The Farming Year

January

The start of the year usually coincides with the harsh Winter weather exasperated by high hills. It is usually time to start feeding the ewes, with hay, sugar beet or mineral blocks. General farm maintenance is usually high on the agenda at this time of the year, with fencing and hedging taking up the most time. Cattle still play an important role on many hill farms, these were once used to graze much of the hills during summer months. They are one of the few animals capable of grazing and digesting the stalky molinear grasses. Due to the high labour input and poor returns this practice has almost died out, although some environmental schemes are promoting this practice. From November-May the cattle are housed inside and need bedding and feeding daily.

February

The ewes are scanned at this time of year to see how many lambs they are carrying. The twins and possible triplets can then be separated from the singles and taken down onto better pastures. Due to a variety of factors there has been a reduction in the number of ewes grazing the hills in recent years. This has lead to improved ewe body condition resulting in more twins. If these are left on the hill the quality of grazing is insufficient for the ewe to bring up two strong lambs. Ewes on most hill farms are brought down off the hill to lamb. These fields not only offer improved pastures but also relative safety from predators.

March

Lambing begins in late March for most hill farms. The extensive nature of this type of farming means the ewes need very little assistance to lamb. It is a characteristic of native hill breeds that the lamb soon up on its feet and suckling its mother.

April

This is the busiest month of the year for the shepherd. Any weak lambs, or ewes must be caught and brought in. Many of the twins are adopted onto ewes that have lost there lambs. Last years ewe lambs return to the hill after being down on lowland pastures over the winter months, this ensures their full growth potential is realised. These are the future breeding stock.

May

As the grass begins to grow on the hill, the lambs are marked with the farm’s individual pitch or dye and are sent to the hill with their mothers. Many of the hills have no fences or boundaries, as the lambs spend the summer months they keep to their patch, this is known as hefting. Fields are kept as hay for the next winter.

June

The lambs born on the hill are gathered down to be marked. Some of the ewes that have no lambs are shorn.

July

A busy month for the shepherds and more so for the dogs. All the ewes are gathered off the hill for shearing. Every farm has its own gathering and shearing date, with many neighbouring farmers exchanging days with each other. During the summer months the ewes and lambs are difficult to gather. It is quite common to see seven or eight men gathering the hills with two or three dogs each.

August

Harvest becomes the priority this month. If the weather is hot hay fills the barn otherwise haylage or silage is made for winter fodder.

September

The hills are gathered again with the whether lambs (male lambs) drawn down to better pastures. These are matured on grass giving the lamb its sweetness and flavour. Older ewes are drawn and sold to lowland farms, where they continue to produce a crop of lambs for a year or two.

October

Lambs that are ready are sold through local markets or direct to the abattoir. Ram sales this time of year enable new blood to be bought in to improve the flock quality. Late October sees the final gather of the year. The ewe lambs that are to be kept to provide future breeding ewes are sent away to lowland farms on "tack" over the winter months. Ewes are selected to go with different rams.

November

With lambs being sold regularly, and all the tups turned out to the ewes it is time for general farm maintenance. New hedges are planted and ones that have been planted in previous years need to be laid creating shelter for the ewes and wildlife.

December

Christmas fat stock markets and shows provide social respite from the short winter days.