- 7 hours ago
- #realityinsighthub
Countryfile S38E11 Lambing Special
#
#RealityInsightHub
"If you enjoyed this video and want to support our team by helping us fund our late-night coffee needs, please donate via PayPal! ☕️
A small act – a big impact. Thank you all so much! ❤️"
Donate at: [https://www.paypal.me/ngaxo]
🎞 Please subscribe to our official channel to watch the full movie for free, as soon as possible. ❤️Reality Insight Hub❤️
👉 Official Channel: https://www.dailymotion.com/user/realityinsight
👉 THANK YOU ⭐❤️❤️❤️⭐
#
#RealityInsightHub
"If you enjoyed this video and want to support our team by helping us fund our late-night coffee needs, please donate via PayPal! ☕️
A small act – a big impact. Thank you all so much! ❤️"
Donate at: [https://www.paypal.me/ngaxo]
🎞 Please subscribe to our official channel to watch the full movie for free, as soon as possible. ❤️Reality Insight Hub❤️
👉 Official Channel: https://www.dailymotion.com/user/realityinsight
👉 THANK YOU ⭐❤️❤️❤️⭐
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Come on, then.
00:02Well, it's certainly easier than carrying the lamb.
00:04Isn't it?
00:05Lamb's coming through, lamb's coming through.
00:36It is all go here.
00:38Aren't they gorgeous?
00:39Although a little bit noisy.
00:40Just a little bit.
00:41This one wants to escape.
00:42This is a crucial time of year for farms
00:44because their future is shaped by the next few months.
00:48For sheep farmers up and down the country,
00:51lambing time is make or break.
00:53There'll be lots of lambs being born, of course.
00:55Sadly, a few losses and plenty of long, sleepless nights.
00:58Right, let's get these back to their mum.
01:00Can I not just keep this one?
01:01No.
01:01Oh, OK.
01:04We're in the south-west of England, in Devon,
01:07at the start of lambing season.
01:08And on Mothering Sunday,
01:10where better to be than surrounded by four-legged mums
01:13and their newborn lambs?
01:16We'll be seeing all the action
01:18on three different sheep farms in the county,
01:20where, thanks to its mild climate,
01:23they've made a head start on lambing.
01:26While I'll be stationed on one farm in Devon,
01:29Adam has a few lambing duties in the Cotswolds to take care of
01:32before he heads south to join me.
01:36The last one, John.
01:38Fingers crossed.
01:39Fingers crossed. Come on.
01:40So this one's a two.
01:41Oh, yes!
01:42Twins!
01:43That's far on.
01:44Those rams did a good job.
01:49I have to say,
01:50it is probably one of the cutest lambs I've ever seen.
01:53Aren't you?
01:54I know.
01:55We'll have to look after you, won't we?
01:57Give us a little breath.
01:59Come on.
01:59There you go.
02:00That's not something I'm going to forget in a heartbeat.
02:21On our farm in the Cotswolds,
02:23we have 350 pregnant ewes,
02:25all to lamb over the next four weeks.
02:31Before I head down to Devon to catch up with Anita,
02:35I've just got to get everything ready for lambing.
02:37As most sheep farmers will know,
02:39once the ewes are in the lambing sheds,
02:41anything could happen,
02:42so you've got to be ready for it.
02:49So in our lambing shed,
02:51we've got these lambing pens
02:53with different groups in them.
02:55So these have been scanned for singles,
02:57which are red dots,
02:58and then blue dots in these pens are twins,
03:01and then we've got some triplets down the end.
03:04In fact, one's just lambed.
03:06There we go.
03:09So this is an experienced ew.
03:12She's lambed before,
03:14and she's got a good-sized lamb
03:16that she's given birth to perfectly happily.
03:18And I'll just check around her back end.
03:22So there's nothing else appearing as yet.
03:26But she's still got a big, round tummy,
03:29so she's definitely going to have some more.
03:31So I don't need to intervene at all, really.
03:33I'll just leave her to it
03:34and let her give birth naturally.
03:36But I'm on hand in case anything goes wrong.
03:46So this is early doors for our lambing
03:48because the gestation period of a sheep is 147 days,
03:51or about five months from mating to birth.
03:54And so really they're due pretty much early next week.
03:59We run around 250 commercial ewes on the farm,
04:02plus around 100 native rare breed sheep.
04:05But this year we have a new breed,
04:08unlike any we've kept before,
04:09and a lamb was born yesterday.
04:12So have a look.
04:13Just down here I've got something quite exciting to show you.
04:16This is one of my new arrivals.
04:20A valet blacknose.
04:22Look at that.
04:24Isn't that cute?
04:25The valet blacknose hails from the Swiss Alps,
04:28with the first sheep imported into the UK around 2014.
04:33In this country,
04:34the breed is valued less as commercial lamb for meat production
04:37and more for its looks and personality,
04:40making it especially popular with hobby farmers.
04:43So they are very cute
04:45with their little black nose and their black ears
04:47and this silky wool,
04:49which is just extraordinary.
04:51If I get this lamb next door,
04:52I'll show you the difference.
04:54So this is a Hampshire Cross lamb
04:57that will go for meat production
05:00and in about five months' time
05:03will be worth 120, 130 quid,
05:05depending on where the market goes.
05:07Let me pop it down.
05:09But the valet,
05:11because of their cuteness
05:12and the pet value
05:14and because people love to have them
05:16in their little paddocks outside their house,
05:19this ram lamb,
05:21which will turn into a weather,
05:22will be a castrated male,
05:25will be worth probably £500 or £600,
05:28which is quite extraordinary.
05:30A pedigree you for breeding
05:32could fetch even more,
05:33as much as £1,500.
05:35But money aside,
05:37I'm completely smitten with this little chap.
05:40I have to say,
05:41it is probably one of the cutest lambs I've ever seen.
05:44Aren't you? I know.
05:46We'll have to look after you, won't we?
05:49It just goes to show,
05:50sometimes value isn't measured in kilos of meat,
05:53but in finding the right market for the right animal.
05:57But no matter the breed,
05:59they all need the same care and attention.
06:03This little one is small,
06:05but it's drinking.
06:06You can see a black dung that's coming out of it.
06:09That's its first muck,
06:11which means its guts are working well
06:14and it's had a drink.
06:15But what I need to do,
06:16so it can get under the ewe
06:18and find the udder easier,
06:20is get rid of some of this wool that's in the way.
06:23So I've got my shears here.
06:28So just with these hands here,
06:30just clipping the wool away from around her udder now.
06:35And I think that's pretty good.
06:41So I can get the lamb onto that teat.
06:46While I've got the ewe sitting down,
06:48I'm just giving the lamb a little top up
06:49so I know that it's had a good belly full.
06:52Some milk a little bit into his mouth,
06:54in the flavour.
06:57There you go.
06:58A little feed.
06:59Now that I know he's suckling well,
07:01I can turn my attention back to the rest of the flock.
07:05The ewe here that's given birth to one lamb
07:07and is due to have two more,
07:09she's lying back down
07:11and she's got her head up
07:12and she's starting to have contractions.
07:14And so it's my assumption
07:16that she's about to give birth to another lamb.
07:19For the time being,
07:20I'm going to stay close to keep an eye on her.
07:29For Adam up in the Cotswolds,
07:30lambing has just begun.
07:32But I'm down in Devon,
07:34near Oakhampton on West Fishley Farm,
07:36where lambing is well underway
07:38and I'm keen to lend a hand.
07:40I've only ever done this once before.
07:43On Countryfile, you may have seen it,
07:45quite a few years ago.
07:47Morning!
07:48Devon's milder climate
07:49means lambing can start early here,
07:51but that doesn't mean it's easy.
07:53With wet ground and changeable weather,
07:55lambing's still taking place indoors
07:57and there's hundreds of ewes to keep a close eye on.
08:01Morning, morning!
08:03She's in there!
08:05I'm meeting a former nurse
08:07and now full-time farmer, Carol Barkwell.
08:10With her lambing season at its peak,
08:12no sooner have I washed up
08:14and I'm straight into action with a new arrival.
08:18Oh my goodness me!
08:19That's not something I'm going to forget in her.
08:21Heartbeat!
08:22It's lovely, isn't it?
08:23Hello, Carol!
08:24Lovely to meet you!
08:25Hello, Anita!
08:26Yeah, welcome!
08:26Apparently we're lambing!
08:27Welcome, yeah!
08:30How many have you delivered so far?
08:31Whereabouts in the season, are we?
08:33Oh, we've delivered...
08:35300 of our ewes have delivered,
08:37so we've delivered, like, no,
08:38400-and-something lambs already.
08:41Tell me about the farming connection.
08:43How long have you been at this farm?
08:44I've been here 20 years.
08:47First-generation farmers.
08:49There's no other farming.
08:50I've just always had a passion for sheep
08:52and have spent, from being a teenager,
08:54spent at least a day a week on my friend's farm locally here.
08:58I would take Thursdays off to go and do sheep farming
09:01and go to Cumbria and buy lambs with him
09:04and that's where we go now.
09:05We go to Cumbria every year and buy our replacements.
09:08That's the type of sheep that we've got.
09:09Tell me, what have you got here?
09:10Well, the majority of these sheep are mules
09:12which come off of the hills in Cumbria,
09:15so they are a swaledale crossed with a blue-faced Leicester ram
09:19and that makes this nice commercial sheep.
09:22And the reason being, what, they're hardy?
09:24They do well on this type of ground, this level of ground here.
09:28They can just about cope with our wet,
09:31but they make a nice commercial lamb.
09:35And tell me, how many sheep have you got here?
09:36There's 450 girls to lamb this year
09:40and then there's the 50 we're going to run back
09:42and have scanned today.
09:44So we started out with a flock this year of 500.
09:47We normally try to lamb between 600, 650,
09:52but the last couple of years
09:54have been slightly difficult and different,
09:56so we pulled back.
09:58My husband died 18 months ago
10:01and we would run the farm together.
10:05Anyway, he's gone, but I'm still going to run the farm.
10:08I'm still going to do it.
10:11But we decided to pull back to 450 this year
10:14because that is very manageable.
10:16I've got sheds that can easily accommodate 450 sheep
10:20and we like to lamb indoors.
10:21It's set up for what we do.
10:23We've been doing it for that amount of years
10:25and our system is good.
10:28As well as managing her commercial flock,
10:30lambs destined for the food industry,
10:33Carol is also part of the team
10:35behind an inclusive organisation
10:37that brings people onto the farm
10:39for real hands-on experience.
10:41With a focus on those with learning disabilities
10:45and additional needs,
10:46they run placements,
10:47including some right here in the lambing sheds.
10:51Madewell is a community interest company
10:53that we set up 17 years ago
10:55to support people of all abilities
10:59and all ages, really, over 18,
11:01and they come and engage
11:03in lots of different activities.
11:06I've worked in care all of my life
11:08and I'm a great believer in outdoors
11:11being very therapeutic.
11:13You know, you get some mud under your nails
11:14and you're allowed to do that
11:16and it's good for the soul, really.
11:18So we do it and we try and do it
11:20to the best of our ability
11:21and give people real experiences.
11:24Carol, I am so inspired by you already.
11:27I knew I would be,
11:28but that experience,
11:29talking to you now,
11:30and we've only just started our day.
11:32Yeah, let's get on with it.
11:33Let's tell me, come on,
11:33what are we doing next?
11:34Let's wash our hands.
11:34Let's wash our hands.
11:35I don't actually know how to get...
11:36Can't get out.
11:37Can't get out.
11:38Can't get out the gate, no.
11:52Before I head down to Devon,
11:54I've been keeping tabs
11:55on one of our pregnant ewes.
11:56She's expecting triplets.
12:03The ewe that's given birth
12:05to her first lamb of hopefully three
12:08has been having contractions
12:10but nothing showing at all.
12:11And I've left it for 45 minutes to an hour
12:14and by which time I would expect
12:16to at least see the second lamb coming.
12:19So I'm just going to go put a glove on
12:20and lie her down and have a feel,
12:22see what's happening.
12:26Whoa, whoa, everybody.
12:28Little lamb.
12:29Now then, little one.
12:30Into your mum.
12:31There's your mum.
12:32There you go.
12:33There she is.
12:34It's vital to be on hand at moments like this
12:37because lambing can turn perilous in a moment.
12:40Here's a good girl.
12:41I'll just lie her down.
12:44And not every birth goes to plan.
12:47I'll get her lamb and just put it
12:49by the front of her
12:51so she's not stressing too much.
12:54So I've got some lubrication jelly
12:56and a glove for cleanliness
12:59so for me and for her
13:01I don't want to introduce any infection
13:03into her womb
13:05so I'll just
13:07just kind of have a little feel
13:08to start off with.
13:14Now what I'm feeling for
13:15is two front feet and nose
13:18and I know she's fully dilated
13:20because she's already had one lamb
13:21she's completely open
13:24it does feel a bit strange.
13:27What have you got in there?
13:30Good girl.
13:38So this doesn't look very good at all.
13:41The birth fluid
13:43is black, dark
13:46which indicates
13:50a dead lamb.
13:52And that's why
13:53she's been struggling.
13:58And now
13:59I'll just have to find out
14:00what the third lamb is
14:01I'm just going to bring this
14:02quite quickly.
14:09this third lamb
14:11is actually alive
14:13so
14:17it's going to shake it
14:20and clear its lungs.
14:23One of the difficulties
14:24when you have triplets
14:25is
14:26there's so many lambs
14:28inside the womb
14:29if you get
14:29the third lamb
14:31can have its umbilical cord
14:32kicked off
14:33or broken
14:34by one of the other lambs
14:35and
14:36if its umbilical cord
14:38breaks while it's inside
14:39its mum
14:41it then gasps for air
14:43and
14:44drowns in its own fluid
14:46but this lamb
14:47is actually
14:49okay
14:49it's alive
14:50it's breathing
14:52I'll put it next
14:53to its mum's nose
14:54so she can start
14:55licking it
14:56there's your newborn
14:59just get that one
15:01come over here
15:02come on
15:03there we are
15:05lie down there
15:07there you go
15:08you stay together
15:14this is
15:15one of the realities
15:16of
15:17farming
15:17and
15:18although I've been
15:19doing it
15:19for as long as I can remember
15:22still gets me
15:23I don't
15:23like having
15:24dead lambs
15:25like that
15:25it's horrible
15:28but
15:28to have
15:29two healthy ones
15:30that are
15:30born alive
15:31that that ewe
15:32will now rear
15:33is a good thing
15:35so
15:36every cloud
15:37has a silver lining
15:44the first 48 hours
15:45of a lamb's life
15:46are critical
15:47to survival
15:52so
15:52we move the ewe
15:53and their newborns
15:54into clean pens
15:55so they can bond
15:56and start suckling
15:59hygiene
15:59is very
16:00very important
16:00so we'll
16:01muck out
16:01each pen
16:02and then
16:03we'll use
16:03a disinfectant
16:04to put on
16:04the ground
16:05of the pen
16:06to stop
16:07any infection
16:07very similar
16:08to sort of
16:09being in a hospital
16:09wall
16:10so you need
16:10clean sheets
16:11sterile situations
16:15despite all our
16:16care and planning
16:17we sadly
16:18lose a few
16:19each year
16:19and as well
16:21as being upsetting
16:22those losses
16:23can really
16:24hit the bottom line
16:27each lamb
16:28has a value
16:29in the future
16:30that's part
16:31of the sheep
16:31business
16:32that we're going
16:32to be selling them
16:33so lambs
16:34that are going
16:34to the butcher
16:35for the table
16:36they have a value
16:37of around
16:38120-130 pounds
16:40hopefully this summer
16:41the breeding stock
16:43so the pedigree
16:43Norfolk horns
16:44and Cotswolds
16:45and our rare breeds
16:46could sell
16:47for 200-250 pounds
16:48so to be losing
16:50lambs
16:51is really
16:52really tough
16:53and so that's
16:54why we're here
16:5424-7
16:56trying to keep
16:56everything alive
17:01right there
17:01little ones
17:03so once the ewes
17:05have given birth
17:05we take them
17:06into the individual
17:07pens
17:07so she'll just
17:08follow me
17:08because I've got
17:09her lambs
17:13here's a good girl
17:17there you go
17:22as well as
17:22disinfecting the
17:23lambs navels
17:24with iodine
17:25I need to check
17:26that the ewe
17:27is producing
17:27enough milk
17:28for both her
17:29twins to survive
17:33that side
17:34so that's
17:36the colostrum
17:36it's like
17:37a thick
17:38custardy milk
17:39that's full
17:40of antibodies
17:41but this
17:42is really
17:43important
17:43they get
17:43lots of it
17:44they need
17:45about a litre
17:46in the next
17:4724 hours
17:47each
17:51just pop
17:52the teat
17:52inside his
17:53mouth
17:53and now
17:54I can feel
17:54that he's
17:55drinking away
17:56and a good
17:56side of that
17:56is a waggy
17:58tail
17:59it's a moment
18:00of real relief
18:01we lost one
18:02which never
18:03gets any
18:03easier
18:03but two
18:04strong
18:05healthy
18:05lambs
18:06on their
18:06feet
18:06is something
18:07to be
18:07pleased
18:07about
18:12so with
18:12things pretty
18:13much set
18:13here
18:14and my
18:15sheep all
18:16settled and
18:17set ready for
18:18lambing
18:18I can
18:20head off to
18:21Devon
18:22and while I'm
18:23away
18:23I have a
18:24reliable team
18:25in place
18:25to ensure
18:26any lambing
18:26goes smoothly
18:40Devon's mild
18:41often wet
18:42climate
18:42usually means
18:43plenty of
18:44good grass
18:44but last year's
18:46dry conditions
18:46left the county's
18:48normally lush
18:48pastures
18:49struggling
18:50and that had
18:51a real knock-on
18:52effect for
18:53farmers
18:53across Carol's
18:55flock
18:55early scanning
18:56showed fewer
18:57pregnant ewes
18:58than normal
18:58with 60
18:59not carrying
19:00a lamb
19:00those ewes
19:02have been given
19:02one more chance
19:03with the ram
19:04and we're about
19:05to find out
19:06if it's paid off
19:08hello John
19:09hi Anita
19:10how are you doing
19:10are they clean
19:11gloves
19:11they are clean
19:12gloves
19:13yes
19:14this is the
19:15moment that
19:16matters
19:16John Garthwaite
19:17is here with
19:18his scanner
19:18to see how
19:19many are
19:20pregnant
19:21what's happening
19:21here
19:22what's this
19:22set up
19:23we're going to
19:24scan some
19:24sheep
19:25these were
19:26scanned in
19:26November last
19:28year and
19:29they were
19:29empty
19:30so some of
19:31them have
19:31been run
19:32with the ram
19:32since then
19:33and we're
19:33just going to
19:34run them
19:34through again
19:34now just
19:35to see if
19:36they have
19:36gone on
19:37since then
19:37second time
19:38round
19:38so they're
19:39going to
19:39come up
19:40through this
19:41little corridor
19:41here
19:41and then
19:42what happens
19:43they're going
19:43to go into
19:44the trailer
19:45they'll get
19:45in there
19:46and then
19:46I've got
19:46a yoke
19:47at the front
19:47which will
19:48hold them
19:48by the neck
19:50and then
19:50I'm literally
19:51just going to
19:51put a probe
19:52underneath
19:52and squirt
19:53a bit of
19:53gel on
19:53and all
19:54being well
19:54we're going
19:55to see
19:55how many
19:56lams
19:56they're pregnant
19:57and you've
19:57got about
19:5760 today
19:58about 60
19:59how long
19:59is that
19:59going to
20:00take
20:01if I was
20:02just on
20:02my own
20:03probably
20:03just over
20:04half an
20:04hour
20:04but you've
20:05got me
20:05I've got you
20:06it might take
20:06seven hours
20:07might
20:12and how many
20:13lams are you
20:13hoping to spot
20:14today
20:15in the ideal
20:16world
20:17two in every
20:17sheep
20:18two in every
20:18sheep
20:19all right
20:19come on
20:19that won't
20:20happen today
20:21and we
20:21wow
20:23what's the
20:23reality going
20:24to be
20:24reality
20:25I would
20:26think an
20:27average of
20:27one and a
20:27half
20:28one and a
20:28half
20:28all right
20:29well let's
20:29see
20:29as long as
20:30everyone's
20:30got one
20:31that would
20:32be ideal
20:32I know
20:33I don't
20:33want to
20:33be the
20:33softy
20:34in the
20:34equation
20:35here
20:35it would
20:36be nice
20:37I'll be
20:37get
20:37go on
20:38that's
20:38it
20:38we're
20:39in
20:40in a
20:41normal
20:41year
20:41Carol
20:42would
20:42be
20:42looking
20:43for
20:43strong
20:43twin
20:44rates
20:44that's
20:45the
20:45optimum
20:45number
20:46for each
20:46ewe to
20:46rear
20:47and for
20:47the
20:47farm's
20:48overall
20:48productivity
20:49year
20:49on
20:50year
20:50but this
20:51hasn't
20:51been a
20:51typical
20:52season
20:52you can
20:53make it
20:54out
20:54vaguely
20:54that's
20:55your
20:55lamb
20:55there
20:55that's
20:56the
20:56body
20:56yeah
20:57and that's
21:01so immediately
21:02we're down
21:02to 100%
21:03but we're
21:04looking for
21:04200
21:04come on
21:06off you
21:06go
21:07well done
21:07next volunteer
21:08next
21:08come on
21:10so this
21:11one's a
21:11two
21:11oh yes
21:13not quite
21:14as far
21:14on
21:15I don't
21:16really know
21:16what I'm
21:17looking at
21:17but I'm
21:17saying yes
21:18I'm trusting
21:19John
21:19I'm trusting
21:20you know
21:20what you're
21:20doing
21:20I don't
21:21either
21:21to be
21:22honest
21:25so that
21:26is a
21:26two
21:27as well
21:27two
21:27come on
21:33you are
21:34swift at
21:35that
21:37that one
21:38is a
21:38three
21:38wow
21:39triplets
21:40those
21:41those rams
21:43did a good
21:43job
21:46so far
21:47so good
21:48every
21:49ewe
21:49through the
21:49scanner
21:50has been
21:50pregnant
21:51and that's
21:51crucial
21:52because there
21:53are no
21:53third chances
21:54for these
21:54ews
21:55it simply
21:56doesn't pay
21:56to keep
21:57sending them
21:57back to
21:58the ram
21:58if they're
21:59empty
21:59they'll be
22:00sold for
22:00meat
22:02while the
22:03number of
22:04pregnant ews
22:04is good
22:05to keep
22:06that
22:06lambing
22:06percentage
22:07closer to
22:07200
22:08carol
22:09needs
22:09most of
22:10her
22:10ewes
22:10to have
22:11twins
22:12right
22:13we've got
22:13down to
22:14the last
22:14how many
22:14we've got
22:15here
22:15oh
22:15five
22:16do you
22:17get
22:17nervous
22:18at this
22:18stage
22:18we're
22:19always
22:19apprehensive
22:20we generally
22:20with the
22:21main flock
22:22we take
22:22we have
22:23a bit
22:23of a
22:23sweepstake
22:24and everybody
22:25says what
22:25the percentage
22:26is going
22:26to be
22:27it was not
22:28a very good
22:28percentage
22:28this year
22:29I think
22:29that's a cross
22:30a lot of
22:31farmers
22:31it's not
22:31been
22:32why do you
22:32think that is
22:32the weather
22:33very dry
22:35you know
22:36it's either
22:36too dry
22:36too wet
22:37too hot
22:38or too cold
22:39if you're a farmer
22:39it's not that
22:40perfect day
22:41is this
22:42is this the last
22:42one
22:43John
22:44fingers crossed
22:45fingers crossed
22:45come on
22:48I don't want
22:49to offend
22:49the sheep
22:50but she looks
22:51pregnant
22:52come on
22:54she's in
22:55lamb
22:55she's in
22:55lamb
22:57one or two
22:58one
23:00start on a
23:00one end
23:01on a one
23:01there we go
23:02well done
23:04John
23:05swiftly done
23:06right
23:07we're shaking
23:08hands now
23:10you're alright
23:10I'll leave
23:11your handshake
23:14it's a clean
23:15sweep
23:15with every
23:16ewe pregnant
23:17and the
23:17farm's
23:18lambing
23:18percentage
23:19at a
23:19respectable
23:20167%
23:22for Carol
23:23after a
23:24difficult year
23:25that's great
23:26news
23:28what a brilliant
23:29result
23:29every single
23:30one is pregnant
23:31you must be
23:32pleased with that
23:32yeah
23:33fantastic
23:33and you've
23:34spent money
23:35on every
23:35single one
23:36of these
23:36right
23:36you want
23:37them to be
23:37able to do
23:38what they're
23:38here to do
23:39yeah
23:39they're here
23:40to have
23:40babies
23:41so
23:41yeah
23:42so
23:42we will
23:43look forward
23:44to their
23:44births
23:45but these
23:45will be
23:46birthed
23:46outdoors
23:47because
23:47they're
23:47later
23:48so
23:48anything
23:49that's
23:49going to
23:49be born
23:49in April
23:50can be
23:50born
23:51in the
23:51field
23:51whereas
23:52we like
23:52to lamb
23:53early
23:53so we bring
23:54everything in
23:54in December
23:55and then lamb
23:55in February
23:56why do you like
23:56to do that
23:57you get a better
23:58price at market
23:59because it's
23:59much much
24:00earlier
24:00season
24:01lamb
24:01yes
24:02and I like
24:02to go to
24:03Portugal in
24:03March and
24:04April
24:04you know what
24:05Carol
24:05I really
24:07like your
24:07style
24:08well what a
24:08successful
24:09morning
24:20as I head off
24:22down to Devon
24:22it's very easy
24:23to forget how
24:24very different
24:25our landscapes
24:25are
24:26up here in the
24:27Cotswolds
24:28we're about a
24:28thousand foot up
24:29very exposed
24:30big open fields
24:31but quite free
24:32draining
24:35down in Devon
24:37much milder
24:38climate
24:39smaller fields
24:40you've got the
24:41banks and the
24:41hedges on top
24:42but the ground
24:43is often heavier
24:44and wetter
24:45so we're all
24:46lambing sheep
24:47but we've got
24:48different things
24:48to think about
24:49different challenges
24:52those risks
24:53those risks and
24:53rewards are
24:54exactly what
24:55some old
24:55friends of
24:56mine know
24:56all about
25:00for 17
25:01years
25:01Mike
25:02Caunter
25:02was the
25:02livestock
25:03manager
25:03on our
25:04farm
25:04in the
25:04Cotswolds
25:05and his
25:05partner
25:06Fran
25:06worked
25:07alongside
25:07us
25:07as a
25:08livestock
25:08assistant
25:11but two
25:12years ago
25:12they decided
25:13they'd had
25:13enough of me
25:14so they
25:15moved back
25:16to Devon
25:16to the
25:17250 acre
25:18farm
25:19where Mike
25:19grew up
25:23while I'm
25:24passing
25:24I can't
25:25resist
25:25dropping in
25:26on the
25:26way to
25:26see Anita
25:28particularly
25:29as they're
25:30already a few
25:30weeks into
25:31their lambing
25:31season
25:33hey
25:34hello
25:34Caunter
25:35family
25:35hello
25:35boys
25:36hello
25:38hi Mike
25:39good to see
25:40you Philip
25:40the move
25:41was all about
25:42building something
25:42of their own
25:43on their own
25:44land
25:44and to shape
25:45a future
25:46for their
25:46boys
25:47Wilf
25:47and Edward
25:48there we
25:48are
25:49we've got
25:50a new
25:50highland bull
25:51called Ted
25:51so you can
25:52call him Ted
25:54never mind
25:54the cattle
25:55Wilf's keen
25:56to show me
25:56a new lamb
25:57he hopes to
25:57take into
25:58the show ring
25:58one day
26:00so what do you
26:00want to be
26:01when you grow
26:01up
26:01farmer
26:02do you
26:03like your
26:04mum and dad
26:05so you don't
26:06fancy being
26:06an accountant
26:07or a dentist
26:07or a bank
26:08manager
26:09farmer
26:10through and
26:10through
26:12good boy
26:13right
26:14shall we pop
26:14him back
26:15and let you
26:15go to
26:20school
26:20so how's
26:21lambing going
26:21this morning
26:21then
26:22Fran
26:22yeah pretty
26:22good
26:22we've got
26:22a set of
26:23twins
26:23born
26:24first thing
26:24and we've
26:25also got
26:26another
26:26zwartblares
26:26in the far
26:27corner of
26:28this pen
26:28so these are
26:29our singles
26:30but she's just
26:30a shearling
26:31so the first
26:32timer
26:32so it could
26:33take a little
26:33bit longer
26:34yeah younger
26:35sheep might
26:35be more
26:35difficult
26:37this is only
26:38Mike and
26:39Fran's second
26:39season
26:40lambing
26:40in Devon
26:41it's a
26:41relentless
26:4224 hour
26:43job
26:44but for
26:44them
26:44this time
26:45of year
26:45is truly
26:46special
26:48so for you
26:49two
26:50working together
26:50here down
26:51in Devon
26:52I mean
26:52similar to
26:53the
26:53Cotswolds
26:53in fact
26:53that's where
26:54your love
26:55first blossomed
26:55wasn't it
26:56late night
26:56in the
26:56lambing shed
26:57I was
26:58early morning
26:58because you
26:58wouldn't get
26:59up
27:00oh yeah
27:01that's right
27:05Mike's parents
27:06Philip and
27:06Chris are
27:07still very
27:07much hands
27:08on
27:08but to
27:09manage the
27:10workload
27:10of 350
27:11ewes
27:12they lamb
27:13in three
27:13batches
27:14from January
27:14through to
27:15March
27:15and they're
27:16now midway
27:17through the
27:17second batch
27:20so once the
27:21ewes have
27:21given birth
27:22they bring
27:22them into
27:22these individual
27:23pens
27:23and now
27:24Mike and
27:24Fran do
27:25the tagging
27:25all the
27:26lambs need
27:26tags in
27:27their ears
27:27and then
27:28they need
27:29their tails
27:29docking
27:30so
27:30it's going
27:31to join
27:31in
27:32so tail
27:33first Mike
27:33yes
27:34so the
27:35lambs have
27:35got these
27:35long tails
27:36that Mike's
27:37putting a
27:37rubber ring
27:37on
27:38that just
27:38cuts off
27:38the blood
27:39supply
27:39and then
27:40the end
27:40of the
27:40tail
27:41dries up
27:42and drops
27:42off
27:42and in
27:44the spring
27:44and summertime
27:44when they
27:45get mucky
27:46around their
27:46back end
27:47with a long
27:47woolly tail
27:48that attracts
27:48flies that lay
27:49eggs that hatch
27:50into maggots
27:51that can then
27:51eat the sheep
27:52so it's really
27:52a welfare thing
27:53taking the end
27:54of the tail
27:54off
27:55and it stings
27:55a little bit
27:56but after a few
27:57minutes that's
27:58gone away
27:58and eventually
27:59it just drops
27:59off
28:00a moment of
28:01discomfort for
28:02the lamb
28:02now could
28:04help prevent
28:04fly strike
28:06which is a
28:06potentially fatal
28:07condition
28:09and then
28:10tagging
28:10yeah two
28:11tags for this
28:12one
28:14so tagging
28:14is a legal
28:15thing
28:15each lamb
28:16is identified
28:17with its own
28:18individual number
28:18and one of them
28:19is an electronic
28:20tag so it has a
28:21chip in it
28:22that you can
28:22scan with a
28:23scanner
28:23so this is a
28:24process that
28:24needs doing
28:25with all the
28:25lambs and
28:26it's pretty
28:27stress free
28:27and pretty much
28:28painless
28:29and that's
28:30him all done
28:31when I first
28:32started on the
28:33farm at home
28:33I was a
28:34livestock manager
28:35and did Mike's
28:36job and then
28:36when he joined
28:37me of course
28:37he took over
28:38and now this
28:38is it reliving
28:39it Mike
28:39there's me standing
28:40back offering
28:41advice and you're
28:41still doing all
28:42the hard work
28:42just watching
28:43yeah
28:45well I promised
28:47to put in a
28:47shift today
28:53I'm helping Mike
28:54move the first
28:54batch of lambs
28:55born back in early
28:57January
28:57onto fresh pasture
29:02so will they
29:03follow the bag
29:03do you think
29:04should do
29:04they're being
29:05fed so
29:07it's not their
29:08first move
29:09either
29:10it turned out
29:11into the field
29:11below
29:13and they've come
29:14up to this field
29:18yeah
29:18go there girls
29:28even in the drizzle
29:29I can see why
29:31they moved here
29:32I mean the
29:33climate and soils
29:34are very different
29:34to back on the
29:36Cotswolds
29:36and it just feels
29:37warm on a day
29:38like today
29:38yeah we're a couple
29:39degrees warmer
29:40every day I think
29:45I mean for us
29:46lambing as early
29:47as you do down here
29:48you know lambing in
29:48January for us
29:49we just have to keep
29:50them all in the sheds
29:50without the grass to turn
29:52the ewes out to
29:52you've got to feed them
29:53and that costs a lot
29:54more money
29:55so yeah we lamb
29:56and get them out
29:57as quick as we can
29:59here in Devon
30:00lush grass
30:01already gives Mike
30:02an edge for early
30:03lambing
30:03but he's improving
30:04on that
30:05by adding a diverse
30:06pasture mix
30:07that benefits both
30:08the soil and the sheep
30:09so what have you
30:11got in it
30:11clovers
30:12some chicory
30:13yes
30:14some plantain
30:15here look
30:15we've got nitrogen
30:17fixing plants
30:18which are going to
30:18help us buy less
30:19nitrogen artificial
30:20fertilizers
30:21and then some of the
30:22herbs are medicinal
30:23aren't they
30:23that sort of help
30:24with the guts
30:24yeah so there's some
30:25which will help
30:26with the worming
30:27of the sheep
30:27so hopefully we'll
30:28be able to worm
30:29the lambs less
30:30and it's high in
30:31protein so the
30:32silage we made
30:33off our second cut
30:34was 17% protein
30:35silage
30:36wow that is high
30:36isn't it
30:37so you'd usually
30:37be getting what
30:3811 to 13
30:38yeah
30:39and that high
30:40protein level
30:41is great for the
30:42flock's growth
30:42milk production
30:44and overall health
30:45and also there's a
30:46bit of drought
30:47resilience as well
30:48so in a year like
30:49last year when it
30:49was so dry in the
30:51summer some of the
30:52herbs were the
30:52first things to grow
30:53when the rain came
30:54so it's win-win
30:55all round really
30:56hopefully yeah
30:59grass is only half
31:01the story
31:03the right breeds
31:04matter just as much
31:06and like me
31:07mike and fran
31:08are devoted to
31:09native breeds
31:10that are perfectly
31:10suited to the
31:11farm's land
31:12climate
31:12and way of working
31:15so i recognize
31:16some of the breeds
31:17you've got your
31:17cary hills that i
31:18gave you as a
31:19leaving present
31:19would you prefer a
31:21coffee machine or
31:21a sheep
31:22oh definitely
31:22a sheep
31:23yeah i think i'd
31:23prefer the coffee
31:24machine
31:27and then your
31:28little grey faced
31:29dartmoors which are
31:30gorgeous there's one
31:31lamb jumping on its
31:32mum over there
31:33yeah you've still got
31:33those fran
31:34yeah ironically i had
31:35them living up with my
31:36parents in berkshire
31:37since my teen years
31:38and then i've met mike
31:40and then they've
31:41followed me home
31:48there's another sheep
31:49that really thrives
31:50in the conditions here
31:53particularly when it
31:54comes to early lambing
31:57i just wanted to show
31:58you this breed
32:00this is the dorset
32:01and of course
32:02here we are in devon
32:03but they're a very good
32:04breed for people
32:05down in the south
32:06where the climate
32:07is a little warmer
32:08partly because they
32:09give birth all year
32:10round so the majority
32:11of ewes will ovulate
32:13in the autumn
32:14and then five months
32:16later give birth in
32:17the spring when the
32:18grass starts to grow
32:18that's when most
32:19sheep farmers will be
32:20lambing their ewes
32:21but the dorset you
32:22can choose to lamb
32:23all year round
32:24so you can lamb them
32:26very early
32:26sort of november or
32:28even december time
32:29and that means that
32:31as the lambs grow
32:32you can send the lambs
32:33to the markets
32:34during the sort of
32:36easter period
32:36when most sheep
32:38are giving birth
32:38so you get these
32:39lambs early to the
32:40market when the price
32:41is high
32:42so economically
32:43a really good thing
32:44for fran and mike
32:45to have on the farm
32:46here
32:47right let's let them
32:48go back to their mum
32:55yeah around the corner
32:56there's a good girl
33:00right see if you want
33:01a bottle
33:04doing things like this
33:05is really special
33:06you know you know
33:07you're helping a little
33:08life
33:09and when it's successful
33:10and it's drinking like
33:11this it's very rewarding
33:14when you tip a lamb up
33:16like that
33:16you can see their tummy's
33:18nice and round
33:18full of milk
33:19if it was pinched
33:20and narrow
33:20you know it was empty
33:22but she's got a big
33:23full tummy
33:25and very happy
33:29of course
33:29every lamb that thrives
33:31also helps the farm's
33:32bottom line
33:38there's an old farming joke
33:39that goes
33:40if you want to become
33:41a millionaire from sheep
33:42farming
33:43you need to start
33:43as a billionaire
33:44of course it's said
33:45with a smile
33:46but it's a gentle reminder
33:48of just how fine
33:49balanced the business is
33:52and here mike and fran
33:53are shouldering the weight
33:55of supporting the farm
33:56and the family
33:58so as far as the lambing
34:00is going
34:00how have things been
34:01this season
34:03they've been good
34:04our scanning percentage
34:05was down because of the
34:06dry summer and the drought
34:07yes
34:07so we'd like that to be
34:09a bit higher on a few more
34:10lambs
34:10thinking our first year
34:11will be the worst year
34:12hopefully improve year on year
34:13but the lambing's going well
34:15yeah
34:19those early lambs
34:20born in january
34:21will hopefully be ready
34:22for easter
34:23when prices peak
34:25for mike and fran
34:27that early start
34:28isn't just good timing
34:29it's key to making
34:30the numbers stack up
34:33they're only two years
34:34into this new chapter
34:35but they're already
34:36building something
34:37they hope their children
34:38might one day take on
34:42yeah well congratulations
34:43on everything you're
34:44achieving down here
34:44it's lovely to see you
34:45fit and happy and healthy
34:46and i'm going to dash
34:47because i'm heading up
34:48the road to help anita
34:49you're welcome back
34:49anytime
34:50thanks thanks fran
34:51see ya
34:57as i learned earlier
34:59carol's farm is about
35:00more than just livestock
35:01it's also home to
35:04madewell
35:04the not-for-profit
35:05community interest company
35:07that supports adults
35:08with learning disabilities
35:09and additional needs
35:10as they experience
35:11farming life
35:14everything here is designed
35:16to develop real-world skills
35:17and greater independence
35:19and at the heart of it all
35:20is the on-site cafe
35:24hello dan
35:25ah hello anita
35:26how are you
35:27i'm not i don't want
35:28to interrupt you
35:28whilst you're getting
35:29a coffee order out
35:30no no of course not
35:31i'm actually doing
35:32a black coffee
35:33with one sugar
35:35for someone
35:36yeah
35:37dan has been here
35:38for almost two years
35:40learning new skills
35:41and growing his confidence
35:43i will be your assistant
35:45today
35:45ah no worries
35:49most come to the farm
35:51for day experiences
35:52meeting the animals
35:53and getting a taste
35:54of farm work
35:55but some like dan
35:56have become part
35:57of the family
35:58what do you enjoy
36:00about being here
36:00well um
36:02all of it actually
36:03it kind of ticks
36:04all the boxes for me
36:05i'm serving the public
36:07so getting to communicate
36:08with them
36:08write down orders
36:10make drinks for them
36:11it sort of
36:12makes me feel
36:13good
36:14it makes me feel
36:15confident
36:15it makes me feel safe
36:16all really important
36:18things
36:18yes
36:19and how was it
36:19before you were here
36:21well before i came here
36:22i was
36:24i had really big
36:26mental health problems
36:27i was in a bit
36:28of a dark place
36:29i wasn't fit to work
36:31thank you
36:32for being so honest
36:33with me
36:34thank you
36:34i think it's really
36:35important to be able
36:36to talk about
36:37mental health
36:38because
36:39it is yes
36:40and how this place
36:41has you know
36:42really helped you
36:43in many ways
36:44how are your cooking
36:45skills though
36:46dan
36:46i wouldn't say
36:47i am
36:48a perfect cook
36:49i've heard you've got
36:50something in the oven
36:51yes we have some
36:52fruit crumble
36:55o-m-g
36:57it'll be very hot
36:59here we are
37:00dan
37:02this looks delicious
37:04so what's in there
37:05we have apple
37:07pears
37:08and black currants
37:10that have come
37:10from a bush
37:11located around
37:12the maidwell
37:13even better
37:14so this is a
37:14pure devon
37:16crumble
37:18it is so
37:20wonderful
37:20to hear
37:21your story
37:22from somebody
37:23who was at
37:24quite a low
37:24point in your life
37:26to now hearing
37:27you say that
37:28you know
37:28there are so many
37:28options open to you
37:29yes
37:30i've enjoyed the
37:32journey
37:32and you can make
37:33a crumble
37:33oh i can definitely
37:34make a crumble
37:35yes
37:35come on
37:35shall we do it
37:36right
37:37cheers
37:38cheers
37:40oh my goodness
37:41yeah
37:43you'll never know
37:44you'll just have to
37:45take my word for it
37:46it is absolutely
37:48delicious
37:49thank you
37:49you're very welcome
37:50what a joy this is
37:54frankie atherton
37:56is the general
37:56manager of maidwell
37:57she helps to support
37:59dan and his colleagues
38:00as they get involved
38:01in different activities
38:02from cafe work
38:04to farming
38:04hello frankie
38:05look at that
38:06thank you
38:07brought you a coffee
38:07thanks
38:08how about that
38:09well dan made it
38:10oh thanks dan
38:12um
38:12this project is
38:14quite incredible
38:14so you've got
38:15a working farm
38:16yep
38:16and alongside that
38:18we're a day centre
38:19and we provide support
38:20for adults
38:21with various
38:22needs
38:23so it could be
38:24anything
38:24could be loneliness
38:25mental health
38:26learning disability
38:27um and they come here
38:29and they spend time
38:29and they learn skills
38:31things like gardening
38:32woodwork
38:33it's just a place
38:34where they can come
38:35and be safe
38:36and do things
38:37that maybe they couldn't
38:38do outside of here
38:40people can come
38:41and be themselves here
38:42and feel like
38:43there's no pressure
38:44it's friendly
38:45it's inclusive
38:46i describe it
38:47as a puzzle
38:48a little bit
38:48yeah
38:49everybody
38:49is that piece
38:50of a puzzle
38:51that's different
38:52but together
38:53it makes this
38:54beautiful picture
38:56on this farm
38:57everyone has a role
38:59to play
39:00out in the lambing pens
39:01team members are
39:02taking on responsibility
39:03for the newest arrivals
39:06so it's a little boy
39:09Tilly has plenty of lambing experience
39:11she's been helping here
39:12for almost 12 years
39:18and this little one as well
39:21very tiny little one
39:22we've just got to keep an eye on this one
39:25I like to move the sheep
39:27I like to sometimes
39:29I get a bit distracted
39:30I cuddle the lambs
39:32sometimes
39:32and a little bit cuddly time
39:34and I'm always like that
39:35but I love it
39:38it's just nice to be around
39:40with people and stuff
39:41and I just love it
39:42and it's just one of my favourite hobbies
39:44I like to do
39:48while on the farm
39:49Tilly and the rest of the team
39:51are supported by farm manager
39:52Susie Searle
39:53who much like Carol
39:54originally comes from a care background
39:57each one has got their abilities
40:00and we work using each other's skills together
40:04also with Susie today
40:06are Anne
40:06who's been part of the team
40:08since 2015
40:10and Annabelle
40:11who joined a few years ago
40:14it's their job
40:15to move the lambs
40:16into different pens
40:17as once the newborns
40:19get strong enough
40:19they need to mix
40:20with other lambs and ewes
40:21to get used to being
40:22in a bigger flock
40:23so I really enjoy
40:25being trusted
40:25to do things on my own
40:28I've learnt how to drive
40:29the quad bike
40:30the gator
40:31I've learnt how to
40:32get the medicine
40:34from the medicine cabinet
40:40so now you can see
40:41the mum
40:43has got some of
40:44the liquid
40:45from the lambs
40:46and it's now
40:47going to lick
40:49the lambs
40:49but it won't lick
40:50when we're in the pen
40:52so when we move
40:53out of the pen
40:54the mum will then
40:55start to lick
40:56the lambs
41:00we're always very busy
41:02yeah
41:02but with this team
41:06it's fun isn't it
41:07girls
41:07when we work
41:09we work as
41:10such a team
41:12yeah
41:12we prefer to work
41:13as a team
41:14than not work
41:15as a team
41:15don't we
41:16yeah
41:21I would like
41:21to have my own
41:22sheep farm
41:23I just love seeing
41:24all the new
41:26lambs
41:26and all the ewes
41:28farming is in my blood
41:29now
41:30and it's
41:31it's going to be
41:32forever more
41:42we've been lucky
41:43today with the rain
41:44but what's it looking
41:45like for the week
41:46ahead
41:46here's the country
41:47file forecast
41:48and especially for you
41:49Greg James
41:49from Radio 1
41:50who's on his longest
41:51ride for Red Nose Day
41:52and Comic Relief
42:02hello
42:03thanks for joining me
42:04you know what
42:04let's get to the good news
42:06straight away
42:07it's going to be
42:08warming up
42:08over the next few days
42:10yay
42:10and those temperatures
42:11could even reach
42:1220 degrees celsius
42:14now on the satellite picture
42:15you can see this pretty picture here
42:17these are shower clouds
42:18blowing off the Atlantic
42:19quite unstable
42:20chilly air
42:21from the north
42:22that's over us
42:23right now
42:24but in the days ahead
42:25things are going to change
42:26and we'll start to see
42:27this southerly developing
42:29all the way from Spain
42:30so hence the temperatures
42:31will rise
42:31now I don't think
42:3220 will happen
42:34everywhere
42:34for most of us
42:35it'll be around the mid
42:36maybe high teens
42:37but that's certainly
42:38pleasant enough
42:38this time of the year
42:40okay
42:40let's get to the
42:41here and now
42:42and we've got that
42:43rash of showers
42:44after a rather grey
42:45rainy and blustery day
42:46for many of us
42:47but there will be
42:47clear spells
42:48overnight too
42:49it will be fairly nippy
42:51first thing in the morning
42:52on Monday
42:53if you're up very early
42:53perhaps as low as
42:55zero degrees there
42:56in eastern parts of Scotland
42:57but in most towns and cities
42:59across England
43:00Wales and Northern Ireland
43:01it'll be above freezing
43:02three or four Celsius
43:03so the forecast then
43:05for Monday shows
43:06actually fine weather
43:07for most of us
43:08in the morning
43:08in fact it'll be quite bright
43:09if not sunny
43:10there's the next weather front
43:11approaching
43:12so it'll be a while
43:12before that warmer air
43:13reaches us
43:14because on Monday
43:14once again
43:15rain here in the northwest
43:17of the country
43:17which eventually will reach
43:18the northwest of England
43:20so Cumbria
43:20Lancashire
43:21around the coasts of Wales
43:22it'll be quite damp
43:23I think eastern and southern areas
43:25on Monday may turn cloudy
43:26there might be a spit in the wind
43:27but I don't think we're expecting
43:29any prolonged rain
43:30and then Monday night
43:32into Tuesday
43:33the winds will start
43:35to change direction
43:35now notice they're coming in
43:37from the southern climes now
43:38so a weather front
43:39tries to move in
43:40but it basically gets pushed
43:42and sheared away
43:43to the north
43:44so yes
43:44there will be some wind and rain
43:46in the northwest of the UK
43:47but for the bulk of the country
43:48we've got that southerly breeze
43:50the clouds all thin
43:52yes a little on the windy side
43:54around some of these western coasts
43:55but look at the temperatures
43:56widely into the mid-teens
43:58so I think Tuesday
43:59is already going to feel
44:00very pleasant
44:01across the UK
44:02and then Tuesday night
44:03into Wednesday
44:04that weather front
44:06basically
44:06or what's left of it
44:07fizzles away
44:09the winds die down
44:11and we're in for a clear start
44:13on Wednesday
44:13there could be some mist
44:14and fog in places
44:15which sometimes lifts
44:16to those grey skies
44:17for a while in the morning
44:18but essentially speaking
44:19it's a beautiful day
44:2019 degrees
44:21that's the estimate for London
44:2215 celsius for Newcastle
44:24as I say
44:24we could reach our
44:25first 20 celsius
44:26of the season
44:27on Wednesday
44:28and I think for some of us
44:29Thursday could actually be
44:30every bit as warm
44:32I suspect on Thursday
44:33the higher temperatures
44:34will actually be
44:35around Wales
44:36we could see
44:36up to about
44:3718 degrees celsius
44:39again a bit of mist
44:40in the morning
44:41perhaps lasting
44:42just around
44:43into the afternoon
44:43but on the whole
44:44a pleasant enough day
44:46so looking like
44:47looks like we're going
44:48to get some of that
44:49spring warmth
44:50early spring warmth
44:52through the middle
44:53of the week onwards
44:53now high pressure
44:54is in charge
44:55of the weather
44:56so hence it's going
44:56to settle down
44:57and of course
44:58high pressures
44:58once they establish
44:59themselves
44:59they tend to stick
45:00around for a while
45:01so low pressures
45:02zip across
45:02high pressures
45:03tend to stick around
45:04that's why the weather
45:06stabilises
45:06so it becomes calm
45:07and settled
45:08now notice the temperatures
45:10are a little lower
45:10on Friday
45:11that's because the winds
45:12will be blowing around
45:13from different directions
45:14over the coming days
45:15and that does have a bearing
45:16on the maximum temperatures
45:18that we get
45:18but broadly speaking
45:20the weather's looking
45:21absolutely fine
45:22with that high pressure
45:22as I say
45:23possibly peaking
45:24at around about
45:2520 celsius
45:26middle part of the week
45:28that's it
45:29enjoy
45:37we're in devon
45:38helping with early spring lambing
45:40that's not something
45:41I'm going to forget
45:42in a heartbeat
45:44when it's successful
45:45and it's drinking like this
45:46it's very rewarding
45:49I don't want to offend
45:50the sheep
45:50but she looks pregnant
45:54while the devon climate
45:56means that these early lambs
45:57can access pasture
45:58even at this time of year
46:01stocking the right breed
46:02of sheep
46:02for the conditions
46:03is essential
46:09sheep farmers
46:10across the UK
46:10carefully select breeds
46:12that work for their farm's
46:13specific climate
46:14and terrain
46:18Tom and Leah Cole
46:19run a sheep farm
46:20in the hills
46:21of North Devon
46:22they started their farm
46:23in 2018
46:25with just over 50 mules
46:28and ever since
46:29have been steadily
46:30growing their flock
46:31always thinking carefully
46:33as to which breeds
46:34best fit their farm
46:37we've got
46:38predominantly
46:39three different breeds
46:40you've got the
46:40North Country mule here
46:41the Suffolk there
46:42and the Chariot Cross
46:44just further down there
46:46we put this lambing shed up
46:48in 2019
46:49with the outlook
46:51of housing
46:52400 ewes
46:53now to date
46:54we're around
46:55the 430
46:56so we've nearly outgrown it
47:01the flock has grown fast
47:03but on exposed ground
47:05like this
47:06bigger numbers
47:07don't make life easier
47:08when the weather turns
47:10there's simply more at risk
47:12most of Tom's sheep
47:14are modern commercial crosses
47:15like Suffolk mules
47:17bred to grow quickly
47:18and easily sell
47:20but they can struggle
47:21when conditions are harsh
47:22so this year
47:24he's introduced
47:25a traditional
47:26hardier breed
47:27into the mix
47:28the Devon Closewool
47:30we're high up
47:31sort of 800 foot
47:33above sea level here
47:34in recent weeks
47:35it's been rough
47:36with hailstorms
47:37and typical Exmoor
47:38wintry weather
47:40here's all the rams
47:41that we put to the females
47:42predominantly
47:43you've got Texel sires
47:45we've got a few Suffolks
47:46that we use producing
47:47the Suffolk mule cross
47:49then we've got the Devon closewool
47:51that we're trialling this year
47:52just for the fact that
47:53they might be able to stick
47:54the elements a bit better
47:55in recent years
47:56we've had
47:56a lot of rainfall
47:58it's a lot more woolier breed
48:00it carries a bit more flesh
48:02the closewool ram
48:04saw about 60 females
48:07to start with
48:08and 40 or 50 lambs
48:11out of them
48:12here on the edge of Exmoor
48:14get some of the largest
48:15rainfall in the country
48:16so going back to the
48:19more traditional breed
48:20that's been developed here
48:21we hope that the
48:23newborn lambs
48:24can stick the weather
48:26local farmers
48:27gave up the closewool breed
48:29in the early 80s
48:30they think I'm a little bit
48:31a bit mad
48:32trialling this
48:33this experiment
48:35haven't gone too hard at it
48:37only purchasing one ram
48:38but you never know
48:41there might be two next year
48:45some of the taxel
48:46across the Suffolk mills
48:47are very thin skin
48:50these are born
48:52with a lot more wool
48:53meaning that they can
48:54get out of the shed
48:54perhaps a day earlier
48:56that day is quite important
48:58for the busy time at Lammond
49:00we're very limited
49:01with shed space
49:04Tom's always looking
49:05at trying something new
49:06aren't you
49:06trying to improve
49:07how we're doing everything
49:08and how things are
49:10especially how it sticks
49:11to weather
49:12because we land so early
49:13we need something
49:14that's going to stick
49:14the weather well
49:15always try and do things
49:16some work some don't
49:18hopefully this one will
49:20so that number 13 there
49:22got quite a lot of wool
49:23over his face
49:23and woolly legs
49:24and that's one of the main
49:25reasons we've chose
49:26to experiment with this breed
49:27so he's got a bit more
49:29wool in them
49:29to fight the elements
49:30of this Exmoor weather
49:31and it's working so far
49:33they're now three weeks old
49:35they're close to the crosses
49:35I haven't lost one at all
49:37out in the field
49:38so far the introduction
49:40of the Devon close wool
49:41has proved a success
49:43Tom and Leah
49:46are blending traditional
49:47methods with fresh ideas
49:51and by turning to a local
49:53long established breed
49:55they're setting the farm up
49:56for the future
49:59but a farm is only as good
50:01as its workforce
50:05this is Tom
50:06without him
50:07I wouldn't be able
50:09to do as much
50:10as I do on my own
50:11he does all the gathering
50:12a good dog's priceless
50:14he surely is a good dog
50:20nice we've got
50:21winning bet here
50:22they're the next
50:24next trainees on the farm
50:26they're going to be
50:28a handful to train
50:29the good ones
50:31are the ones
50:31that know
50:32half of it already
50:38he saw
50:41Mary's two and a half
50:42and then we've got
50:42five week old Freddy
50:43as well
50:44so challenging
50:45but all good fun
50:48good girl
50:49well done
50:52Mary loves the lambs
50:53the lambs chase her
50:54and she chases the lambs
50:56so they have good fun
50:57and games with each other
51:00before lambs you don't
51:02know how you're going
51:02to cope
51:03you know
51:04all the hours
51:05when you're in it
51:06you just manage
51:07you just go on
51:08to overdrive
51:10we're very lucky
51:10with family and friends
51:12apart from
51:13they've definitely
51:14got us through
51:15this season
51:15haven't they
51:16yeah
51:16yeah
51:16we wouldn't have
51:17done it without them
51:20sort of living a dream
51:22I love sheep
51:23and that's what I
51:24wanted to get
51:24into at a young age
51:25and lucky enough
51:26to doing something
51:27I always wanted to do
51:28yeah
51:29future's play
51:37it's been non-stop
51:39today here at
51:40West Fishley Farm
51:41and just as things
51:42are about to get
51:43really hectic
51:46the cavalry
51:47finally arrives
51:48to lend a hand
51:54Adam
51:55I'm covered
51:56you look like a
51:57proper phone
51:58just in the nick
51:59of time
51:59hello
52:00oh hello
52:00lovely to be you
52:02hello Adam
52:02I'm here to help
52:03what are we doing
52:04what are we doing
52:04we're going to get
52:05these sheep here out
52:07these are all mums
52:07that have got two babies
52:09they've had twins
52:09they've been in here
52:11as a group
52:12for three days now
52:13the weather's just about
52:14nice enough for them
52:15to go out into a field
52:16that's got a field shelter
52:18so it takes quite a few people
52:20mob handed to get them all out
52:22so let's get them going
52:23let's do it
52:23I'll go and open the gate
52:24okay
52:27come on
52:29ready
52:30ready ready
52:31come on little enemies
52:32come on
52:35this is a big step
52:36at just three days old
52:38they're out in the open
52:40for the first time
52:41and every lamb
52:42has to stay with its mum
52:44miss a feed out here
52:45and they lose energy quickly
52:49come on
52:50come on
52:50come on
52:52for these 17 ewes
52:54with their 34 lambs
52:55it's a short trip
52:56to a nearby 4 acre field
52:58they're home
52:59for the next few days
53:00before they move again
53:02to a larger 10 acre spot
53:10so this little lamb
53:11just got left behind
53:12number 13
53:13so we'll go and find
53:14number 13 mum
53:15and reunite them
53:16come on
53:20being the lambs
53:21first time on pasture
53:22it's no surprise
53:23they find it all
53:24a bit confusing
53:25this way
53:26they think their mum's
53:27back there
53:27so if we just
53:28shove them down a bit
53:29yeah
53:30come on
53:30come on
53:31go on
53:32this way
53:32your mum's down there
53:33she's down there
53:34come on
53:35you'll find them
53:37so now nature
53:38will do its thing
53:39and will they find
53:39their own mothers
53:40they will
53:40so the bleats are unique
53:42but the smell
53:43is really important
53:44so when a lamb
53:45goes to feed from her mum
53:46the ewe will sniff the lamb
53:48and if it doesn't smell
53:49like her own
53:49she'll recognise that
53:50and she'll butt it away
53:51say go and find your own mum
53:52so she'll only feed
53:53her own lambs
53:54and they've learnt that
53:55in the shed
53:56the lambs have learnt
53:57to find their mum
53:58because that's where
53:58the milk bar is
53:59because you don't want to
54:00have an empty tummy
54:01out here
54:02no
54:02no
54:02you need to survive
54:04but sometimes
54:05each family group
54:06needs a little helping hand
54:07to find each other
54:11so there's 17
54:12over there
54:13Anita
54:13there she is
54:14come and find
54:14here they are
54:15Anita's just walking
54:16the two 17 lambs
54:18along the fence there
54:19and hopefully
54:20give her a chance
54:21to find them
54:22because there's so many
54:23baby lambs running around
54:24calling for their mums
54:25it's a bit of a
54:26cacophony of bleating
54:27that soon as they find
54:29each other
54:30that noise will quieten down
54:31and just the odd ones
54:32that are left
54:32will marry up
54:33with their mums
54:34hopefully
54:36one's found
54:36that's fine
54:37that's it
54:37you've done it
54:37it's that way
54:38there we are
54:38that's it
54:40number four is a bit lost
54:42go on
54:43go back up
54:43to your mum
54:45I don't think I'm helping
54:46well I think the more
54:48you run around
54:49it tends to muddle
54:50them up a bit
54:50they'll sort of
54:51eventually sort it out
54:52themselves
54:5223
54:53there we go
54:53they're sorted
54:5518's got one there
54:58that's so clever
54:59and now they will be here
55:01for how long
55:01so they'll stay in here
55:02until they've run out of grass
55:04so they'll just move them out
55:05around the farm
55:06all summer
55:07they'll be weaned off their mums
55:08the mums will get back
55:09in good condition
55:10go back to the ram
55:11in the autumn
55:11and then it happens all again
55:13cycle happens all again
55:16with the three day old lambs
55:18now settled in their family groups
55:20we can return to the barns
55:22to move the newborns
55:23into a larger pen
55:25and to get them there
55:26they've got their own
55:27special transport
55:29so if I pass it to you
55:31the lamb
55:31the lamb
55:32goes in the trolley
55:33and then hopefully mum
55:34will follow the lamb
55:35thank you
55:36lucky number now
55:37they chuck it in the trolley
55:41beautiful job
55:42and then you're in charge
55:43of driving
55:43all right let's do it
55:44then we get another one
55:45round from round there
55:46yeah
55:49come on then
55:53well it's certainly easier
55:54than carrying the lamb
55:55isn't it
55:56lambs coming through
55:57lambs coming through
56:03if I wait here
56:04so they don't run out
56:05just chuck the lambs
56:06in the pen
56:06and away we go
56:06okay
56:08I say chuck them in
56:09put them in gently
56:10I love your confidence in me
56:12and you go
56:12I think we've worked out
56:13our working relationship
56:14Anita
56:15I'll consult
56:15you do all the work
56:16sounds great
56:17I'm on a steep learning curve
56:19but come on
56:20that was alright
56:20well you're a natural
56:21yeah it's great
56:22thank you
56:22I mean you'd hope so
56:23after this amount of time
56:24though wouldn't you
56:26but once lambing starts
56:28there's no time to sit back
56:29and relax
56:30right Adam I think
56:31there's another ewe birthing
56:32so shall we
56:33okay
56:33go and help
56:34get in there
56:34yes
56:37for Carol and her team
56:38600 lambs have been born
56:40so far
56:41with a further 75
56:42expected to come
56:43in the next two weeks
56:46hopefully
56:46all healthy
56:47like this little one
56:50already the ewe
56:52having gone through
56:53that birthing experience
56:54is already wanting to
56:55love the lamb
56:56and is licking it
56:57straight away
57:00so she's talking to it
57:01it's talking to her
57:02and the lamb already knows
57:04the ewe's voice
57:05because it's been listening to her
57:06while it's been floating around
57:07inside her womb
57:07yeah
57:08and now this is when
57:09the ewe is learning
57:11that smell
57:11that unique smell
57:13that that lamb is carrying
57:14beautiful
57:15absolutely magic
57:18I will never forget today
57:19yeah well it is lovely
57:21and despite me seeing it
57:22thousands of times
57:23you know everyone is special
57:24but on a commercial farm
57:26they're more than that
57:27they set the tone
57:29for the farm's financial year
57:30and lay the foundation
57:32for next year's flock
57:34next week
57:35join Margarita and Sammy
57:37who'll be gazing
57:38at the dark skies
57:39in God's Own Yorkshire
57:41we've pointed it
57:42where Jupiter should be
57:44so
57:44oh wow
57:45okay
57:46it's the oh wow moment
57:48I need to turn all the lights off
57:50to go into dark mode
57:51okay
57:54it is still really dark
57:56and it's actually quite nice
57:57isn't it
57:58quickly to the box there
57:59perfect
58:01so
58:02clean box for him
58:04and
58:05thank you
58:06how long have you been excited
58:08about doing the night walk
58:09quite a few days
58:10the days
58:13that's next week
58:14on BBC One
58:16hope to see you then
58:17bye bye
58:18bye
58:18right
58:19shall we check on her
58:19yeah
58:20well you'll check on her
58:21I'm gonna watch
58:29triumphs
58:29tribulations
58:30trouble and strife
58:31in this farming life
58:33in rural Scotland
58:34over on BBC Two now
58:35also new on iPlayer
58:38the big cats
58:38are back
58:39follow them
58:3924-7
58:40in Africa's
58:41last great wilderness
58:42well here next
58:44BBC One's
58:45in the Scottish borders
58:46with the Antiques Roadshow
58:48you
Comments