March 2018

​After all the rain we had in January and February, March was a dry month  with only  44mm rain (slightly less than the long term average for that month). We started the month by weaning two of the mobs of deer and selecting the  young hinds we wanted for this season’s Artificial Insemination (AI) programme. Determined to ensure that this year weaned fawns would stay in the right paddocks some time was spent fixing some paddocks with better netting, electric outriggers and realigned gateways. The end result was a big improvement and made such a difference but it all took more time. Consequently, and given the feed on hand, a decision was made not to wean the mob of later born fawns but simply put the stags out with the mob and “post rut” wean. We have never done this before so will see how it goes. The hinds are in good condition and with plenty of feed it will be a chance to compare the liveweights of the weaners from this mob vs those weaned early.
With Mel, our farm manager, away in the Australian outback on a horse for 3 weeks the job of crutching the 2th ewes fell to me – and some of them had got quite daggy with the lush feed around this autumn. Dagging sheep before the ram goes out is not usually necessary in a dry autumn!