-
As I write we are in the middle of lambing-at least I am, Stewart is on his way to Korea for a week- and awaiting our first inspection by the Soil Association.
Before I tell you where we are with the above I will give you an idea as to the winter routine and arrangements. The cattle start to come in at nights at the end of October: They drop subtle hints like turning up at the gate at teatime. The cattle generally go out during the day; again they generally decide-I just open the door and wait! The bull and his companion have access to a large concrete yard during the day. Housing of cattle during the winter is permitted under the organic rules so long as a certain minimum space per animal, as a according to its size is made available. It is also necessary for both the overall health of the animal and the condition of the fields. I feel that some form of exercise facility is essential for the health of the animal; it keeps the circulation going and enables the digestive system to work more efficiently. The sheep winter outside, receiving some concentrates each day-sugar beet nuts and oats. I also carry haylage out to them if there is snow on the ground.
With regard to the amounts fed it is something of a juggling act guided by two sets of parameters: the organic rules which say that the diet should be primarily forage-grass and silage or haylage in our case, with some concentrates allowed and the actual requirements of the individual animal. Here are two factors to consider: what the animal needs for its own maintenance and requirements of its future offspring. Foetuses grows most during the last trimester of pregnancy so we need to fed sufficient to keep mum fit and healthy but not so much that the baby grows too big and so makes parturition difficult. The cattle receive haylage on an ad hoc basis. I think that it is important once animals are enclosed that they receive ample forage that they can help themselves to – can you imagine the stress caused by being hungry with no possible chance to rectify the situation. I have only ever fed a little concentrate to the cattle as an encouragement for them to come in at night. This winter it was causing more problems than it was worth so I stopped. The expectant cows all look well and not too large so hopefully the calves will be born easily. The ration fed to the sheep has been increased gradually over the winter as the fact that the ewes tend to carry twin lambs makes a considerable drain on their resources. All the animals receive a broad base mineral supplement made from seaweed meal.
For those who are curious as to what sort of a winter we have had –its been WET! Thirteen and a half inches of rain in January and February alone. Even the locals have not seen it this wet before. The period from mid February to mid March was particularly grim. Once the weather changed seriously for the better we had sheep jumping up around our shoulders and horses galloping and bucking around with the shear relief of it all! Since mid March the ground has been able to dry up really well; the only problem is that it is still relatively cold so the grass has not really got going yet.
The Man from the Soil is coming at the end of April so in between lambing and feeding and muck shovelling I shall have to get all the paperwork up to date. I have had every good intention for the last six weeks or more but there we go! My excuse is I was not expecting him until June.
Well, I’ll finish there –must go and check the sheep, will tell you about the lambing next issue