Back to reality

Back to real farming! Today's cold and snowy Saturday morning requires two men to see to the stock instead of the usual one. Jon has got the water bowser out of the shed to take water down to the outdoor pigs as the freezing temperatures have played havoc with the water supply.

The trip to the NEC @ Birmingham was a tale in itself - the traffic was so terrible on Wednesday it took us 2 hours to get as far as Milton Keynes where we eventually abandoned the truck and had to run for a train. We arrived at the reception in bay 17 on time with no margin to spare. Many of those attending had terrible journeys, and I am not even sure that everyone who should have been there actually arrived!

It has also been a busy week on the farm with all the Wiltshire Horn ewes sorted into groups and the rams let out. As a pedigree flock it is a very complex business making sure the sheep are correctly sorted and the appropriate rams used on each group. Our outdoor lambing will start on April 20th, 2011 and should utilize the best of the spring grass growth.

The other big sheep task has been to check the pedigree and ear tag of every ewe lamb and potential ram lamb in the flock for registration with the Wiltshire Horn Society. We only register the very best ram lambs and out of the seven registered this year probably only 3 or 4 will make the grade as rams for breeding in due course.
Four beef cattle, six lambs and three pigs have also been sold.

No new piglets yet BUT

a late arrival - a June lamb, born just before lunch today.

A little cutie for the visitors to see on Sunday and also for the Wiltshire Horn Society's visit next week.












Here are some Middle White piglets, made earlier this year, and as they are not yet weaned they will be in a stable with their mother for the visitors to see.