COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING
comes from. They open their gates
to allow the general public, to see at
first hand a real farm. ‘Apart from
the signs and notices, nothing is
fluffedupandpeopleareencouraged
to ask questions’, Andrew explained
to me.
The Masham ewes are a cross
between a Scottish Black Face ewe
and a Wenslydale or Teeswater tup
(ram) they are bred on the island
with a Charolais tup. Producing a
strong and well proportioned lamb.
Having been scanned earlier in
the year, the sheep are separated
into large holding pens depending
on whether they are having a single
lamb or twins. Within these pens
are small cubicles, and as each
ewe gives birth, Andrew, or one
- life
of his workers is on hand to make
sure everything is ok, and assist if
necessary. The ewe and lamb(s)
are then sprayed with a sequential
number to aid shepherding of them
later on.
You can’t get much closer to
farming than coming along and
watching as the day unfolds, I saw
people setting up their own deck
chairs waiting to see the next birth.
It can be a little bloody but then it is
nature, and, it is real.
It’s thirsty work being a trainee
shepherd, so luckily, refreshments,
in the form of tea, coffee and cold
drinks are sold in one of the larger
barns, enabling you to recuperate,
before the next game of ‘tug-of-war’.
Max Henley with the
new born lamb.
Island Life - www.isleofwight.net
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