Winter Routine

By January our winter routine is well underway, with over 900 cattle still outside and a marked contrast from last year, when the constant rain meant we had used over ½ our winter forage in the first two months. This year, we are delighted that the grass has remained growing, ground dry and sufficient forage to house a few of the fattening cattle in readiness for market.

Storing up grass for the winter, begins in June the previous year, when hay is baled in readiness for “Bale Grazing” – we lay out bales in a grid across the field with sufficient hay to supplement the grass available each day. This year we are using the technique to increase livestock density on areas of land which lack the biological diversity to support good crop health. By adding to the available feed in each paddock, we can increase the number of stock per day and therefore increase the biological input from dung and urine. The more mouths and bums – the better.

Over the Christmas period we also use “Deferred Grazing” which has been un-used since last spring. Kellie Law and the surrounding hills provide 6 weeks of feed and dry ground without needing to move fences and water every day, reducing the daily routine time when days are so short.

Our early lambing flock has been pregnancy scanned with 196% – meaning 1.96 lambs per ewe. The key numbers apart from any empty ewes, are those which carry singles and triplets (or quads) as a ewe is unable to successfully feed more than two lambs, we will wet adopt the triplet and quad lambs onto a ewe with only a single lamb. With 61 singles and 76 triplets (2 quads) the ratios are looking pretty close.

Last month we installed our first ever ground mounted Solar array with battery storage. While we would prefer to always use up shed roof space first, generating energy on the estate is important to reduce our reliance on purchased electricity. The new solar panels will feed one of our district heating networks, powering the water pumps. If the initial trials are successful we will look at replicating elsewhere on the estate. With our current electricity price at £0.26/Kwh – generating and using our own power makes good financial sense.

One of the unintended consequences of our large expanse of herbal grassland, is the increased Roe Deer population. We often see more twins and greater fertility rates in the Doe’s (female Roe Deer) and our resident population is not only growing, but so too are the average weights of each. This happens to be a positive consequence as demand for wild Roe venison is growing due to its delicate flavour. We will be culling a proportion of the herd over the next few months and so if you would like to try some – pop into the Butchery at Bowhouse – it makes a great January/February roast.

Finally, A Happy New year and wishing you all the very best for 2025.