A difficult lambing season and show time…

Finally the sun has come out after one of the worst winters I have ever seen. It was consistently wet from last July until April, with a serious worsening of the weather in February giving us a very high water table which seemed to keep rising. We haven’t had a chance to catch up with maintenance on the farm because it has been too wet to get near the hedge rows, fences and gateways, let alone try and repair any of them. We were then hit by the ‘beasts from the east’. The first cold spell was bad enough but the ewes came through that ok even though they did lose a bit of condition. The real problems came when the second ‘beast’ hit us. The ewes were just about to start lambing and after such a wet winter, the first beast and yet more wet weather, the second beast really took its toll. We have never had such high losses at lambing. The flocks, which lambed inside early, were ok and the ewes that lambed later in April were also fine. But the ones due to lamb in the first week of April were hit hard.

We can now see the ‘wood from the trees’ and have plenty of lambs from the earlier and later groups and actually, amazingly the lambs born in the eye of the storm came through it. Let’s hope when it comes to sale time in the autumn things will balance out. We were certainly not alone and there will be higher prices for lambs this season as losses have been high across the whole country. I explained to a relative who owns a pub how harsh the lambing season had been this year and he was very sympathetic, assuring me that lamb would continue to be on his menu. It will cost a bit more this season, but please don’t stop supporting British lamb! The beast was a very apt name but it won’t beat us!

The cows at least have calved very well. We bought five new bulls last year replacing all but one bull so it is pleasing to know they have all worked and have given us some great calves. It is always a worry using a new bull as sometimes there can be complications like big calves or infertility. So it is always a relief when you get the first few born and on their feet. Soon enough the cows will be meeting the bulls again and as ever the wheels of nature will continue to turn.

I have the honour this July of judging the Whiteface Dartmoor sheep at Yealmpton show. It is always nice to be asked and I am never one to turn down a free lunch, even if I have to run the risk of upsetting a few over eager competitors. The down side is I miss out on showing my own sheep and competing with my fellow breeders, but the upside is I don’t have the hassle of preparing sheep and taking them, or so I thought! The trouble is now my two boys and their cousins want to start showing in the young handler section. So I do still have to get the sheep ready, halter train them and lug them to the show! That said it is of course great to see the children getting involved and leading the sheep around trying to impress the judge with their sheep handling and knowledge. As with all sports, the parents can sometimes get too eager and there is usually the mix of tears and tantrums, with the odd sheep dragging a small child across the show field, followed at pace by dad who in turn is being shouted at by mum… You can picture the scene I am sure!     

Wish me luck!

Mat Cole, Greenwell Farm