FARMERFOCUS
FARMERFOCUS
Giles Henry
Giles Henry rents 105ha
(260 acres) on a 10-year
lease and 114ha (280
acres) of heather moorland
near Selkirk, in the Scottish
Borders, which is in organic
conversion. Cropping is
mainly grass with 14ha (36
acres) of spring barley. The
farm is stocked with 450
breeding ewes, 85 hoggs
and 50 Luing cows with
followers and finishers
WHAT a difference some days of dry weather make. Muck and slurry has been spread on appropriate fields. Together with the bit of rain we have had in the last few days, this should start to make a difference to grass growth.
Though it is quite warm through the day, frost at night has been slowing grass growth, but we cant have everything. It is such a pleasure just to be going about on dry ground.
Cows have started calving and we have five heifer and two bull calves to date. Calf size, fortunately, is not extreme and cows appear to be milking well. But one second calver, which calved on Saturday morning, had left her calf after calving and showed no interest in it.
We brought her down to the steading, where it is easier to keep an eye on her. After a couple of days, mother and calf cannot be separated. This problem delayed our visit to Melrose 7s, but we still managed to catch a good bit of the action and enjoy the crack among friends. Isnt it strange how things are always difficult when one has arranged to be away for a few hours?
Hens are now at a steady 90% lay and average egg weight at 27 weeks is 61g, which according to the management guide is slightly above expectation. They are certainly enjoying ranging in the good weather, though on wet days it becomes a wee bit mucky outside the pop holes. I have ordered some wood chips to go around these, which should help the situation.
Ewes have been away to their fields since Mar 20 and although grass is not getting away from them, I feel it is about right for this time of year. They are set stocked at 10/ha (4/acre) and will lamb where they are.
All crossbred ewes are on clean grazing and this should be of great benefit to lamb growth throughout the season. Certainly, the best lambs last year were off the clean grazing fields and only had one dose in their lifetime. *