lambs are safely delivered - what next in the way of looking after them

Ryeland lambs

Here at Oakberrow we have finished lambing.  The lambs have been enjoying the sunshine today and have been playing.  It is lovely to see them especially when the wacky races start.

So what is next, how do you ensure that they have a healthy life and are well cared for.  Oakberrow is the place to find out more about how to look after your lambs covering all aspects of lamb husbandry and will also cover the welfare of the ewe as she of course is key to the start of life for the lamb.

Contact us on dsg.oakberrow@gmail.com or 01531 640102 for more information.

Lambing Live - last night was very busy

Ewes feeding in lambing barnOn the lambing list we had 14 on the list to lamb within a couple of days.  Obviously to a commercial farmer small numbers but for our set-up it means quite a lot of work.  This year the ewes who are in lamb to one of our new Ryeland Rams are all running about 4 to 5 days late to their lambing date, so you get all prepared for this and then the Grey face Dartmoors and Texels are lambing near enough on their lambing date.

Steve is glad to say that we are just over half way so he can catch up with his sleep after 6 of our girls lambed last night.

We have caught up with the lambing list which gives a slight breather.

The puppies will be leaving and going to their new homes over the weekend - apart from Bentley who is here while his new mum and dad are on holiday.

Lambing courses are going well and the girls will only  be lambing for the next couple of weeks so if interested please get in touch.  The people who have been on courses this year have been great and given great testimonials - 'Amanda - had a wonderful day, really enjoyed doing the practical things and learned lots - feel ready for my own lambing now!'.  'Jeanie - A really good day - a serious introduction to hands on sheep farming. Brilliant. Thank you.'

Ryeland sheep and Greyface Dartmoor sheep wins so far

ryeland lamb and greyface dartmoor ewe and lambWe have had a good start to the showing season this year with the sheep.  At the RWAS Smallholders show in May Oakberrow Thunder and Untouchable were both third.  With the Greyface Dartmoors - our lovely Sunny was second in a strong class of rams and also Ulysses was second as well.  The breeding ewe - Antonia was a credible 4th.

At Shropshire County Show - Oakberrow Thunder was Breed champion with our shearling ewe being Reserve Breed Champion under judge Pam Bateman.

The Greyface Dartmoors under top judge John Osborne from Cornwall, our Ulysses won the any aged ram class and Agatha our ewe lamb also won her class.  The shearling ewe was 3rd in her class.

At the Royal Three Counties Show - the Dartmoors did well with Sunny winning Breed Champion.  He won the any aged ram class with his son Ulysses taking up the 2nd spot.  Our baby ram lamb (still to be named) won the ram lamb class and Agatha won the Ewe lamb class.  So a great day.

lambing - not long before we start

Baby ryeland lambsWe are due to start lambing on 17 February 2014 with one of our Greyface Dartmoors, closely followed by 2 texels and then in the beginning of March the remainder of the ewes will be lambing.  It is always very exciting waiting to see how good the lambs will be.  The weather is terrible at the moment and our fields are waterlogged, but thankfully the girls are all inside avoiding the storms.  Our lambing courses will start the 2nd week of March and we have a few people already booked in, but there are still spaces, so get in touch if interested.

Super September

Breeze at 13 months brains as well as beautyOakberrow had an amazing time in the show ring for both the sheep and the dogs.  Our goregous little girl Breeze won Best Bitch at the HWVA Breed www.hwva.org.uk Open show held at Stoneleigh, under gundog specialist judge David Shields.

And not to be outdone by her success our handsome Ryeland ram Noble won the Sheep Inter Breed Championship at Moreton in Marsh Show, all the years I have been showing sheep I have never been fortunate enough to be awarded such an accolade. 

Noble with all his rosettes and sashes in the evening light