Bits and Pieces
Uploaded May 2005

Hi folks,

Time is racing by again and the start of the show season for those of us who are gluttons for punishment is nearly upon us again. And I feel very sad to think that we will not be seeing or hearing Geoffrey this year or again but I am sure he will be around to watch and smile at some of the things that happen on the circuit that he was such a big part of for so long.

I hope everybody had a good Christmas and New Year, our's was very quiet this year as we have managed at last to stagger the farrowing to suit us better and have also culled some of the older girls now and although I hate doing the deed I am glad it has been done and we are now running productive sows with breathing space in between.

I hope that you are all sorted with the Fallen Stock Scheme, as it is now well under way. We have had to make use of it for one of my older sows that died so I have put my experience of it here.

We very sadly lost my old pygmy goat this week; he always slept out in the big house with the sows and had done for the last year since we lost Doris his long-term mate. She was 14 and he was 16 so it was time I suppose but I do miss not having him pushing into the feed shed in the mornings and waiting until I put fresh straw out for the sows and then he would make his bed first, they got what was left, he was the boss. He was as much a pet as my two dogs.

Jo has the Web site running well along with Richard who set it up and I know that it is being well used, I am told by many people who have used it that it is the best breed website they have visited.

We held the A.G.M. at Chris and Kev's place again and a big thanks you to them and anyone else who helped out. See reports here.

Peter La Bas from NZ has asked the club whether we would be interested in having an international Berkshire Breeders Club so we could link up with other Breeders in other countries. Does anybody in the club have feelings about this I would appreciate any input please? Peter has pointed out that there are only 5 breeders in the whole of NZ and he wonders with no youngsters coming in whether the breed will survive there. Please let the club officers have your thoughts.

Sharon