Increased lamb sales of some 30% during lockdown coupled with growing revenue from ram sale levies has given the Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association the confidence to take a fresh look at marketing and promotion.

That was the good news story from the association’s virtual agm, where breed chairman, Alec Telfer, told members, council was looking to the future-proof the breed. “It is time to take a fresh look at things, so we have entered discussions with Scottish Rural Development, a marketing consultancy organisation run by Lorna Young and Liz Ramsay, and they have been given the contract to come up with a development strategy for the association.

“This is an important piece of work, in that it will produce a template for how we take our association forward. They have already surveyed members on what they want from the association and what improvements can be made and an initial digital audit was done. We are hopeful to have the first draft of recommendations by mid May,” said Mr Telfer.

Blackface sheep breeders have already embraced social media, with the association page boasting some 13,905 likes with many posts reaching in excess of 20,000 people. Furthermore, the video ‘Keeping the Hills Alive 2’ in which James Hamilton explains the importance of Blackface Sheep at the apex of his family’s stratified sheep farming system at Aikengall, Thurston Mains and Nunraw, reached just shy of 100,000 people, with two other videos planned for this year.

Such is the health of the association’s bank balance following two years of historically low promotional spend due to Covid, that some £130,000 has been moved into NFU Mutual in order to protect funds for future promotional spending.

In addition, tup levies increased from £63,500 in 2020 to £76,620, last year. Total income for 2021 was £145,426, compared to £140,348, which minus expenses of just over £82,000, resulted in a net surplus of £64,625 for 2021.

Unfortunately, the Association’s 120th anniversary dinner in January, had to be cancelled owing to Covid restrictions at the time, but there are plans to hold a similar event later in year.

Plans are also underway for a Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association National Show, which this year will be staged on Sunday, July 31 at United Auctions’ Stirling Mart. Recently appointed judges include Billy Renwick for the south-type; Tom Adam for the north-type and Philip Walton will be placing the North of England type.  

Mr Telfer from Selkirk, remains as president for another year when it is hoped association activity will get back to near normal. Aberdeenshire-based Sandy Smith, also continues as vice-president, with Derek Redpath, The Yett, elected junior vice-president.