The Higgs: annual TB test is all clear
The annual TB test in the Gower was all clear. The rearing of 141 bucket calves has gone well this year, with only one loss. We feel that vaccinating for calf pneumonia made a big difference to their general health. At housing, the yearling cattle weights were down on previous years and the weather is very much the prime suspect.
On the sheep front we were pleased with the prices achieved for yearling Welsh mule ewes and the lambs we purchased have settled in well. Ewe lambs from mid-Wales arrived for their winter by the sea. The stubble turnips are looking good, as is the fodder beet, but a dry spell is needed to lift them.
It is disappointing that the prime lamb price has fallen so steeply, but I hope this is caused by a temporary oversupply, with many lambs that were slow to finish in the wet summer coming to market at the same time as the usual autumn flush. I was amazed that on Monday 22 October there were over 8,000 prime lambs forward at Welshpool Smithfield.
The 9.6kW/hour photovoltaic array in Gower is nearly a year old. It has already achieved its annual output target of 8,000kWh despite the wet, dull summer. The rain has meant the 5.5kW/hour micro hydro at Cwmfron is on course to meet its demanding annual target of 26,000kWh by the end of January.
Jolyon and Alex Higgs farm beef and sheep in Llanidloes whilst their son Tom farms beef,sheep and cereals on the Gower in partnership with Alex and her parents”,
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