Tends to be our busiest season when lambing and calving can require a great deal of time. Approximately 40 cows are calved outside but occasionally a cow is brought in if it is a difficult calving. The calves are all ear-tagged within 28 days and registered with the British Cattle Movement Society to obtain their ‘passport’.

Lambing also takes place outside during April and May. Any weak or orphan lambs are brought inside or if the weather turns bad, new-born lambs and mum can be given extra shelter.

Grass fields are prepared for the new growing season by harrowing, fertilisation or manure spreading. Rolling is important for silage and hay fields where stones or bumps in the ground could break machinery.

Some fields are shut off from grazing to allow ground nesting birds to breed undisturbed by stock trampling.

By the time Summer arrives all stock will be outside. Sheds will be mucked out and repairs undertaken. The sheep are sheared around the time of the Black Isle Show (beginning of August). The wool grows vigorously at this time, making it easier to clip. The wool is rolled and packed before being sent away for processing.

Dosing, drenching and footbathing is carried out on the sheep as needed.

Silage and hay is cut July – August. Silage is stored in plastic wrapped bales in hard dry fields while hay must be kept in side.

Can be a busy too as much time is taken up with feeding livestock. Sheep are given concentrates (cereal/mineral mix) and when there is frost or snow they are provided with hay too. The outside cattle get silage and hay and the stirks (young cattle), which are inside, get fed twice a day with concentrates and hay. They also need to be bedded with straw.

The cattle which are coming up to be a year old will be taken to market