It's time for September's NSA Next Generation Ambassador questions....
Now the nights are drawing in and temperatures are dropping, what (if anything!) are you looking forward to this autumn/winter?
As the nights are drawing in and temperatures dropping its hard to think of anything to look forward to, except next spring when days lengthen and temperatures start to climb!
Bleddyn Davies
Ceredigion
I really don’t like winter. October is probably our quieter month of the year, so earlier finishes, log fires and hopefully crisp dry days with stock ticking over nicely - the calm before the storm. Bringing cattle in for winter is never too far away at this time of year,then it gets busy all over again!!
Kirree Kermode
Isle of Man
Going into autumn, I always look forward to the breeding sheep sales, I enjoy seeing what the trade is like and catching up with friends.
Oliver Brayne
Derbyshire
I'm looking forward to cosy nights in front of the fire with the family. Lots of nights in the summer my daughter is in bed before I'm home and I'm away before she is waken in the morning so getting an excuse to spend evenings in the house is a good start!
David McMullan
County Antrim
We will be lambing our Poll Dorset ewes and seeing what the rams we have used are producing for next years ram sales.
Richard Rossiter
Devon
Getting into bed earlier and getting more sleep. Plus being able to take time off to go hunting and shooting.
Rollo Deutsch
Gloucestershire
Autumn is my favourite time of year and especially this year becuase not only have I got my birthday and another fantastic NSA delivery session coming up but I've also got my first baby due in november.
I have also had the privilege of being nominated and shotlisted for the British Farming Awards, New entrant of the year so I'm looking forward to that!
Thomas Chapman
Staffordshire
I’m really not a fan of these short days. So not looking forward to much I must be honest.
Sion Morgan
Scottish Borders
Not having to worry about flies on the sheep and young farmers starts again.
Catherine Sanderson
North Yorkshire
I can’t say I really look forward to shorter days and cold weather, but it will be my first Scottish winter and I’m sure that will be an experience. I suppose it signifies the cycle starting again, with a lot of people’s tups going out soon (mine aren’t out till the 5th Dec) and before we know it, it’ll be lambing.
Lauren Bird
Oxfordshire
How many ewes are you putting / have you put to the tup this autumn?
We’re upping from 1500 to 1800 ewes to lamb this year, last year was the first year of having this place so carrying capacity was a bit of a guess but we feel that we can definitly carry more stock especially selling out lambs as stores as we have been.
Lauren Bird
Oxfordshire
A similar number to last year. We lamb them all at home and we only just managed this spring with the lack of grass at lambing time. It's put me off getting any more this year!
Catherine Sanderson
North Yorkshire
Ewe numbers are very similar again this year. Possibly numbers could have increased but more hinds have been introduced to the farm, Increased now to 190 with plans to increase again. This bringing different sources of income to the farm and not relying solely on the lamb and cattle trade.
Sion Morgan
Scottish Borders
I'm tupping 300 ewes this year and 160 ewe lambs this is fairly similar to last year. Hopefully will be able to expand a bit more rapidly now as all the ewes are under 4 years old so running a young flock.
Thomas Chapman
Staffordshire
This year I am putting 550 ewes to the tup, 100 less than last year. I am gradually changing my flock from Texel mules to North Country mules. Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a step forward.
Rollo Deutsch
Gloucestershire
450 Exlana plus whatever empties from January lambing flocks. It is a slight drop in numbers as haven’t retained as many replacements as sold 100 to Switzerland. Poll Dorset flock is running about the same still increasing to 600 ewes and Suffolk’s is down to 180 from culling out problems. Some of the issues would be weather related with the way the seasons have been.
Richard Rossiter
Devon
350 ewes going to the tup. Similar numbers due to not being able to purchase the number of quality replacements needed to put numbers up. I think the dry summer affected the hill sheep and thus the mule ewe lambs we buy were slightly smaller and not as strong boned. And when you are putting ewe lambs to the tup they need to be strong ones.
David McMullan
County Antrim
I've 250 ewes going to the tup this year, 150 more than last year. This increase is as a consequence of me taking on a new farm.
Oliver Brayne
Derbyshire
We culled hard this year. With the shortage of fodder it’s too much of a risk to carry passengers, we have gone down the road of quality rather than quantity again. We may have to help a bit more at lambing time but quality seems to always find a market !!
Kirree Kermode
Isle of Man
Same number of ewes as usual this year. But with brexit in mind efficiency and COP will be key to being sustainable. We've remained at the same number of ewes as the land can easily carry them even in extreme conditions such as this summer.
Bleddyn Davies
Ceredigion
If you weren’t a sheep farmer what would you be and why?
Tough question, perhaps a large animal vet, I’ve always been keen on animals and I am interested in the animal health side of my job anyway.
Lauren Bird
Oxfordshire
Chef. Definitely a chef combining my love for food and British produce. And who doesnt want to be eating fancy food everyday?
Bleddyn Davies
Ceredigion
Pathologist or detective; I love figuring things out!
Kirree Kermode
Isle of Man
If I wasn't a farmer I'd like to be a mechanic or to race mountain bikes, I'm not very good at either but they both interest me!
Oliver Brayne
Derbyshire
If i wasn’t a sheep farmer I don’t know what i would be. Probably still involved in the farming industry somewhere, maybe working to a contractor and using my training as an electrician to fill in the wet days!!
David McMullan
County Antrim
Something else in the farming sector as I love just being outside and working with livestock and arable work. Just very passionate about farming and enjoy doing it.
Richard Rossiter
Devon
I would be huntsman, but it is illegal.
Rollo Deutsch
Gloucestershire
If I wasn’t a sheep farmer I would probably work for the NSA as it looks a good job.
Sion Morgan
Scottish Borders
I did think the other day that with the vegan craze going on, there must be a demand for a chicken farm with free range "rescue" hens from commercial systems. Let the hens live out their whole lives till they die of natural causes. Charge a small fortune for vegan friendly eggs!
Catherine Sanderson
North Yorkshire
What is your favourite breed of sheep and why?
I’ve always had a soft spot for Charollais, I even started my own stud in Australia. They are just so easy lambing and easy to finish with lovely confirmation. However since I’ve been in my new job I’ve had quite a bit to do with the Cheviot, and I have to say I think there a splendid sheep. Producing some cracking lambs in the tough winter that they had last year.
Lauren Bird
Oxfordshire
We have Swales and Texels and I prefer the Swales. The Texels have cracking good lambs but they just lack the cheeky personality of a Swale. If Texels run out of silage they will stand and shout, if Swales run out of silage they will jump over the fence and steal some off the Texels!
Catherine Sanderson
North Yorkshire
My favourite breed of sheep is a romney x texel. Reasons being I’ve worked with them for the previous 4 years and really impressed with their performance.
Sion Morgan
Scottish Borders
My favourite breed of sheep is a tough question. As a sheep nut I have many favourites, however I think my favourite would be a North Country Cheviot. I just love those ears!! Also they are such a well built type of sheep and very hardy.
Thomas Chapman
Staffordshire
I don’t have a favourite breed of sheep because you will never get the perfect one. Every farm is different and needs a different breed to suit the ground.
Rollo Deutsch
Gloucestershire
my favourite breed is the Poll Dorset because it has the ability to lamb any time of the year so can get lambs away early. Also they are quite docile sheep too.
Richard Rossiter
Devon
My favourite breed is the Texel. Just so nice to look at and have terrific confirmation (the good ones do!) at the end of the day our business is based around people eating lamb and I don’t think there is a better breed for this end. Although thats just my opinion.
David McMullan
County Antrim
Although I've never farmed any, I'd have to say the Herdwick, I think they look great and do the job they were intended for well.
Oliver Brayne
Derbyshire
Texel , especially the show ring ones they develop attitudes and turn into complete tarts they know when to own it!!
Kirree Kermode
Isle of Man
It's hard to look past the Welsh ewe. She's such a good mother and a hardy ewe. Her versatility to be able to produce both prime lambs and replacement breeding stock just goes to show how good she is overall.
Bleddyn Davies
Ceredigion
Never throw away baler twine! What is your best use for this farm essential?
Its hard to walk down the yard in the morning without seeing baler twine carrying out all manner of duties, from keeping gates closed to even holding some gates upright!
Bleddyn Davies
Ceredigion
At the moment holding together the tups raddle harness, but literally it saves the day on so many occasions!!
Kirree Kermode
Isle of Man
My favourite use for baler twine is old but gold.....a replacement belt, you can't get much done with your trousers round your ankles!
Oliver Brayne
Derbyshire
The best use for baler twine is the age old one of keeping gates tied. My next door neighbors has an old shepherd who works to him and he doesn’t use any fencing materials just baler twine and it makes my blood boil in case anyone driving past thinks that it was a job done by me!!
David McMullan
County Antrim
Using it to patch up stock fencing.
Richard Rossiter
Devon
Baler twine is in every one of my coat pockets as I use it every day, whether it is to tie a gate, make a prolapse harness, or even hold up my trousers.
Rollo Deutsch
Gloucestershire
Baler twyne, well I only ever use baler twyne to tie the odd gate up really, I'm more of a cable tie kind of guy.
Thomas Chapman
Staffordshire
Baler twine is must for them dodgy gates.
Sion Morgan
Scottish Borders
Our most common uses are trying gates and hurdles and temporary fence repairs!
Catherine Sanderson
North Yorkshire
It is brilliant for tying up a sheep once you’ve caught it for treatment, especially at lambing time. The old favourite of course of tying up gates
Lauren Bird
Oxfordshire