Our low input system suits us, our environment, works for the sheep and is still profitable.
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
COLUMN: From the Farm by Victoria Ballantyne
I’m not going to lie, this last week or so has not been much fun. Wet, windy, snowy weather blew in every day making long days feel even longer.
However, given the recent developments in the Ukraine, I remind myself that I have nothing to complain about and if a bit of hard weather is the worst I have to face then life is pretty good.
We have scanned our ewes and were pleased with the results. Our own cross-bred ewes and gimmers (first time mums) averaged 166 per cent.
From 430 ewes there were only 19 triplets (4%) and 63 per cent scanned with twins.
Those at home performed best and we are putting it down to them having plenty of grass and no stress before or immediately after tupping.
The sheep we contract manage scanned at 150 per cent which is a bit disappointing, though these are mostly Cheviot sheep which tend to be less prolific, particularly when mated late in the year.
Our rams went out on November 30 for 28 days. A ewe’s oestrous cycle slows as the shortest day of the year (December 21) approaches and grass quality reduces. This tends to mean a lower scanning than if we had mated them a month earlier. So why do this I hear you ask?
Tupping later means our ewes lamb in the last week of April when there is enough grass and the days are a bit longer and hopefully more pleasant.
It would be almost impossible to lamb outdoors here much before then without bag feeding and/or having to take them inside.
So it is a case of balancing up what works best for each farm and each family and we feel a low input system suits us, our environment, works for the sheep and is still profitable.
We have the least number of sheep to lamb in 10 years at 725. The ewes are in excellent condition and have carried plenty of cover (fat) through a mild winter. The next seven weeks will be crucial so let’s hope it is a bit drier.
This weather can be hard on stock and we do our best to make sure they have some cover and shelter when it is prolonged. The swede field that some of the cows were on have turned to mud so we have fenced off a dry track sheltered from the west by a dyke and trees to give them somewhere dry to lie.
Snow and cold is more preferable than wind and rain, but the weather gods haven’t been listening this month and have thrown everything at us. Hopefully a bit of sunshine is around the corner.
We’ve also had our annual inspection from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) this week.
Whilst it can sometimes feel like a bit of a box ticking exercise, the inspector does have a thorough look around the farm and at the stock, raising any queries or concerns whilst they are here.
It is also important we have recorded our medicine and antibiotic use correctly and are not overusing either. This gives consumers reassurance that the meat they purchase is from a healthy and safe environment.
The first of my Nuffield Scholarship adventures starts this week with sessions in London followed by a conference in Norfolk with all the international scholars.
I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and hearing about food and farming in other parts of the world.
Victoria and Jason Ballantyne run Clynelish Farm, Brora.
