Related Links

Lleyn Sheep Society
Scottish & Borders Lleyn Breeders Club
FABBL Farm Assurance
National Scrapie Scheme
Cragg Farm.com
National Sheep Association

Web hosting by FreeVirtualServers

Polagra - Poznan Poland 12th – 15th October 2006

When the opportunity arose 2 Lleyn breeders seized the chance to spread the attributes of the Lleyn sheep breed to Poland. Dai Morris from South Wales & David Knowles from Cumbria travelled to the Polagra – Farm Fair in Poznan, Poland. The event which is the largest Agricultural event in Poland attracts farmers from all over Poland and from other Eastern European countries.

The Lleyn Society was invited to take space in the British Pavilion, along with other UK sheep & cattle societies. Henry Lewis form BLG (British Livestock Genetics) organised the event for the UK producers so that the UK had some representation at the event. Polagra is a large event similar to our Smithfield event; nearly everything is undercover in large exhibition halls. On view were livestock, machinery, horticulture, forestry, arable and many trade stands.

The Lleyn stand was in the UK Pavilion which was home to all the UK exhibitors. We had our own personal interpreter so we could communicate with the Polish farmers as well as Polish posters and leaflets.

It soon came apparent that Poles were not really into sheep production. Dairy farming had been very strong until recently, now with a low milk price farmers were looking for alternatives. The favoured option was to go into beef production. In the show the Dairy cattle were much like our own with the beef cattle being plainer sorts. The few sheep exhibits were “fat” they included Merinos, a couple of Suffolk’s & a few native breeds. None of which inspired.

After a little more research we soon learned that the Polish sheep flock totalled 7 million 10 years ago, now it stood at 300,000. The Poles don’t eat Lamb either. On a more positive note the young Poles are now starting to eat Lamb, it was available in many restaurants and the young professional Poles were giving it a try. The older age group were fed vast quantities of fatty lamb and mutton in there early years, so they have a hate of the meat!! Through CAP reform some Polish farmers are looking to do something with there set aside land and grazing it with sheep would be an option. However much of the land is unfenced. The winters in Poland are quite severe with cold down to minus 30 and snow covering the ground for around 3 months. Consequently all stock, including sheep are housed for all winter.

The event was very interesting and we were made most welcome. Over the 4 days of the event we talked to many Polish farmers, many had no experience in sheep production and were interested in learning more. We came back with several hopeful enquiries which the Society will follow up. We have hopefully sown the seeds for what might grow into large things! If the Lleyn reaches Poland, it will join France, Spain & The Azores in taking Lleyns over the last couple of years

.