Donald Biggar, the chairman of QMS, explained the background: "Performance recording as a means of improving flock quality has yet to be fully accepted by the sheep sector. However, commercial sheep farmers can help themselves to higher rewards if they embrace the concept of using high index rams in their flocks. At a time when the Scottish sheep industry is facing significant challenges, we cannot afford to ignore opportunities that offer a proven way of increasing efficiency and...

For example, with the Southwest style of cooking becoming more popular, salsas have been added to the canned goods portion. Besides all the entertainment and attractions, EVERYONE can get involved by entering an exhibit in the open class. In the home arts department, the jewelry making category has been expanded to include beadwork, hemp or string, and wire as well as combinations of these materials. Other time-honored classes include canned goods, baked goods and home arts. This project...

Perhaps we are more likely to associate seasonal cheese with goats and sheep. With lambing normally taking place in spring, April and May sees the start of new-season cheese, with soft goat's cheeses making their first appearance. Now that summer is almost upon us, you can swap the fresh tanginess of the young types for the more complex flavours and aromas of the ripened varieties, such as Dorstone. Comt , for example, is made using summer milk from cows that are feeding on luscious fresh...

Sony claims they simply bought the goat that way; but even if that is true, it's still a rather odd way to promote a video game. It seems the main part of the even involved a competition where reporters were invited to partake in a series of party game-like challenges. These challenges included a pin-the-knife on the enemy warrior game, a touch-the-snake game, and a drink-the-goat-soup game. That last one is where the decapitated farm animal came in. E-mail address (will not be published)...

Another 250 emaciated sheep and lambs, chickens, goats, dogs, cats and horses were confiscated and treated by local veterinarians for malnutrition, parasites, untreated wounds and exposure. Cline was cited with a dozen summary counts of animal cruelty in March 2000 after humane society agents searched her 100-acre Hunter Road farm, north of New Derry. in 2005 ordered Cline to pay more than $28,000 to the several rescue organizations that cared for the sick and dying animals recovered from...

Adding to the revolution in alternative harvesting techniques is the Elders initiative to sell Bioclip lambs wool still in the nets. Merino lamb's fleece wool less than 55mm in length and still in Bioclip nets has already been sent to China for processing. The process that breaks the sheep's wool at skin level and removes it with a net is being marketed as guaranteed skin-free. The process involves the wool and net being removed from the lamb and pressed directly into the bale with no...