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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.
00:48Yeah, for 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,
02:35just 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 ewes.
03:13She'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, the breed is valued less as commercial lamb
04:37for meat production,
04:38and 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, which 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 will be worth 120, 130 quid,
05:05depending on where the market goes.
05:07Let me pop it down.
05:09But the Valet, because of their cuteness and the pet value,
05:14and because people love to have them in their little paddocks
05:17outside their house,
05:19this ram lamb, which will turn into a weather,
05:22will be a castrated male,
05:24will be worth probably £500 or £600,
05:28which is quite extraordinary.
05:30A pedigree ewe for breeding could 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 and 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.
06:34And 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.
06:56There 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
07:59to keep a close eye on.
08:00Morning, morning!
08:03She's in there!
08:05I'm meeting a former nurse
08:07and now full-time farmer,
08:08Carol Barkwell.
08:10With her lambing season at its peak,
08:12no sooner have I washed up
08:14and I'm straight into action
08:16with a new arrival.
08:18Oh, my goodness me!
08:19That's not something I'm going to forget
08:21in a heartbeat.
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?
08:33We've delivered...
08:34300 of our ewes have delivered,
08:37so we've delivered, I don't know,
08:38400-and-something lambs already.
08:41Tell me about the farming connection.
08:43How long have you been at this farm?
08:45I'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 I've spent, from being a teenager,
08:54spent at least a day a week
08:56on my friend's farm locally here.
08:58I would take Thursdays off
08:59to 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
09:07and 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
09:17crossed with a blue-faced Leicester ram
09:19and that makes this nice commercial sheep.
09:22And the reason being, what, they're hardy?
09:25They do well on this type of ground,
09:27this level of ground here.
09:28They can just about cope with our wet,
09:31but they make a nice commercial lamb.
09:35Tell 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.
09:43So we started out with a flock this year of 500.
09:46We normally try to lamb between 600, 650,
09:52but the last couple of years have been
09:54slightly 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.
10:42With 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
11:04in 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 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
11:19and 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.
11:33Come on, what 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...
11:36I might actually deliver...
11:37We can't get out.
11:37Can't get out.
11:38Can't get out the gate.
11:52Before I head down to Devon,
11:54I've been keeping tabs on one of our pregnant ewes.
11:57She's expecting triplets.
12:03The ewe that's given birth to her first lamb of hopefully three
12:08has been having contractions but nothing showing at all
12:11and I've left it for 45 minutes to an hour
12:14and by which time I would expect to at least see the second lamb coming.
12:18So 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 the 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 by 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 into her womb.
13:05So I'll just,
13:07I'm just going to have a little feel to 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.
13:25It does feel a bit strange.
13:28What have you got in there?
13:30Good girl.
13:37So this doesn't look very good at all.
13:41The birth fluid is black, dark,
13:46which indicates a dead lamb.
13:52And that's why she's been struggling.
13:58And now I'll just have to find out
14:00what the third lamb is.
14:01I'm just going to bring this quite quickly.
14:09This third lamb is actually alive.
14:13So
14:17it's going to shake it
14:20and clear its lungs.
14:23One of the difficulties when you have triplets
14:25is there's so many lambs inside the womb.
14:29If you get the third lamb
14:31can have its umbilical cord kicked off
14:33or broken by one of the other lambs.
14:36And
14:36if its umbilical cord breaks
14:38while it's inside its mum
14:41it then gasps for air
14:42and
14:44drowns in its own fluid.
14:46But this lamb
14:47is actually
14:49okay.
14:49It's alive.
14:51It's breathing.
14:52I'll put it next to its mum's nose
14:54so she can start licking it.
14:56There's your newborn.
14:59Just get that one.
15:01Come over here.
15:03Come on.
15:04There we are.
15:05Lie down there.
15:08There you go.
15:08You stay together.
15:14This is one of the realities of farming
15:17and
15:18although I've been doing it
15:19for as long as I can remember
15:22still gets me.
15:23I don't like having dead lambs like that.
15:25It's horrible.
15:28But to have
15:29two healthy ones
15:30that are
15:30born alive
15:31that that ewe will now rear
15:33is a good thing.
15:35so
15:36every cloud
15:37has a silver lining.
15:43The first 48 hours
15:45of a lamb's life
15:46are critical to survival.
15:52So we move the ewe's
15:53and their newborns
15:54into clean pens
15:55so they can bond
15:56and start suckling.
15:59Hygiene is very, very important
16:00so we'll muck out each pen
16:02and then we'll use a disinfectant
16:04to put on the ground
16:05of the pen
16:06to stop any infection.
16:08Very similar to
16:09sort of being in a hospital wall
16:10so you need clean sheets
16:11sterile situations.
16:15Despite all our care
16:16and planning
16:17we sadly lose a few
16:19each year
16:19and as well as
16:21being upsetting
16:22those losses
16:23can really hit the bottom line.
16:27Each lamb
16:28has a value
16:29in the future
16:30that's part of the sheep business
16:32that we're going to 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
16:38£120-130
16:40hopefully this summer.
16:41The breeding
16:42stock
16:42so the pedigree
16:43Norfolk Horns
16:44and Cotswolds
16:45and our rare breeds
16:46could sell for £200-250
16:48so to be losing lambs
16:51is really, really tough
16:53and so that's why
16:54we're here
16:5424-7
16:56trying to keep everything alive.
17:01Right there little ones.
17:03So once the ewes
17:05have given birth
17:05we take them
17:06into the individual pens
17:07so she'll just follow me
17:08as I've got her lambs.
17:21as well as disinfecting
17:23the lambs' navels
17:24with iodine
17:25I need to check
17:26that the ewe
17:27is producing enough milk
17:28for both her twins
17:29to survive.
17:33That side
17:34so that's the colostrum
17:36it's like a thick
17:38custardy milk
17:39that's full of antibodies
17:41but this is really important
17:43they get lots of it
17:44they need
17:45about a litre
17:46in the next 24 hours
17:47each.
17:51Just pop the teat
17:52inside his mouth
17:53and now I can feel
17:54that he's drinking away
17:56and a good sign of that
17:56is a waggy tail.
17:59It's a moment
18:00of real relief
18:01we lost one
18:02which never gets
18:03any easier
18:03but two strong
18:05healthy lambs
18:06on their feet
18:06is something
18:07to be pleased about.
18:12So with things
18:12pretty much set here
18:14and my sheep
18:16all settled
18:17and set ready
18:18for lambing
18:18I can head off
18:21to Devon
18:22and while I'm away
18:23I have a reliable
18:24team in place
18:25to ensure
18:26any lambing
18:26goes smoothly.
18:40Devon's mild
18:41often wet climate
18:42usually means
18:43plenty of good grass
18:44but last year's
18:46dry conditions
18:46left the county's
18:48normally lush pastures
18:49struggling
18:50and that had a real
18:52knock-on effect
18:52for farmers.
18:54Across Carol's flock
18:55early scanning
18:56showed fewer
18:57pregnant ewes
18:58than normal
18:58with 60
18:59not carrying a lamb.
19:01Those 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 gloves?
19:11Very well.
19:12They are clean gloves
19:13yes.
19:14This is the moment
19:15that matters.
19:16John Garthwaite
19:17is here with his scanner
19:18to see how many
19:19are pregnant.
19:21What's happening here?
19:22What's this set up?
19:23We're going to scan
19:24some sheep.
19:25These were scanned
19:26in November last year
19:28and they were empty.
19:30Yep.
19:30So some of them
19:31have been run
19:32with the ram since then
19:33and we're just going
19:34to run them through
19:34again now
19:35just to see
19:35if they have gone on
19:37since then.
19:37Second time round.
19:38Absolutely.
19:39They're going to come up
19:40through this little
19:41corridor here
19:41and then what happens?
19:43They're going to go
19:44into the trailer
19:45they'll get in there
19:46and then I've got
19:46a yoke at the front
19:47which will hold them
19:48by the neck
19:50and then I'm literally
19:51just going to put
19:51a probe underneath
19:52and spread a bit
19:53of gel on
19:53and all being well
19:54we're going to see
19:55how many lams
19:56they've got in there.
19:56See if they're pregnant.
19:57And you've got about
19:5760 today?
19:58About 60.
19:59How long's that
19:59going to take?
20:01If I was just on my own
20:03probably just over
20:04half an hour.
20:04But you've got me.
20:05I've got you.
20:06It might take seven hours.
20:07Might.
20:12And how many lams
20:13are you hoping to spot
20:14today?
20:16In the ideal world
20:17two in every sheep.
20:18Two in every sheep.
20:19Alright, come on.
20:19That won't happen today.
20:21Wow.
20:23What's the reality
20:24going to be?
20:25Reality,
20:25I would think
20:26an average of
20:27one and a half.
20:28One and a half.
20:28Alright, well let's see.
20:29As long as everyone's
20:30got one.
20:31That would be ideal.
20:32I know.
20:33I don't want to be
20:33the softy in the
20:34equation here.
20:36It would be nice.
20:36I'll pick it.
20:38Go on, that's it.
20:38We're in.
20:40In a normal year
20:41Carol would be looking
20:43for strong twin rates.
20:44That's the optimum
20:45number for each
20:46ewe to rear
20:47and for the farm's
20:48overall productivity
20:49year on year.
20:50But this hasn't been
20:51a typical season.
20:53You can make it out
20:54vaguely.
20:54That's your lamb
20:55there.
20:56That's the body.
20:56Yeah.
20:57And that's its head.
20:58Pregnant?
20:59That's pregnant
20:59or it's worn.
21:01So immediately
21:02we're down to 100%.
21:03We'll be looking
21:04for 200.
21:05Come on.
21:06Off you go.
21:07Well done.
21:07Next volunteer.
21:08Next.
21:09Come on.
21:10So this one's a two.
21:12Oh, yes.
21:13Twins.
21:13Not quite as far on.
21:15I don't really know
21:16what I'm looking at
21:17but I'm saying yes.
21:18I'm trusting John.
21:19I'm trusting you
21:20know what you're doing.
21:20I don't either
21:21to be honest.
21:23Is that four?
21:25So that is a two as well.
21:27Two.
21:28Come on.
21:33You are swift at that.
21:37That one is a three.
21:39Wow, triplets.
21:41Those rams did a good job.
21:46So far, so good.
21:48Every ewe through the scanner
21:50has been pregnant
21:51and that's crucial
21:52because there are no third chances
21:54for these ewes.
21:55It simply doesn't pay
21:56to keep sending them back
21:57to the ram.
21:58If they're empty
21:59they'll be sold for meat.
22:03While the number
22:03of pregnant ewes is good
22:05to keep that lambing percentage
22:07closer to 200
22:08Carol needs most of her ewes
22:10to have twins.
22:12Right, we've got down
22:13to the last
22:14how many we've got here?
22:15Oh, five I think.
22:16Four or five.
22:17Do you get nervous
22:18at this stage?
22:19We're always apprehensive.
22:20We generally,
22:21with the main flock
22:22we take,
22:22we have a bit
22:23of a sweepstake
22:24and everybody says
22:25what the percentage
22:26is going to be.
22:27It was not a very
22:28good percentage this year.
22:29I think that's across
22:30a lot of farmers
22:31it's not been a wonderful.
22:32Why do you think that is?
22:32the weather
22:33very dry
22:35you know
22:36it's either too dry
22:36too wet
22:37too hot
22:38or too cold
22:39if you're a farmer
22:39it's not that perfect day.
22:42Is this the last one John?
22:44Fingers crossed.
22:45Fingers crossed.
22:45Come on.
22:48I don't want to offend the sheep
22:50but she looks pregnant.
22:52Come on.
22:54She's in lamb.
22:55She's in lamb.
22:57One or two.
22:58One.
23:00Start on a one
23:01and end on a one.
23:01There we go.
23:03Well done John.
23:05Swiftly done.
23:07Right.
23:08We're shaking hands now.
23:09You're alright.
23:11I'll leave you handshake.
23:13It's a clean sweep
23:15with every ewe pregnant
23:17and the farm's lambing percentage
23:19at a respectable 167%.
23:22For Carol
23:23after a difficult year
23:25that's great news.
23:28What a brilliant result.
23:29Every single one
23:30is pregnant.
23:31You must be pleased with that.
23:32Yeah.
23:33Fantastic.
23:34And you've spent money
23:35on every single one of these.
23:36Right.
23:37You want them to be able
23:38to do what they're here to do.
23:39Yeah.
23:39They're here to have babies
23:40so yeah
23:42so we will look forward
23:44to their births
23:45but these will be birthed outdoors
23:47because they're later
23:48so anything that's going
23:49to be born in April
23:50can be born in the field
23:51whereas we like to lamb early
23:53so we bring everything in
23:54in December
23:55and then lamb in February.
23:56Why do you like to do that?
23:57You get a better price
23:58that mark it
23:59because it's much
24:00much earlier season lamb.
24:01Yes.
24:02And I like to go to Portugal
24:03in March and April.
24:04You know what Carol
24:05I really like your style.
24:08Well what a successful morning.
24:20As I head off down to Devon
24:22it's very easy to forget
24:24how very different
24:25our landscapes are.
24:27Up here in the Cotswolds
24:28we're about a thousand foot up
24:29very exposed
24:30big open fields
24:31but quite free draining.
24:36Down in Devon
24:37much milder climate
24:39smaller fields
24:40you've got the banks
24:41and the hedges on top
24:42but the ground
24:43is often heavier
24:44and wetter
24:45so we're all lambing sheep
24:47but we've got
24:48different things to think about
24:49different challenges.
24:52Those risks and rewards
24:54are exactly what
24:55some old friends of mine
24:56know all about.
25:00For 17 years
25:01Mike Conter
25:02was the livestock manager
25:03on our farm
25:04in the Cotswolds
25:05and his partner Fran
25:06worked alongside us
25:07as a livestock assistant.
25:11But two years ago
25:12they decided
25:13they'd had enough of me
25:14so they moved back
25:16to Devon
25:16to the 250 acre farm
25:19where Mike grew up.
25:23While I'm passing
25:24I can't resist dropping in
25:26on the way to see Anita
25:28particularly
25:29as they're already
25:30a few weeks
25:30into their lambing season.
25:33Hey, hello
25:34Conter family
25:35hello boys
25:36Hello
25:38Hello
25:38Hi Mike
25:39good to see you
25:40Philip
25:40The move was all about
25:42building something
25:42of their own
25:43on their own land
25:44and to shape a future
25:46for their boys
25:47Wilf and Edward.
25:48There we are
25:49we've got a new
25:50Highland bull
25:51called Ted
25:51so you can call him Ted.
25:54Never mind the cattle
25:55Wilf's keen to show me
25:56a new lamb
25:57he hopes to take
25:58into the show ring
25:58one day.
26:00So what do you want to be
26:01when you grow up?
26:02Farmer
26:02Do you?
26:03Like your mum and dad?
26:05Yeah
26:05So you don't fancy
26:06being an accountant
26:07or a dentist
26:07or a bank manager?
26:09Farmer through and through?
26:12Good boy
26:13Right
26:14shall we pop him back
26:15and let you go to school?
26:20So how's Lambie
26:21going this morning then
26:22Fran?
26:22Yeah pretty good
26:22we've got a set of twins
26:23born the first thing
26:24and we've also got
26:26another Zort Blaise
26:26in the far corner
26:28of this pen
26:28these are our singles
26:29but she's just a shearling
26:31so the first timer
26:32so it could take
26:33a little bit longer
26:34Yeah younger sheep
26:35might be more difficult
26:37This is only Mike and Fran's
26:39second season lambing
26:40in Devon
26:41it's a relentless
26:4224 hour job
26:44but for them
26:44this time of year
26:45is truly special
26:48So for you two
26:50working together
26:50here down in Devon
26:52I mean
26:52similar to the Cotswolds
26:53in fact
26:53that's where your
26:54love first blossomed
26:55wasn't it?
26:56Late night in the lambing shed
26:57I was in the early morning
26:58because you wouldn't get up
27:00Oh yeah that's right
27:05Mike's parents
27:06Philip and Chris
27:07are still very much
27:08hands on
27:08but to manage
27:10the workload
27:10of 350 ewes
27:12they lamb in three batches
27:14from January
27:14through to March
27:15and they're now
27:16midway through
27:17the second batch
27:20So once the ewes
27:21have given birth
27:22they bring them
27:22into these individual pens
27:23and now Mike and Fran
27:24do the tagging
27:25all the lambs need
27:26tags in their ears
27:27and then they need
27:29their tails docking
27:30so just going to join in
27:32So tail first Mike
27:33Yes
27:34So the lambs have got
27:35these long tails
27:36that Mike's putting
27:37a rubber ring on
27:38that just cuts off
27:38the blood supply
27:39and then the end
27:40of the tail
27:41dries up
27:42and drops off
27:42and in the spring
27:44and summer time
27:45when they get mucky
27:46around their back end
27:47with a long woolly tail
27:48that attracts flies
27:49that lay eggs
27:50that hatch into 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 off
27:54and it stings
27:55a little bit
27:56but after a few minutes
27:57that's gone away
27:58and eventually
27:59it just drops off
28:00A moment of discomfort
28:02for the lamb now
28:03could help prevent
28:04fly strike
28:05which is a potentially
28:07fatal condition
28:09And then tagging
28:10Yeah, two tags
28:11for this one
28:13So tagging
28:14is a legal thing
28:15each lamb
28:16is identified
28:17with its own
28:18individual number
28:18and one of them
28:19is in an electronic tag
28:21so it has a chip in it
28:22that you can scan
28:22with a scanner
28:23So this is a process
28:24that needs doing
28:25with all the lambs
28:25and it's pretty stress free
28:27and pretty much painless
28:29And that's him all done
28:31When I first started
28:32on the farm at home
28:33I was a livestock manager
28:35and did Mike's job
28:36and then when he joined me
28:37of course he took over
28:38and now this is it
28:39reliving it Mike
28:39there's me standing back
28:40offering advice
28:41and you're still doing
28:41all the hard work
28:42Just watching, yeah
28:46Well, I promised to put
28:47in a shift today
28:53I'm helping Mike
28:54move the first batch
28:55of lambs
28:55born back in early January
28:57onto fresh pasture
29:02So will they follow
29:03the bag, do you think?
29:04Should do
29:04They're being fed
29:05so
29:07It's not their first move
29:09either
29:09No, so they
29:10It turned out
29:11into the field below
29:13and they've come up
29:14to this field
29:14Yeah
29:18Go there girls
29:28Even in the drizzle
29:29I can see why
29:31they moved here
29:32I mean the climate
29:33and soils are very different
29:34to back on the Cotswolds
29:36and it just feels warm
29:37on a day like today
29:38Yeah, we're a couple degrees
29:40warmer every day
29:45I think
29:45I mean for us
29:46lambing as early
29:47as you do down here
29:48you know, lambing in January
29:49for us
29:49we just have to keep them
29:50all in the sheds
29:50Without the grass
29:51to turn the ewes out to
29:52you've got to feed them
29:53and that costs a lot more money
29:55So yeah, we lamb
29:56and get them out
29:57as quick as we can
29:58Here in Devon
30:00lush grass
30:01already gives Mike
30:02an edge for early lambing
30:03but he's improving on that
30:05by adding a diverse
30:06pasture mix
30:07that benefits
30:08both the soil
30:09and the sheep
30:09So what have you got in it?
30:11Clovers
30:12Some chicory
30:13Yes
30:14Some plantain here
30:15We've got nitrogen
30:17fixing plants
30:18which are going to help us
30:19buy less nitrogen
30:20artificial fertilisers
30:21And then some of the herbs
30:22are medicinal, aren't they?
30:23They 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 be able
30:28to worm the lambs less
30:30and it's high in protein
30:32so the silage we made
30:33off our second cut
30:34was 17% protein silage
30:36Wow, that is high, isn't it?
30:37So you'd usually be getting
30:38what, 11 to 13?
30:39Yeah
30:39And that high protein level
30:41is great for the flock's growth
30:42milk production
30:43and overall health
30:45And also there's a bit
30:46of drought resilience as well
30:48so in a year like last year
30:49when it was so dry in the summer
30:51some of the herbs
30:52were the first things to grow
30:53when the rain came
30:54So it's win-win all round really
30:56Hopefully, yeah
30:57Grass is only half the story
31:03The right breeds matter just as much
31:06And like me, Mike and Fran
31:08are devoted to native breeds
31:09that are perfectly suited
31:11to the farm's land
31:12climate
31:12and way of working
31:15So I recognise some of the breeds
31:17you've got your Kerry Hills
31:18that I gave you as a leaving present
31:19Yeah
31:20Would you prefer a coffee machine
31:21or a sheep?
31:22Oh, definitely a sheep
31:23Yeah, I think I'd prefer
31:24the coffee machine
31:27And then your little grey-faced art
31:29which are gorgeous
31:30there's one lamb
31:31jumping on its mum over there
31:33Yeah
31:33You've still got those, Fran?
31:34Yeah, ironically
31:34I had them living up
31:35with my parents in Berkshire
31:36since my teen years
31:38and then I've met Mike
31:40and then they've followed me home
31:48There's another sheep
31:49that really thrives
31:50in the conditions here
31:53particularly when it comes
31:54to early lambing
31:57I just wanted to show you
31:59this breed
32:00This is the Dorset
32:01and of course
32:02here we are in Devon
32:03but they're a very good breed
32:05for people down in the south
32:06where the climate
32:07is a little warmer
32:08partly because they give birth
32:09all year round
32:10So the majority of ewes
32:12will ovulate in the autumn
32:14and then five months later
32:16give birth in the spring
32:17when the grass starts to grow
32:18That's when most sheep farmers
32:20will be lambing their ewes
32:21But the Dorset
32:22you can choose to lamb
32:23all year round
32:24So you can lamb them
32:26very early
32:26sort of November
32:28or even December time
32:29and that means
32:30that as the lambs grow
32:32you can send the lambs
32:33to the markets
32:34during the sort of Easter period
32:36when most sheep
32:38are giving birth
32:38So you get these lambs
32:39early to the market
32:40when the price is high
32:42So economically
32:43a really good thing
32:44for Fran and Mike
32:45to have on the farm here
32:47Right
32:47Let's let them go back
32:48to their mum
32:55Yeah around the corner
32:56There's a good girl
33:00Right
33:00see if you want a bottle
33:03Doing things like this
33:05is really special
33:06You know
33:07you know you're
33:07helping a little life
33:09and when it's successful
33:10and it's drinking like this
33:11it's very rewarding
33:14When you tip a lamb up
33:16like that
33:16you can see
33:17their tummy's nice and round
33:18full of milk
33:19If it was pinched
33:20and narrow
33:20you'd know it was empty
33:22But she's got a big
33:23full tummy
33:25and very happy
33:28Of 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
33:42from sheep farming
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
33:53Mike 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
34:05because of the dry summer
34:06and the drought
34:07So we'd like that
34:08to be a bit higher
34:09on a few more lambs
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
34:26that 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
34:37their children
34:38might one day take on
34:42Yeah well congratulations
34:43on everything
34:43you're achieving down here
34:44It's lovely to see you
34:45fit and happy
34:46and healthy
34:46I've got a dash
34:47because I'm heading up
34:48the road to help Anita
34:49we're welcome back
34:49any time
34:50Thanks Mike
34:50Thanks Fran
34:51See ya
34:57As I learned earlier
34:59Carol's farm
35:00is about more
35:00than just livestock
35:02It's also home
35:03to Madewell
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
35:15is designed
35:16to develop
35:16real-world skills
35:17and greater independence
35:19and at the heart
35:20of it all
35:20is the on-site cafe
35:24Hello Dan
35:25Ah hello Anita
35:26How are you?
35:27I don't want to 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 Dan
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?
36:01Well
36:01all 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 good
36:14it makes me feel confident
36:15it makes me feel safe
36:16All really important things
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 Anita
36:35I think it's really
36:35I think it's really important
36:36to be able to 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 skills
36:46though Dan?
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
36:52Yes we have some
36:52fruit crumble
36:55O-M-G
36:57It will be very hot
36:59Here we are
37:00Dan
37:02This looks delicious
37:04What's in there?
37:05We have apple
37:07pears
37:08Oh my goodness
37:09And black currants
37:10that have come
37:10from a bush
37:12located around
37:12the Maidwell site
37:13Even better
37:14So this is a
37:14pure Devon crumble
37:18It is so wonderful
37:20to hear your story
37:22Yes
37:23From somebody
37:23who was at quite
37:24a low point
37:25in your life
37:26to now hearing you
37:27say that you know
37:28there are so many
37:28options open to you
37:29Yes
37:30I've enjoyed the journey
37:32And you can make a crumble
37:33Oh I can definitely
37:34make a crumble
37:35Yes
37:35Come on
37:35shall we do it?
37:36Right
37:37Cheers
37:37Cheers
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
37:47delicious
37:49Thank you Dan
37:49You're very welcome
37:50What a joy this is
37:54Frankie Atherton
37:56is the general manager
37:57of 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
38:09Dan made it
38:10Oh thanks Dan
38:12This project is quite incredible
38:14So you've got a working farm
38:16Yep
38:16And alongside that
38:18We're a day centre
38:19We're a day centre
38:19and we provide support
38:20for adults with various needs
38:23So it could be a lot of people
38:25and they come here and they come here and spend time and they learn skills
38:31things like gardening, woodwork
38:33It's just a place
38:34It's just a place where they can come and be safe
38:35and do things that maybe they couldn't do outside of here
38:39People can come and be themselves here
38:42and feel like there's no pressure
38:44It's friendly, it's inclusive
38:46I describe it as a puzzle a little bit
38:48Yeah
38:49Everybody is that piece of a puzzle that's different
38:52but together it makes this beautiful picture
38:56On this farm everyone has a role to play
39:00Out in the lambing pens
39:01team members are taking on responsibility for the newest arrivals
39:06So it's a little boy
39:09Tilly has plenty of lambing experience
39:11She's been helping here for almost 12 years
39:17And this little one as well
39:20Very 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...
39:28Sometimes I get a bit distracted
39:30I cuddle the lambs sometimes
39:32A little bit of a cuddly time and I'm always like that
39:35But I love it
39:38It's just nice to be around with people and stuff
39:41And I just love it
39:42And it's just one of my favourite hobbies I like to do
39:48While on the farm
39:49Tilly and the rest of the team
39:51are supported by farm manager Susie Searle
39:53Who much like Carol
39:54Originally comes from a care background
39:58Each one has got their abilities
40:00And we work using each of our skills together
40:04Also with Susie today are Anne
40:06Who's been part of the team since 2015
40:10And Annabelle
40:11Who joined a few years ago
40:14It's their job to move the lambs into different pens
40:17As once the newborns get strong enough
40:19They need to mix with other lambs and ewes
40:21To get used to being in a bigger flock
40:23So I really enjoy being trusted to do things on my own
40:28I've learnt how to drive the quad bike
40:30The gator
40:31I've learnt how to get the medicine from the medicine cabinet
40:40So now you can see the mum
40:43Has got some of the liquid from the lambs
40:46And it's now going to lick the lamb
40:49But it won't lick when we're in the pen
40:51So when we move out of the pen
40:54The mum will then start to lick the lamb
41:00We're always very busy
41:02Yeah
41:02But with this team
41:05It's fun, isn't it, girls?
41:07Yeah
41:07When we work
41:09We work as such a team
41:12Yeah
41:12We prefer to work as a team
41:14Than not work as a team
41:15Don't we?
41:16Yeah
41:21I would like to have my own sheep farm
41:23I just love seeing all the new lambs
41:26And all the ewes
41:28Farming is in my blood now
41:30And it's going to be forevermore
41:42We've been lucky today with the rain
41:44But what's it looking like for the week ahead?
41:46Here's the Countryfile forecast
41:47And especially for you, Greg James
41:49From Radio 1
41:50Who's on his longest ride
41:51For Red Nose Day and Comic Relief
42:02Hello, thanks for joining me
42:04You know what?
42:04Let's get to the good news straight away
42:07It's going to be warming up over the next few days
42:10Yay
42:10And those temperatures could even reach 20 degrees Celsius
42:14Now on the satellite picture
42:15You can see this pretty picture here
42:17These are shower clouds blowing off the Atlantic
42:19Quite unstable chilly air from the north
42:22That's over us right now
42:24But in the days ahead
42:25Things are going to change
42:26And we'll start to see this southerly developing
42:29All the way from Spain
42:30So hence the temperatures will rise
42:31Now I don't think 20 will happen everywhere
42:34For most of us it'll be around the mid
42:36Maybe high teens
42:37But that's certainly pleasant enough
42:38This time of the year
42:40Okay, let's get to the here and now
42:42And we've got that rash of showers
42:44After a rather grey, rainy and blustery day
42:46For many of us
42:47But there will be clear spells overnight too
42:49It will be fairly nippy first thing in the morning on Monday
42:53If you're up very early
42:53Perhaps as low as zero degrees there in eastern parts of Scotland
42:57But in most towns and cities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland
43:01It'll be above freezing three or four Celsius
43:03So the forecast then for Monday shows
43:06Actually fine weather for most of us in the morning
43:08In fact it'll be quite bright if not sunny
43:10There's the next weather front approaching
43:12So it'll be a while before that warmer air reaches us
43:14Because on Monday once again rain here in the northwest of the country
43:17Which eventually will reach the northwest of England
43:19So Cumbria, Lancashire, around the coasts of Wales
43:22It'll be quite damp
43:23I think eastern and southern areas on Monday may turn cloudy
43:26There might be a spit in the wind
43:27But I don't think we're expecting any prolonged rain
43:30And then Monday night into Tuesday
43:33The winds will start to change direction
43:35Now notice they're coming in from the southern climes now
43:38So a weather front tries to move in
43:40But it basically gets pushed and sheared away to the north
43:44So yes there will be some wind and rain in 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 around some of these western coasts
43:55But look at the temperatures
43:56Widely into the mid-teens
43:58So I think Tuesday is already going to feel very pleasant across the UK
44:02And then Tuesday night into Wednesday
44:04That weather front basically or what's left of it
44:07Fizzles away
44:08The winds die down
44:11And we're in for a clear start on Wednesday
44:13There could be some mist and fog in places
44:15Which sometimes lifts to those grey skies for a while in the morning
44:18But essentially speaking it's a beautiful day
44:2019 degrees that's the estimate for London
44:2215 celsius for Newcastle
44:24As I say we could reach our first 20 celsius of the season on Wednesday
44:28And I think for some of us
44:29Thursday could actually be every bit as warm
44:32I suspect on Thursday
44:33The higher temperatures will actually be around Wales
44:36We could see up to about 18 degrees celsius
44:39Again a bit of mist in the morning
44:41Perhaps lasting just around into the afternoon
44:43But on the whole a pleasant enough day
44:46So looking like looks like we're going to get some of that spring warmth
44:50Early spring warmth through the middle of the week onwards
44:53Now high pressure is in charge of the weather
44:56So hence it's going to settle down
44:57And of course high pressures once they establish themselves
44:59They tend to stick around for a while
45:01So low pressures zip across
45:02High pressures tend to stick around
45:04That's why the weather stabilizes
45:06So it becomes calm and settled
45:08Now notice the temperatures are a little lower on Friday
45:11That's because the winds will be blowing around
45:13From different directions over the coming days
45:15And that does have a bearing
45:16On the maximum temperatures that we get
45:18But broadly speaking
45:20The weather's looking absolutely fine
45:22With that high pressure
45:22As I say possibly peaking
45:24At around about 20 celsius
45:26Middle part of the week
45:28That's it enjoy
45:37We're in Devon
45:38Helping with early spring lambing
45:40That's not something I'm going to forget in a heartbeat
45:44When it's successful and it's drinking like this
45:46It's very rewarding
45:49I don't want to offend the sheep
45:50But she looks pregnant
45:54While the Devon climate
45:56Means that these early lambs can access pasture
45:58Even at this time of year
46:01Stocking the right breed of sheep
46:02For the conditions is essential
46:09Sheep farmers across the UK
46:10Carefully select breeds
46:12That work for their farm's specific climate and terrain
46:18Tom and Leah Cole
46:19Run a sheep farm in the hills of North Devon
46:22They started their farm in 2018
46:24With just over 50 mules
46:28And ever since
46:29Have been steadily growing their flock
46:31Always thinking carefully
46:33As to which breeds best fit their farm
46:37We've got predominantly three different breeds
46:40You've got the North Country mule here
46:41The Suffolk there
46:42And the Chariot Cross
46:44Just further down there
46:46We put this lambing shed up in 2019
46:49With the outlook of housing 400 ewes
46:53Now to date we're around the 430
46:56So we've nearly outgrown it
47:01The flock has grown fast
47:03But on exposed ground like this
47:06Bigger numbers don't make life easier
47:08When the weather turns
47:10They're simply more at risk
47:12Most of Tom's sheep are modern commercial crosses
47:15Like Suffolk mules
47:17Bred to grow quickly and easily sell
47:19But they can struggle when conditions are harsh
47:22So this year he's introduced
47:25A traditional hardier breed into the mix
47:28The Devon Closewool
47:30We're high up
47:31Sort of 800 foot above sea level here
47:34In recent weeks it's been rough
47:36With hailstorms
47:37It's a typical Exmoor wintery weather
47:40Here's all the rams that we put to the females
47:43Predominantly you've got Texel sires
47:45We've got a few Suffolks that we use
47:47To produce in the Suffolk mule cross
47:49Then we've got the Devon Closewool
47:51That we're trialling this year
47:52Just for the fact that they might be able
47:53To stick the elements a bit better
47:55In recent years we've had a lot of rainfall
47:58It's a lot more woolier breed
48:00It carries a bit more flesh
48:02The Closewool ram saw about 60 females
48:07To start with
48:08And 40 or 50 lambs out of them
48:12We're here on the edge of Exmoor
48:14Get some of the largest rainfall in the country
48:16So going back to the more traditional breed
48:20That's been developed here
48:21We hope that the newborn lambs can stick the weather
48:26Local farmers gave up the Closewool breed
48:29In the early 80s
48:30They think I'm a little bit mad
48:32Trialling this 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 Texel cross Suffolk mills
48:47Are very thin-skinned
48:51These are born with a lot more wool
48:53Meaning that they can go out of the shed
48:54Perhaps a day earlier
48:56That day is quite important
48:58For the busy time at Lammons
49:00We're very limited with shed space
49:04Tom's always looking at trying something new
49:06Trying to improve how we're doing everything
49:08And how things are
49:10Especially how it sticks the weather
49:12Because we land so early
49:13We need something that's going to stick the 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 over his face
49:23And woolly legs
49:24And that's one of the main reasons
49:25We've chose to experiment with this breed
49:27So it's got a bit more wool in them
49:29To fight the elements of this Exmoor weather
49:31And it's working so far
49:33They're now three weeks old
49:35The Closewool crosses
49:35I haven't lost one at all out in the field
49:38So far
49:39The introduction of the Devon Closewool
49:41Has proved a success
49:43Tom and Leah
49:46Are blending traditional methods
49:48With fresh ideas
49:51And by turning to a local
49:53Long established breed
49:55They're setting the farm up for the future
49:59But a farm is only as good as its workforce
50:05This is Champ
50:06Without him I wouldn't be able to do as much as I do on my own
50:11He does all the gathering
50:12A good dog's priceless
50:14He surely is a good dog
50:20We've got a winning bet here
50:22They're the next trainees on the farm
50:26They're going to be a handful to train
50:29The good ones are the ones that know half of it already
50:37Is he soft?
50:39Yeah, really cute
50:41Mary's two and a half
50:42And then we've got five week old Freddy as well
50:44So challenging but all good fun
50:48Good girl
50:49Well done
50:52Mary loves the lambs
50:53The lambs chase her and she chases the lambs
50:56So they have good fun and games with each other
51:00Before lambs you don't know how you're going to cope
51:03You know, all the hours
51:05When you're in it
51:06You just manage
51:07You just go on to overdrive
51:10We're very lucky with family and friends
51:13They've definitely got us through this season
51:15Yeah, yeah
51:16Yeah, we wouldn't have done it without them
51:20Sort of living a dream
51:21I love sheep and that's what I wanted to get into
51:24At a young age and lucky enough to
51:26Doing something I always wanted to do
51:28Yeah, future's pride
51:38It's been non-stop today here at West Fishley Farm
51:41And just as things are about to get really hectic
51:46The cavalry finally arrives to lend a hand
51:54Hello
51:55I'm covered
51:56You look like a proper fool
51:58Just in the nick of time
51:59Hello
52:00Oh, hello
52:00Hello, lovely to meet you
52:02Adam, Adam, Carol
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 these sheep here out
52:06These are all mums that have got two babies
52:09They've had twins
52:09They've been in here as a group for three days now
52:13The weather's just about nice enough for them to go out into a field that's got a field shelter
52:18So it takes quite a few people mob-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 Emmys
52:34This is a big step
52:36At just three days old, they're out in the open for the first time
52:41And every lamb has to stay with its mum
52:44Miss a feed out here and they lose energy quickly
52:52For these 17 ewes with their 34 lambs, it's a short trip to a nearby four-acre field
52:58They're home for the next few days
53:00Before they move again to a larger 10-acre spot
53:10So this little lamb just got left behind, number 13
53:13So we'll go and find number 13, mum, and reunite them
53:16Come on
53:20Being the lamb's first time on pasture
53:22It's no surprise they find it all a bit confusing
53:25This way
53:26I think their mum's back there
53:27So if we just shove them down a bit
53:29Yeah
53:30Come on, come on
53:31Go on
53:32This way
53:32Your mum's down there
53:33She's down there
53:34Come on, she's down there
53:35Come on
53:35You'll find them
53:37So now nature will do its thing and will they find their own mothers?
53:40They will
53:40So the bleats are unique, but the smell is really important
53:44So when a lamb goes to feed from her mum, the ewe will sniff the lamb
53:48And if it doesn't smell like her own, she'll recognise that and she'll butt it away
53:51Say, go and find your own mum
53:52So she'll only feed her own lambs
53:54And they've learnt that in the shed
53:56The lambs have learnt to find their mum
53:58Because that's where the milk bar is
53:59Because you don't want to have an empty tummy out here
54:02No, no, you need to survive
54:04But sometimes, each family group needs a little helping hand to find each other
54:11So there's 17 over there, Anita
54:13There she is
54:14Come and find
54:14Here they are
54:16Anita's just walking the two 17 lambs along the fence there
54:19And hopefully, give her a chance to find them
54:22Because there's so many baby lambs running around calling for their mums
54:25It's a bit of a cacophony of bleating
54:28That soon as they find each other, that noise will quieten down
54:31And just the odd ones that are left will marry up with their mums
54:34Hopefully
54:35One spounder
54:36That's fine, that's it, you've done it
54:37It's that way
54:38There we are, that's it
54:40Number four is a bit lost
54:42Go on, go back up to your mum
54:45I don't think I'm helping
54:47Well, I think the more you run around, it tends to muddle them up a bit
54:50They'll sort of eventually sort it out themselves
54:5223
54:53There we go, they're sorted
54:5518's got one there
54:58That's so clever
54:59And now they will be here for how long?
55:01So they'll stay in here until they've run out of grass
55:04So they'll just move them out around the farm all summer
55:07They'll be weaned off their mums
55:08The mums will get back in good condition
55:10Go back to the ram in the autumn
55:11And then it happens all again
55:13The cycle happens all again
55:17With the three day old lambs now settled in their family groups
55:20We can return to the barns to move the newborns into a larger pen
55:25And to get them there, they've got their own special transport
55:29So if I pass it to you
55:31The lamb
55:31The lamb goes in the trolley
55:33Perfect
55:33And then hopefully mum will follow the lamb
55:35Thank you, lucky number now
55:37So chuck it in the trolley
55:41Beautiful job
55:42And then you're in charge of driving
55:43All right, let's do it
55:44Then we get another one round from round there
55:46Yeah
55:49Come on then
55:53Well it's certainly easier than carrying the lamb
55:55Isn't it?
55:56Lamb's coming through
55:57Lamb's coming through
56:03If I wait here so they don't run out
56:05Just chuck the lambs in 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
56:12In you go
56:12I think we've worked out our 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, thank you
56:22I mean you'd hope so
56:23After this amount of time though
56:24Wouldn't you?
56:26But once lambing starts
56:28There's no time to sit back and relax
56:30Right, Adam
56:31I think there's another ewe birthing
56:32So shall we
56:33Okay, go and help
56:34Get in there, yes
56:37For Carol and her team
56:38600 lambs have been born so far
56:41With a further 75 expected to come
56:43In the next two weeks
56:46Hopefully all healthy
56:47Like this little one
56:50Already the ewe
56:51Having gone through that birthing experience
56:54Is already wanting to love 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 the ewe's voice
57:05Because it's been listening to her
57:06While it's been floating around inside her womb
57:07Yeah
57:08And now this is when
57:09The ewe is learning that smell
57:11That unique smell that 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 thousands 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 for the farm's financial year
57:30And lay the foundation for next year's flock
57:34Next week, join Margarita and Sammy
57:37Who'll be gazing at the dark skies
57:39In God's Own Yorkshire
57:41We're pointing it where Jupiter should be
57:44So
57:44Oh, wow, okay
57:46It's the old 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, isn't it?
57:58Quickly to the box there
57:59Okay
58:00Perfect
58:01So
58:02Clean box for him
58:04And
58:05Thank you
58:06How long have you been excited about doing the night walk?
58:09Quite a few days
58:11The days
58:13That's next week on BBC One
58:16Hope to see you then
58:17Bye-bye
58:18Bye
58:18Right, shall we check on her?
58:20Yeah
58:20Well, you'll check on her
58:21I'm going to watch
58:29Triumphs, tribulations, trouble and strife
58:31In this farming life in rural Scotland
58:34Over on BBC Two now
58:35Also new on iPlayer
58:37The big cats are back
58:39Follow them 24-7
58:40In Africa's last great wilderness
58:42Well, here next
58:44BBC One's In the Scottish Borders
58:46With the Antiques Roadshow
58:48In the Scottish Borders
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