UKTAG has been asked to attend the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in Maryland USA from the 3rd – 4th May 2025. The Dutch Spotted Sheep Society will have a booth at the event with Society Member and Veterinary Director of UKTAG Dr Rob Grinnall BVSc MRCVS giving a talk on importing UK genetics and the sheep available.
The USA have imported embryos and semen valued at over £2million and we hope to continue this trade. To achieve this and new sales of different breeds fresh and renewed momentum is required. Historically the US has had original genetics for many of our Heritage breeds, Shropshires, Hampshire, Border Leicesters, many breeds recorded back to the 1800s. However, until recently the market has been firmly closed to embryos.
The USA sheep breeder is often interested in the wool breeds in particular and the niche breeds; something that looks different. In fact, the SVB and DSS have been extremely popular in the last 18 months.
This is now changing and the organisers are predicting an increased interest in Downs breeds; Oxford Downs, Hampshire Downs, Shropshires, South Downs, Ryelands. This of course is in addition to that interest already shown in Zwartbles, SVB, Dutch Spotted and the heritage breeds.
In efforts to further increase the promotion of the Dutch Spotted Breed, we hope by attending this event with literature and having Rob there both as a breeder and an industry professional;
1. Hopefully it will bring increased income to those breeders who become involved with the export of their breed genetics
2. It offers a chance to create a gene bank for the rare breeds, should anything happen to the UK population.
As a Society, we would like to invite members to get involved with this exhibition.
To do so, we are opening up the opportunity for individual breeders, for a cost of £100, to send literature over to the event with Rob Grinnall. We suggest the literature is a printed leaflet showcasing your stock. To do so, please email Rob Grinnall - [email protected] before Friday 18th April.
Posted: 28 March 2025
