Will be a few months yet. Mint growing in pots with other herbs outside the back door. Tatties just starting to grow. At some point we'll have leg of one of our lambs with all the veg from the garden. Best meal of the year.
I know it's a way of life (which we very much need) but I would find it impossible to move from helping the sheep give birth, to rearing, to slaughter and then Sunday lunch. Every Saturday driving to Porthcawl for Parkrun I get a real lift when the spring lambs first appear. As ever they are turning into fat little buggers now. I get very emotional when family pets pass naturally. I'm glad someone else does the farming bit for us.
Got to agree Bluey. Those little buggers have been running around for a few weeks now in that field with the big oak in the middle on the left in Tythegston on the way to Porthcawl. Couldn't imagine slaughtering one for a meal - but hey ho, that's life. No disrespect remote.
Exactly the same place as me Sparks. New blood, new life, just living because they love it. As with Sparks, no disrespect Remote. We need you guys to do what you do. I could never do it.
No offence taken on this subject both. Its not something that would sit comfortably with everyone. Not sure I'd even thought about it until about 8 years ago. Up until 4 years ago I spent my working days behind a desk, in a meeting or visiting clients. For about 4 years before that I had started getting my hands dirty as our daughter had started keeping sheep with her boyfriend of the time. She ate lamb and had sent lambs off for slaughter, but not ate her own, which we respected. However, the feedback she got from people we sold boxed lamb to was very positive and she took the step to try her own. I have no qualms about it. I've said it before that I've taken a lamb out of the field on a Thursday and driven it to the slaughterhouse 5 miles away. The butcher we use picks it up on the Friday and we collect from him on Saturday. When we do, we always have a leg on the sunday, freezing the rest. Dont get me wrong, I get upset when we lose a sheep, especially if they've suffered. Also man enough to admit on occasion I've shed the odd tear when we've lost sheep. We strive to give our animals the best life we can until its time to go. But at the end of the day, they wouldnt be in our fields if they weren't part of the food chain, either being used as breeding stock or direct for the table. All the ewes we bred from this year, we've bred ourselves. We buy in rams every 2 or 3 years to avoid in breeding. Not sure I could kill a sheep or wring a chicken's neck, but have no issue catching, killing, gutting and eating trout. None of our sheep get names, though you do recognise some, especially if its an orphan you've had at home or regularly bottle fed. We usually take half a dozen or more for slaughter at a time so even if you recognised one being loaded the chances are its not the half that ends up in your freezer. As for cute lambs, yes they are. But Ive had conversations with vegetarians who say they should be left unharmed thar went along the lines of, they dont stay cute for long. 12 months and they're full grown sheep. Also, I want a return on the money tied up in my fields. Sheep wouldn't be left there, they'd be moved on so I could use it for something else. If everyone went veggie, and I've nothing against people making that life choice as long as they dont try and force it on me, there wouldnt be any lambs at spring time, there wouldnt be cows in fields. Its folly to think there would be fields full of pets. We've got enough of them. Given all of the above, I'm comfortable with it but understand why others wouldn't be. One thing I would say though. Knowing how a lot of sheep are treated in NZ and esspecially Australia, I'd never buy their produce. Animal welfare laws much more lax. Similarly, I wouldn't eat farmed Scottish salmon. Terrible muck and destroying our coastlines. My personal opinion obvoiusly. On the subject of produce, local is the new organic. Lots of people wanting to know where their food comes from. Many of the pubs near us list the farm their ingredients came from. Our lambs will never have travelled more than 5 or 6 miles from our base and will have walked further than they will have been transported.
Ive often said, I play at it BfB. I dont need a profit as Ive retired. I'd rather not make a loss though. Everything we make gets reinvested for our daughter's future, though with fuel , fertiliser and feed prices going through the roof, its a lot of effort for not a lot. As always, total respect to those whose livelihood it is. Just got in after the night feed as our daughter was on a night out. As a part timer, at least I wont have an early start. Could even have a lie in if I want. Not hard core like a real farmer.
The ones not on the grass are still in with the physios I assume, so not likely in contention for the next game??
A bit of treatment and this one was fit to go. A quick pedicure from our daughter, part of the general health care package, and off she went. Saying that, an overgrown toe nail would probably keep a footballer out for a few weeks.
Another primal day. Not as windy as it has been but still very wet. Stood in the tack room watching 3 soggy doggies enjoying the rain. Rather them than me. Fortunately only have to take one home. The short haired one. Our daughter will take the collies home with her. Ben gets wet and dirty enough. Hoping the rain stops for 20 mins so we can walk the field with the ewes and lambs in. There's been a casualty already. An early finish planned then feet up with a beer. Down to the Rhondda next week to fetch mam. A stop off in Rhayader on Tuesday to fish for wild brown trout ( was going to use brownies as the vernacular but anticipated derisory comments) stay over night then drive back Wednesday morning. Weather looking better next week.
Grand daughter Mark 2 just arrived. All well. No name yet. Looking forward to seeing Mark 1's little face when she meets her later.
Congrats to all. I'm buried to the eyeballs in relatives.........big surprise do for prediction league admin this evening. 18!!! Trying to keep him away from all these people gathering.......luckily he's not very aware......he saw his uncle last night and thought it was a good likeness but didn't twig till he saw his aunt. we convinced him they just found some cheap tickets so dropped in for a few days!!!
Thanks guys. Just had first cuddle with Mark 2. She is absolutely beautiful. Still no name. I have passed on your suggestions Brizzle but Mum not keen. I think there will be a name reveal tomorrow when other grand parents arrive from Hertfordshire.
As a driver, I don't like bicycle riders holding up the traffic, but this is a bit of an extreme reaction.......
