rules of the southdown sheep society

These rules apply to all members of the Southdown Sheep Society and payment of a membership subscription is acceptance of them as forming a contract between the Society and each individual member for the provision of services by the Society.

Membership

1. Membership of the Southdown Sheep Society means that all Southdown sheep retained and used for breeding must be individually registered in the Flock Book, and that all subscriptions and registration fees must be paid. The Council reserves the right to exclude from the membership any member who fails to pay a subscription which has been overdue for two months. The Flock Book is published annually by the Society. A copy is sent to all members whose subscription is up to date. Additional copies may be purchased from the Southdown Office.

2. The Council decides the rate of annual subscription which is payable in advance on 1st January.

3. Resignation from the Society should be made to the Secretary by written or electronic communication.

4. All members agree to be subject to the Society’s ‘Procedure for handling Disciplinary Cases’.

5. The Council reserves the right to remove from the membership any member who fails to pay any fine which has been overdue for three months following completion of the disciplinary procedure.

Animal identification

6. Current national legislation regarding individual identification must be complied with. Ear tag(s) should, where possible, include the year of birth. Where more than one registered flock is using the same Government issued flock number/mark, the appropriate Society Flock Number and/or flock name should be provided on an ear tag. This latter requirement applies to any lambs born after 1st Jan 2021.

7. New members receive a unique registered Flock Number and may select a prefix for their Southdown flock, provided that the name has not been used by a member previously and the Council considers the name is appropriate. Members are encouraged to include the registered Flock Number and/or flock name on an ear tag.

Registrations

8. All ram lambs and ewe lambs retained for breeding must be registered in the Flock Book by November 30th (final deadline December 31st) in the year of their birth. The fee for registration is set by Council and reviewed periodically. Lambs born before 1st January must be registered with the correct year of birth and will not be eligible to be shown or sold at official Society sales until over two years of age.

9. Late registrations are permitted to be made by breeders after December 31st of the year of birth at a fee for registration set by the Council.

10. No Southdown sheep can be individually registered in the Flock Book unless both the sire and dam are individually registered. Proof of this must be provided at registration (by including the individual registration number of sire and dam). The Society will enter into the breeding register, animals of the same breed, that are eligible for entry under the Society’s breed criteria, without discrimination on account of their country of origin.

11. All entries of sheep must be made on-line using the Society system or on paper upon correct forms. Owners/breeders must give all information as required on such forms, incomplete entries may not be accepted. The date of birth should be stated.

Official Society sales

12. All sheep entered at official Society sales must comply with the Minimum Standards set out in the Society’s document “Southdown Sheep Society Minimum Standards and Recommendations”.

13. A 2% levy will be charged on all animals sold at official Society sales.

Imports and exports

14. All sheep sold for export must have a Zootechnical Certificate in accordance with current legislation. The Zootechnical Certificate must be obtained from the Office, at a cost set by the Council

15. A registration fee per head as notified to members will be charged for all sheep imported into the UK. A three-generation pedigree must be provided to the Society for all imported sheep.

Shows

16. Any animal entered in a show must be owned by the exhibitor for a minimum of four calendar months prior to the date of the show.

17. Shearlings and aged animals entered in a show should be shorn bare no earlier than 1st February in the year of the show.

Inspections

18. The Council reserves the right to appoint any person they so authorise, including veterinary surgeons, to inspect any flock or animal without notice and without giving a reason should they so wish.

Conduct

19. Members should ensure that they comply with all current and relevant legislation and codes of practice including on animal health and welfare, animal identification and movements, veterinary medicine records, animal transport and trade descriptions. Any breach or conviction relating to these matters must be reported to the Council which may also take action under the Disciplinary Procedure if it considers such a conviction to be prejudicial to the interests and reputation of the Society.

20. Members of the Society should give information in writing to the Council of cases which come to their direct knowledge of alleged misrepresentation or inaccuracy in particulars furnished by any member or other person with reference to the identity or pedigree of any Southdown sheep, and be prepared to assist the Council in investigating such cases.

21. Members shall act in a manner which will promote and enhance the best interests and reputation of the Society.

22. Members should conduct themselves at all shows, sales and Society events in a manner which is polite and courteous towards officials, other participants and the general public.

23. Members should not publish in writing or on electronic media any defamatory or malicious criticism of the Society, its Council, other members of the Society, or employees and contractors of the Society.

Fees and Charges

24. Fees and Charges will be decided and periodically updated by the Council and notified to members

25. Members must only use the exact phrase “Southdown Sheep Certification Mark" in respect of Southdown Sheep registered with the Southdown Sheep Society. This trademark can be used as straightforward plain text in written, electronic and other communications, as well as verbally. Members are advised to obtain guidance on appropriate use which is available from the Society’s office. It is a condition of use that the mark shall not be used without indicating that is a certification mark. The main purpose of this certification mark is to guarantee to the relevant public that such certified Southdown Sheep possess the particular characteristic of being registered with the Southdown Sheep Society. The characteristic being certified by the mark is that the goods in question are sheep which are all of the Southdown breed. Members who are considered to have misused the trademark will be referred to the Society’s Officers for consideration of further action via the Society’s Disciplinary Procedure.

[Approved by the Council to take effect from February 1st 2021].

Current Fees and Charges

Annual subscription: £45 per annum (for 2023 onwards)

Registration fees: £5 per ewe lamb, £12 per ram lamb when registered on-line.

£7 per ewe lamb and £18 per ram lamb if registered on paper via the office.

Late registrations £30 per animal.

Sheep imported into the UK £25 per head

Additional copies of Flock Book £5

Zootechnical Certificate £20 per animal.

[Approved by the Council to take effect from January 1st 2022].