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00:00Come on Fletchers! We've reached our fourth year in farming and we've fallen
00:09for this way of life hook line and sinker. Can you keep this? Right Milo let's get
00:17some jobs done. Farming's a breeze compared to having four kids. We're
00:24surrounded by the spectacular peat district. As far as an office goals it's
00:29it's pretty good isn't it? With ancient woodlands and rolling hills as their
00:38playground. This year we've big plans to increase our flock and herd.
00:53Oh you can't ride on him, no. Whilst continuing to diversify. What about if
00:59we created some sort of farm musical? Kevin we've got enough to do without creating a farm
01:04fan song. And we're excited about what our next chapter might hold. I can't think of
01:10something that would beat this for me. This is my version of a happy full life.
01:14Right let's get some cup of tea then.
01:23This week on our farm. You're excited.
01:29Did you like that? Yeah. The twins help this year's lambs thrive. Come on. And training for
01:40the Royal Cheshire Show gets underway in earnest.
01:43Right stand there. Right we're ready. So make sure his feet are square.
01:48I pull together a team of rugby league legends for a special fundraiser. We need the final
01:54player. Will you be it? Mark Flanagan. We've got him. And our flock presents us with a whole
02:02new challenge. It's just not that easy. My hands are too big. You need delicate cute
02:08little beautiful hands. I'll do it for the lamb. Yeah? Good, good. I'll do it for the
02:12life of the lamb.
02:13Just putting a new bale in for Sonic and Ray.
02:29Feeding time at the zoo. Hello, chickens. Hello, chickens.
02:41When you open that bale up. If you know, you know it's one of them. The sweetness. It's
02:48just. Keeping the farm running smoothly has had its challenges recently. We've had a lot
02:55of upheaval in our lives after a fire in the farmhouse meant we had to move into temporary
02:59rented accommodation. While I don't want to add extra stress, there's one event in the
03:05farming calendar I think is worth adding to our to-do list. So what we're going to do in
03:10a few weeks time, we're going to go to a thing called the Royal Cheshire Show. And we're going
03:17to go there. We're going to go there and we're going to take the calves with us. And we're
03:22going to put a lead on them so we can walk in with them. Can I hold a big one? Yeah. Can
03:29I ride on him? Oh, you can't ride on him? No. But what you can do is walk next to him on a
03:35lead. And you can show him around on the grass in front of everybody. Yeah? Yeah? Would
03:42you like to do that? Um, hold him. Which one do you want to take on? Um, tonic. The big
03:50one? Yeah. You want to take tonic in, the big one? Yeah. All of them. Well, you might need
03:56some big muscles, though, because he's very strong. Let me just check, let me just check,
04:01see if your big muscles are big enough. Let me just check, let me check. I'm not, I didn't
04:07eat my dinner all. Oh, did you not eat your dinner all up? I don't know if they're going
04:12to be big enough then. I will. Are you sure? Let me just check. Right, well, make sure you
04:18eat the rest of your dinner, then you'll get big muscles and then you can take him in the show
04:22ring. Well, Matthias is keen. And while preparing the young calves for a show takes time, it's
04:28essential for us to be showing our herd and putting the Fletcher family name on the map
04:33as breeders of native Lincoln Reds. So we're going to put a new bale in for the calves. Keeping
04:41them indoors, we can start alter training them, getting some condition on them, making sure they're
04:46looking as good as they can. So we need to get cracking. As well as looking their best,
04:55the calves can get used to being handled and the kids will need to spend time with them
05:00to build their trust. What do you think? Fluffy. Fluffy? Say hello, Sonic. Hello, Sonic.
05:09You want to give him a cuddle? Yeah. Of course you can. I love Sonic. Do you love Sonic? Yeah.
05:22When in the show ring, the calves will be marked on their form and frame. And to show them at
05:29their best means training them to walk on a halter. I'm a little bit out of practice. Come on, Sonic.
05:38Then the thing get, and then it's on. There we go. It's okay. It's okay. Shhh. And then it's on.
05:48With the twins watching, training is underway. I can't pull him. I don't know how the kids are going to go.
05:58I think Sonic is a little bit too big and strong at the minute, even for Marnie and Milo.
06:03I mean, he might be ambitious, but I think if we can get him alter trained, you've got to make sure that
06:07the animal they're with is, can be controlled by a, by a young kid. Well, you know, it will be,
06:14all six of us will be there at the Royal Cheshire show. The Fletchers are back to defend their title.
06:20Oh, you're a strong lamb, you lot.
06:27Oh, you're a strong lamb, you lot. Just got me Banksy. Just got me Banksy.
06:54As lambing season draws to a close, there's just a few newborns left in the barn that we're keeping an eye on
07:00before we turn them out to join the rest of the flock.
07:03Right, you hold the lamb whilst Daddy helps the mummy.
07:10Yeah, you hold the lamb together.
07:12Oh, you sit down. Good boy.
07:16A set of twin lambs have been struggling to latch on, and I need to check everything is alright with their mum
07:22and her production of the white stuff.
07:25The milk in a bag has kind of hardened and the teats are just, there's a little bit of milk coming out there, but not much.
07:32Yeah, you can just feel it's all gone very hard, so there's an infection there.
07:39These are all signs of mastitis, an inflammation of the udder that's painful and can stop her from producing milk,
07:46putting her life and her lambs at risk.
07:49I think it'd be good to make up a little bottle and feed this lamb, because it's looking very thin.
07:55So, boys, would you like to feed the lamb? Yeah? Well, I'll get it.
08:00Mummy! Mummy! Mummy!
08:05Shall we go and make a bottle? Yeah. Come on then.
08:08Until the swelling has gone down and the infection cleared, her lambs will need to be fed by us.
08:14Thankfully, a course of antibiotics should clear it up.
08:18We've done it in the past where there's kind of like a little capsule,
08:22and it goes into the teats and you just shoot the fluid up there
08:26and that helps break down the mastitis and clear the infection out.
08:29It's pretty important that we get it, you know, we get onto it straight away, really.
08:35Right, let's see what we've got to make this bottle.
08:38What are you doing there? So, we need a bottle.
08:42We need a jug.
08:44We need a teat.
08:48And we need some milk.
08:49With four kids of our own, one thing Liz and I are dab hands at is making up bottles.
08:57So, this is just basically like formula, I guess, that you would give to babies,
09:00but it's designed for lambs.
09:03So, I'm just going to literally make a bottle like you would for a baby.
09:09And this year, our babies are now big enough to bottle feed the lambs.
09:12Let's hear us. Go give that to Dad.
09:18Oh, wow. Is this the milk?
09:20Yes.
09:21Ready to go.
09:22Oh.
09:24Hello, Mummy.
09:26Are you excited?
09:28Yeah.
09:30Let me say, come on, Mummy.
09:32Oh.
09:34Look.
09:36Now, I just absolutely love how interested they are and how much they want to do it and be in the pins.
09:43They're not scared of anything.
09:45Do you like that?
09:47Do you like that, man?
09:49Did you like that?
09:50Did she say yes?
09:52They just instinctively take on a parental role and they're kind of like,
09:56are you all right, baby?
09:58No, they're babying themselves and they see themselves as the protector of this lamb
10:03and such a beautiful, natural quality.
10:07Very hungry, wasn't it, Matthias?
10:09Yes.
10:11Oh, nice full belly.
10:14With the lamb content, a short course of antibiotics will clear the mastitis
10:19and the lambs will hopefully be latching on again in no time.
10:26The kids make these jobs way more fun, that is for sure.
10:49Right, Marnie, we're gonna get Sonic out first.
10:53Come here.
10:54Come on.
11:01Hey.
11:02Hey.
11:04Cattle training for the Royal Cheshire Show is underway.
11:07Hey.
11:08Hey.
11:09Come on.
11:10Hey.
11:11Hey.
11:12This year, we've entered Sonic, Ray and Cherry, who's still yet to calf, into several categories,
11:17including young handlers.
11:18So, to help build Marnie and Milo's confidence, we need to get them hands-on with the young calves.
11:23Sonic is, you know, is just over a year old.
11:32And although he's been on an altar, he's had a wash, he's been in a show ring, that was a year ago.
11:40And he was with his mum, so it's gonna be very different for him this time.
11:45So, now the time is to get him washed, get a lot of practice in, get him on the altar and just get the kids walking around the yard with him.
11:55Right, come on then, kids.
11:56So, job number one.
11:59Sleeves up.
12:01The shows are not just about showing the animals, that's one aspect of it.
12:06But two, it's incredible for our kids to understand the importance of looking after your herd.
12:12A way of you having some sort of recognition of what you're doing with your farm.
12:16And then when we do sell the produce afterwards, we are in, hopefully, award-winning.
12:30Oh, bubbles!
12:31Nice.
12:33He likes this.
12:35Oh, I've got the back-end job.
12:38It doesn't take four people to wash the cow, but you've got to designate yourself a job.
12:43They're all getting stuck in, it's good.
12:44Looking good, isn't it, Milo?
12:46What do you reckon, mate?
12:47Good.
12:48Yeah?
12:49I don't even know if this is for a cow.
12:51I've got a feeling this is a dog brush.
12:55Good lad, Milo.
12:57Excellent work.
13:00Let's give him a good scrub.
13:01Come on.
13:03But when the judge says, guys, these animals look amazing, you can say, well, yeah, we've washed them.
13:12That's it.
13:15We're good.
13:20So now we'll take Sonic for a little walk around the yard, and we can all take it in turns, yeah?
13:26Are we ready?
13:27Oh, look.
13:28It looks terrible.
13:36Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
13:37Wait, look, you OK?
13:39Sonic is nearly three times the size and weight that he was last year, and he's making sure I know it.
13:46Oh.
13:47You OK?
13:48Yeah?
13:49And it calls the cows.
13:50There's a lot of risk involved.
13:51They're fast.
13:52They're strong.
13:53They could drag you off easily.
13:54Kelvin has got balls of steel.
13:55Come on.
13:56Come on.
13:57Can't say I feel relaxed right now.
13:58But I'm trying to soak in the good vibes and be calm.
14:02With patience and practice, Sonic will soon learn not to pull on the halter, and then it'll
14:18be safe for the kids to take the reins.
14:19It's just a slow process, and that's why before the show, you want to be doing this every day.
14:33If you want to have a chance at the show, this is the absolute commitment you've got to have.
14:38And next time it will be that little bit easier, and a bit easier, and day after day, it'll be easier.
14:44Should we get him in then?
14:45Yeah.
14:46Yeah.
14:47To open the gate.
14:48Yeah.
14:50But there's no denying that there's a lot of work to do before showtime.
14:56One down, one to go.
15:09Keeping on top of farm maintenance is one of the hardest things to do.
15:12But we're lucky enough to have a rather special group of volunteers who love to lend a hand.
15:25How are we getting on, guys?
15:27We're doing well.
15:28But it's a great job, and it's just as it's now come back again, hasn't it?
15:32Yeah, yeah.
15:33We put it all back, didn't we, early in the year?
15:34Yeah.
15:35Just perfect for us, this.
15:36Got my own trimmers now, Darren.
15:37Fantastic.
15:38These are my nan's trimmers.
15:39Oh, fantastic.
15:40They're extendable as well, which is pretty good for someone short like me.
15:43So today we've got people from the David Lewis Centre, a local charity.
15:58We have them here every single Thursday on the farm and helping with a variety of little jobs, really.
16:05As we're doing now, just cutting back some of the edges, keeping things neat and tidy.
16:09Allowing them to get out and come on our farm and just experience, you know, something a little bit different, really.
16:16Nearly two years ago, this local charity that provides accommodation and support for a wide range of adults with additional needs, asked me to become an ambassador.
16:26And it's been such a great experience.
16:30There you go. Are you ready, Terrence? You're bringing your wheelbarrow up.
16:35As well as supporting fundraising events, they've become a big part of our lives on the farm, too.
16:40Come rain or shine, they're here with smiles on their faces and collectively, they just seem to be here.
16:45They just seem to love it.
16:47I guess it helps us as well.
16:49You know, the upkeep of a farm is huge.
16:53It's not been easy for us as a family these last few months.
16:57It's been really challenging at times and because of the fire,
17:00to have little jobs like this, kind of, have help with, it's made a massive impact.
17:08Every week, a few adults and their support workers, like Darren, get hands-on helping.
17:15So, Aidan loves this type of job, just cutting back.
17:19Chris will enjoy that. Paul likes his more manual things.
17:21Yeah.
17:23Aidan, keep going a bit further up now.
17:25That's it. Here, here, here.
17:26You're doing well there, Aidan.
17:27Yeah.
17:28Paul's lived with us for many years and he's been telling me for many years about how he's gone to Lyme Park and done a dry stone walling course.
17:38But you've never been able to test it, have we?
17:40So, last week when we saw the fallen wall, I said to Paul, are you up for it? And what did you say?
17:46Definitely.
17:47Definitely.
17:48Definitely.
17:51That's actually better than what it was originally, I think.
17:55Do you enjoy doing this?
17:56Oh, definitely.
17:57Yeah.
17:58It brings back memories of my granddad, my dad, and we used to all the farm walls.
18:03So, that's why you're so good at it then, is it?
18:05He's in his happy place there, just rebuilding the wall.
18:11So, you know, it's a little loneliness like that that, you know, make this whole partnership, if you like, worthwhile.
18:18And I've just got wind of an opportunity to raise some money this weekend.
18:22I'm hoping Darren and the team will support.
18:26I've entered a local rugby tournament and playing for David Lewis.
18:32Oh, fantastic. Right.
18:34So, erm, I'm not asking you if you've got any rugby boots, unless you fancy a game, I don't know.
18:41You know what? I'm not as fit as you where the rugby's concerned.
18:50There's a few lads in the team who are, in their day, they were, they were, like we're saying this, but they were world class.
18:59The likes of Danny Maguire, Gareth Ellis.
19:06But there's one spot to fill.
19:08I'm going to hopefully pull in a big favour. He's a very good friend of mine and an ex-Rubber League player as well.
19:17Er, Mr. Mark Flanagan.
19:19His dad played rugby for Oldham and for Great Britain.
19:24And Flash carried that rugby tradition on and he started playing and he inherited the name Flash as well.
19:30He's not fast.
19:32So I don't know, I still to this day, I don't know why he's called Flash.
19:35Hello, laddie.
19:39What do you want?
19:40Never mind, what do I want?
19:42I'm calling for a favour.
19:44Right.
19:46But I've entered a team and we need the final player, we need the final piece of the puzzle.
19:52Will you be it?
19:54Er, when is it?
19:57In two days time.
20:00Two days?
20:03For you, Kelvin.
20:05Yes.
20:06You're in?
20:07Anything for you, lad.
20:08Right, okay then.
20:10Love you, lad. See you, lad.
20:11Love you, lad.
20:12Bye-bye.
20:15We've got him.
20:17We've got him.
20:19Mark Flanagan, a fellow Oldham lad.
20:21The Farmyard Flyers are at full strength.
20:24We've got a full team.
20:26Two days prep.
20:32It's the worst that can happen.
20:51It's called the Farmer's Carry.
20:55It's actually a workout, that.
20:57People are doing the gym.
20:58Who needs a gym when you're on the farm?
21:00After how Houdini heard breach the fences of our paddock, I'm out doing a temporary fix
21:05on the gap by putting up some electric fencing while they're back in the barn for halter training.
21:11I'm not the first farmer and I won't be the last farmer to have animals escape.
21:18That'll do.
21:21As daft as it sounds, this is the stuff that when you're inexperienced, this is the stuff
21:26that kind of catches you out a little bit because a lot of farmers who are generational
21:31have done this with mum and dad or nan and granddad.
21:33We're constantly having to kind of figure it out for ourselves and learn on the job really.
21:39And what we've learnt with our cows is that the weaning process is challenging
21:43and our usually passive Lincoln Reds will pretty much charge through anything to stay together.
21:51I mean, I'm always surprised how high cows can jump.
21:54This is, what, three and a half, four and they just spring that like they're a gazelle.
21:58Those cows need to get to a point in their life from kind of nine months old to stand up for themselves really.
22:03So the weaning process is absolutely crucial really.
22:07Part of that process is obviously separating them and making sure that they stay separated.
22:15Right, let's get an energiser on it. Who wants zapping?
22:21The electric current runs through this simple rope and gives off a low level shock
22:25that's enough to act as a deterrent for the cows.
22:30So what we do, we're just going to hang this.
22:33We have the green that goes to the earth.
22:35So I'll put a little earth stake in.
22:38That earth's the current.
22:41And then we'll get that on there.
22:45And then we've got our terminals here.
22:49Red to positive, black to negative.
22:52And then I've got a little device just to check what sort of voltage it's throwing out.
22:56So we'll get it connected first.
23:05Oh, so that's showing 7,000 volts.
23:08And it's enough to like...
23:117,000, I reckon that would give me...
23:14Yeah, I reckon that would probably, yeah.
23:17It's tempting just to touch it on it just to see what it'd feel like, but no.
23:20And I don't recommend doing that at home.
23:25The shock is at a safe level and won't harm the cows.
23:28Just send them a strong enough signal that they need to stay in this field.
23:32Well done.
23:34Electric fence up.
23:36It's working 7,000 volts.
23:38So that'll certainly keep the cows at bay.
23:40It's another beautiful spring day on the farm.
23:57And we're all up and at it and ready for anything.
24:00Oh, look at you in them shoes.
24:06Not used to being in them.
24:08Where's your wellies, Kelvin?
24:10We look too hot in it for wellies.
24:12It seems that Liz doesn't think I'm quite ready.
24:15I bet you've had them shoes 20 years.
24:18They're so old that they're now back in fashion, you know that, don't you?
24:22Have they? Yeah.
24:24Fashion guru, Kelvin.
24:26Wear it for long enough and it will come back in fashion.
24:29There's your tip.
24:31Liz is right.
24:34I probably should have wore my wellies as this next job could get very messy.
24:38Yeah, a big thing we talk about farming is poo.
24:42Sheep poo.
24:44But today we're going to get the sheep in so we can collect some samples.
24:49They're checking the poo for worms, basically.
24:52Because worms are a big problem for sheep and if you get too many, it is deadly.
24:56Last year we lost quite a few lambs, so now it's a bit warmer.
25:01We're just going to be as proactive as possible
25:04and try and pre-empt any sort of worm issues.
25:08Which means today's task is simple.
25:13Gloves on.
25:15Pick up poo.
25:17Send it down to the vets.
25:20They'll examine it, give us a reading.
25:22If they need a drenching, we drench them.
25:25If they don't, then that's it. It's good news.
25:30Drenching is basically the way we administer medicine to the flock.
25:35Into their mouths, using a dispenser.
25:38Come on, Ginger.
25:42So, in an attempt to build up the flock's resilience,
25:46we've waited to treat.
25:47And the samples we collect today will let us know how well the flock are faring.
25:55So, we need to get these hurdles off.
25:58First, we need to build our holding pen before we herd them down.
26:03And we have a mixed track record of this going well.
26:06I'm not going to get involved in the plan today.
26:09I'm going to do exactly what Kelvin says.
26:12Which will be music to his ears.
26:14The sun's shining.
26:16You know, we'll go with the flow.
26:18Line them up separate, babe.
26:20Six footers and four footers.
26:22What a gorgeous day to be working together.
26:24We've still not got a sheep handling system.
26:26That's the problem.
26:27But other things happen and then you end up spending your money on something else.
26:34It's not as warm as it looks, is it?
26:38No.
26:39Wear this.
26:40Aww.
26:41I've got two t-shirts on.
26:43Aww.
26:44He's such a gent, Kelvin.
26:48Look at that.
26:50Aww.
26:52There we go.
26:54Now I'm dressed for farming.
26:57Right, so this is our corridor.
27:01Once we've got all the sheep in here,
27:03we're going to open the gate.
27:06Like so.
27:08That gate's closed at the bottom.
27:09And we fill this up.
27:11What could possibly go wrong?
27:13Right, I think that's it, darling.
27:14I know. All this for some poo.
27:16You ready?
27:18No.
27:19Right.
27:20Come on.
27:21Sheep in.
27:22Don't forget.
27:23Teamwork makes the...
27:26Dreamwork. Just remember, no matter what,
27:29you still love me.
27:30I still love you.
27:31I've got to keep reminding myself of that.
27:32Remind yourself.
27:34When you're dealing with sheep, just remember,
27:35you love your wife.
27:37Remember, your wife's not against you, she's with you.
27:40That's the hardest thing to remember when you're dealing with sheep.
27:44Remember that you still love each other.
27:45The flock are scattered around our top field, so my job is to drive them down to Liz so we can herd them into the new pens.
28:01These are those jobs.
28:02These are those jobs.
28:03It's intense.
28:04It's really serious.
28:05It's, you know, really important.
28:07And, erm, these are the ones where you have to focus.
28:11And I get distracted quite a bit sometimes, you know, and they'll be like, Liz!
28:14I'm like, oh, a butterfly!
28:22Yeah, man!
28:29With almost a hundred sheep and lambs, and just the two of us, there's no time for daydreaming.
28:35Come on, little lamb, that way.
28:36Just as I thought, the sheep just do whatever they want.
28:41And the lambs are all calling, so they all split up, but we'll get there.
28:57Come on!
28:58First part of the job is done.
29:06Next, it's time to collect the poo samples.
29:09Did I really say this was the life we dreamt of?
29:21The sun's shining, the sheep are behaving,
29:23and while Liz and I round them up to collect samples to test for worms,
29:29back at the farm, Milo is on feeding duties.
29:34There it is.
29:36One, two, three!
29:41Woo!
29:43I've got to feed the chicken!
29:48There we go.
29:50See where's he?
29:51Let's go.
29:53Jump, jump!
29:54Come on!
29:57It's great that Milo is now old enough to take one of the many farm jobs off my hands.
30:04What I've got to do is...
30:07put that like that...
30:14and give them something.
30:17then...
30:18then let's get the lid.
30:22We can do that.
30:23Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba la ba ba.
30:30Right.
30:31All done.
30:36When you hear a crock-clun do crock-a-daw-daw,
30:41it means to another chickens, quick, there's danger.
30:53Back up at the top of the farm,
30:55we've moved our entire flock of sheep into a holding pen.
31:01Our next task is collecting fresh poo samples
31:04to get tested by the vet for worms.
31:08Look at these little lambs!
31:12Oh, you're so cute!
31:17The lambs are still only a few weeks old
31:20and this is a good opportunity to check how they're getting on.
31:24Come on, then.
31:25Lamb.
31:27These were our first triplets.
31:29Look at the size of them now.
31:30Really good long legs, beautiful face.
31:35Mine and his little Jacobs are so cute.
31:38They are so cute.
31:42It is absolutely exhausting doing this.
31:44It's physical work.
31:46All farming is physical work.
31:49Now we've got to take the poo samples.
31:51How far are you going in?
31:52I thought you were just picking up off the floor.
31:53Sample number one.
32:04Got to get ten different samples from across the ewes.
32:07We get the mums in this size
32:09so we know that the poo in this section is from the mum
32:11and we know that the poo in that section is from the lamb.
32:14So when we check in here, you know, are you enjoying that?
32:18That is...
32:21Kids are...
32:21One, two, three, four, five.
32:23You've got to get five more.
32:25Five more.
32:26Here you go.
32:28Three.
32:29Three good ones there.
32:30I'll just spot the poo if I make them collect it.
32:33It's amazing how there's any romance left in our relationship.
32:36Well, there is.
32:37He's still there.
32:40I've seen you do some things in my time.
32:42This is a day day, isn't it?
32:43Oh, me and Liz had a lovely day together, you did, eh?
32:47Wow, what did you do?
32:48We just picked up a load of poo together.
32:51We've been on that while spotted.
32:53Grass-fed.
32:55That's the ew poo taken care of.
32:58And now we need ten samples from the lambs.
33:01Do you want to do five and I'll do five?
33:03No, honestly, you can have that one.
33:05You're doing a great job.
33:06Which is easier said than done.
33:09I found one...
33:10on the floor so far.
33:13Which is obviously not ideal.
33:15I'm going to have to actually go into the lambs' bum and...
33:20Just give me a little finger.
33:22Pick the poo out.
33:24What, you need gloves on?
33:25Yeah, I'm going to get a glove on.
33:26Oh, my God.
33:26I won't be letting him cook my dinner again if he does it that way.
33:30This is something the vet's done in the past.
33:32We've never actually done it.
33:34Take his lamb samples before.
33:36We've always just taken it from the ewes
33:38and it's there in abundance on the floor.
33:43It's just not that easy.
33:44Sheep poo.
33:47Time to phone the vet for some advice.
33:50Hello, it's Kelvin.
33:52We're just trying to get some poo samples from the lambs.
33:56I'm struggling to get my hand in there to get a sample.
33:58So, glove on, I suppose, it's just one finger with a lamb.
34:05Yeah.
34:06But it can be, if there's nothing there,
34:08it can be a bit difficult to actually collect it.
34:11I'm still in a smaller hand.
34:14And how's the best way of doing it?
34:15Do we need to put any lube on?
34:16It's a bit nicer, isn't it?
34:17And you've just got to kind of, yeah, literally wiggle about a bit
34:21so you can get a look at it right now.
34:24All right, great stuff.
34:25We'll give it a go.
34:26Brilliant.
34:27All right, well, thank you very much for that.
34:28All right.
34:29Cheers.
34:29Bye-bye.
34:32My hands are too big.
34:34You need delicate, cute, little, beautiful hands.
34:39Do you know anyone?
34:40But that little finger...
34:41We'll do it for the lamb.
34:42Yeah?
34:43Oh, good.
34:44We'll do it for the life of the lamb.
34:45That's the spiritless.
34:49Right, you just make sure it don't kick.
34:58Oh, God!
35:00Are you in?
35:01He's just, like, um...
35:03There's no poo there.
35:05I don't think there's any poo there.
35:06Right, just have a feel.
35:07Have a good root around.
35:09No, you can't just have a root around.
35:10That's not nice.
35:11Would you, like, just want to stick a finger up your bum?
35:13Yeah.
35:15Just use your little finger.
35:20There's no poo there.
35:21Oh, God, oh, God, oh.
35:22There's no poo there, Kate.
35:24Look, there's no poo on my finger.
35:25There's no poo there.
35:26We've dealt with enough dirty nappies
35:28to not be afraid of a bit of poo.
35:30But these samples aren't easy to get.
35:33So we'll take what we have to the vets
35:35and hope it's enough to test for worms.
35:37you check this at the vets that's one two three four five six seven eight nine ten ten samples
35:54of you poo gorgeous and just one sample of lamb poo all right i'll see you later good day i'll let
36:03you know good news on the whims yeah or bad news
36:07today we're getting our young calves used to being on the halter ahead of their appearance
36:31in this year's cheshire shop come on ray little ray's not even a year old he's a baby but he's a big
36:41powerful baby so you've just got to have that respect especially when you've got kids around
36:48he's a lovely calf isn't he he likes this it seems like ray is i mean he's behaving impeccably now
37:05i think for the calmness of the wash today the cow wash i think ray wins he's certainly been the
37:13easier the two i might take him for a little bit of a walk the young calves are nowhere near ready
37:20for the kids to take the reins but there's always other jobs they can help us do to get them show
37:25ready all right what i'm going to do now marnie i want you to pretend that you're the judge
37:33you're the stock judge this is my calf i'm going to walk him around the yard and i want you to stand
37:39in the middle and be watching us both we'll have a rehearsal a practice a practice show
37:48and next up is the lincoln reds come on come on come on come on come on
38:00come on right stand there right can i hold the stick yeah right we're ready so make sure his feet
38:12are square i think you did a great job you're very good at controlling him what breed is he
38:19a lincoln red how old is he he's approaching one i love how you stopped when he needed to stop
38:27i don't know if he's quite up to having a having one of you guys walking him yet i think we still
38:33need to do a little bit more training with him because he's even pulling daddy around trying to
38:38dominate dad no one dominates dad i'm the boss i've no doubt marnie will be the boss of these calves soon
38:49enough and bring home another win for the fletcher herd i actually feel like ray handled it very well
38:57i hope fingers crossed that we win again but i would like another wall of rosettes so yeah
39:05this is going to be the wall of champions
39:25today the whole family is taking a break from farm work trading hay bales for rugby balls as they come and
39:31cheer me on in a local rugby tournament so kelvin's put a team together so they're going to play rugby
39:39for the incredible charity which is david lewis they come to the farm once a week we've kind of set
39:44them little jobs on the farm that just gets them outside gives them a bit of independence so we're
39:48here we're playing something called rugby sevens which i've never heard of before kelly's got his team
39:53together he's got a good setup over there and we're here as a family the sun's out it's glorious
39:59the local charity work with adults and young people with additional needs and today they're here
40:05supporting us too i'm really excited really excited i don't think it's something we're going to win but
40:11you know we'll have a good time and we'll have a good laugh this is your kit anthony this is uh some
40:16goodies in there oh perfect you've got our playing playing kit shorts socks and a top and you also got
40:21a candle oh nice i want to get yeah i forgot about that actually yeah everyone's for the girlfriends
40:26have you got them a scissor yeah yeah she's coming down well there you go i may not have much
40:31experience on a rugby pitch but luckily i know a few people who have so i've signed up ex-england
40:37players danny maguire and gareth ellis along with experience forward mark flanagan
40:43when lads get together he's their banter he's so much fun it's that they're all comedians aren't
40:48they i think kelvin's definitely gonna get a bit of stick today because he's not amazing at
40:53rugby he should probably stick to chasing sheep around not rugby balls
40:59the teams will play each other in turns in rounds of quick 14-minute games it's fast fun and i'm just
41:06hoping i can keep up firstly thank you for oh it's proper team talk this isn't it
41:13genuinely you know thanks for coming here to have a good a good time today we're here to have fun but
41:18ultimately putting ourselves out of comfort zone people as you'll know doing that day in day out so
41:23that's kind of the spirit of the game let's just have some fun let's just have a good laugh and the
41:27one thing we have to do we have to be at least one team yeah right then come on all in farmyard flyers
41:35on three one two three team talk done now it's game time and i've been benched by the team captain
41:46mike flanagan kelvin's not made the first team because they don't really know what he's doing
41:51he's an actor he's a farmer he's a great dancer but when it comes to rugby i'm not quite sure he knows
41:55what he's doing so i think it's a good chance for people who might be a bit more experienced like
41:58these guys kelvin can get his notepad out and make a few pointers and see how it goes my own team i've
42:05not even made the starting lineup i think i've become player coach now yeah player coach i'm not
42:13back to single command yet though with the whole family supporting me and the farmyard flyers the
42:22games get underway so the good news is we're raising lots of money but the bad news is that they're
42:34losing hopefully people feel sorry for them putting more money after being benched for the first half
42:41i finally get in on the action and a chance to salvage some prize push push push push these lads are big
42:48but they're not as big as the cows and i've seen him sort them out he'll be all right but what is it
42:54they say pride comes before i got pummel good there didn't i took you out remind me that time that
43:05sheep took me out that was just what he was like do you remember we just don't know the rules just get
43:10the ball and run that's all you've got to do i think we should have gone into the social competition
43:15oh you're in the wrong one professional oh god one solid tackle later and i'm feeling a little
43:22worse for wear a little injury i hope i'm hoping fingers crossed i've not but it feels like i've
43:29tore my bicep and yeah so um not exactly ideal timing especially with the cheshire show fast
43:40approaching man's injured oh come here oh do you need looking after i do actually yeah i'll see if
43:49i know any bubbles my main concern is can you still pull the cow on tuesday that's what i'm worried
43:57about they have to get you in oh god super sub i don't know if he's pulled a muscle snap the tendon
44:04whatever's happened i want to make sure that he can lead the cow and it's the arm that you would
44:10leave the cow on as well so yeah we've got to get him strapped up and make sure he's all right
44:18with the last game played time to announce how the farmyard flyers got on right guys well thank you
44:25for today uh i've just found out we came fifth that was six so i think that's the result we had we had
44:31yeah yeah round of applause yeah yeah yeah finally and i think mostly paul i just want to say thank
44:37you to darren and everybody at david lewis uh for turning out today hopefully you've had some good
44:42engagement with people and good bit of fundraising that's what it's all about all in all despite the
44:49bruises it's been a fantastic day now if someone could kindly direct me to the nearest a and e
44:55that would be great it's been a good day weather's been good everyone's smiling everyone's happy
45:01but we have got a handful of injuries it's going to be some soul bodies tomorrow my biggest concern
45:06now is getting fit for uh cheshire show for cal duties so we'll have to see how it goes
45:11so thanks again guys hopefully this is the first of many so cheers to you all cheers guys cheers boys
45:19next time on our farm liz and the twins bust out their funkiest moves in a desperate bid
45:31to summon some rain show ships
45:37go to the rain
45:41we find ourselves turning to some unconventional halter training techniques
45:46good boy and now i find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep this year when you
45:55send viper out he's not just got three girlfriends he might have ten animals are weird yeah like cringey
46:16good boy and now i find myself trying to see how it's going to be
46:19good
46:19good
46:20good
46:21good
46:22good
46:24good
46:26good
46:28good
46:30good
46:32good
46:34good
46:36good
46:38good
46:40good
46:42good
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