SUMMER IS HERE - WHAT ABOUT SHEEP HUSBANDRY COURSE OR SHOW PREPARATION

2016 National Ryeland ChampionAt Oakberrow we run courses throughout the year and at this time of year we run both sheep husbandry courses - these can be either for the novice sheep owner or someone who is looking at purchasing sheep and wants to learn about the do's and don'ts.

During last month we were truly International with trainees from Zimbabwe and also Germany.

This is also the start of the county show circuit and Oakberrow Ryelands and Greyface Dartmoors will be exhibiting at Devon County Show which starts tomorrow 17 May.  Steve is there with the Ryelands and the Coloured Ryelands which are being judged by Jane Pinches at 2.30pm tomorrow.  Go along and have a chat with Steve.

Our next show is Royal Bath and West Show where there will be a full show team of Ryelands, Coloured Ryelands and Greyface Dartmoors.  

Lambing is nearly over

It has been very hectic over the last few weeks as the lambs have been coming thick and fast.

Ceres and her lambs - a boy and girl

This year the Texel ewes all went to a Polled Dorset Ram and there are some really good commercial lambs come from this. 

The Ryelands have also lambed well and we have a good crop some of which are already standing out from the crowd.  Looking forward to the showing season. 

This year we will be late onto the showing scene as I am delighted to have been asked to judge the Ryelands at Devon County Show in May and then the Coloureds at the Royal Welsh Spring Fair (used to be called Smallholders Show) again in May.

Steve will be judging the Ryelands at the Royal Three Counties Show on the Saturday - 15 June.

I digress, the Greyfaced Dartmoors have lambed and I am really sad that Willow has again not lambed.  I bought her last year as potentially being in lamb, Decimus covered her but no lambs!!  Also Dot has not had any lambs either!  However I am delighted with my other lambs and have attached a photo which shows just how cute they are.