Sheep scanning over for another year

Fog caused problems as the scanning season came to a close. There were other minor problems. Scanning on one farm had been rescheduled to accommodate a new shepherd starting his job which found Shep doing jobs arse first (wrong way round) to other years.

I had to leave the gathering out bye to gather and help at a scanning in the Rede. Under normal circumstances out bye would be gathered, scanned and sorted before Shep had to head into the Rede to do the same tasks over there. This year was different.

Moss was getting hot paws that week. I dread to think how many miles he would clock up on those four sturdy legs of his. Between the two farms there were just short of 3,000 sheep gathered forward over a total of about 10,000 acres - he was a happy if not somewhat tired fella.

We were fortunate in the Rede. Very fortunate. It was a hazy day, forever threatening to come in foggy but failing to do so and yet I was aware that it was foggy away out bye and the gathering still wasn't going as planned.

The farmer in the Rede had left all his gathering for the day prior to the scan man arriving - dodgy tactics, but ones which paid off. Luck is on your side sometimes!

Easier ground to cover than that we had been working on days previously and sheep were fit so ran in well, it was also a great help that we could see them - does help!

Two long days were put in, first day saw all sheep gathered forward and held in fields near at hand ready for the scanning man arriving on the second day. As the scan man pulled into the pens early on the second morning the sheep were also heading into the pens, it was a dry cool morning, skylarks were singing their hearts out, a pleasure to be out and about.

Swaledale sheep this time, many of them. All awaiting their turn to go through the scanning crate.

The view Moss had of the proceedings wasn't quite as grand as my view. Makes the sheep look big when you see them from the dogs angle.

Finally scanning was over, twins were shed off to remain in fields, to receive feed and lamb down near at hand, the above is a bunch of twin bearing ewes heading towards new pastures, they won't see their hill ground again until the early summer.

The final two scannings went well. Lamb numbers up on previous years, as in fact most of the scannings have been, the geld (barren)numbers probably aren't down a great deal but the twin numbers on the hill grounds are up, the grassy and mild autumn/early winter saw ewes in good fettle, let's hope that fettle continues into the lambing season.

Travelling home on dusk the sun caught my eye. It was bright red when I first noticed it but by the time I finally stopped to take a photo it was rapidly fading and disappeared just moments after I took this shot, hidden behind a foggy greyness.

LAMBS! Just days after the scanning season drew to a close I passed these lambs just a mile or two down the valley and had to screech to a halt for a shot of them - how the seasons vary!

Moor burning

At the time of writing burning has not commenced in Tarset, but it will and most probably has by the time this post is published. The forecast for the coming week is a dry one. With ground drying rapidly over the past week there will be many considering trying a burn. A moor burn.

There are many factors to bear in mind. Dry weather being one of them, but not too dry. Wind - the strength of and direction of, is another important factor to consider.

The moor burning season runs from mid October through to mid April, there are specific dates which off the top of my head I would say were the 16th but then I am probably wrong so don't quote me on that. The idea of burning being between October and April is so as not to wreak havoc with the nests and young of ground nesting birds such as Curlew, peewit, skylark and many others. The dates also prevent burning in what could be classed as the driest months of the year, or ought I say the summer months are expected to be the driest months.

There is a fair amount of heather in this area as well as course hill grass, all which benefits from being burnt. Both species regenerate, allowing fresh shoots to be enjoyed by livestock. Coarse and woody heather is of little use to many although it does offer cover for grouse as well as other wildlife.

Of course, when you burn you don't wish to burn everything in sight, that would be to the detriment of both the stock and the wildlife. Controlled burning is what is aimed for. Very important in Tarset that the burning is controlled as which ever direction you look we seem to be surrounded by forestry trees and no one would wish to see them go up in flames.

It is now necessary to inform the fire brigade (and the forestry commission if you are near the forest edge) that you intend to burn, this puts them on alert ought anything go wrong and also prevents them from scrambling when 'phone calls from motorists alert them of "moors alight". The fire brigade will not rush to douse the fire unless you call them back and request assistance. When you are content that the fires are out and you are finished for the day you notify the fire brigade that all is well, job done. Then should they get a call from a passing motorist they may well act upon it.

I was talking to a farmer tonight who informed me that the fire brigade wish to come and practice on his hill - what a lucky fella! Apparently they have an argo cat and misting device for putting out hill fires. I'm intrigued and would love to find the time to go along when they're busy, mebbes I'll be able to find time.

I have had to hunt in the archives for these photos, the above was taken in March 2010, the snow lying would act as a natural break, something to halt or slow down the face of the fire. The face of a fire is a horrendously hot place, the only way to control the fire is to beat the sides down (put them out) and head towards the face, beating it down from the outside edges as you go.

Natural breaks are used such as rivers, wide streams, very wet mossy areas. Many now use toppers behind 4wd tractors or smaller brush cutters behind quad bikes to cut the growth of grasses and heather and hopefully make a break in that manner, it has to be cut fairly fresh however or the fire may well find dry matter to run across and continue it's inferno on the other side.

A frightening place to be if you think the fire is getting out of control. Burning heather can see flames higher than yourself, if the wind picks up in strength or changes direction it can cause a great deal of trouble. The heat is unbelievable. It pays not to wear modern day fleecy clothing as that easily melts from sparks hitting it, sparks which can be blown in the wind and start another fire yards from where you are.

Many of us who have been involved with moor burning will recognise the smell of burning hair, it is not unusual to lose the hairs off the backs of your hands, although there are now very good gloves and face masks available to use which take a lot of the discomfort away from the job.

The conditions are becoming nigh on perfect for moor burning at the moment, the deciding factor will be the wind, how strong it is and from what direction it is coming for some. We will wait and see how much smoke rises this coming week.

F******* gather

Foggy gather. Final gather. If you were thinking it was any other eff ing gather you need to wash your minds out with mustard. Take it from me, it is an ideal way to ensure you'd never touch mustard again!

The view - if you could call it that. Every morning, without fail the view hardly varied.

I guess a different spot made the view seem slightly different, but initially it was all the same, visibility extremely poor, in fact visibility was crap, there wasn't a polite way of putting it really.

A week had been allowed to gather the sheep away out bye. 7,000 + acres to cover to find 1,500 sheep. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, an inconvenience maybe but not a problem, there is always tomorrow. However, the scan man was due in a weeks time and so a problem it was.

Every morning saw us climb out into the thickening gloom, like two intrepid explorers on quads, setting out to find what no man could see. Headlights on the bikes were of little use as neither of us could see each other until we almost collided. We went forth and made noise, whistled, sang, hollered (shouted)....... whatever the moment necessitated, it would be fair to say we persevered.

As we dropped further in apparitions began to appear before our very eyes. A marvelous sight!! Sheep know where they belong and they know the spot to gather up to, they also know when we can't see them..........

Fortunately, blocks had been put in place to encourage the sheep to run to a designated area, an area where years back the sheep were gathered together for tup time and have since always been gathered to the same spot. Which means that generations of sheep know where they're meant to gather up to, they know feed blocks will be available to them on the run up to lambing time at these particular spots on the hill. These blocks were put out to help hold them to the spot, specifically for this particular gather.

It was a great help with the conditions we were experiencing, giving us a sporting chance of tracking down the sheep when visibility was so poor.

Ironical that you couldn't see a bloody thing out on the tops then drop away in with sheep in front of you and it is as clear as a bell. A quick count to see if all are present. Then the inevitable - all aren't present! There were a variety of discrepancies, ranging from a couple short, to 30 odd short and one day apparently over a hundred short (the day Shep had to go elsewhere, can't be blamed for that one!)

Those present were taken further in and held in fields whilst bikes and riders turned around and headed out to look for more.

It seemed like a long week, much bouncing around on the hill, I'm sure my arse (backside) was tenderised like the finest steaks by the end of the gathering, it felt like every muscle, joint and bone in my body had been pulverised, far cheaper than paying for a deep muscle massage that's for sure, probably not quite such a pleasant result tho'! Ground was covered and re covered in an attempt to have all sheep present for the scan man.

Did we succeed? Well almost........ The final tally saw a handful missing, a handful unaccounted for, we ran out of time and luck but under the circumstances were also highly successful. Let's hope those missing few are fit and healthy and come in on the next gather.

I started the posting with Foggy gather.Final gather?

http://blog.tarset.co.uk/2011/11/springing-into-winter.html

This link takes us back to the gathering for tup time where I wrote the following:

I mentioned to the shepherd that this ought to be our last day out here, a day to hold strong in our memories, a perfect day. There are changes afoot on this particular farm, a parting of the ways. Neither of us knows if we'll ever be out here again to gather, let alone be in each others company doing so. This was the first day of many to gather sheep forward for tup time, wouldn't it have been perfect if it had been the last day of many.

At long last we had the final gather. 'Twas a shame we didn't quite go out on a high! Although there were high moments, and much leg pulling. There was probably also a sense of relief.

A relief that at last there was a shepherd on the farm, a farm which has been unoccupied for four months, four winter months at that. I think there ought to be a party!!! A leaving do?? A pre lambing bash - now there's an idea!

Still alive!

It would appear some are missing the musings of Shep. Well I ain't snuffed it, not been on holiday either, nowt exciting other than I've been busy. So this is just a quick posting to allay any fears that I may have gone AWOL (or worse).

The saying goes "no peace for the wicked" and believe you me, I have often asked my mother why I was born wicked!

Having just downloaded pictures off the camera which seem to go back a week or two I can see that I have been busy - taking photos if nowt else!

Much has happened, but most importantly the days are pulling out, it is light by 6.30am and up to 6.30pm. I awaken to the call of the curlew these mornings, a grand sound which marks the beginnings of springtime. The peewits (lapwings) are gracing us with their company and the skylarks have been going ballistic for weeks now, they are such a cheer to hear out on the hill.

Believe it or not but the snowdrops are now well past their best, crocuses are passing over too with the daffodils budding up well and soon to show their spring cheer.

Puddles and wet holes have been filling rapidly and not due to rain water either, in fact the ground is still drying. A fairly dry spell has been the order of the day for some time now, windy and colder weather of late is speeding up the drying process, mind you, there is still much drying to go...............

yup! The frogs have been busy, in their usual place and at the usual time, there were some days the water was absolutely boiling with their activity, I passed them one day and had never seen so many frogs legs sticking out of the water at once, some sort of wild froggy orgy no doubt, unfortunately time did not allow me to stop and snap the sight for you all, it is however stored in my mind and still gives me cause to smile!

Scannings are finally over for another year, horn burning, pre lambing innoculating, dosing, hopefully some stone walling are all on the agenda for the following three weeks before I head off lambing. I just can't wait to get away into those borders, see them cheviots again and have 6 weeks of peace and quiet, the way the time has been flying lately it won't be long before my wish is granted.

In The News

There has been much for the farming papers to report about recently. A new record price for a limousin bull, sold at Carlisle Auction Mart a week past Saturday for £120,000 guineas. Guineas are no longer legal tender in the UK but there is still a tradition of selling pedigree animals at auction for guineas, a guinea equates to £1.05, therefore the said animal actually realised a price of £126,000 – very nice too! See for yourselves in the following link http://youtu.be/l8mwhbkMCWY?a

The Scottish farming press have also reported this week that German farmers may well be on the way to doing all British sheep farmers a great favour. It would appear that the Germans are prepared to file a law suit with regard to EID. That being the electronic tagging which all sheep farmers now have to comply with, an issue that many are opposed to, but no one seems prepared to fight against. Well, it would appear that our counterparts in Germany are preparing to put up a fight, on the terms of animal welfare and overall financial costs, and rightly so.

There will be many farmers in this country who will follow the proceedings with interest, farmers who are nervous to speak out themselves about the ludicrousy and cruelty of the regulations which are being enforced upon them. Good luck to our neighbours over the water.

It is not just the farming press who are reporting on sheep issues, the national press are also finding livestock issues are hitting the headlines. Long covered by the farming papers since the virus first came to notice last back end, our national press have now picked up on the story. A worrying one for sheep farmers.

A new virus has hit our shores, carrying the name of Schmallenberg virus it is a relatively unknown entity which is causing stillbirths and deformities in new born lambs away down south. Todays press reports, some of which could be classed as scaremongering, are claiming that up to 70 cases have been confirmed in the south of the country.

It doesn’t seem long since our shores were faced with the doom of the Bluetongue virus, another expense for the livestock vector as animals found themselves being immunised against the virus. Similar to todays virus this one also started in the South of our country and was also reportedly transmitted by midges or mosquitoes. It is hoped Bluetongue may be history on our island but has it just given way to allow another virus in?

It can be easy for us in the North of the country to feel far removed from viruses which are causing havoc further South, but it must be soul destroying for those facing these challenges, and who’s to say we won’t be facing them in a month or two? After all, some countries in Europe are already worse hit than us.

By the press reports in all of today’s Sunday newspapers it would seem that mature animals don’t seem to show many symptoms relating to this virus, the symptoms are showing up when their offspring are being born, as yet our offspring aren’t being born, we will have a while to wait to find out whether the midges made it this far north. If lambs aren’t being still born they are being born with deformities such as fused limbs or bent necks, deformities which they will be unable to live with and so are finding themselves being put down (put to sleep – killed).

Deformed lambs are not unheard of, there may be cause for an odd one at lambing time. Still births aren’t unheard of either, again, an odd one may occur. However, by the reports I have read today some of the worst affected farms are seemingly losing up to 20% of their newborn lambs – that is an enormous loss and a huge financial loss at that. A heartbreaking position to be in for those involved. One farmer quoted said he had put down more lambs this lambing time than he has in his farming lifetime – not a good place to be.

Time will tell whether this virus fizzles out or not, how far through our country it has spread and whether there will be a vaccination introduced to treat against it (unfortunately it is reported that it may take at least eighteen months to produce a vaccine). To date it would seem it only affects sheep and cattle (and possibly goats).

As with many of these viruses (including foot and mouth) it is of no threat to the human race, other than those farmers whose stock are burdened with it, as they have the stress and worry to contend with, both physical and financial. Farmers are resilient souls but for some they and their businesses can only take so many knocks in life, lets hope they can get through this like they've got through everything else in the past.

Clarts and calamities

Clarts and calamities is actually the title of a book, written by a genius called Henry Brewis. Any one who has never acquainted themselves with Henry Brewis and his cartoons and thoughts about sheep and farming don't know what they are missing. If he were still alive today he would have a hey day recording all the modern day bureaucracy farmers and shepherds find themselves faced with. Anyhow, this posting is not about a book, just shares the title.

Just the other night on the 6 O'clock news there was a report about the droughts down south. Drought? Seemingly it is true, there are five counties away down there somewhere which are seriously suffering from a lack of rain.

I recall just the other day stating that the ground was drying up, admittedly it had a long way to go but drying up it was... then it rained again!

Funny thing. Nature vs Man. Wouldn't you think if we were so clever we could divert this wettness we are experiencing and send it down to those less fortunate, those who are praying for rain. Would be good to be able to turn the tables, but we ain't that clever and turn the tables or divert the weather we can't do. Nature wins again!

Moss doesn't take too kindly to getting his feet dirty, however he has little option through this gateway, neither did the sheep which we were slowly gathering on foot.

Blocked drains may not be helping in some areas. Underground tile drains laid years ago get blocked with roots, tiles moving or the build up of silt which gets washed in with the water.

Whatever the problem Shep had great fun spalshing in puddles, at least my wellies were getting cleaned!

So those photos explain the clarts (mud/mess). What about the calamity?

Not truly a calamity although it probably looks that way. Dead sheep? Poorly sheep? Anyone who knows sheep will recognise the stance - lying on her belly, head flattened to the ground, lugs flattened, body looking tense. It's a sheep huff. Nearly, but not quite as bad, as a man huff.

A fit sheep (which can often be the case), she has just decided that enough is enough, it is pissing with rain, the ground is saturated and she ain't gonna co operate. I have to say a sharp boot up the backside will often see them lift out of their huff but this mule ewe was stronger willed than that.

Shep stood well back and waited. Coz one thing a huffy sheep is very good at is banging to her feet when she thinks it is safe to do so and then generally gallops off in the opposite direction to the one in which you intend her to go.

She raised her head to look around and work out where her mates had disappeared to, then sure enough like a rocket she banged up onto all fours and legged it. I had positioned myself in the field to ensure she had to move in the direction her mates had travelled, she wasn't likely to run towards me that's for sure!

There she goes, nowt wrong with her at all, she was booling (charging) along like the devil himself was behind her. I guess it's the wild instinct in these sheep, as we so often see on wildlife documentaries, animals will often flatten themselves to the ground and pretend to be dead in an attempt to confuse their hunters, this hunter wasn't that easily confused!