Preparing for the lambing season

Although we’ve not such deep snow this year, the length of time there’s been such a low average temperature and outside stock have been standing on snow means this has been one of the hungriest and hardest winters for a very long time.

When we scanned the ewes a few weeks back, I was quite happy with the condition they were in, convincing myself we had the rations about right and the amount of silage they had eaten had just about kept them where they needed to be.

The problem is the last three weeks has really taken its toll on them and it’s incredible how much condition they’ve lost as they get closer to lambing.

The crosses have just started lambing and fortunately there seems to be enough milk to keep the lambs going. The concern is without at least some grass showing signs of growth in the near future, there might not be a continued ample supply of good quality milk.

Hill ewes won’t start for another month yet and hopefully the weather will be much kinder by then.

Realistically the poor weather in some parts of Scotland kicked off late last summer and when you combine the poor quality of forage and the shortage of amounts made together with a prolonged hard winter, it creates a perfect storm for hill and upland livestock production and makes a good early spring almost a necessity rather than an aspiration.

Farmers are a pretty adaptable bunch and can cope with most things that are thrown at them, but there comes a time when unless we are recognised for what we do with regard to providing good quality safe produce or delivering for the environment, we will question the long-term viability of our businesses.

Only two weeks ago the fragility of the whole food supply chain came to light with shelves in many stores being short of food as a result of the weather.

Not enough people are aware of the efforts of so many to produce what they now take for granted, and that includes the contribution of road hauliers in keeping shelves full.

These hauliers were criticised during the storm for being on the roads but in most cases they were simply trying to keep the supply chain intact. The efforts of all involved in keeping food on our shelves should be recognised and not taken for granted and needs to be taken into account in future policy decisions.

Picture: Getty Images. Supermarket shelves run short of food supplies during the recent extreme weather.