Dafad's-Days: GRAZING AROUND.

At this time of year, the animals are moved around different fields, from those that have been well and truly grazed short to those with longer grass, so that the young energetic lambs have plenty off natures fodder to fatten them up, leaving other fields to grow into what will later be mown for hay as winter feed. It's a lovely part of the farming year, but this June is particularly wet and causing the farmers some concern

Acres left to grow are fascinating places, that change colour week by week as certain species of flowers and grasses become predominant in the cycle of growth. This week, all across the valleys, pastures full of buttercups can be clearly seen as fields of gold, shining bright as the sunshine, highlights in all the contours of the farming landscape.

<<< Some inquisitive youngsters cannot wait and with heads small enough to poke through fences, they greedily graze the lush green edges of the hay fields. Unfortunately for ram lambs, this can cause problems because in trying to pull their heads back out, the horns get caught, often leaving them trapped. Mature ewes will do the same too and so the farmers regularly patrol their pastures for these and other problems. We recently rescued a ewe who had obviously been stuck in a fence overnight, judging by the mess around her. Luckily her twins had been able to suckle her, but her head was too high to graze. She had become too tired to struggle and was in an isolated area of the commons.

Texels seem to have less of a problem as adults because they are much larger and broader faced as well as more heavily fleeced than our Welsh Mountain ewes. The addition of Texels means greater body weight and more wool in a single shearing. Shearing has started but will really start in large numbers next month a busy time. for everyone.

Meanwhile in the hay fields, a close look in the long growth and the most amazing variety of delicate colours can be seen as different plant heads turn to seed, and the sorrel with it's bright red seed heads will outgrow all the others turning the fields a lovely rich rusty red.