Sheep Husbandry, Sheep Care, Show Preparation for sheep

Champion Coloured Ryeland Burwarton showOur lambing courses were a great success and we had a fun bunch of people attending and fantastic feedback from them.

The time of year is around the corner for those interested in purchasing sheep so need to learn more about the intricacices of choosing your sheep as well as looking afer them.  Our courses will cover this and be made bespoke to  your requirements.

Show Preparation of sheep - the summer show scene will soon be upon us and if you want to learn how to choose the prizewinners, prepare them to look their best for the show ring, how to show and ring etiquette, etc.  

If any of these tick your box, please get in touch to book a course.  Please get in touch if you have any questions or wish to book a slot.   dsg.oakberrow@gmail.com  or 07971675162

Ryeland National Champion

Ryeland sheep and Greyface Dartmoor sheep wins so far

ryeland lamb and greyface dartmoor ewe and lambWe have had a good start to the showing season this year with the sheep.  At the RWAS Smallholders show in May Oakberrow Thunder and Untouchable were both third.  With the Greyface Dartmoors - our lovely Sunny was second in a strong class of rams and also Ulysses was second as well.  The breeding ewe - Antonia was a credible 4th.

At Shropshire County Show - Oakberrow Thunder was Breed champion with our shearling ewe being Reserve Breed Champion under judge Pam Bateman.

The Greyface Dartmoors under top judge John Osborne from Cornwall, our Ulysses won the any aged ram class and Agatha our ewe lamb also won her class.  The shearling ewe was 3rd in her class.

At the Royal Three Counties Show - the Dartmoors did well with Sunny winning Breed Champion.  He won the any aged ram class with his son Ulysses taking up the 2nd spot.  Our baby ram lamb (still to be named) won the ram lamb class and Agatha won the Ewe lamb class.  So a great day.

sheep showing courses - preparation

Dolwen Noble Inter Breed Sheep Champion Moreton Show 2013This time of year we are getting excited about attending the first show of the season with the sheep.  The Royal Welsh Smallholders

Royal Welsh Show

www.rwas.co.uk

will be our first one closely followed by Shropshire County Show. 

Shropshire County Show & West Mid Showground | Shropshire ...

www.shropshirecountyshow.com/…agricultural-show/.....

There is always something to learn about the art of getting a sheep ready for the show ring and we do courses from how to choose your sheep for showing, preparation and ring etiquette, etc.  These are really useful and at least as a novice you have learnt some of the tips that the wordly wise stockmen do.

If interested please do contact me to arrange a date.  See under Learning Courses for details.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Oakberrow

Sunnyside our new Greyfaced Dartmoor RamAll of us at Oakberrow would like to send our best wishes to all.  2013 has been a fantastic year with our lovely sheep and dogs achieving more than we had ever hoped for.  The handsome Foster becoming a Show Champion, the equally handsome Noble winning the Interbreed Championship at Moreton in Marsh Show and the baby, pretty Breeze, having such a great start to her showing career. 

We are having a little break from the dog shows December/January as the dogs are all busy out doing what they enjoy picking-up and beating on the local shoots.  The older ones not too happy that they cannot be included but I can assure them that OB, Foster, Remy and Beeze as well as Beamish are representing Oakberrow well.

What has 2014 got in store - anyones' guess, but Steve and I have some really good judging appointments already.  Steve is judging Shropshire Sheep and AO Native breed sheep at Stafford Show and I am judging the Coloured Ryelands, Steve is also judging Longhorns at Gillingham and Shaftesbury then then onto Pembroke where he is judging Ryelands.  Steve is also judging the Coloured Ryelands at the Royal Norfolk Show.  Me, I am judging Ryelands at Anglesey Show and also judging GSPs a WELKS in April and then Pointers at Midland Counties next October.  Oh forgot I am also judging tradestands at Surrey County Show in May.  So as you can see a very busy year for us.

Cannot wait to get out showing the Greyface Dartmoors and hope to have them at the Royal Welsh Smallholders Show this year.

The ewes have been scanned and the lambing courses commence early in March 2014, so if interested do get in touch. 

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.