rock 64 Posted January 24, 2010 Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 hopefullly they will all be in bed so the mutts can have a slip or two Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mad al 146 Posted January 24, 2010 Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 we diversified to timber about 6 years back John, had sheep here before as it's all hill. Kept a bit back for the horse and have seen no difference in the revenue and there is so much less hassle Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trapperman 474 Posted January 24, 2010 Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 i suppose i am a small farmer, not me my land i only have a few acres but i keep chickens, geese, pigs and sheep mainly for our own use, but i love it and wish i could buy some more land to keep some cattle on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnGalway 1,043 Posted January 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 Interesting spread of farm types Unfortunately the land here isn't good enough to grow crops or do dairy, pity as the options would be great! Was over on a farming forum last night and felt slightly jealous when reading about lads growing their own feed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
donk 12 Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 What is the availability of work for shepherds these days? Is it still an ongoing task where there is a shepherd that looks after the sheep or is it down to farm labourers and farmers? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wild_and_Irish 11 Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 Interesting spread of farm types Unfortunately the land here isn't good enough to grow crops or do dairy, pity as the options would be great! Was over on a farming forum last night and felt slightly jealous when reading about lads growing their own feed You lose any sheep to the snow? You're right the ground would be fairly bad around you but it can't be worse than west donegal, they seem to be growing fekin stones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
herdwick 52 Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 I have farmed all my life. Single suckler beef herd, few sheep and milk 4 guernseys to bring up calves and milk for the house. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sako.243 1 Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 Agricultural and Fencing Contractor mate! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scottishlass 57 Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 What is the availability of work for shepherds these days? Is it still an ongoing task where there is a shepherd that looks after the sheep or is it down to farm labourers and farmers? Well up here a lot of farms are being contracted out. Neighbouring farms are running 2 to 3 at a time so sheep are pretty much left till there own till big handlings come up such as lambing and clipping. My other half was farm manager till just before xmas then was paid off they have now contracted the farm oot its a sort of rent the sheep thing farm owner has nothing to with the farm owner just looks at the money that comes in Quote Link to post Share on other sites
landy 0 Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 My Dads a farm contractor, and i help out in the hedgecutting season, like some of the others have said its great for getting permission. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poodle-ere 0 Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 my dad works for a man that does potatoes so he got loadz of land what i shoot on and he owns a shooting ground so its all good Quote Link to post Share on other sites
donk 12 Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 So most of the shepherds would be contractors then? Cant see that being steady work? More seasonal with lambing and shearing. Shame,ive always fancied being a shepherd. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnGalway 1,043 Posted January 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 You lose any sheep to the snow? You're right the ground would be fairly bad around you but it can't be worse than west donegal, they seem to be growing fekin stones. None local to me because of snow, the cold may have knocked off the odd weak/oldie out on the bogs mind you. Even on the Twelve Bens the snow wasn't as bad as I've seen it other times, and I've not seen much snow. I brought a lad out lamping last year, we headed up a valley I got to a bit. Near the top I remarked that there were lots of rabbits a bit farther on, the look I got "And what're they livin' on, rocks?" Herdwick, lovely photos there, what I wouldn't give to roll a few of those acres out around here Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CarraghsGem 92 Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 im not a farmer but my brother in law is, i seem to spend every spring pulling lambs day+night and every summer chasing after cattle and cleaning sheds! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scottishlass 57 Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 So most of the shepherds would be contractors then? Cant see that being steady work? More seasonal with lambing and shearing. Shame,ive always fancied being a shepherd. There are still some oot there but more and more shepherds are more involed in the farm than just sheep now they are expected to be able to muck in and do cattle work , silage time ,just doing a bit more tractor work than the old days Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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