We’ve not mentioned the sheep for a while, it’s 5 weeks to lambing then it’ll be nothing but sheep news! It’s Ubi (pronouced ‘ooo-be’) in the photo, he’s our coloured Ryeland tup for 2015.  We weren’t going to use him in 2014, but I rate him, so we put him in with 3 of the ewes. You never know we might show him in a local show or two this year. I can’t believe I said that.

Last weekend the plan was to vaccinate and worm the ewes pre-lambing. I’d been exceptionally well organised ordering the right amount of vaccine as it only keeps for 10 hours after opening and needs to be kept between 2-8 °C at all times. It all ran smoothly at first i.e.  moved the rams into the orchard out the way, brought all the ewes and ewe lambs in. Identified the ones that weren’t to be vaccinated. Injection and drenching gun at the ready we started. Immediately it went wrong, the drenching gun refused to refill rendering it useless and then the tubing came off the vaccine leaking vaccine everywhere. No worries Countrywide is open on a Sunday I’ll restock. No such luck, no one there was authorised to sell vaccines and no drenching guns. Oh well we’ll have another go this weekend.