A
t this time of year, sheep numbers on the farm will be nearly 3000. Our next job is
to sell many of the now well grown lambs and some of the ewes. This is to reduce the flock grazing on the hill to a number that can be healthily sustained during the winter. All ewes will have been born on the farm and
Early Autumn Sheep Sales After a full year at Eastside, many ewes will have a fine ewe-lamb to
then live here for five years. When they are five, they’ve had enough of their hard life on the hill and will be sold to a low-ground farmer where they will live and breed for another few years. Within the UK, there operates a tiered breeding system to ensure the supply of prime lamb. This system starts with upland breeds such
join their hefts on the hill and the
as Blackface. Once the upland sheep are sold
cycle will begin all over again.
to lower farms for breeding, they are crossed