Farmer Focus: Successful judging at Three Counties Show

Rain, rain, go away and come back another day. As I write this, we still have no silage ground cut, as the heavens have continued to open.

The forecast is showing some optimism that next week might bring us a few dry days, so hopefully our contractor is available and we manage to get the 30ha in the pit, dry. We have just returned from a flying visit to the Three Counties Show, where Kay had the great honour of judging the Burke Trophy pairs competition. As we travelled down the road it was very visible that some very wet silage has been made and much more is still standing in the fields. It has been impressive growing weather and grass is in abundance, but there’s been such a hassle getting it in the pit.

Our turnips haven’t had the best start in life. They were growing on great until the slugs found them and munched their way through a few. Slug pellets have been applied and we’re now looking at less neeps, but hopefully bigger ones for the lambs next year.

Read more from our other livestock farmer focus writers

Cattleman Brian is back to work and full fitness after 33 weeks off due to his ruptured Achilles tendon. Being fully staffed again, we took the opportunity to get away for a couple of days to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and recharge our batteries.

All the hill lambs have been marked, vaccinated and dosed. The tup lambs have been scrutinised for quality, with only the very best making it through this selection process. Everybody has an opinion on the day, but the final decision always falls to shepherd Brian as he is administrating the rubber rings. The Cheviot lambs look very promising, with an even bunch on the ground. The hill hoggs also clipped well, with a good rise of wool.

The July calvers have had all their booster vaccinations, iodine has been applied and they are now on their pre-calving diet.

The Royal Highland Show takes place next week. We always look forward to catching up with old friends, gathering information and enjoying the quality stock on parade.

Bob and Kay Adam run 100 pedigree Limousin and Charolais cows on their 222ha family farm in Angus and rent a 728ha hill farm running 640 ewes and 30 suckler cows.