The K9 team are on bouncing form after a trip to the beach at the weekend. Its very heartwarming to see them all revert to pup like antics, tearing up and down the sand and splashing in the water.

I think it’s important they have a change of scene from time to time. Like us, they need a break from the daily grind.

Everyone managed to behave themselves amongst our fellow beach goers but I do find myself having to be on full time “poodle alert” as they are most at risk of being herded.

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But as the saying goes “A Sunday well spent brings a week of content.”

Breeding

We’ve spent the week sorting through breeding stock.

Well, I say we – I’ve been riding out at the racing yard in the mornings and by the time I’m home at lunchtime, the debate over what’s being retained for breeding and what will be sold is complete. Best to leave the experts to this job! This then allows us to get on with dosing, dipping, reading tags and moving each batch accordingly.

The allocated lots include a batch which will be retained for breeding pure with the blackface ram, some for breeding with the Blue Leicester ram, a few for use as recipients for embryo transfer, some for sale as breeding ewes and gimmers, and finally a batch who will be culled. It’s all very technical.

Sale

The breeding ewes and gimmers being sold will head to the blackface sale at Plumbridge market on the 30 September. It’s hard to choose which to keep and which to sell because you tend to be inclined to want to keep them all – but come the hungry months we will be grateful to have a few less mouths to feed.

Invasion

A Scots invasion is afoot this coming weekend as my best friends from home plan to make their maiden voyage over the Irish Sea. A weekend of catching up over many cups of coffee and glasses of wine awaits.