Sheep at Sheepdrove Farm

Sheepdrove's 2000 ewe flock has undergone significant changes in recent years with the introduction of South Shetland and Shetland-cross flocks.

Our foundation stock has all originated from the Shetland Islands where geographical position, breeding and monitoring systems ensure a demonstrable 'high health status', together with an inbuilt ability to survive even the harshest conditions.

We aim to lamb at least 600 ewes indoors in February to Pol Dorset, Suffolk and Hampshire Down rams. The choice of rams produces a lamb with a good dense fleece to withstand the cold of February and March following turnout at 10 days old.

The remainder of the ewes will lamb during late April / early May producing both fat lambs for much later in the year and all our own breeding stock.

We continue to experiment with not 'docking' the lambs tails, whilst not castrating male lambs is the norm. Because we have such high protein clover leys, the lambs grow very quickly not having any growth checks from the stress of castration or docking.

To ensure the clean grazing system is working we test dung samples monthly by using our own microscope we can count the number of work eggs, identifying the worm burden in the faeces. If there is a breakdown we are allowed to individually worm the problematical ewe or lamb.

Chris looks after the 2000 ewes with over 2000 lambs at foot, assisted by three border collies. Like all sheep farmers we are constantly looking at the health of the sheep, particularly foot-bathing for scald and lameness. We use a benign treatment of zinc sulphate which hardens the ewes’ and lambs’ feet preventing lameness. To prevent fly-strike we hand 'crutch' the ewes and lambs; this is shearing the fleece off the backsides of the sheep to prevent dirty and wet wool where the bluebottle flies can lay their eggs which turn into maggots, tunnelling into them and killing the sheep.

So with great care and attention, these hardy sheep thrive in a low-stress environment with the very best animal welfare standards.

Buy our delicious lamb and seasonal mutton at our online shop or call our sales team now. Tel: 01488 674747.