The Sheep Unit

The sheep flock is relatively young comprising 400 ewes, 200 Romney cross Cheviot And 200 Romney ewes.  The flock is split into two groups, the first 200 of which lamb in January and February.  The aim is to sell these early born lambs in the early summer months. Lambs will be split into singles and twins and creep fed accordingly.  There are Romney, Meatlinc and Texel rams.  The Meatlinc and Texel are new purchases for the 2008/9 season. 

The second 200 ewes are tupped in November for an April lambing.  After lambing, these ewes and their lambs will be reared on grass throughout the late spring and summer period.  The aim is to minimise the number of animals that are being held and fed on concentrates through the summer.

The ewes are kept in fields close to the lambing shed in the weeks leading up to lambing.  Once ewes are at the point of lambing, they are brought in to lamb. Post lambing the lambs and ewes are returned to fresh pasture.  The aim with the January born lambs is to wean at 7 to 8 weeks and finish using concentrates.  We aim to sell these lambs from the end of May into June at between 18 and 20 kilograms deadweight.

The lamb crop from the April lambed ewes are reared at grass aiming for an August/September kill at 21 kilos deadweight.  Any lambs that remain on the farm after that will be stored on grass and moved around with ewes to finish off late summer-early autumn grazing.

Regular foot trimming and foot bathing is used to control foot rot.  Pour-on products along with other fly control methods prevents fly strike.