Friday 1st March 2019

Calm at feeding time
The sheep and cattle and alpacas are all currently sharing the bottom 3-acre field, it is, we must admit, starting to suffer a bit after the recent rains have returned and is going to need a jolly good harrowing and rolling when they vacate it in (hopefully) three/four weeks. In the meantime, the 4-acre has been recovering from being the main winter field and both sides are starting to look quite good again!!
Relaxed at Home
As we give a few pellets of feed each evening we have had to buy in a more general purpose feed, as opposed to ones specifically for cows or sheep, in order that all the stock can feed together. These pellets don’t therefore contain copper (which sheep cannot process if they have too much) nor additional magnesium which both cows and sheep may need but only at specific times of year (usually when grass growth is lush). We make sure that there are loads of feeders so that everyone gets the chance to grab a few mouthfuls without too much pushing and shoving. None of the animals need a huge amount although we will increase the amounts as both the sheep and the cows enter the last third of so of their pregnancies - which is when most of the foetal growth takes place and when they therefore need more energy intake.
The sheep will be the first to produce, with the first ones being due at the end of April – time is passing.. we can now say we are lambing 'next month'...eek!!