Today is the day that we put the tups out to meet their ladies. The sun was splitting the sky here in the East Neuk, the kind of day that makes you glad to be alive.
We lamb later than some farmers because we lamb outside. Therefore, we want the weather to be a little warmer and the grass to have started growing again. Many sheep on other farms will already be in lamb (pregnant), with some farmers lambing indoors from December. We are hoping that our sheep lamb in April.
Our sheep stay outside all year round, they’re fed grass and we are Pasture for Life assured. They are currently on the policy park at the Cairnie Cross Roads. We haven’t had sheep in that field for quite a few years. It’s good for the soil to have different animals grazing. Each animal grazes differently, a cow uses it’s long tongue to grab grass and pull it into its mouth. Sheep are more selective and nibble the grass. Each animal allows different plants to survive and thrive, if managed properly, whilst their manure fertilises the ground.
Let’s hope the tupping time is successful and the tups have a successful few weeks, time will tell!
We put special paint on each tup so we can see that they are working. If the tup is doing his job then the sheep will have some of the paint on their backs. Hopefully in few weeks the sheep will all be running around with a different colour on their back and be in lamb.
