Lambing is nearly over

It has been very hectic over the last few weeks as the lambs have been coming thick and fast.

Ceres and her lambs - a boy and girl

This year the Texel ewes all went to a Polled Dorset Ram and there are some really good commercial lambs come from this. 

The Ryelands have also lambed well and we have a good crop some of which are already standing out from the crowd.  Looking forward to the showing season. 

This year we will be late onto the showing scene as I am delighted to have been asked to judge the Ryelands at Devon County Show in May and then the Coloureds at the Royal Welsh Spring Fair (used to be called Smallholders Show) again in May.

Steve will be judging the Ryelands at the Royal Three Counties Show on the Saturday - 15 June.

I digress, the Greyfaced Dartmoors have lambed and I am really sad that Willow has again not lambed.  I bought her last year as potentially being in lamb, Decimus covered her but no lambs!!  Also Dot has not had any lambs either!  However I am delighted with my other lambs and have attached a photo which shows just how cute they are.

LAMBING COURSES - MORE DATES DUE TO DEMAND

We are delighted with the response for the courses.

Texel lambsAnd as such we have only a few spaces left for the weekday courses, but have extended our dates to include a Saturday. Additional dates are;

Saturday 16 February 2013
Saturday 23 February 2013
Saturday 2 March 2013

All the girls are housed and are happily munching on the haylage and eating well.  First is due on 9 February so more to follow after then.

LAMBING COURSES START NEXT MONTH

Lambing at Oakberrow starts on Valentines day - 14 February 2013.

Ryeland ewe and lamb

We will be lambing 60 ewes altogether made up with Ryelands, Texels and the Grey Faced Dartmoors.

We are planning 2 days every week for the courses.  They will be very much hands-on and you will be working with the sheep and learn about signs of when a ewe is about to lamb, actual lambing, looking after ewe and lambs after birth and so on.

There will be limited spaces, so if interested please apply asap.  See under Lambing Courses for the dates

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A GREAT 2013 FROM OAKBERROW

Steve, myself and all at Oakberrow wish all our friends a family best wishes for the festive season. 

2012 has been an exciting year with our first Greyfaced Dartmoor Lambs being born at Oakberrow.  Also Gin having her gorgeous litter of Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla pups.  Foster winning the Challenge Certificate at Paignton Championship Dog Show and also Best of Breed.  At the beginning of the year both Gin and Foster won their Show Certificates of Merit.

Success at the shows with the Ryeland Sheep and my year as President of the Ryeland Flock Book Society which ends soon and the Presidency will be handed over to John Donovan.  The Workshop for Ryeland members held in August at the Three Counties Showground which was a resounding success with 80 members attending.  Although hard work thoroughly enjoyable and very rewarding with all having gone home having learnt something.

The launch of the web site - it is a year old and has been visited and enjoyed by many, however there is always work to do to improve.

2013 - Lambing course dates set - see under Learning courses.  

Exciting judging appointments for both dogs and sheep for myself and Steve for sheep and Longhorn cattle.

From all at Oakberrow best wishes

Breeze and her Mum

Here is the latest picture of Breeze.

She is a very pretty girl and just like her mum thinks that she is a little Princess!!

She will start her Ringcraft training next week and at the moment standing like a show dog is not on her Agenda, more like chewing you. 

Steve had been shooting last week and brought home some pheasants and as you can see from the photo the clever girl retrieved one but the not so clever girl (myself) not the best photographer in the world so only just get her on camera.