The scanning was completed here last week and I am very pleased with the results. My mature ewes averaged 1.93 lambs per ewe after the empties were taken away. This is up from 1.8 lambs per ewe last year.

This was helped in some part by an increase in triplet-bearing ewes to 12% from 8% last year and also a reduction in the amount of ewes barren to 2.2% from 3.6% last year. The average litter sizes including empties were: Texel x 1.78 lambs per ewe and Belclare x 1.98 lambs per ewe.

The ewes were all in similar condition at the time they went to the ram and it shows how breed has a major influence on prolificacy. Looking at the numbers, it is tempting to run a higher number of Belclares. However, I find that the Texel lambs have better carcases. In crossing them for breeding I hope to draw on each breed’s strengths to improve my flock.

The ewe lambs were also scanned last week with a very different result from last year. Last year I had a litter size of 1.16 after empties were removed whereas this year it has jumped to 1.6 lambs. Of what is in lamb, 46% are singles, 51% couples and roughly 3% triplets.

The reason for the better result this year I think is that my ewe lambs were slightly heavier than last year going to the ram and I let them to the ram a week later as well.

Soil samples

Lately, I sent some soil samples away for testing. Previously I had the whole farm tested every four to five years but now I am just testing a portion of the farm every year.

I have divided the farm up into three sections. It takes a number of years to correct any nutrient deficiencies and for the spreading of lime to adjust the pH level. In order to get an accurate reading, I have planned that any fields that have been treated in the previous two years are to be resampled but only after adequate time has been left to pass.

I hope to get the test results back soon enough so I can put a fertilizer plan in place for the coming year.

With only a month left to go before lambing starts, my attention is being focused on staffing for the busy period. As a farmer, I am more at home looking after animals than I am sorting out work schedules for employees making sure that there will always be someone keeping watch on the sheep.

My workforce for the lambing will be made up of some local labour along with a couple of students who come to me for the work experience. I also have to remind myself that the students are here to learn and that I must make myself available to explain why we do things a certain way here, and give them advice and help whenever they need it.