Farmer focus, livestock: Charlie Armstrong stays upbeat despite the weather

We put the tups out with the ewes on what must have been the wettest day this year and certain breeds took to sex like ducks do to water. However, some of the Bluefaced Leicester tups had other ideas. Two days later our tup flock had decreased by three Leicester’s. Fortunately, they weren’t the dearest tups sold this year, but they got the last laugh as it now costs £16.75 for our local knackerman to remove them.

As I write, we are experiencing terrible weather conditions. It started snowing last Thursday and in less than 24 hours we had more than 12 inches. Since then all the sheep have been fed bales, which have been forked off trailers as we can’t travel due to the depth the snow.

By Monday we had more than two feet of level snow. The weight of snow on the shed roofs is frightening and on Monday afternoon the snow moved on the roof taking with it about 1000 ft of guttering and taking one complete side off a cattle shed. By Tuesday morning the other side of the shed had also gone.

On the plus side, we have had no more dead tups and the sheep are looking well. They were carrying plenty of condition pre-tupping and should the snow ever disappear there’s plenty of grass down below.