Recently I was invited by the Icelandic Sheep Breeders of the British Isles (ISBOBI) to judge its inaugural online show. Nothing particularly unusual about that you might be thinking, until you consider that I don’t keep Icelandic sheep, never have kept Icelandic sheep and probably never will keep Icelandic sheep!
What I do have, though, is 35 years of shepherding experience, having kept and worked with a huge range of different breeds under diverse management regimes in flocks both large and small. What I don’t have is any prejudicial preference for a certain type or colour of Icelandic sheep, any favouritism for certain flocks, or any temptation to judge the exhibitors rather than their exhibits.
My impartiality is beyond doubt quite simply because I know nothing of the individual breeders or any of the internal politics of their association. It would be a wonderful thing, I think, if more breed societies would follow the example of the ISBOBI and appoint judges from outside their own clique. That way they would get a totally fresh (and sincere) opinion on their sheep, and a whole lot less back scratching. While it could easily result in a few ‘top’ breeders being taken down a peg or two, it might also allow some less well known flock owners (who may nonetheless have good quality animals) to shine.
Denne historien er fra October 2020-utgaven av Country Smallholding.
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Denne historien er fra October 2020-utgaven av Country Smallholding.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The Secret World Of The Honey Bee
Who knew that honey bees are the best builders? Nicola Bradbear from Bees for Development reveals how they build their parallel wax combs with extraordinary accuracy
Tip the light fantastic
The latest offering from Ifor Williams Trailers is the Single Axle Tipper, which is simply perfect for small-scale farmers
The legacy of The Good Life
The Good Life captured the public’s imagination when it first aired in 1975. On Country Smallholding’s 45th birthday, Jeremy Hobson looks at this and other programmes with a self-sufficiency slant that have captivated urban and rural dwellers alike over nearly half a century
‘The hens took shelter under the pig trailer in the paddock'
A tree Armageddon frightens poultry diarist Julian Hammer’s flock and leaves him with a mammoth clear-up job
Tools of the trade
In the second part of his mini-series on tools that are useful around the holding, Kevin Alviti takes an in-depth look at the iconic scythe, a thistle paddle and forks that were once virtually indispensable to small-scale farmers
The nightclub bouncer of the sheep world
Adam Henson waxes lyrical about the Texel, which boasts such a stocky body that it resembles a box of muscle on four legs
Buying on a tight budget
As demand for smallholdings increases and prices continue to rise, is there a way to achieve your dream without forking out a fortune? In the first part of a new mini-series, Liz Shankland explores the possibilities
Crazy for crafts
In an ordinary back garden and single paddock near Kidderminster, Kay Dalloway has created both a thriving smallholding and a successful fibre business — all while working full time for the NHS. Helen Babbs drops by to find out about her ventures
Game on
A little preparation in the autumn months will help to make the transition into winter smoother and put your garden and tools on a better footing come the spring, says Stephanie Bateman
1975 And All That
Country Smallholding is 45 this month. To celebrate, Jeremy Hobson takes a look at some of the changes — both good and bad — to small-scale farming over that near half-century
