As the lambs start going off to meet their mint-saucy fate, there are plenty of new arrivals. Another 102 ewes (mostly mules, but with 20 more Exmoor crosses) joined the flock last week and are getting used to the new digs before their not so romantic encounter with one of the boys – of which three more signed up to the team last month. Even old Cecil has perked up (if you have ever read "Footrot Flats" you'll understand why he has that name) and is rough-housing with his mates, testosterone levels starting to build. Last year, at the end of the season, he was to be found sitting by the gate as far from the ewes as possible, just waiting to go home – it looks like that even for a ram, there's only so much sex he can endure.
Meanwhile the autumn calving is well underway – five so far. Two gentle greys and a batty black that runs around with his tail in the air, followed by his anxious (first-timer) mother – it's like watching a toddler and mum in Tesco (although some in our local store have bigger bums) - and a lovely pair of white-faced heifer twins who have needed a little extra TLC over the past few days – with a bottle that is considerably bigger than the one the lambs use.
