Open Day - 10th June

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:50 am

All being well - we shall be holding an Open Day on Sunday 10th June at Breoch Park, New Abbey, Dumfries DG2 8HL
Tel 01387 850554 all welcome but please let us know in advance so we can be sure of housing everyone!
Bring own picnic please but beverages on site-I will also be able to provide tasters of our last two animals ... one of which was 1/4 Hereford.

Duncan MacIntyre, Veronica Schofield and Mary Kay hope to come and they will inform us - helping us to judge good and not so good animals; health maintenance and we shall generally discuss the selling meat.

A good chance to exchange ideas .. the farm is in Scotland, 7 miles from Dumfries (and 40 miles from Carlisle) As we have a closed herd the only animals will be our own. So far we have 22 head of cattle (including the first calf of the year) and should have about 150 Shetland sheep if lambing is anywhere near successful!

More details nearer the time
Regards, Jo
PS I hope to get some neighbours along - it would be good if we can influence some commercial boys!

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:56 pm

Sorry Jo, I know it is pathetic but it's a bit far for us. It's also my husband's birthday. I'm not sure he'd want to spend it driving all that way. Hope you have a good day. My Dexters and Shetlands wish yours all the best. The alpacas saw the dentist this morning so they aren't feeling like sending good wishes to anyone, I hope their mood improves by Friday when 30-odd vet students are due to descend upon us for an educational visit. :p

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:42 pm

I am very much looking forward to Jo's open day, it seems to be a national "Open Farm" day of some sort, so a good day for the event.

Sorry to hear Sylvia cannot come, surely her husband will have another birthday next year??

I am also intrigued by an educational visit by vet students - who is to be educated, the Shetlands and Dexters or the students??

Duncan,

(contemplating an educational visit to Exeter next week but maybe it is too far??)

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:10 pm

Hi Jo

We've put it in our diary as a break. Never mind the Dexter's, I want to see the Shetlands. Will get back to you later to confirm.

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:46 pm

Wonderful - now I know someone is really coming I will have to tidy up the place after the lambing! It's good to have a deadline!
Sorry not to meet you Sylvia, couldn't you give your husband a 'weekend break' in Scotland? We are told the summer is to be a good one (good to me actually includes rain though)

Seriously, it is the people who make the day, I shall only be providing the venue ... and some meat. Jo

Kathy Millar · Post by **Kathy Millar** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:13 pm

I think I can honestly say, Jo, that your farm is a bit too far to come for the day (right, Duncan?). However, I am always hopeful I will make another trip to the UK soon, but not in June.

Sounds like there are a few Shetland sheep fans out there! :D

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:51 pm

Kathy, have you still pencilled in a possible visit here in the Autumn? I'd be happy to have an open farm day to coincide with your visit if anyone is interested?

Jo, I'll have a think about spreading it over a few days. I don't drive so my long suffering better half has to do it all and 6 hours there and the same back on his 60th birthday seemed a bit much. We don't mind the rain. I'd really like some now to get the grass growing away and the rest of the Dexters out.

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:15 am

Sounds like it will be a lovely day. I'll look forward to the report on how it went - plus pictures please. :laugh:

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:29 pm

I am also intrigued by an educational visit by vet students - who is to be educated, the Shetlands and Dexters or the students??

Well Duncan I thought I'd wait until the event was safely over before commenting further on this. Firstly, a third of the students dropped out of the week's trip at the last minute. But about 25 turned up this afternoon. They had a brief look at the Shetlands, spent the rest of the time in the male alpaca barn. My goodness who'd be a teacher? They all stood around looking gloomy and bored - until it was their turn to try to catch and halter an alpaca. I think my lads took pity on them and behaved remarkably well considering they don't meet many people. So all in all I think it was the alpacas doing the educating. As for the Dexters, after bedding them down particularly well and getting them all looking smart, they didn't have time to look at them at all. So the visitors will be heading back to London by now and the farm returns to what passes for normality here.

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 1:33 pm

Stop Press!
Veronica Schofield will give us a talk on the genetics project - how it is progressing and any conclusions which may have been reached. Those who were at the AGM will remember that the 3 years study is almost finished so, where will we go from here?
Jo

Brain becoming fuddled ... well, more fuddled as sleep deprivation beginning to kick in - I take my hat off to all shift workers!
Only 8 ewes lambed so far, they are queueing up