SCOTTISH REPORT

Regional Contact member – Melanie Harper

          As I write this I’m certain most of you will be well through your lambing, the weather has been pretty shocking wet and muddy. Will we ever see green grass and be able to walk around without a thick covering of mud on our wellies which in my world transfers to the car. My lambing started later than usual this year but that’s nature. I used my old faithful Edingale Hugh Hefner and also a shearling ram bred by my brother, George Harper. It is always exciting and nervous using a new ram but for myself and my daughter’s flock we are pleased with the results. I decided any ewes that weren’t marked early went to a Texel, my thinking being the lambs will fatten quicker, I can wean lambs earlier and the ewes will hopefully fall back into the main cycle. Jacobs amaze me with their material instinct. My brother had a ewe lost her lamb, so I dashed home at lunchtime and skinned and fostered on one of my lambs, the ewe never questioned it, the lamb went in to suck and the ewe instantly bonded. I had a friend with me who couldn’t believe it. I said that’s why I love this breed and they are so underrated. That wee lamb has doubled in size and has a mum who adores her with an endless milk supply.

On Wednesday June 10^th NSA Scotsheep 2026 will be held in the Scottish Borders at Wedderlie Farm, Gordon. We will have a stand and on it we will showcase the breed, pedigree and commercial. The commercial side is always popular and shows the mothering abilities of a Jacob ewe and how she rears cross lambs well. We are still putting together our new breed promotion stand, something we want to get right. Save the date and come and say hello.

Royal Highland Show chose Mr Lyndon Trumper from Wales to judge this year, and we look forward to welcoming Lyndon and his family to this event. The RHS sent an email to myself regarding numbers going downwards for the classes; welcome feedback from our Scottish Committee was submitted to the show and they acknowledge the issues which ranged from cost, a non–commercial breed, pen numbers restricted due to Bluetongue to name but a few. The show have said they only wanted us to be aware. Hopefully our numbers will be back up this year. As always any questions please drop the Scottish RCM or our Field Officer an email and we can help you. We have spoken about changing our after show party/gathering to something more personal and away from the show crowds. We will keep everyone updated nearer the time.

Our National Show this year will be held at Grantown on Thursday 13^th August, and Robert Locker has kindly agreed to judge for us. This show will be included as one the points shows along with the Royal Highland, Fife and Keith, with points gathered and submitted to win large flock/small flock trophies. Many thanks to Scott Robertson and his northern team who help to make this northern show the success it is.

Another important date for your diaries is Sunday 10^th May as it will be our Scottish AGM and also a judges’ seminar. This will be held in Fife but as I write this I don’t have the exact location but will get this out to Scottish members. Our Field Officer, Scott Dalrymple, will be hosting the seminar and welcoming any new members with questions about the breed to attend. It will be a great opportunity to meet members and share ideas and thoughts. More details will follow.

Robert Locker and his sister, Sarah, had a visit from Phil Wilkinson, a local photographer who for the past few years has made contact with myself or Robert when the first lambs are born as he submits the photos to all the national newspapers and 99% of the time one or more newspapers will use his photos, I did put something on social media about this but Robert has sent me the copies and they are included in this Journal.

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SCOTTISH REGION – Regional Contact Member – Melanie Harper

As I write this, I’m sure all your ewes are marked and your rams are ready for a rest, autumn is definitely here. I followed my same old routine with regards to rams going out, ewes drenched with minerals then mineral bucket into the field and let nature take its course. My dates and my daughter Stephanie’s are a bit later than normal but still January lambing.

The Scottish Show and Sale proved to be a success. We were under strange circumstances due to Bluetongue restrictions. The first sale took place on the Thursday at Lockerbie then the second one followed on the Friday at Carlisle. Prices over the two days were up and down, some of the top prices went to Ian Forsyth’s Old Town flock including 2200gns for his aged ram then 800gns for his reserve champion ewe lamb. Hope flock reached 1700gns for their champion ram lamb, and Adam Christie’s Adamski ram lamb which had been the Royal Highland Show champion sold for 2000gns. Prices from Carlisle included George Fell’s champion shearling ewe which made 650gns then his ewe lamb sold for 800gns. The Colhoun family sold two ewe lambs, one at 700gns and the second at 600gns. Thanks to Scott Dalrymple, our judge, and our inspectors over the two days, Robert Locker and Wyn Harries, along with Jean Simmons, our adjudicator, and our sponsors Crystalyx, Aytin Shears and Minexel Nutrition. Thanks also to our Scottish members who kindly sponsored the classes to provide better prize money. Thanks also to Mairi Connor for her invaluable help with trophies, and Harrison and Hetherington and to everyone who supported the Scottish Sale. We will continue to keep pushing this sale forward. I will meet up with Scott and Robert to discuss the sale and look at any improvements we can make. At this time I don’t have a date for the 2026 Sale but will get details on as soon as I know.

The Flock competition has taken place. I don’t have any results back but watch this space. Many thanks to Jean and Robert Price, a mammoth task travelling from one end of Scotland to the other and all in the name of judging Jacobs. The weekend blessed them with lovely weather. Thanks to all the flocks who supported this event.

We haven’t managed to secure a date for a judge’s seminar but as soon as we have a date from our Field Officer and decide on a venue, we will get details circulated.

We would appreciate your thoughts on the Journal. Do you enjoy the Journal or would you prefer a year book. A lot of breed societies have opted for this, and it’s something that some Scottish members have said they feel is a more modern way forward, happy to hear your thoughts.

We will get a date for our 2026 AGM. If you can attend, it’s a great way to meet other members and voice your questions and thoughts. I will get the details out as soon as we agree a date and venue.

Many thanks to the Scottish Committee WhatsApp group, always on hand for help. Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2026. I can’t wait to see the first lambing pictures and as always could that show champion be born in your lambing shed.

SCOTTISH REGION

Regional Contact member – Melanie Harper

As I write this, I think the Scottish Region has probably experienced one of the hottest days ever, and it was our National Show at Dalkeith where exhibitors and stock felt the 29°c. Summer has been fairly kind to us all, dry days at the shows and a bit rain through the week. I can’t believe we are weeks away from the rams heading out again, probably by the time you read this they will be out.

Ewen MacMillan’s ewe lamb, champion at Fife Show with the judge, Adam Christie

As our AGM weekend had to be cancelled, we decided that it would be nice to still head north and have our Scottish AGM. Ian Forsyth kindly invited us to his farm where we saw Ian’s Oldtown Flock along with the cattle that he runs with his father. We held a productive meeting, and had a beautiful spread of food and drink to keep us going after a very early start. Adam Christie along with his parents invited us to their farm the following day where we saw the Adamski Flock (RHS Champion 2025 among them) and we also saw Dad Gary’s cattle which was an impressive sight with 20+ sets of twins along with a fantastic camera set up for calving time. Angela filled our bellies for the journey home with more northern fair. Many thanks for a fantastic weekend.

Fife show kicked off the show year for most and Adam Christie headed south to judge. Lucy MacMillan’s ewe lamb caught the judge’s eye and took the championship with Robert Locker’s ewe reserve.

The Royal Highland came a few weeks later and there is a full report in this Journal from Howard Walsh. There was a good turnout of sheep, maybe a few less than in previous years but some good quality four horned Jacobs were put in from of the judge, Siwan Harris from Wales. Well done to Adam Christie taking champion with his ram lamb, Robert Locker was reserve with his ewe. I have fed back to the show praising them for much improved entry into the show ground on the Wednesday and a more relaxed exit on the Sunday (sweeties were handed out to the exhibitors waiting to load). We all appreciate it’s not an easy task but things are certainly better, pen walk ways were wider and there was no shortage of straw. Thanks to Dunmor and all those who contributed to our after show gathering. Mary always makes sure everyone has enough to eat and drink. We have been discussing a change for next year with regards to the gathering, and shall update you nearer the time.

At Haddington Show Connor & Dalrymple’s shearling ram was champion and their ewe lamb reserve

The National Show was held at Dalkeith and as I said at the start a terribly hot day. We had planned to showcase the breed in the main ring but animal welfare came before that and the decision to cancel was a welcome one. Many thanks to Ady Hamilton who came over from Ireland to judge, Robert Locker ewe finally had her big moment as she took the National Champion spot for 2025 with a Dunmor shearling ram taking reserve. Thanks to Barbara Webster for continuing to gift a glass trophy to the champion. Thanks to our sponsors Melanie Harper and Stephanie Crozier who gifted prize money for champion and reserve.

At the Scottish National Show at Dalkeith Robert Locker’s ewe was champion. The judge was Ady Hamilton

At Fettercairn Show where Ian Forsyth judged, Barbara Webster’s ram was champion and Linda McKendrick’s ewe lamb reserve.

The Scottish Show and Sale has been a bit of an unusual one because Bluetongue and its restrictions caused a rethink. H&H Auctions took the decision to have a sale in Scotland at Lockerbie then the following day another sale at Carlisle, and we made the decision to only pay prize money out to the champion and reserve at both sales. Lockerbie sale would have the trophies and sponsors gifts would be divided between both sales. We are uncertain how it will go but unusual times call for unusual measures.

The Flock Competition will take place the weekend of 25^th September and the judges will be Robert and Jean Price from Wales, I will get more information and costs to enter nearer the time.

We are also hoping to possibly squeeze in a judges’ seminar and open day late October and again will get information out when I have confirmation of the date and venue. Next year’s National Show will be held at Grantown, and Scott Robertson will keep us all updated.

Members will be sorry to learn of the death of Agnes McLean whose husband, Jimmy, bred four-horned sheep in Lanarkshire and together they attended a number of AGM weekends.

We hope to get funding for NSA Scotsheep 2026 which is being held at Wedderlie Farm in the Scottish Borders. Hopefully we will have our new breed stand by then although photos are proving difficult for the canvas. We are on the lookout for a professional photographer to take some pictures. I hope to be able to catch up with everyone at the Scottish Sales, thanks again to Scott Dalrymple and Robert Locker, my sale team, who are always there to answer a 5 am question on WhatsApp. Thanks to the Scottish Committee for their support and hard work.

SCOTTISH REGION

Regional Contact member – Melanie Harper

As I write this it’s still early February and we’ve had a bit of sleet and snow this morning. Most of my Jacobs have lambed, only waiting on shearling ewes who went to a ram lamb and two old ladies who had a bit of fun with a ram lamb who came through my electric fence and left his mark. It was the last time he did it as he ended up a freezer pack. Ewes have had fantastic colostrum along with vast amounts of milk thanks to the usual mineral buckets, high protein nuts, hay and lots of fresh water. Yes, they are eating me out of house and home but they are rearing their lambs well and I can’t ask for any more. The ewes and lambs run in and out of the shed, and they love to get out in the morning. They are still shut in at night and will do so until the weather eases a bit. As for any show champions let’s wait and see where horns go and whether they break them off. I’ve probably had about a 50/50 split with regards to ewe and ram lambs. My daughter Stephanie’s Ruberslaw flock has given her a good supply of ewe lambs… She only had two last year.

Young Gordon Connor helping with lambing at the Dun-Mor flock in West Lothian

The sad decision to cancel the National AGM Weekend was not one that was taken lightly, numbers were down and it wasn’t viable to run this. Maybe we need to rethink these weekends and look at a way that maybe we can encourage more people to attend and keep costs down. I’m always at the end of a phone or email if people have suggestions or thoughts. Can I take this opportunity to say thank you to Barbara along with the northern team who had put together a fun weekend. If you ever get the chance jump on a train and head north it is beautiful countryside in a very unspoilt part of Scotland.

The Royal Highland Show, June 19^th – 22^nd, will be with us before we know it, and it would be great to see a good turnout of Jacobs for our Welsh judge, Siwan Harris. I’m hopeful we will have a similar set up as in previous years with regards to pens and judging ring. We will have our usual after judging get together. The main judging day is on the Thursday, come along and say hello.

I can confirm our National Show will be held at Dalkeith Show on Saturday 12^th July. Ady Hamilton from Ireland has kindly accepted the invite to judge, and we are very grateful to him for making the journey over to Scotland. I must thank Scott Brown, chief sheep steward, for his help as he is always at the end of a message and phone call. Many will know Scott as the voice of the RHS sheep rings. We are hoping for some good classes of Jacobs. A little change to the normal structure for the judging wil be that the Jacob championship will be judged in the main area, and Scott Brown will then give a brief explanation about the breed and why everyone should have them their fields. It’s a chance to showcase the breed and that can only be a good thing for us. If anyone needs a schedule or more information regarding the National, please drop me a message or a call and I will try to help.

A ewe and lamb at Melanie Harper’s Deanburn flock in the Scottish Borders

The Scottish Show and Sale will take place on Friday 1^st August at H&H Carlisle and our 2025 judge is Scott Dalrymple, part of the successful Dunmor Team. We have spoken with H&H and given feedback about the 2024 sale, hopefully this will be looked at and actioned. We are still fairly new to selling at Carlisle and teething issues will hopefully get ironed out. The team at H&H are very good and always keen to help which is what we need on sale day. We will continue to work hard to hopefully get venders and buyer the best for them on sale day.

Due to the cancellation of the National AGM, we are all a bit “up in the air” but Scotland are already looking at events to compensate for the loss of the weekend. We are in the early stages of planning but we will get details out as soon as we can, and we hope to incorporate a judges’ seminar/flock visits along with a social night, Watch this space. A flock competition will hopefully go ahead in the autumn, more details to follow.

A feeling that has come from members is one that we need to be encouraging younger people into the Society, they are our future, none of us are getting any younger and we need young people to come along and bring fresh ideas. Please drop me a message if you have any ideas. Many thanks to the Scottish Committee for their continued support.

SCOTTISH REGION

Regional Contact member – Melanie Harper

I started the last report by saying rams will be out and working, by the time you read this the rams will be finished for the year and hopefully all your ewes will be in lamb. My rams went out a week later this time and again most of the ewes will lamb within a week of each other; Big L will lead the way again, but my shearling ewes have been slower to mark and will lamb after the main ewes. Mineral drench and mineral buckets again the only thing I give my females before they meet the ram. Shall see what my scanner man sees, always a nervous time.

Jack Elliott’s champion shearling ewe at Grantown Show with the judge, Scott Dalrymple

The Scottish sale was very successful. Many thanks to Kay Carpenter from the Central Region for accepting our invitation to judge, some huge classes for Kay to judge but on the day her champion came from the Trumper family, a very smart shearling ram which took her eye with another Welsh breeder taking the reserve place, a well grown ram lamb from the Hope Flock. The prices were up and down but that is the trend this year. It’s fantastic to see our sale growing and getting better and better each year. Our inspection team I am sure see a difference in the quality of sheep and there are so few now fail inspections, credit to our breeders and knowledge of the breed coming through. There will be a full report of the show and sale in this Journal. Thanks to our Scottish members who kindly sponsored the classes, and thanks to Crystalyx and Life-Guard for their generous gifts. We have secured another sponsor for our sale as Aytin Shears are keen to come on board so we look forward to seeing them in 2025. Thanks must also go to Robert Locker and Scott Dalrymple who are always at the end of a message if I need any assistance or information. We can confirm the 2025 judge will be Scott Dalrymple, I am waiting to hear a confirmed date for our sale but certain it will be start of August. I will keep everyone posted.

Our National Show 2025 should have been at The Border Union, Kelso, but this would clash with the Central Region sale at Worcester, so after a discussion with the Scottish committee we decided to approach Dalkeith Show, and as I write this I’m still waiting on confirmation that they are happy to accommodate our National Show. The general feeling is yes but we just need it confirmed. Once we have confirmation I will approach our chosen judge, the vote for the judge was also another committee choice.

At Nairn Show Jennifer Milton’s ewe was champion and Ian Forsyth’s ewe lamb reserve. The judge was Ewen MacMillan

We held our AGM at Huntly Auction Mart, Sunday 8^th September. We had a lengthy discussion about the long-awaited Scottish AGM Weekend where a fantastic Scottish welcome awaits you all. Whether you fly, drive, or go by train your journey north will be a stunning one. When I was there, I travelled further up the road to see the hotel, it looks beautiful and the staff very confident they can accommodate our needs. The northern Scottish members have organised an entertaining weekend full of sheep, trains, crafts, games, and whiskey along with a lot of laughter. Thanks to Barbara Webster who is always on hand to help me. You will find the booking forms in this Journal.

Looking ahead to the end of 2024/2025 the committee will head over the Border to visit a few northern flocks of Jacobs and we plan to visit some Dutch Spotted too (ex-Jacob breeder who has opted for black and white just minus the horns now), hopefully photos in the next journal.

We would like to have a flock competition autumn 2025 – we have yet to confirm that date, but judges have been approached and we will get details out to Scottish members as soon as I can confirm dates. We would like to have an open day/judge’s seminar too – watch out for more details.

Robert Locker’s champion and reserve sheep at the Border Union Show

We have not forgotten about our new breed promotion stand but we are just trying to get the best pictures for this as the picture used will be blown up on the stand we need good quality photos that will withstand that editing. Watch this space.

At Keith Show Ian Forsyth’s shearling ewe was champion and Allan Scott’s tup lamb reserve. The judge was Mike Munro.

On that note Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all, good luck in your lambing sheds and I cannot wait to see the first lamb pictures.

Many thanks to the Scottish Committee for their support over the last year without you we would not be surging ahead and pushing the breed on.

Melanie Harper’s first prize Jacob pair at the Border Union Show

At the Black Isle Show Linda McKendrick’s shearling ewe was champion and Barbara Webster’s tup lamb reserve. The judge was Jennifer Milton.

SCOTTISH REGION

Regional Contact member – Melanie Harper

Can you believe by the time you read this we will probably have our rams out, seems like only two minutes since the lambs were running round the lambing shed and we were picking out our show teams and sale lambs. The summer seems to of passed us by with only a small splash of sunshine.

The Jacob Sheep Society stand at Scotsheep

Many thanks to Barbara and her team who set up the stand for NSA Scotsheep, after a small admin error the Jacob Society managed to get a good spot for the stand next to some higher profile breeds which attracted a steady flow of visitors. We are still putting our new breed promotion stand together as the photos for the double sided stand need to be of exceptional quality as the photos will be blown up on the canvas. Barbara has a great deal of knowledge in this field, so we are guided by her.

The show season kicked off with the National Show at Fife, thanks to Linda McKendrick who kindly sponsored the prize money for the National. Barbara kindly donated the glass trophy too. Siwan Harries and husband, Wyn, pushed up their airmiles as Wyn had been judging in Ireland then both travelled to Scotland for Fife show. A great display of Jacobs was presented for Siwan to judge. On the day her champion choice went to Dunmor’s aged ewe and reserve spot went to Ewen MacMillan’s ram lamb. Next year our National Show will be held at – watch this space.

The next big one was the Royal Highland Show, and this year’s judge was Nicola Fletcher. Although numbers were down from the previous year the quality of Jacobs on show were there to be seen. Nicola’s champion came from the Dunmor team, their now aged ram put on the blue sash once again. The reserve championship went to Barbara Webster’s ram lamb. Female champion was awarded to Robert Locker’s shearling ewe. A full report will be included in this Journal. The entry and exit of stock seemed to feel easier as we are now diverted through the trade stands, and we miss the busy area down by the shearing tent. Thanks to all the exhibitors who gave up four long days to have their Jacobs on show. We had a lovely get together after the judging sponsored by Connor & Dalrymple and organised by Mary Connor and Angela Christie. Thanks also for everyone’s kind donations especially some very tasty shortbread from a certain member.

Connor & Dalrymple’s champion aged ewe and Ewen MacMillan’s reserve champion ram lamb at the Scottish National Show with the judge, Siwan Harries

Our Scottish sale has attracted a good number of sheep. We must thank some of our Scottish members who have kindly agreed to sponsor the prize money which has allowed us to increase the prize money on offer. Thanks to Crystalyx and Life-Guard who have once again supplied vouchers and gifts to give out to some of our prize winners. I say again that the move to Carlisle has been a very positive one. A report of the sale will be in the next Journal. Thanks to everyone who supports our sale, we appreciate you all.

The Scottish AGM 2025 is very much under control and I plan to travel with Barbara after the show and sale season is finished to visit the hotel and get the finer details in place Booking forms will be circulated with the winter Journal with all details needed to get members up to the beautiful scenery and hospitality that awaits you from our north of Scotland members.

Judging of the shearling ewe class at the Scottish National Show

I will get details out of our AGM meeting and maybe an open day too. I will keep everyone updated. Many thanks to Scottish committee members who give up their time to work so very hard for the Society.

Can I add many thanks to Siwan and her team for the super weekend we had at the Welsh AGM, my Welsh 4 horn ewe made it home to Scotland and has pride of place in my kitchen.

Connor & Dalrymple’s champion and reserve at Dalkeith Show with the judge, Adam Christie

Barbara Webster’s champion ram lamb at Fettercairn Show

Connor & Dalrymple’s champion and reserve champion sheep at Haddington Show with the judge, Mike Munro