The South of Ireland Branch will have its usual stand at the National Ploughing Championships this year.

Along with top-quality purebred registered Suffolk, there will be four pens of different types of commercial Suffolk sheep. These are a pen of pedigree Suffolk ewe lambs, a pen of commercial ewe lambs, a pen of mature x Suffolk ewes and finally a pen of butcher Suffolk xx lambs.

According to the society, most commercial farmers know the Suffolk xx lambs are ideal lambs for both the home and export market and the butchers’ trade as well as providing top-quality ewe replacements. They say this diversity, coupled with rapid growth rate, continues to make the Suffolk the unrivalled terminal sire, thus increasing profits.

The society also claims that farmers are becoming increasingly aware that the rapid growth rate that is provided by the Suffolk breed makes an enormous difference to their profits, when they can finish lambs at an earlier age. In addition to that, the Suffolk’s unrivalled capacity for rapid lean meat production makes the breed an essential ingredient in progressive sheep farming.

Consumer confidence in the product is critical and again the Suffolk, with its predominately scrapie resistant genotype is leader in the field, the society says.

“When choosing a terminal sire for one’s flock, it is most important to choose a pedigree-registered purebred Suffolk ram that will give fast-growing, well-muscled and easy fleshing lambs,” the society added.

The Suffolks have enjoyed great success at their Shows and Sales to date in 2016 both at society, regional and club level.

Events

Upcoming events include a show and sale at Roscrea Mart on Wednesday 7 September; show and sale at Tullamore Mart on 14 September; female sale, Blessington Mart, 19 November.