Also if you enter three or more sheep they pay you £30.Last
year there were only 2 Jacob entries at this show so please, if you can,
enter this year. Although it is the first show in this region, there is no
necessity to get your sheep shorn too early. Mid to late March will be
fine and by then they won’t need to be kept indoors. So please make
an effort to come and if any of us on the committee can help in any
way don’t hesitate to ask.
Young Sheep Handlers Classes.
Several of the County shows provide classes for Young Handlers.
Winners of these competitions become eligible to be entered in the
final of the “Young Sheep Handler of the Year’ competition which is
organised each year at the Hatfield Show in August. Why not take the
opportunity of encouraging our young .people to take part.
For the benefit of members north of the Thames
Eastern Region Shows with Jacob Classes.
Rutland Show
3rd June
Suffolk County Show 7th/8th June
Norfolk Show
27th/28th June
East of England 6th/7th /8th July
Melton Mowbray 7th/8th September
Hatfield Show held in the grounds of the Earl of Salisbury’s Estate at
Hatfield House, Hertfordshire on 17th/18th/19th August would
welcome Jacob Sheep Classes if there were sufficient entries. Several
members in the Eastern Region have shown interest. Please contact
Neil Dickens 01525 242253 if you are interested in participating.
Grow Your Own Show 5th/6th May 2012
This event will be held at Loseley Park near Guildford. Last year was
its first year and it was so successful the organisers are holding it
again. All the stallholders are smallholders or small producers, many
of them local. Last year we had a stand in the animal tent, with a ewe
with lambs, which provoked a good deal of interest. We have a
volunteer for one day but if anyone would like to help out by taking a
couple of sheep along and looking after the stand for a day please let
Daphne know. In any event it is a really good day out.
Southern Counties Agricultural Trade Suppiers (SCATS)
Lambing evenings.
Scats are holding two evening events for anyone who is interested in
lambing. Both events will be attended by someone from Novartis
who will give a talk and answer questions about drugs –
Heptovac, click, wormers etc
and also from : Strathclyde, who make the blocks, licks and buckets.
There will be 10% off everything and refreshments will be provided.
You do need to book. You can either ring Nikki at Billingshurst on
01403 783730 or ring the store direct.
16th February
- Godalming branch 6.30 to 9.30pm
st
1 March
Redhill branch 6.00 to 9.00 pm