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Sunday 26 June 2011

Week Six and Week Seven

Hello again,

These past two weeks have been very busy. I have just clicked (see below) the gimmers and heptavac'd(see below) them. I also looked at their feet to make sure they are healthy, which they were.
I am going to move them from the section of grass they are on, to another patch because they have grazed the grass right down.

As I promised I am going to tell you what you need to have when you want to start your own flock.
  1. You will need a herd/flock number from your local agricultural office as all sheep have to be registered and tagged. Your sheep tag will have your herd/flock number on it so all of your sheep are identified and can be traced back to you. These tags are placed permanently in the sheep's ear as soon as they are big enough perhaps 2 to 3 months old. If you haven't been given a herd/flock number do not buy sheep or lambs as you are breaking the law.
  2. Your land must be well and properly fenced for sheep because they are the cause of many arguments in the countryside. Sheep have a knack of spotting something better on someone else's land and managing to get to it.
  3. A dosing gun (for giving them worming and other oral treatments) is essential and you can by a multi-purpose one from your local farmers store. You can buy them with "pour-on" attachments for applying anti fly treatments which are all the better as then sheep dipping can be eliminated by applying pour-on applications.
  4. A holding pen in a dry, good spot where you can easily drive your sheep into and hold them for dosing and shearing.
  5. Food and water are the only other essential requirements for sheep, but they do not look after themselves and will require inspection at least once a day because there is always problems with sheep, but most times the problems are only minor.
As well I said I would tell you the latest show results from the UK:

The Royal Highland Show
Champion: Mr Sandy Fraser with his Ewe lamb.

Three Counties Show
Champion: Mr Chris Holmes
Reserve Champion: Mr V E & B M Samuel

If you would like me to cover any particular subjects on my blog or to explain any matters I've already mentioned, just leave a comment.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Jack

Heptavac = Heptavac P Plus sheep and lamb vaccine for the active immunisation of sheep as an aid in the control of lamb dysentery, pulpy kidney, struck, tetanus, braxy, blackleg, black disease and clostridial metritis caused by the above listed organisms. An opaque fluid vaccine combined 7 in 1 clostridial plus pasteurella vaccine.

Click = Is a water-based, ready-to-use, pour-on formulation, containing 5% w/v dicyclanil.

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Week Six

I am so sorry but I am very busy with the play I am in, so this blog will be joined together with week seven. I am going to be talking about how to start your very own flock of sheep. I am sorry for the wait but come back in a week and it should be up. If not just leave a comment telling me to get a move on.
Jack

Sunday 12 June 2011

Week Five

This week as been another good week. The rain has finally fallen, so the grass will start to grow. The wool on the gimmers is starting to grow back from when they were clipped last month. This will mean that in the winter the gimmers will be nice and warm. 


This week I am going to tell you who is winning the Suffolk classes at the major shows from around the UK:

At the Royal Bath & West Show

Champion: , Mr R F Holmes
Reserve Champion:  Mr  Brooks

At the South of England Show:
Champion: M Legge
Reserve Champion: Miss D Lindon

At The Royal Cornwall Show:
Champion: Mr R Lawrence
Reserve Champion: Not known.

Next week I will be telling you what you need to start to keep sheep and I shall be visiting the Three Counties Show to see how my sheep compare to the sheep being shown there. I shall be able to report back with the showing results.

As well as having a great interest in sheep, I love acting and I am currently reheasing for a village play, so I am having to learn a lot of words. The play is called Mystery and Merriment and it is all about the Bible, both the old and new Testament stories. If you live in the Worcestershire area and are interested in it, please look at the website www.3villagesfestival.com
Thank you for reading my blog,

Jack

Sunday 5 June 2011

Week Four

This week has been a great week as I have been visiting a Suffolk sheep farmer in Bristol. Later in the blog I will be telling you how he helped me by telling me what makes a good Suffolk sheep. But first let me tell you about my sheep. My sheep are looking really good at the moment. Yesterday as I was checking them I only saw three, so I thought the fourth must just be sleeping so I carried on  feeding the others but it did not come, so I went looking. I saw her in the distance but her ears were down and she was not moving so I ran over. As soon as I was near to her, she did just what sheep do - got up and ran away! Typical sheep!

As promised I am going to tell you what makes a good Suffolk sheep:
When I visited the Suffolk sheep farmer this week,I asked him what made a good Suffolk sheep.
He replied:
"A Suffolk sheep needs to have...
  1. Good back
  2. Silky hair on head and legs.
  3. A tight skin.
  4. Good teeth
  5. Good back end (If it's a male).
  6. Stands nicely."
Thank you for reading my fourth blog.

Jack

Friday 3 June 2011

Sorry I cann't send any replys from the comments page so here is the reply

Hi, thank you for the invite to judge your local show. Where is it as it maybe a problem to get there?
 I only have 2.7 acres and it is in an apple orchard with plenty of apples as well as grass but will give them some cabbages which I am growing in my garden.
The only problem I am having is that my neighbour has some P-P horses in the next door field and they are annoying my sheep. I will speak to my cousin who is a top P-P jockey and I am sure she will advice me what to do.

Jack