Jennifer Wilson from Milltown near Belturbet close to the Cavan/Fermanagh border had to deal with a prolific night in the lambing shed.
“Yeah, it was a busy old time of it. One night last week we had two sets of quads and one set of quins out of three ewes. All the lambs are doing well. It’s great to see them all doing well but it certainly adds to the work load,” Wilson said.
Jennifer Wilson delivered two sets of quads and one set of quins out of three ewes last week.
If it was not for her medical training, the busy lambing season might not have gone so smoothly.
“In 1985, I moved to Edinburgh to train as a midwife. The rest, as they say, is history.
“I think the midwife training does help with lambing ewes. It’s mostly the same process – the skills are transferable!”
Midwife training does help with lambing ewes. It’s mostly the same process
Wilson made the move from outside Melbourne, Australia to Scotland to train as a midwife and see the world in 1985. While serving as bridesmaid for her friend Sandra, she met her future husband David, who was the best man at the same wedding.
Love and marriage
“I usually didn’t believe in love at first sight and that sort of thing, but it was in our case,” Jennifer said, who now works as a nurse in a doctor’s surgery in nearby Killeshandra.
The pair have set up a family and suckler and sheep farm near the border in Belturbet, Co Cavan.
“We got married in 1991 and four children followed pretty quickly after. Sarah is 26, Matthew is 25, Alison is 22 and Michael is 20. They are all great kids.”
While there are no favourites among her children for Jennifer, she definitely has favourites on the farm.
“I love the sheep, more so than the sucklers. My husband and our son Matthew are great with the sucklers. It’s a farming family, as a whole. We’re all involved in it.”
Jennifer Wilson delivered two sets of quads and one set of quins out of three ewes last week.
Flock choice
In terms of stock, Jennifer said the sheep are bred for practicality and for replacements.
“There are 200 ewes on the farm. They’re all lowland types made up of Belclare-crosses and we have Zwartbles-Suffolk ones too. They have great milk, they make great mothers.”
Jennifer Wilson, Milltown, Belturbet, Co Cavan
The beef stock are all brought to slaughter, with heifers being kept on as replacements.
“We have about 50 sucklers too. They are mostly Limousin and Salers. The bulls are finished under 16 months and the heifers around 20 months. We keep and rear the replacements. David and my son Matthew do a great job with the sucklers.”
Life outside the farm
It is not all about farming and work for Jennifer.
“It’s important to have a bit of a life outside the farm too. I do some yoga and some painting. I also love to get out to the garden. David and I like to cycle too,” she said.
Read more
My Farming Week: Jennifer Wilson, Milltown, Belturbet, Co Cavan
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Jennifer Wilson from Milltown near Belturbet close to the Cavan/Fermanagh border had to deal with a prolific night in the lambing shed.
“Yeah, it was a busy old time of it. One night last week we had two sets of quads and one set of quins out of three ewes. All the lambs are doing well. It’s great to see them all doing well but it certainly adds to the work load,” Wilson said.
Jennifer Wilson delivered two sets of quads and one set of quins out of three ewes last week.
If it was not for her medical training, the busy lambing season might not have gone so smoothly.
“In 1985, I moved to Edinburgh to train as a midwife. The rest, as they say, is history.
“I think the midwife training does help with lambing ewes. It’s mostly the same process – the skills are transferable!”
Midwife training does help with lambing ewes. It’s mostly the same process
Wilson made the move from outside Melbourne, Australia to Scotland to train as a midwife and see the world in 1985. While serving as bridesmaid for her friend Sandra, she met her future husband David, who was the best man at the same wedding.
Love and marriage
“I usually didn’t believe in love at first sight and that sort of thing, but it was in our case,” Jennifer said, who now works as a nurse in a doctor’s surgery in nearby Killeshandra.
The pair have set up a family and suckler and sheep farm near the border in Belturbet, Co Cavan.
“We got married in 1991 and four children followed pretty quickly after. Sarah is 26, Matthew is 25, Alison is 22 and Michael is 20. They are all great kids.”
While there are no favourites among her children for Jennifer, she definitely has favourites on the farm.
“I love the sheep, more so than the sucklers. My husband and our son Matthew are great with the sucklers. It’s a farming family, as a whole. We’re all involved in it.”
Jennifer Wilson delivered two sets of quads and one set of quins out of three ewes last week.
Flock choice
In terms of stock, Jennifer said the sheep are bred for practicality and for replacements.
“There are 200 ewes on the farm. They’re all lowland types made up of Belclare-crosses and we have Zwartbles-Suffolk ones too. They have great milk, they make great mothers.”
Jennifer Wilson, Milltown, Belturbet, Co Cavan
The beef stock are all brought to slaughter, with heifers being kept on as replacements.
“We have about 50 sucklers too. They are mostly Limousin and Salers. The bulls are finished under 16 months and the heifers around 20 months. We keep and rear the replacements. David and my son Matthew do a great job with the sucklers.”
Life outside the farm
It is not all about farming and work for Jennifer.
“It’s important to have a bit of a life outside the farm too. I do some yoga and some painting. I also love to get out to the garden. David and I like to cycle too,” she said.
Read more
My Farming Week: Jennifer Wilson, Milltown, Belturbet, Co Cavan
Lambing Live 2019: Irish Farmers Journal Facebook event to highlight top tips
10 steps to take if a dog is attacking your sheep
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