|
|
Ploughing and seed bed preparation for grass and Spring cereal trials:
March
is the best time to plant most spring crops. Seed bed preparation takes place
on the land that was ploughed last month. Wide ranges of implements are used
and the students undertake most of the work. Some spring cereal varieties
are grown in small trial plots for evaluation. Once the seedbeds are ready
the crops are drilled and begin to grow. It is important to ensure that the
soil is not too cold before this starts.
March ewe flock starts lambing:
The
March lambing flock begins lambing this month. Once the ewes show signs of
giving birth they are put into separate pens while the lambs are born. Once
the birth has taken place the mother will clean the lamb and encourage it
to get up by hitting it between the shoulder blades, with the front foot.
If a second lamb is born to the same ewe, it will probably appear after about
30 minutes. Some ewes will produce triplets. The stockman is on hand with
some students to assist in difficult births. Some lambs may be weak and need
extra care or warmth until they are stronger. Each ewe is sprayed on the back
with a dye showing its number and the same number is put onto her lambs so
that they are easy to identify. All newborn stock must be ear tagged. The
lambs will also need to be tail docked and the male lambs need to be castrated.
Fencing repairs:
The
early spring is also a useful time for estate maintenance. This will include
checking all the fences. Some of these are barbed wire and others plain wire
or wire netting. The fences must be stock-proof to prevent animals straying
and hurting themselves. Gates are also checked as are the post and rail fences
alongside the main driveways.
 |
