We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.William and Andrew Cowx: Bull prices, tupping and one stressed bank manager
This week, we find out what’s been happening on-farm in Cumbria with William and Andrew Cowx.
AFTER a good spell of weather, winter and the rain have arrived but we managed to move the rest of the cattle inside before they did much damage to the fields.
It has been a job getting them all inside but once we have all the calves weaned and a few cast cows to the auction, we should be alright. It’s good to get into a routine for winter feeding.
The calves have come inside looking well, we think – the best they have been for a good number of years. They have all been vaccinated against pneumonia – it has been very mild for bringing cattle inside but they have had a very stress-free housing
Talking of stress, we have just had our annual visit from our bank manager, who said he was stressed out with all the turmoil in the banking sector, so he was heading down to a friend in Wales to spend the weekend in a hot tub – not my idea of stress relief.
Never quite sure
Last month, I said I thought we had three good bulls for the autumn sale at Carlisle. Well I am glad to report they averaged 8,100gns, with a top price of 14,000gns. If we could do that twice a year, it would be very nice. You are never quite sure how good your bulls are until you get them to the auction. There was an excellent show of bulls making good prices and it is always good to see faces old and new from all over the country – even the odd detractor who cannot resist a dig at my articles.
Our Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme agreement has still three years to run and the Less Favoured Areas scheme ends shortly, so we are having to decide what to enter into. We attended a Natural England meeting to get the options spelled out, and to me, it appears we will have to enter an Upland Entry Level Scheme but, surprise surprise, the payments will be less. The ESA scheme was straightforward but I think when the time comes, we will have to pay for some professional advice before deciding.
On the sheep front, the ewes seem to be nearly all tupped but the rams have just been let off with the hoggs. Hopefully, they will tup as fast and we will have a relatively short lambing. I just hope the ewes are not too fit with the mild backend.