A crisis that could have caused “unimaginable chaos” to the sheep breeding cycle of north country hill farming seems to have been averted – and according to Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association chairman Sid Ivinson it now looks like hill flocks can expect to move into a normal sheep selling season in the coming weeks.

“The foot and mouth outbreak in early August came at a critical time and could have caused unimaginable chaos for all sheep producers, particularly hill farmers. But its containment and DEFRA's announcement about a resumption of market sales by September 10 th – subject to their being no further outbreaks – has brought massive relief to thousands of sheep producers,” says Sid Ivinson who farms at Hunsonby, near Penrith, Cumbria.

With upwards of 3000 pedigree Bluefaced Leicester tups to be sold at the breed association's series of sales – starting at Kelso on September 14 th – the impact of a major disruption to the autumn sale season would have wrought havoc on the cash-flow of hill farming families this autumn and could even have threatened a normal lambing time next spring if tup sales had been cancelled.

“We've been gearing up for a good autumn of tup sales this year which is why the last few weeks have been even more worrying. We're already hearing that orders for Mule gimmer lambs are as good as they have been for a while and that will hopefully encourage Mule breeders to re-invest in good crossing rams for tupping time.

“There are reports of some buyers from the south substantially increasing their orders for Mule gimmer lambs in recent weeks,” added Sid Ivinson.