Normal service has pretty much resumed on the farm since I broke my leg this summer.
My wife Aileen has returned to her teaching day job and left me to fend for myself.
Although not back to full fitness, I am able to do most things, albeit at a slower pace.
After a number of long days working with sheep, everything is pretty much up-to-date. The ewes are in tremendous form, with many of them around 10kg heavier than this time last year.
They received a fluke dose, mineral bolus and footvax booster, and are currently rotationally grazing in anticipation of the rams cutting loose.
This is the first year that I have been really happy with the ewes pre-tupping
I always find it a bit of a balancing act to manage the grass we have at this time of year while ensuring optimum nutrition for the ewes during the golden 20 days around tupping.
This is the first year that I have been really happy with the ewes pre-tupping.
We are now seeing the results of our investments in maternal genetics over the past three years and the Aberfield ewes continue to exceed our expectations.
Deer
After a few delays during the summer, we managed to complete our deer handling system in time to de-antler stags and dose hinds before the rut.
Andrew Marchant's hinds.
Our yearling stags have grown well over the summer on a mixed species reseed field from last year and we look forward to selling our first prime stags soon.
As with most new farm enterprises, often the hardest and most daunting part is being out capital for so long before any income starts to flow.
However, after the planning is done and the button is pushed, you have to keep the faith and crack on.
Cattle
Cows have also performed well this summer and are in good condition heading into winter. This week, we will wean calves, pregnancy diagnose cows and blood test.
The calves will also be weighed, so we’ll get a better idea of how they have performed.
The youngest of the calves will be just under 150 days old and although we wean sharp, it works in our system.
Calving our heifers at two years old has been a success so far
As the cows are out wintered, we don’t want them to lose condition and as we don’t creep feed calves, it makes sense to get them inside and onto good forage and some concentrates.
We bulled our yearling heifers again, so they will receive preferential treatment over the winter to take as much pressure off them as possible.
Calving our heifers at two years old has been a success so far and although a bit unusual with native cattle in an extensive system, it is vital if they are to stand a chance of breaking even, or dare I say it, even making a profit!
Read more
Farmer Writes: summer holiday that didn’t go to plan
Farmer Writes: finding breeds suited to low-input system
Normal service has pretty much resumed on the farm since I broke my leg this summer.
My wife Aileen has returned to her teaching day job and left me to fend for myself.
Although not back to full fitness, I am able to do most things, albeit at a slower pace.
After a number of long days working with sheep, everything is pretty much up-to-date. The ewes are in tremendous form, with many of them around 10kg heavier than this time last year.
They received a fluke dose, mineral bolus and footvax booster, and are currently rotationally grazing in anticipation of the rams cutting loose.
This is the first year that I have been really happy with the ewes pre-tupping
I always find it a bit of a balancing act to manage the grass we have at this time of year while ensuring optimum nutrition for the ewes during the golden 20 days around tupping.
This is the first year that I have been really happy with the ewes pre-tupping.
We are now seeing the results of our investments in maternal genetics over the past three years and the Aberfield ewes continue to exceed our expectations.
Deer
After a few delays during the summer, we managed to complete our deer handling system in time to de-antler stags and dose hinds before the rut.
Andrew Marchant's hinds.
Our yearling stags have grown well over the summer on a mixed species reseed field from last year and we look forward to selling our first prime stags soon.
As with most new farm enterprises, often the hardest and most daunting part is being out capital for so long before any income starts to flow.
However, after the planning is done and the button is pushed, you have to keep the faith and crack on.
Cattle
Cows have also performed well this summer and are in good condition heading into winter. This week, we will wean calves, pregnancy diagnose cows and blood test.
The calves will also be weighed, so we’ll get a better idea of how they have performed.
The youngest of the calves will be just under 150 days old and although we wean sharp, it works in our system.
Calving our heifers at two years old has been a success so far
As the cows are out wintered, we don’t want them to lose condition and as we don’t creep feed calves, it makes sense to get them inside and onto good forage and some concentrates.
We bulled our yearling heifers again, so they will receive preferential treatment over the winter to take as much pressure off them as possible.
Calving our heifers at two years old has been a success so far and although a bit unusual with native cattle in an extensive system, it is vital if they are to stand a chance of breaking even, or dare I say it, even making a profit!
Read more
Farmer Writes: summer holiday that didn’t go to plan
Farmer Writes: finding breeds suited to low-input system
SHARING OPTIONS