Reducing infections from waterlogged ground results in a reduced need for antibiotics with obvious monetary benefits . By housing the Flock during the wettest weather instances of lameness and liver fluke can be greatly reduced as well as giving the ground chance to recover .

I recently spoke to one of our customers who farms in Devon who that said that last year he lost 40 lambs to foxes due to lambing outdoors . Based on a margin of £ 65 per lamb he ’ d lost the best part of £ 2600 last season . He was very happy with the 30 x 78ft tunnel we recommended and cost just over £ 3000 . It ’ s essentially only cost him £ 400 and the end result is his farm is more productive and the lambs are protected when they are at their most vulnerable .

More unbelievable than that is the danger to new born lambs from crows . I spoke to another customer of ours at NSA Malvern who told me about his previous experiences of lambing outside . “ Every year crows used to target our new born lambs , they ’ d peck out their eyes and peck through their stomachs . It ’ s a harrowing sight to see ” he told me . Since we started lambing in the polytunnel we ’ ve lost no lambs due to crows . The lambs are most venerable in the first few days of their lives . Giving them a head start in the shelter of the polytunnel before they are put out in the fields has made all the

difference in terms of reducing crow attacks .”

If anyone is experiencing similar lambing losses then a polytunnel is the perfect low cost housing option . The FlockMaster polytunnel creates a great environment to work in from a shepherd ’ s point of view . Dry , bright and well ventilated with a clear view of all the ewes improving the management of the flock .

Many sceptics of polytunnel housing will often ask how long does the sheet last ? In our experience when a polythene sheet is fitted correctly it should last around 8-10 years . By which point the tunnel will have paid for itself many times over and the cost for a replacement sheet is usually only a few hundred pounds .

The abundant natural light that ’ s available cuts down on ongoing lighting costs compared to traditional sheds .

A warmer environment increases the food conversion ratio which in turn lowers the feed costs .

“ Studies show that in cold , wet and windy weather , lamb losses can be reduced by up to 30 % if suitable housing is provided .”

Light transmission through sheet ensures all livestock receive the same amount of vitamin D from the sun as if they were outside in the field .

“ Improving animal performance and reducing physical losses is key to ensuring sheep farming is profitable ”

Netted doors provide quick access in and out of the tunnel but also keep out the wind , the rain , the snow , predators and wild birds .

As the structures are lightweight the cost between a polytunnel and a typical shed are light years apart . Making it the ideal choice for new

farmers , tenants and farmers with small budgets . For most farmers a traditional shed involves huge bank loans or large capital expenditure . An equivalent sized polytunnel can be bought and erected for a few thousand pounds with a limited effect on a farms cash flow .

Due to the inherent simplicity of the polytunnel design they can be

supplied in kit form and easily erected in a couple of days without skilled labour .

Polytunnels aren ’ t just for lambing they are a truly adaptable structures , with subtle changes to the cladding and ventilation they can be tailored made to house a variety of livestock .