It may not be the weather for sitting outside at the moment but we have been busy cleaning patios & tidying up the gardens ready for when spring decides to make an appearance and the long summer night eating outside return.
Until then, the lovely views can be enjoyed within the comfort of underfloor heating.
The sky is blue, the sun is shining & the birds are singing, Happy Easter to all.
They came right over the top of me at first, but I was too slow on the camera 📷. love watching them gracefully fly by
Routine jobs, price slumps, pups & slugs!
Just thought I'd give you all a little catch up on what has been going on the farm the last few months. The winter months see us doing the same routine each morning and evening of feeding round & bedding down all the different groups of cattle, each group has a slightly different ration so it takes a bit of time each day, for example the incalf cows & heifers will have more straw than silage in their diet as we don't want them to get too fat before calving, the young calves will have all silage mixed with homegrown milled beans, oats & barley to ensure they have the right amount of protein etc to grow accordingly.
In between feeding we fit in other jobs such as mucking out the sheds, vet visits, machinery repairs, paperwork, vaccinations, selling cattle etc
We normally try to outwinter some cattle but this year has just been too wet, although last week we let some out as they kept getting out & major work is required on the feed fence to keep them in, this is a job which will have to wait until the summer. Cattle prices are good at the moment so we have been selling strong stores rather than finishing them, this has helped us to bring some money in a bit earlier & reduce the pressure on the sheds. Its a good job the cattle prices have been strong as the wheat & barley prices have taken a nose dive with no signs of recovery.
We were lucky back in the autumn to have planted all our winter barley, wheat & oil seed rape as the rain never seems to have stopped much with over 26mm again last night, although we have lost over 60 acres to slugs, flea beetle & pigeons. A field of wheat we lost through slug damage has been re-sown although the crows are now hammering it. The flea beetle damaged rape still needs to be re drilled. Crop failures are never good as the cost of the seeds, slug pellets, sprays, time & machinery wear & tear is all a complete loss which has to be made up else where & with the price of the crops it makes
Getting very playful now ❤️
It may be pouring with 🌧 outside but don't fear there is still lots to do in the area on days like this for instance take a visit to
@raf_cosford
@ironbridgegmt
@worldofwedgwood
@shrewsburyprison
@cadburyworlduk
@cheshirefarm_icecream
@waterworld.sot.official
As well as local climbing walls, cinemas, ice skating rinks, swimming baths, bowling alleys or shopping in Shrewsbury, Telford, Chester or Birmingham.
Alternatively just snuggle up with a good book or box set until the 🌞 comes back.
Wildflower patch starting to wake up & look lovely 🌻🍀🌺🌱🌼
Cows & calves enjoying last nights sunshine 🌞
Lovey sunrise this morning accompanied by a beautiful dawn chorus 🐦
Getting every bit out of the bucket 🪣 🙂
Lamb-dog (Toby) had a busy day yesterday meeting guests, checking the in lamb ewes, helping me feed, checking and meeting the cows for the first time, the sun was shining and he was having a lovely time.
Today he came out to help feed this morning but didn't want to come across the field in the bitter-snowy wind and decided to go back to his favourite place in the utility next to the underfloor heating pipes.
What can I say - sensible lamb, who really wants to be out working in this weather 🌬❄
Wishing all our past, present & yet to stay with us guests a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thank you for choosing to stay at Sambrook Manor cottages, stay safe and I look forward to seeing you all soon 🎄🎁🎅🎉
Remember that kale we broadcast into a standing crop of barley, well it has grown well and who knew how much fun it can be.
#happydogs #zebedee #winterfeed #kale
Last of the swallows all getting ready to migrate on their long journey back to Africa.
Swallows are some of my favourite birds and its always a pleasure to see them return in the spring, they spend the summer swooping & swirling over the fields feeding on flies & aphids which helps yo reduce the pest burden on our crops & animals. 🪰🦟🐦🐦
We have lots of baby calves being born at the moment but here are some of last years calves enjoying the herbal lay. These calves have been out wintered on turnips & kale and are now back on the grass rotation for the summer.
The herbal lay is made up of grass species, legumes & herbs and have many benefits including improving soil structure, carbon sequestration, animal health, biodiversity of bird & insect species and the cows love it.
#britishbeef #healthysoils #healthyfood #healthyeating #keepbritainfarming
