Red meat promotion agency Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) is pleased to continue its support for the Sheep Breeders Round Table, a world-leading technical conference for sheep breeders, farmers, academics, consultants and industry representatives.
The biennial conference Breeding sheep for a greener future will cover a broad range of sheep breeding topics within the wider role of genetics. Specialist speakers from near and as far as Australia will share expertise and insight into sustainable solutions, industry resilience, policy direction, profitability, breeding to meet market demands and the reputation of the sector.
It will also feature an impressive array of sheep industry projects and studies, including work undertaken by HCC and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded PhD student, Emily Herschell-Kelly, on ‘Drug resistance in the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica.’
Emily said: ‘Although my studies are not directly related to sheep genetics, solving disease challenges in sheep systems require a multi-disciplinary approach as parasites adapt quickly to develop resistance to the limited number of drugs we currently have available. I am delighted to be able to showcase results from my PhD at this prestigious conference.”
Dr. Heather McCalman, HCC’s Research and Development and Sustainability Executive said: “The Sheep Breeders Round Table is an excellent event that we are proud to support. Farmers from Wales are encouraged to attend to experience the passion and enthusiasm for the sheep sector, and to learn from the packed programme of expert speakers.
“It is an opportunity to discuss the value of genetics and a platform to promote new research findings, such as those presented by Emily. By sharing knowledge and experiences of sheep genetic awareness and improvement, we can work towards improving resilience in sheep systems, being one step ahead of change and continuing to produce viable, affordable and efficient products while working in harmony with our natural environment.”
The Sheep Breeders Round Table is an industry initiative with collaboration from all UK levy boards, AgriSearch and the National Sheep Assocation (NSA). It will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel East Midlands, Derby on 15-17 November 2024. Tickets can be ordered online at Sheep Breeders Round Table Event.
Emily’s research was funded through the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership (BBSRC DTP). This DTP was a collaborative project between the University of Liverpool and HCC.
