Latest News

Updates and what's coming up in Summer 2026

The Dutch Spotted Sheep Society are delighted to announce the new breed secretary, Rachel Buckle joining the Society as of 1st July 2025.  Rachel lives near Lanark, Scotland with her partner Jimmy Bell, and together they farm the Cottage flock of crossing Leicester’s, alongside Swaledale ewes producing North of England Mule ewe lambs, Beltex and commercial Mule and Texel cross ewes. Rachel come...

EAR TAGS FOR 2026 For 2026 the Society recommends PURPLE Flag Tags which must bear the following: UK Flock Number, Individual EID Number, DSSS Flock Number and DSSS Year Letter - J

The Dutch Spotted Sheep Society has amended charges to import of sheep from the Republic of Ireland and only those born in ROI to Northern Ireland to £20 + VAT per life for males and females. Further movement on to GB will trigger full import fee. To register these animals, DSS Registrations will need proof of purchase and Pedigree Certificate in order to be registered with the Society. For assis...

62. Farmers and shepherds should consider carefully whether tail docking within a particular flock is necessary. Tail docking may be carried out only if failure to do so would lead to subsequent welfare problems because of dirty tails and potential fly strike. If it is considered that both tail docking and castration are necessary, thought should be given to performing both operations at the one ...

Dear NSA affiliated sheep breed society, We just wanted to get in touch to update you with the ongoing Bluetongue (BTV3) situation and ask if you could please share this message with your society members and contacts. The situation continues to develop with the numbers of affected premises now exceeding 100. The vast majority of these cases are within the Restricted Zone (RZ) in south east and ...

Set in the beautiful Gloucestershire countryside lies Mussel End Farm, home to Simon and Louise Middle and their award-winning Farm Shop & Butchery. A true mixed stock and crop farm in every sense the Middles run 500 Suffolk mules, 150 Stabiliser cattle alongside pigs & chickens. Grass, Maize and cereals are all grown on farm which are then all utilised to finish stock on farm which all get put b...