CAMPBELL FAMILY TO HOST NSA SCOTSHEEP 2016 AT BLYTHBANK

The farm where Dolly The Sheep, the first cloned sheep in the world, was born in 2003, will be the venue for Scotland’s national sheep event, NSA Scotsheep 2016, next year.

The Campbell family of Glenrath Farms Ltd, through their farm partnership, J P Campbell and Sons, will host the event on behalf of NSA Scotland at Blythbank Farm, West Linton, Peeblesshire, on Wednesday June 1, 2016. The family acquired the farm from the Roslin Institute in 2004.

The farm is also famous as home to the first Texel sheep imported into the UK which were brought in from Ireland in 1970 by Dr John King of the Animal Breeding Research Organisation.

“We are greatly indebted to the Campbell family for their willingness to host Scotland’s national sheep event which is held every two years,” said NSA Scotland chair, Mrs Sybil MacPherson.

“With its historic links with the sheep industry and the first-class flocks of both pedigree and commercial sheep on the farm today, Blythbank will be an excellent venue for NSA Scotsheep.” 

The 1300 acre farm, including 100 acres of trees, is part of the extensive farming operations of the Campbell family and is home to a flock of 2000 Scotch Mule ewes, 500 replacement Scotch Mule hoggs and 700 Blackface ewes along with 200 Limousin x Friesian and three-quarter Limousin suckler cows, a 10-cow pure-bred Charolais herd to breed replacement bulls, a flock of 40 Texel ewes to breed tups for use on the farm and 320,000 free range laying hens, with all eggs going to major retailers.

Managing director, Ian Campbell, said the family was delighted to have been invited to host such an important event for the sheep industry in Scotland and looked forward to welcoming sheep farmers from all over Scotland and beyond to view Blythbank Farm and its flocks of sheep.

Event chairman, Scott Somerville, of feed merchants, Galloway and Macleod Ltd and a former chairman of the rural affairs committee of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, said Blythbank Farm provided the perfect venue for NSA Scotsheep.

“We are hugely grateful to the Campbell family for kindly agreeing to host what is Scotland’s premier sheep event,” said Mr Somerville. “The venue will provide a superb backdrop to a flagship event showcasing everything good about Scottish sheep farming.”

Blythbank is one of several farms owned by Glenrath Farms Ltd whose farming operation extends to 15,000 acres and is recognised as one of the most successful farming companies in the UK. 

The company is the second largest egg producer in the UK, and by far the largest in Scotland, and a major supplier to supermarkets.

NSA Scotsheep will again be organised on behalf of NSA Scotland by Euan Emslie who will be happy to provide details of trade stands and sponsorship opportunities to interested parties. He can be contacted on 01430 441870 or 07718 908523 or e-mail at [email protected]

END

Issued by Agricultural Communications Ltd. Tel/Fax: 01330 811616. Mob: 07772329159. E-mail: [email protected]

August 11, 2015