Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival 2025, USA 3-4 May 2025
UKTAG was delighted to be invited to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Event held 3-4 May to represent the UK sheep industry and the breeds we have to offer the US market. The popular show attracts around 20,000 visitors over the two days, has around 650 sheep present and over 250 wool and/or-sheep-related stands.
Supported by AHDB, the DBT British Embassy Washington, Farmgene, AB Europe, UK Sheep Genetics and Ballycreely Livestock along with the Bleu du Maine Sheep Society, the Blue Faced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association, the Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders Association and the Suffolk Sheep Society, Rob & Vicky Grinnall manned a stand at the event for the two days.
The British stand at the event
The interest was constant. Probably the most significant factor in this was that UKTAG was the only organisation with an international stand. We were given a prime position between the pens and the showrings which were occupied constantly for the two days of the event. No other breed, organisation or country had taken this initiative and so the breeders and public alike were fascinated with all that we had on display and wanted to discuss sheep with us. Supreme Champion Ram was a Lincoln Longwool and the Supreme Champion Ewe was a Black Border Leicester. On display was the first Dutch Spotted to attend the event born from a UK embryo and his pen mate was a superb example of a Shetland Ram.
Conversations varied from the easy ‘what breed is that’ to the technical discussions on scrapie and schmallenberg and how we could work with the US to progress the imports. Another significant part was putting to rights those apocryphal tales where issues had been interpreted as being of UK origin, when in fact it was a US stipulation. Says Rob: “This sort of interaction is only possible face to face and undoubtedly was of tremendous help to some in understanding the process.”
At the British Embassy, Washington DC
As part of the arrangement with the Maryland Sheep & Wool Co (MSW), Rob spoke for an hour to a packed and interested audience on the export process, how it developed, the issues and how to overcome any pitfalls, with questions lasting for another half hour after the allotted time.
John Wilkes, the US consultant for AHDB and a journalist, also played a large part in ensuring that Rob was in front of the right people. These ranged from representatives of the MSW committee, the ASI, NSIP, as well as breeders who had already imported and those who were considering the process.
On Monday 5th, Rob and Vicky were hosted at the British Embassy in DC by UK Agriculture Attache to the USA Will Surman to discuss the event, the outcomes and future actions. Will’s support for UK agri-trade and his understanding of the sector are a huge benefit and critical to how this is all progressed after this initial foray into the sheep industry in the US.
Understanding markets is crucial to the export sales and each is different; the USA is unique. Many of the breeds are already present, but their gene pool has been closed for decades to purebred animals. In addition, the largest market at present is that of the ‘hobbyist’ with spendable cash, looking for something different and exotic. Huge amounts have been spent on the Swiss Valais and new breeds entering the US are the Kerry, Dutch Spotted, and BDM. Blue Faced Leicesters, Border Leicesters and many of our traditional breeds are present but no longer resemble the original imports and it is here that much work could be done.
The US meat market is also changing. Their large-framed sheep are losing some appeal and the UK smaller carcases find a space in the housewives’ baskets, with family cuts, low on fat and bone. The sheep that we are exporting will not take-over the USA meat market to any real significant effect, but when some breeds in the UK find themselves short of new breeders, exports can be a significant extra income to the pedigree flockmaster.
“We need to continue to showcase our amazing variety of breeds to the US and the world. Improving sustainability and productivity is great for farming around the world, but it also acts as an extra income stream here in the UK,” adds Rob. It is now important that the contacts created are followed up to ensure best uptake and maintenance of the work done. As such, Rob will be contacting relevant UK businesses to ensure business is created.
With thanks to The Maryland Sheep and Wool Committee for allowing us to attend this influential event. This visit would not have been possible without the support from Will Surman, the British Embassy, the semen collection centres, breed societies and of course the MSW Committee.
Dr Rob Grinnall, Veterinary Director, UKTAG (UK Technology for Agriculture & Genetics) E: rob@uktag.co.uk