It’s gorgeous weather and the first lambs aren’t due for a fortnight! This morning I injected pregnant ewes with a vitamin E and Selenium suppliment. It was rather late for the first lambers so I hope it still has a beneficial effect. I hate injecting and they hate me doing it, but they are pretty forgiving and still come in for their feed and to have their photos taken.
It is a pity there is some breeze today. I had hoped to put the taupaulins on the lambing shelter but any wind can make it a fatally difficult task.I used to love sailing but prefer to have a boat under me!
Spring is really here. The garden is starting to shout for attention. I have a few days now before lambing takes up all my time. I’m pruning drastically so I shall have a big bonfire tonight. 
Merlo Nimo is still in good form but disappointed not to be able to go in with last years ewe lambs.
A Waiting Game
Febuary 2012
The Ryeland Flock Book Society council meeting has just been held and I’m hoping they have agreed to a gallery of coloured Ryeland photos on the society website that will also be accessed by anyone Googling ‘coloured Ryelands’. I have offered to host it in a separate address – a different domain name – on my web space (completely separate from my own website) but it will be much better on the society site if that can be arranged.
The Environment Agency’s flood relief plan for Morpeth will involve Lightwater being demolished. This will be very sad for my family and I – we came here 36 years ago and it holds a lot of memories for us. 
Plans are afoot to build a replacement on higher ground. There will be a lot of stages to go through beforehand and I have been out taking photos of farmhouses built in similarly exposed situations. This is one west of Morpeth – a typical small Northumbrian farmhouse similar to Lightwater but not so sheltered. I shall approach the house from the north with the prevailing wind from the west so it looks as though ‘the barn’ [hooray] will have to shelter the house on the west.
Grace has Done it again! As I rushed round the groups of sheep in the snow before I left to spend a couple of days with my eldest daughter, Grace was hanging over the gate next to the rams so obviously not in lamb. In haste I put her again with Merlo Nimo; she stood; he tupped[twice!] Now we shall see – lamb[s] end of June? I shall put her with last years ewe lambs and clip her with them at the beginning of May. 
No extra feed but good grass prelambing and wait to see what happens. She was 2 weeks after the others last year but this is ridiculous!
I love this picture of PercyPersona [left] and Pickett[rt] Percy looks as though he has Ugg boots on.
Topping is finished for now – a cold and boring job except on steep slopes when it is all too exciting. Now I’m going to chain harrow some of the fields.
The first of the ewes are already on prelambing buckets and flat feed of 175gms of 18% ewe nuts twice a day. They will be followed by the second group very soon and all will have their Hept P+ booster this week. That also means the rams and young females will get their boosters so plenty to occupy me.
My grandchildren visited recently and the young ewes were hopeful of food. But in with the older stock Ruby thought the nuts rather tasty!
January 2012
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Who could fail to be happy when they compared this January to 2011s? My grandchildren I suppose, and perhaps all the children in the country, and skiers, and masochists…………… Alright, lots of people but surely not Ryeland owners? Sheep seem to manage very well, but the work…..! So this year starts on a good note.
Tupping appears to have been successful at Lightwater although Grace was seeking out the rams at the beginning of the week and in a rash moment I put her and Merlo Nimo together. 
If the tupping is successful lamb[s] will be born right at the end of May which will leave me wondering when to get her clipped.
The questionable ram was Lightwater Pickett of whom I had high hopes. All his ewes returned [the first time any have returned to a ram lamb] and Grace was one of his. The only reason I can think of is that, a matter of weeks before tupping, the ram lambs were left without shade[accidentally] during some very hot days. Of course their fleece is exceptionally thick. I understand overheating can destroy the sperm and reproducing them can take several weeks. Perhaps this is a good year to have the ewes scanned. If things are awry I might even have to get Pickett tested before next autumn.
PercyPersona went away to tup two coloured Ryelands locally.
Jobs for the month? Plenty, but importantly finishing topping ‘Sheep Hill’ an 8 acre field that was barely used last year and will hold the ewes and lambs this summer. 
Then, I have bought a hundred paving slabs to lay in an area I use for footbathing. It better not snow!
The sheep seem to be doing well. I am giving them no extra forage since the fields have plenty of grass but they have all been getting 150gms of 18% ewe nuts and beet shreds, a day, since the beginning of December and I’m ready to give them more if the weather changes. Of course rams get only tup mix.
I’m even planning to visit my daughter for 3 days in the lull.
George – my grandson - is now a year old and starting to walk. How time flies.
October 2011
October 2011
York and ‘is he good enough?’
Saturday was the RBSS at York. I had L.Priscilla and 2 [unregistered] friends entered, but was unable to take them because of Priscilla’s mystery illness. A dose of Alamycin and Metacam brought quick relief but I wasn’t taking any chances and withdrew all 3. The problem arose after they had been out on a field of rather lush grass. I did introduce them gradually but perhaps not gradually enough. Now the ewes are due to go in there before tupping so I’m putting them on for an hour at a time. I never like sudden changes of grass for my stock. At the least they start to scour – what a mess!
Priscilla and friends, – and the fateful field
There were few coloured Ryelands for sale at York but the only ewe lamb fetched 200gns.
What to do about tupping? 22 ewes will go to the tup[s] this Nov 1st. Merlo Nimo is unrelated to all of them and I have been very pleased with the lambs he sired last autumn. He is in good condition and I’m sure could cope with 22. Is Lightwater Pickett worthy of a few? I like his conformation 
but am worried about how my ewes will manage at lambing time with lambs from such a deep-bodied ram. 2 hours travelling to York helped me decide which of the experienced ewes might cope best. I’m also not sure of the quality of his fleece. Nimo’s lambs have excellent fleeces. I’ve decided to have the fleeces of the 3 ram lambs I’m running on analysed. It’s not cheap but it might help me make some decisions. L.Leipzig will do his usual stint on a few unrelated ewes. L.Persia is at Chris Broughtons to prove himself on 3 coloured ewes there. L.PercyPersona will have to wait until next year – he won’t be happy!
September 2011
Carlisle FBSS Sept17th 2011
Every dog has it’s day and this was Lightwater’s. Because this was the first Northern SS I was even more nervous than usual. Usually I arrive at 8am. This time I was there at 7am. Usually the show is at 9am. This time it was 12noon. 5hours to get as scared as possible. First I was freezing, then I was boiling. But it was worth it! Results were;
L.Neroli – Champion ewe; Champion female. Sold £500
L.Nigella – 2nd in ewe class; Reserve champion female. Sold £500
L.Patchouli – 2nd in lamb class; Sold £350
L.Primrose – 3rd in lamb class; Sold £400
L.Parker – Champion in ram lamb class; Champion Male. Sold £150
Except for Patchouli all stock went to new flocks and prices were high throughout for coloured Ryelands. Ewes [only 2] av. £500. Ewe lambs[10] av.£300. Rams[ 6 sold including lambs] av. £106.
The day went so smoothly I can’t think why we haven’t done it before. But then I wasn’t one of the organiser or workers on the day. They should take a bow. I must mention how great it was to see all the Ryeland members up from Wales.
More photos needed!
Ram lambs
9 of my lovely ram lambs have gone to the butchers. They were really fit but the slightest problem makes them unsuitable to go on for breeding and they were at the right weight by August 23rd.The first batch of 4 were sold as halves to family and friends; the second group of 5 went to the rarebreed butcher. He was delighted with the carcasses and I went to see them to try to understand more about the grading system. I’m one step forward.
This is the hard part of breeding. With relatively small numbers I find I always get attached to some animals and they aren’t always the ones I am going to keep. All Ryeland owners know that sheep have personalities! I am running on 3 ram lambs out of 17 this year based on a] conformation b]fleece quality c] temperament d] breed lines. Ram prices this year have not been encouraging. Averages at Ludlow and Carlisle are so low that it costs breeders money to put rams in the breeding flock. My butchers lambs averaged £95 with no extra cost to me and no fighting during the breeding season!…………but they were lovely.
Back to preparations for tupping!
August 2011
Ludlow August 27th
It was great to see so many familiar and new faces at the sale. Luckily for me Jackie Armstrong from Haydon Bridge [Hadrians Wall] travelled with me.from Northumberland.Despite being a long-time breeder it was her first time at the Flock Book Show and Sale. She maintains she had a good time [despite the dodgy beefburger in the dark whilst camping] and it was a boon to me to have an extra pair of hands. I’m always in a flap and Jackie was a calming influence. I still managed to let L.Nesta escape during showing! Prices for ewes were pretty average ;
L.Nesta – Champion ewe 205gns
L.Nellie – 3rd in the ewe class 185gns
Average ewes175gns
Nesta and Nellie went with Roger Fleetwood to join Lilypad and Laura from last year
Coloured Ryeland ewe lamb prices were averaging 180gns with a smart and well grown example from the Malt Kiln flock fetching 370gns; 19 of the 32 rams in the catalogue[including r.lambs] were forward and sold, and averaged 150gns. A new coloured Ryeland record was set by Montgomery Noble who was sold to Linda Coleman for 520gns
With coloured Ryelands selling first, Jackie and I were able to set off sharply and I was back at Lightwater by 10pm. A very satisfying event. Next year I will try to take some photos to give you a ‘flavour’ of the day.
June 2011
Flaming June 2011
The adult sheep are ready to clip. Now I shall wait for the clippers and Ryelands are not their favourite breed of sheep! There are very few small flocks in the frozen North so the shearers are used to setting up for the long day and rarely feel like tackling small groups.
Late June
All the stock have grown on well in the last month. A few showers have refreshed the grazing and there has been plenty of breeze to keep the flies at bay.
The ewes and rams were clipped at the end of the second week in June. Because of the cold weather, clipping locally had started late and I had to agree to pay £5 a sheep to get them done at a time when all the big flock owners were clammering.
That meant a bill of £200! Ouch! They were done well and they look smart and cool and much more energetic. I am really pleased with the fleeces this year – particularly from the gimmers – and that has been reflected in the fleece prices at Woolfest [Cockermouth June24/25] which ranged £15-£22 with some very complimentary buyers.
Clipping.
I have kept one fleece for the competition in Ludlow at the RFBS show and sale on Sat.August 27th. I hope its the right one! I also hope lots of you will come and bring your fleece to enter.
Cooler ewes.
In 5 weeks time the lambs should be spained[weaned] and then my impressions of lamb quality will hopefully be confirmed. I’m very pleased with this year’s crop. The butcher’s lambs look blooming and the future breeding stock has some classy ewes and rams coming on.
The next day out is the Great Yorkshire Show sheep judging on Tues. 12th July at Harrogate. All the world and his wife will be there, plus me, to see the best animals serious breeders can produce.Perhaps Ryelands can repeat their coup of The Three Counties Show and scoop Interbreed Champion again?
Lightwater Nora
I missed competing in the North Yorkshire Show due to clipping but I’m hoping to be at the Cumberland Show on July 16th at Carlisle racecourse.I’m not sure whether Lightwater Nutella will go. I feel she has been superceded by L.Nora, a shearling gimmer from my original ‘silverback’ , Newlands Annabel. As for a ram lamb, he will have to go with his dam………..Decisions……..!
By the time I update the News again I shall be selecting stock for Ludlow and Lanark Sales and the summer will be well on, but for the moment it’s lovely to enjoy the long evenings and early morning birdsong. Happy haymaking.
REPLACE
P.S. Everyone makes some mistakes!
May 2011
May 2011 – Lambing is finished at Lightwater
They’re all here!
In all 37 lambs from 21 ewes.1 ewe was barren but she
had stunning twins her first two lambings so I shall give
her another chance.
This is her ewe lamb from last year called Lightwater Nutella [Nutty!]
I shall be showing Nutty this year.
The new shelter was up just in time. Thank goodness, with 7 ewes lambing in 30hrs amidst rain and high winds.
It was 5 days before the first 4 ewes were out with their lambs in a paddock treated to deter foxes.
Daisy – my Labrador – did fox duty by sleeping in the car by the night paddock. Cold for her but no foxes!
After those first high winds the weather turned sunny and warm in the day.
Most of the later ewes lambed outside although I brought them in for 48hrs to mother up and to tail the lambs.
My lamb shelters, made from ring feeders and bales with a taupaulin, were barely used but they gave me peace of mind.
This has to be the hardest working time of year with sheep.
If I can keep everything up to date I hope to enjoy the growing lambs and a chance to see other peoples stock at the shows and sales.
I hope everyone else has had a good lambing [months ago for some!] and is looking forward to the show season.
P.S. The gimmer shearlings have just been clipped. There are some lovely fleeces for showing and for sale.
February 2011
February 2011 – New Look Website
I hope you like the smart look of the revised Lightwater website. Howard has spent many hours learning and applying the new website management system and now teaching me to edit the site. I’m particularly pleased with the search facility and I hope you find it useful.
Like everyone else we had some really tough weather earlier this winter. The ewes all appear to be in lamb but it was really hard work to keep all the stock fed. Thank goodness for my quad bike for taking hay/straw to the farthest fields.18 inches is too deep for my ewes to dig for grass but young stock were energetically foraging by the time the snow reduced to 6/8 inches.
My first lambs are due March 25th so things are quiet for the moment except for the re-introduction of L.Nyman who has been away in Yorkshire with Chris Broughton.
A mobile lambing shelter should be erected in the next few weeks.
I’ve had a few visitors recently. The most surprising was a German reporter preparing an article on rare breeds in the EU. who had been in Northumberland seeing the Chillingham cattle. I only wish I could read German!
The most important thing that happened in that bad weather
was the arrival of George, my latest grandson.
Here he is at 1 day old. It seemed as though the only way that
I would get to be around at his birth would be by travelling there on my quad bike.
Very little traffic was able to move about but he conveniently arrived
in a lull in the snow storms, when the snow plough had been out.
Might he be the Lightwater shepherd in 20 years time?
October 2010
October 2010
Now that the Show season has come to a close I’m planning a new look for the website,
so this page won’t have any further updates until the New Year.
Click on photos to enlarge them -
Sad News of Lightwater Linnet
Very sadly L.Linnet, who did so well at Carlisle, died 3 days after arriving at the McCornicks.
This was a very upsetting situation for us all. The cause is not certain although the vet thought
it might be digestive since she had no temperature. With hindsight it would have been better to have
a post mortem to try to determine the cause.
Inevitably I have been keeping a very close eye on my stock ever since.
Happily none have shown any unusual signs nor have any of the other stock sold by me at Carlisle.
I have replaced Linnet for the McCornicks with Lightwater Lulu who was sired by
Lightwater Jango (supreme c.r.at Carlisle RBSS 2008 and now with David Irvin in Dumfries).
Lulu was also the winning ewe lamb AOB at Masham Sheep Fair 2009.
Lulu’s transfer was very worrying but she seems to be doing well and
I hope she goes on to produce many good lambs for Caroline and the boys.