Recent content by Jop

Yes cull empty’s No they are culls and part of the 30% replacement figure not the deaths. Most flocks culled on age at 6 but not all, replacement rate and death rate was no different on flocks that culled on age. Also interestingly shearlings that are wet dry at tailing were no more likely...

If anyone enjoys a podcast I was listening to the head shepherd podcast the other day where they interviewed a researcher on ewe wastage. Research done in NZ suggested ewe mortality throughout the year was 7-8% and replacement rate close to 30%. Certainly made me feel better anyway

I use the neck crook a lot for catching young lambs for recording at birth. Certainly saves the back a bit. I also find it infuriating catching ewes sometimes missing the easiest ewes when I could have easily just tackled them. Did think I should set something up to practise my aim with it but...

So Tesco profit of £2.3billion is basically the same as the UK farm subsidy total of £2.4billion. This is just one UK supermarket, what would the total profit of all of them be? I think the government need to wake up and see who they are subsidising, supermarket profits. I think we as farmers...

Early May and again in early October. Will do the October one with a cover comb if needed.

Also shear all our ewes in August having previously shorn twice a year. Much easier after weaning, generally try and shear all the ewes and lambs in the same week. Just crutch in the combi clamp before lambing. We do still shear the shearlings twice a year, just find they grow out a bit better...

We record our "A flock" at lambing here, double tag these lambs and link with their mother using a Psion EID reader. It seems a bit of a waste double tagging all these lambs at birth but its a lot easier than having to cut out management tags and link up new tags later on. I use shearwell set...

1487mm here in west Devon. Last 4 year average 1425mm.

Berkshires returns are actually around the same if not worse than that of the S&P500 in more recent years. It’s just so big now that it basically mirrors the market. I have just stuck to a global tracker recently such as VWRL. Still over 60% American companies just because of the sheer size of...

Always thought the same, I think it’s to do with the mornings taking longer to get lighter after shortest day. As in we don’t gain an equal amount of extra day light in the morning as the afternoon. Would much prefer the clocks to go back to BST at the end of February personally.

1. 8ft cantilever should be ample unless your a very exposed site 2. I would personally want more room than 15ft to swing in the end general storage bay. But depends on the size of your equipment. 3. I wouldn’t bother with a bottom board. Especially if it’s sucklers as you’re probably not...

Sounds like it’s shorting out on vegetation or something else. Is the wire in good condition? If it’s old and got bits of wool on it and a couple of knots where it has broke this will have a big impact. Try putting another line connector on the far end this will sometimes make a difference, no...

We had a collie bitch that used to fit quite regularly. Often in hot weather or when she was in season. Started off maybe once or twice a year and unfortunately became more common as she got older. Had her put down last year after a long fit that she didn’t get over

Page concrete at Crediton do ones that we use for sheep and cattle. They have a selection on there website. Found them to be very good with fittings protected within the trough center.

From what you have said I would look very closely at iodine. If there has been a change of mineral product over winter and they aren't taking much of the buckets. We used to suffer terribly with slow calves but an iodine bolus 10 weeks pre calving has sorted our trouble out. I know some people...