A buoyant and upbeat Scotsheep 2018 was held this week at Kings Arms Farm, Ballantrae in South Ayrshire.

“After a wet summer last year and a long winter to forget” Scottish National Sheep Association chair John Fyall welcomed all to enjoy the day. The Chair went to say that “sheep have turned the corner and we are moving to the ball” due to recent good prices and an upturn in the weather.

Officially opening the event local farmer and Member of the Scottish Parliament John Scott thanked the hosts, Robert and Caroline Dalrymple. Before going on to explain that local farmers looked to the couple and their farm manager Andrew Maclean, to “learn from the experts” as the pair make a good job on the farm with an attention to detail.”

Coming from down south Robert and Caroline took 130 acres in 1976 and turned it into 950 acres with 1,400 ewes, 320 hoggs, 185 suckler cows and 15 pedigree Charolais.

Last year the couple sold 2,255 lambs averaging £89.20/head, 88% were grading E and U. Robert thanked the MSP for his kind words then wished all attendees to have a nice day and return home with a broad smile.

The award for the best breed society stand went to the Blackface breed society, with the Zwartbles second and north Country Cheviot’s third. The NSA Scotland Silver Salver award was presented to NSA stalwart Mamie Paterson. Lanark Hill sheep farmer Jen Craig said she was one of the “most deserving recipients” and an “incredibly amazing lady.”

Quality Meat Scotland Chair Jim McLaren used his time at the podium to highlight the lack of answers on Brexit and the potential desperate sheep market if exports were shut. He called on the farming lobbying organisation to “camp outside Michael Gove’s door” to ensure measures are put in place to prevent a ‘doomsday scenario.’

From last year’s 1.1 million lamb crop 10% of the meat ended up in Scotland, 64% in the rest of the UK and 26% went abroad according to the QMS figures. In all, 66% of exports ended up in France, 24% in the Low Countries and Germany and only 6% going to Italy.