Animal welfare is a major issue of importance, since healthy, fit  and stress-free animals are more resistant to disease. In turn lambing is straightforward, ewes typically rear twins successfully and regular handling helps to make for easy management.

The flock is maintained in Heptavac-P vaccination, has been vet-accredited vaccinated against Blue Tongue Virus [BTV serotype 8] and Footvax is used annually on females. Standard worm and fluke drenches are used together with pour-ons for fly and lice. These are minmal medications to ensure the well-being and welfare of the animals. Personally, I do not farm organically because I prefer to ensure the health of the flock by the correct and minimal use of medicines and health-care products developed for their specific purposes and incorporated into an accredited farm health plan.

A quiet sheep is a happy sheep.

Other than private and auction sales for breeding animals,  I no longer sell at  markets – rather, I sell direct to local butchers and personally transport  the tup lambs directly to the local slaughterhouse. This ensures welfare standards from birth to death.