Tuesday 10 May 2016

Post lambing and calving comedown







The intensity of lambing is something which is hard to describe, the highs and lows of it all sends us all into a void of just existing day to day.  But we love it!  Now we are the other side, looking slightly battered and having got a little more sleep, its suddenly May and all the sheep and lambs are outside and a different level of checking begins.

This year has been more challenging than others mainly because of the weather conditions.  It has been so wet.  Lambs seem to not mind the cold but combined with wet it is not good.  We were particularly vigilant and brought them in quickly once they had lambed outside.  Cold followed the wet weather so there was not much grass about until now when it has really started to grow.  This has meant more regular moving around of the different groups so fields have had a chance to rest and we can keep up with the ewes needing to produce milk for their growing lambs.

Meanwhile 'Holly' was born,  Our gorgeous little heifer calf.  The photo above shows her with Roly and Freddie after we had put her ear tag in and released her back to her mum who was busy calling for her.  The cows look amazing at this time of year.  Their coats shine is the sun and look like a deep, rich red colour and against the freshness of the green grass and if we're lucky a blue sky its so wonderful.  The photo goes a little way to capture this.  Talking of grass, Freddie watched our neighbour Michael Lee arrive with his tractor and drill and plant our grass mix ready for the autumn.

More soon

Camilla, Roly, Molly, Freddie and Belle