Autumn is an important time on the farm. It is when all the stock sales take place.
It is an anxious time - we want our sheep to do well, we work hard all year round for our place in the market but there are many factors that affect prices; shortage of fodder due to the dry summer, the 'B' word (Brexit!), supply and demand. Happily our ewes sold well and our tups did okay. The lamb sales come next and as I write, Chris has just set off with the first lambs for Kirkby Stephen mart.
Our sheep are not merely gathered in, loaded into a trailer and sent to auction. On the contrary, they are meticulously tidied up for the sales and presented looking their best.
Autumn is also tupping time when we put the tups (rams) to the female sheep.
Tupping generally takes place out in the fields but sometimes the ewes are brought to him. Here he is scenting out which ewes are in season and in a jiffy the job will be done. Our tups have worked well and I have been forewarned by Chris to expect to be very busy during lambing time next year!
In the meantime we hope for a kind winter. However, whatever comes our way, the daily round of jobs continue. Its 24/7 as they say!
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