Livestock Farmer Focus: Victor Chestnutt has been exchanging views with Americans

We recently had the privilege of hosting a visit from 50 American sheep farmers. Although we had typical Irish weather on the day, we enjoyed exchanging views.

It’s such a contrast to farm in a climate with almost seven times the amount of rainfall they work with. One farmer remarked if we over grazed a field it would recover in five days whereas in his situation it would take five years to recover.

Farmers in Ireland are also keen for super confirmation in their terminal sires, whereas the Americans are obsessed with size, but some things remain constant like soundness in bone structure.

During the debate the questions were coming fast and furious and I actually surprised myself when one farmer indicated his major concern for the sheep industry in his area was the predator coyote. When asked what my concern would be for the sheep industry in NI, I replied over- regulation and on reflection thought to myself what a damning indictment of DARD, the UK and Europe.

Sheep sales are almost finished with David’s mule lambs up £16 on average to make £92 a head. This was fine until we saw the trade for Scottish Blackface ewes in NI, which were up by about £50. Back in their homeland trade was similar to last year, but due to all sorts of import regulations it leaves it difficult to import.

Although part of the UK we sometimes feel like second-class citizens when trying to trade on the main land. Last week when we sold our Blue bull for £5100gns in Carlisle it had completed a pre-movement brucellosis and TB test before leaving the farm and when arriving on the mainland it was again retested for brucellosis. Who doesn’t trust who, or is this just another case of straight duplication?