Ireland: Farmers voice concerns about price of SIS eligible rams

Sheep farmers expressed concern about what the price of Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) eligible genotyped rams would be this year, at the latest Teagasc sheep seminar in Roscommon. Following a presentation by the Teagasc Business and Technology advisor James Kelly on the scheme and what it involves, farmers’ raised concerns over the money they may have to spend on buying a scheme eligible genotyped ram. The seminar took place at the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon on Thursday, January 19 and various issues relating to the new SIS were on the agenda. Kelly acknowledged that there was concern around the availability and price of scheme eligible rams this year and many farmers asked when would the best time to purchase a ram for the scheme. Kelly asked for a show of hands from farmers on what year they picked to carry out the genotyped ram action – the majority indicated this year, however others had chosen year two, while a handful had picked year three. Rams eligible for SIS scheme ...