This Farming Life S06E04 || This Farming Life Season6 Episode4
This Farming Life S06E04 || This Farming Life Season6 Episode4
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00 (musique)
00:02 - Come on, girls!
00:04 - Across the length and breadth of Scotland,
00:06 farmers are working hard...
00:08 - Here we go, here we go!
00:10 - ...to make a living.
00:12 - Watch my door, watch my door!
00:14 - Battling the elements...
00:16 - We have no water.
00:18 - Did you bring the canoe?
00:20 - ...and the challenging economic times.
00:22 - Spend money to make money, unfortunately.
00:24 - Finding new ways to keep their farms afloat.
00:26 - Are you OK, Brick?
00:28 - Every lamb's a bonus for us.
00:30 - To ensure a legacy...
00:32 - Yeah, a bucket!
00:34 - ...for the next generation.
00:36 - It's great to see young people coming into it.
00:38 - Let's see what I have!
00:40 - I don't think you'll be ready to go yet.
00:42 - Five families...
00:44 - Sweet spot!
00:46 - ...reveal how they stand together...
00:48 - (laughs)
00:50 - ...to make it all work.
00:52 - At some point, I might have to say, "Enough's enough."
00:54 - Supporting each other through the down days...
00:56 - She's got it, mate.
00:58 - ...and sharing the joys of the ups.
01:00 - What a beastie.
01:02 - The whole thing just gives you such a buzz.
01:04 (music)
01:06 - It's November.
01:24 (cow moos)
01:26 Winter has Scotland in its chilly grip.
01:32 But in these barren times,
01:40 the seeds of spring and new life
01:44 are already stirring.
01:52 - Up you get, girls!
01:54 - The cows are having a good scratch
02:16 on the cow scratchers that Mother Nature left us.
02:18 (music)
02:20 - Angus MacDonald has run the crofts since 1986.
02:22 Now his son, Fraser...
02:28 - Come on, girls!
02:30 - ...and daughter-in-law, Carrie-Anne,
02:32 are slowly taking over the reins...
02:34 - Come on, girls!
02:36 - ...taking responsibility
02:38 for the croft's 300 cows
02:40 and 200 sheep.
02:42 - Dad built up a legacy.
02:44 He started off with six cows
02:46 and one small croft.
02:48 He started taking it from that
02:50 at the age of 21 when he took over
02:52 to what it is today.
02:54 I would like to
02:56 take it another step and keep the
02:58 upward trajectory, I suppose.
03:00 - In the five years
03:02 that Carrie-Anne's worked here full-time...
03:04 - You're just an angel, aren't you?
03:06 And your mum's an angel as well.
03:08 - ...she's grown a passion
03:10 about the croft's cows.
03:12 - Come on, boys!
03:14 - Husband Fraser,
03:16 he's the sheep man.
03:18 - So, I am very much
03:20 not a sheep fan. If it was up to me,
03:22 there wouldn't be any sheep here,
03:24 but unfortunately, I don't make the rules.
03:26 The one goal in life
03:28 is to find the stupidest, dumbest way
03:30 to die.
03:32 - I think she's exaggerating slightly.
03:34 I think she likes to pretend that she hates
03:36 them more than she does.
03:42 - The farmers' big plan is to improve their flock.
03:44 And today,
03:48 they are off to market,
03:50 which involves a journey to the Scottish mainland.
03:52 - It's quite difficult living on an island,
03:56 especially in the middle of winter,
03:58 when you're relying on ferries
04:00 to get you from A to B.
04:02 - It's really difficult for us to get away to sales and shows
04:04 and wherever else. We're kind of, I think,
04:06 very selective what we go to.
04:08 So there's our trailer and the jam-packed ferry.
04:10 We're very lucky to be on.
04:12 - They're selling tufts,
04:16 or rams, at a winter sale
04:18 in Fort William tomorrow.
04:20 - It's a bit frustrating for me,
04:24 this journey, because the weather is so nice
04:26 that we left home. We've had really rubbish weather
04:28 for the last couple of weeks.
04:30 And then today and tomorrow
04:32 are like the two best days we've had in ages.
04:34 Instead, we're in the mainland
04:36 going to a tuft sale.
04:38 - Their friends Ruri and Heather
04:40 run a farm just west of Fort William.
04:42 - Hello again! Long time no see!
04:46 - A handy B&B for them
04:48 and their livestock.
04:50 The plan is to reinvigorate
04:58 the gene pool of their flock
05:00 and avoid interbreeding
05:02 by trading seven older boys
05:04 for new, young blood.
05:06 - Everyone should be willing to spend
05:08 £200 on a tuft. Minimum, I think.
05:10 That's like...
05:12 That should be bottom line, I think.
05:14 But the chances are that some of these will sell for less than that,
05:16 which is a bit disappointing
05:18 when they're good, strong tufts that will do well
05:20 on anyone's hill.
05:22 - One tuft can father hundreds of lambs
05:24 in his lifetime.
05:26 So they're key to building
05:28 a strong bloodline.
05:34 - The last job before the sale
05:36 is to brand their lot numbers into horns
05:38 for identification at auction.
05:40 - Go on.
05:46 - Been assigned
05:48 lot number 615
05:50 right up until 621.
05:52 So we're just deciding which tufts we're going to number,
05:54 which tend to put our... Fraser, yeah?
05:56 Put our best ones in first?
05:58 - Yeah. I don't think everyone does that,
06:00 but we like to... - That's the way we do it.
06:02 (vacuum whirring)
06:04 - You're only going into the hard bone
06:10 so that they don't feel a thing, because it's only going into
06:12 the hard outer layer of the horn.
06:14 Lovely smell off it, too.
06:18 You can feel that in your nostrils for the next...
06:20 the next two weeks.
06:22 - The outer layer of horn
06:24 is made of keratin.
06:26 It's the same protein as fingernails.
06:28 This process,
06:30 done each time a tuft goes to market,
06:32 doesn't hurt.
06:34 Carrie-Anne's keeping her distance.
06:50 (vacuum whirring)
06:52 (vacuum whirring)
06:54 (vacuum whirring)
06:56 (vacuum whirring)
06:58 (rires)
07:00 (vacuum whirring)
07:26 (rires)
07:28 (laughter)
07:36 (clanging)
07:38 - That's them all ready for the sale.
07:40 (music)
07:54 - They hope this group of seven
07:56 will fetch a combined price of up to £1,500.
07:58 If all goes to plan,
08:02 that money will be reinvested
08:04 in three young replacements.
08:06 - Dinner time, is it?
08:10 - I'm starving, actually.
08:12 - I'm actually really quite hungry.
08:14 - Farming is a communal family business
08:22 80% of farms are handed
08:24 from one generation to the next.
08:26 South Ayrshire.
08:36 With its mild climate and rolling hills,
08:40 it's one of the most fertile regions in Scotland.
08:42 - I'm not sure I can get through.
08:50 (music)
08:52 - Midbrochlock Farm, near Mabel,
08:54 is owned by husband and wife team,
08:56 John and Heather Barclay.
08:58 - Heather's the boss and I'm...
09:04 - I'm a nothing.
09:06 (laughter)
09:08 - I'm most certainly a mother.
09:10 - Heather's the boss and I'm the...
09:12 - No, I think... - I'm the brains.
09:14 (laughter)
09:18 - John learned the farming trade from his dad, Robert,
09:20 who died unexpectedly
09:24 just over a year ago,
09:26 leaving the family reeling.
09:30 - Me and my dad were
09:34 serious, serious close.
09:36 Probably as close as you could get, to be honest.
09:38 We worked together every day,
09:40 we were best friends, like
09:42 workmates, the day he died.
09:46 - I couldn't believe it.
09:48 Just turned 70, he was so fit,
09:50 he was still so involved.
09:52 Just a massive shock.
09:54 - Father-son closeness
09:58 continues into the next generation.
10:00 John is chief stylist at Midbrochlock's beauty salon.
10:08 (saw buzzing)
10:10 Twins Cameron and Finlay
10:16 are his assistants.
10:18 They are competing in a big winter
10:20 show later in the week.
10:22 - I'm actually sure
10:24 I'm doing that.
10:26 - We're getting all these sheep kind of tidied up
10:34 now for the live squat event
10:36 that's happening in the Atlantic Market
10:38 this weekend. It's coming out to be a
10:40 super event in the calendar.
10:42 It's one of the biggest winter shows
10:44 in Scotland.
10:46 - I like doing all the showing
10:48 and I like showing off
10:50 our sheep.
10:52 - The boys have been
10:54 competing for six years,
10:56 hoping to make their
10:58 mark in the farming community.
11:00 - You can absolutely transfer a sheep
11:04 in an hour.
11:06 An hour's work,
11:08 the transformation
11:10 is absolutely unbelievable.
11:12 - John's sculpting
11:14 a strong, square body shape.
11:16 - My dad did teach me how to do this.
11:20 I did it when I was a young age.
11:22 Me and my dad always done it together, always.
11:24 We had a kind of system going,
11:26 we did at the time.
11:28 We knew the bits that we had today, like dad would do
11:30 the back, I would do the chest, the back side
11:32 and that. I've been teaching
11:34 the twins how to do it.
11:36 - Dad's dad used to say, "If you don't make a good job
11:38 of the brushing, it'll never be right."
11:40 - With all that brushing,
11:42 she needs another trim.
11:44 - Looks a bit like a fluffy
11:46 cloud now. The objective
11:48 is to go over it again with the scissors
11:50 and shape it all
11:52 so it's nice and smooth.
11:54 (chatter)
11:56 - I'm a bit of a perfectionist
12:04 when it comes to these things.
12:06 What are we thinking, boys?
12:10 You think we'll get a job in
12:14 Vidal soon?
12:16 (laughter)
12:18 Right. Good.
12:20 - Good on.
12:22 - Every
12:24 sheep gets a pedicure.
12:26 This year, for the very
12:30 first time, they'll be entering their
12:32 fat lambs, John's new business
12:34 venture.
12:36 - Showing us your shop windows, so if you're
12:38 prone to getting a lot of tickets
12:40 and doing well at shows and that,
12:42 I think people tend to come and look at your sheep more.
12:44 Right.
12:48 Let's make you beautiful.
12:50 (chainsaw)
12:52 - The fat lambs,
12:54 thought to be fattened up for meat,
12:56 get auctioned at the event.
12:58 A winning rosette
13:00 can add to their value.
13:02 - I'm pleased with that.
13:04 It's coming out really well.
13:06 - So there's money
13:08 and professional pride at stake.
13:10 The
13:12 12-year-old twins
13:14 are also entered into the young handlers
13:16 class, up against each
13:18 other, and another
13:20 strong competitor.
13:22 Seven-year-old brother,
13:24 Archie.
13:26 - So these are my rosettes
13:28 I got at the Highland show.
13:30 The
13:32 first, I got
13:34 first, so I did.
13:36 Which was
13:38 very good. I was the best
13:40 lamb out of them all.
13:42 And then I got
13:44 on to the next round and I won
13:46 champion, a champion.
13:48 Reserve champion,
13:50 sorry.
13:52 Cameron and Finlay, they always
13:54 beat me because
13:56 Dad always helps him with
13:58 their sheep.
14:00 They've got some good
14:02 sheep to show
14:04 for me, but I think
14:06 I might win.
14:08 - Archie joins the makeover team
14:12 just in time to oversee
14:14 the progress on his show lamb.
14:16 - This is
14:18 my young lamb
14:20 which I've showed in the past
14:22 few years.
14:24 We'll just need to wait
14:26 and see what the job thinks
14:28 on the day.
14:30 - How good would that be if I've got three of them
14:32 working my shears? Then I could
14:34 just retire.
14:36 What do you think, Archie?
14:38 - Beautiful.
14:40 - You have a beautiful lamb.
14:42 - Thank you.
14:44 - The winter show
14:50 takes place in five days' time.
14:52 May the
14:54 best lamb and the best
14:56 brother win.
14:58 - That's
15:00 a good morning's work, boys.
15:02 Very
15:04 good morning's work.
15:06 (music)
15:08 Livestock farmers employ
15:18 strategy and skill to breed
15:20 desirable, inherited
15:22 characteristics into their animals.
15:24 (sheep bleating)
15:26 Such as
15:28 hardiness and ease of birthing.
15:30 To improve flock genetics,
15:34 farmers will pay a premium
15:36 for new breeding stock.
15:38 It's the morning
15:48 of the Fort William Ram auction.
15:50 Islanders
15:52 Fraser and Carrianne
15:54 are here both to sell and to buy.
15:56 But their tucks are in one of the
16:02 last lots today,
16:04 so they'll have to bid on the new stock
16:06 before the old is sold.
16:08 - We're sort of looking
16:10 for ones with a good coat
16:12 and
16:14 the type of head that we like,
16:16 a nice wide stance.
16:18 - He wants a couple of young boys
16:20 and one established tuck.
16:22 - We're running a bit short on time, so we've just got to get
16:24 a bit of a glance around to see
16:26 what's coming through.
16:28 - To improve the overall quality of the flock,
16:30 they want a tuck that's
16:32 strong but easy to handle.
16:34 With a good lineage,
16:36 they'll need to agree on who they
16:38 like the look of.
16:40 - It is a joint effort, because
16:42 it's our joint money, I suppose.
16:44 - You definitely, you've got more of an eye
16:46 than I do. I would say.
16:48 - Yeah, we do. We normally agree on which ones
16:50 we want, to be honest.
16:52 We don't like them overly woolly.
16:58 They say that the tighter fleece
17:00 helps deflect the rain off the
17:02 animal's back, so they stay warmer
17:04 on the cold, wet days.
17:06 It takes a good few generations of tucks
17:08 to get the overall quality up on the flock.
17:10 - Good fleece on him, too.
17:14 - It's a nice one in the middle there.
17:18 - I had it.
17:20 - He's an 82,000.
17:22 - They're all nice, right?
17:24 - Yeah, they're all good.
17:26 - We're late on in the catalogue,
17:28 so we're kind of more worried about
17:30 what we're buying just now, and then we can
17:32 worry about selling after that.
17:34 - I think I've got three so far.
17:36 But that's only just three that we've
17:38 sort of paid. It doesn't mean we won't
17:40 spot something that's in the ring.
17:42 There are over 500 tucks here.
17:46 Some will sell for thousands,
17:48 others for a few hundred,
17:50 depending on looks and pedigree.
17:52 - I think the first one we're looking at
17:54 is lot number 71. I think we're on 48 or something.
17:56 - Yeah, but we might take one earlier than that.
17:58 - They've agreed on a couple of tucks
18:00 they both like.
18:02 This isn't one of them.
18:04 That isn't stopping Fraser.
18:06 - I'm going to get a little bit of a
18:08 bit of a look at the tucks.
18:10 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:12 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:14 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:16 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:18 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:20 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:22 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:24 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:26 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:28 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:30 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:32 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:34 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:36 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:38 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:40 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:42 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:44 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:46 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:48 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:50 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:52 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:54 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:56 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
18:58 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:00 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:02 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:04 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:06 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:08 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:10 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:12 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:14 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:16 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:18 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:20 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:22 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:24 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:26 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:28 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:30 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:32 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:34 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:36 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:38 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:40 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:42 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:44 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:46 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:48 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:50 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:52 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:54 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:56 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
19:58 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:00 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:02 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:04 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:06 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:08 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:10 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:12 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:14 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:16 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:18 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:20 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:22 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:24 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:26 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:28 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:30 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:32 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:34 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:36 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:38 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:40 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:42 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:44 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:46 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:48 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:50 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:52 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:54 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:56 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
20:58 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:00 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:02 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:04 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:06 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:08 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:10 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:12 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:14 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:16 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:18 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:20 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:22 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:24 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:26 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:28 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:30 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:32 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:34 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:36 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:38 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:40 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:42 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:44 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:46 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:48 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:50 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:52 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:54 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:56 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
21:58 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
22:00 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
22:02 - I'm going to get a look at the tucks.
22:04 - I think you made a good choice.
22:06 - I hate to admit it, but I think you were right.
22:08 - I'm normally right.
22:10 - No divorce today.
22:12 The other tuck, the one they both liked,
22:16 comes from an impeccable bloodline.
22:18 - He's out of a tuck that sold for 200,000.
22:22 - So we only bought him for 500.
22:24 - So I think we might have got the better deal.
22:26 The new tucks might have all the breeding,
22:28 but the real test comes next week,
22:30 when they'll be introduced to the latest breed.
22:32 - One, two, three!
22:34 (soft music)
22:40 Building up and improving your stock takes decades.
22:42 Starting a farm from scratch takes courage and dedication.
22:48 Ten miles from the Murray Firth in northeast Scotland
22:54 lies Thorabella Farm.
23:00 - She's a bit bigger.
23:02 - Is that good?
23:04 - When Nicky and Olly Lake
23:06 took on this small holding five years ago...
23:08 - Ready? Come on, Babs.
23:10 Come on. Come on.
23:12 - ...it wasn't just a dream of self-sufficient living
23:16 they fell for.
23:18 - So when we bought the farm,
23:20 there was ruins up on the hill,
23:22 and we just absolutely love the view up here.
23:24 We've got a brilliant view of the Murray Firth.
23:26 Olly's always wanted to build his own house,
23:28 so, yeah, that's what we did.
23:30 - Their self-built straw bale farmhouse
23:32 was finished two and a half years ago.
23:34 - A house that we could live in
23:36 until we retire, basically.
23:38 You know, we don't have to worry and...
23:40 - Once retired.
23:42 - I was going to say 50 years' time,
23:44 but I don't think I'll make it to that.
23:46 (laughing)
23:48 (chainsaw buzzing)
23:50 - Now a new building project
23:54 is underway.
23:56 A diversification scheme
23:58 to help their long-term finances.
24:00 - So the glamping pods,
24:02 they're getting on really well.
24:04 I mean, we've done all the drainage,
24:06 the septic tank's in,
24:08 run all, like, electric cables,
24:10 stuff like that.
24:12 - They're building three eco-friendly
24:14 straw bale pods,
24:16 a similar structure to the house.
24:18 The self-contained units
24:20 will be rented out
24:22 for farmstays and other homes.
24:24 (chainsaw buzzing)
24:26 - So the reason for building the glamping pods
24:28 is just to get enough income
24:30 into the farm to diversify,
24:32 make the farm more sustainable
24:34 so I can then go on to job share
24:36 at work, basically working part-time
24:38 so I can spend more time on the farm.
24:40 (chainsaw buzzing)
24:42 - For now, Oli's still working
24:46 full-time at a maltings.
24:48 (chainsaw buzzing)
24:50 Straw bale house building
24:52 is quite a skill.
24:54 - So just get a little bit,
24:56 say, pop a little bit there
24:58 and then just spread up, kind of thing.
25:00 - With the main structures up,
25:02 they're applying lime to the walls.
25:04 - Using this part,
25:06 kind of going up.
25:08 - With help from friends
25:10 and neighbours like Susan.
25:12 - It's a shame for people that actually want
25:16 to do this type of living,
25:18 and it's not made more readily available.
25:20 So me and Nicky were very lucky
25:22 to get into this lifestyle.
25:24 - Having small holdings, and you know,
25:26 we're in food crisis kind of times as well,
25:28 and this is the perfect answer,
25:30 have small local farms again
25:32 where people grow their own
25:34 and produce their own meat
25:36 and supply that to their local areas
25:38 and it's a win-win.
25:40 - Oli gets more and more impatient.
25:48 He wants to be on the farm more.
25:50 I can potter along with some things,
25:52 but he is definitely the builder
25:54 out of the two of us.
25:56 So it means that we do have to wait
25:58 for him being off shift
26:00 so we can do a lot of things.
26:02 - Their target?
26:06 Pod one finished by Christmas
26:08 and all three ready for summer let's.
26:10 (music)
26:12 (music)
26:16 In South Ayrshire, on the Barkley family farm,
26:26 it's the day of the Lanark winter show.
26:28 All the competitors,
26:34 some with four legs
26:36 and some with two,
26:38 are getting ready to look their best.
26:40 - Good boy.
26:46 (laughs)
26:48 - Come on, it's not me.
26:50 - Let's go, let's go.
26:52 Driving goggles on, Tim.
26:58 Don't forget them.
27:00 - The winter show is a big communal event
27:06 in the farming calendar,
27:08 attracting hundreds of entrants
27:10 from all over Scotland.
27:12 Day one is for pedigrees.
27:16 Day two,
27:18 it's commercial breeds,
27:20 including fat lambs.
27:22 Today,
27:26 it's the Barkley's chance to cement
27:28 their reputation as producers
27:30 of fine, Beltex sheep.
27:34 - We're here to take part
27:36 and if we get a prize, all the better,
27:38 but that's showing for me,
27:40 we'll just take what's going.
27:42 - I'm really looking forward to today,
27:46 so it's going to be a hard competition.
27:48 If you get a ticket,
27:50 as we say, it's a bonus.
27:52 (whistles)
27:58 - Good boy, now you're looking ready.
28:02 - John's keen to give the boys experience
28:04 in the ring,
28:06 so they'll do all the showing today.
28:08 The first round is their Beltex ewes.
28:12 - When you see them all together in the ring,
28:16 it's quite something.
28:18 It's something that not many families
28:20 manage to see or achieve.
28:22 It's nice to see them all out there and all enjoying themselves.
28:30 - Show of sheep, absolutely tremendous.
28:32 The whole class is strong.
28:34 - The rest of you can go back to the pen, thank you.
28:38 - 12-year-old Cameron
28:40 is placed fourth.
28:42 - Fourth is the Black Boys from Bid Rockwell.
28:44 - Four out of 12, we'll take that.
28:46 That was a really, really strong class.
28:50 - Next, it's the Beltex tops,
28:54 who are all fired up
28:58 with nowhere to go.
29:00 Break it up, boys.
29:14 It's quite a job to get all the living standing still.
29:24 - So it's the fun side of farming.
29:26 This is what it's all about.
29:28 - Twin brother Finlay and his top get fifth.
29:32 - Fifth this time, so it's still fine, grand.
29:36 - Very happy with what we've got tonight
29:42 and a big, strong class.
29:44 - Morning.
29:46 - It's a bit of a shame that we're not going to get
29:52 a big, strong class.
29:54 - It's all right.
29:56 - I had a show and it was fine.
29:58 - It's a really, really strong competition,
30:00 so I'm really happy.
30:02 - Time for a well-earned break.
30:04 - You come to all these events,
30:08 you'll get friends the length and breadth of the country.
30:10 - Tomorrow, it's the Fatlams,
30:12 John's new venture.
30:14 And it's brother versus brother,
30:18 as all three compete in the young handlers category.
30:20 (music)
30:22 Farming is all about numbers.
30:30 To make a living nowadays,
30:32 many are upscaling.
30:34 But for small farms,
30:40 like 40-acre Thorabella,
30:42 it makes sense to invest in smaller livestock too.
30:48 Like in their buffalo,
30:50 Nicky and Ollie keep limited numbers of small breeds.
30:52 Their latest venture
30:58 is to farm some you might not expect
31:00 to be reared for meat.
31:02 - So these guys are New Zealand rabbits,
31:06 which are a meat breed.
31:08 They've got a good bone ratio to meat.
31:10 While rabbit farming is common in Europe,
31:14 most of the 400 or so farms
31:16 that rear rabbits in the UK
31:18 are small scale.
31:20 - We've had rabbit before,
31:22 we really enjoy it.
31:24 So it's nice just having a bit of a variety on the farm.
31:26 Obviously people say, "Oh, they're so cute,
31:28 oh, how can you do it?"
31:30 But, I mean, so are sheep,
31:32 so are cows, so are everything.
31:34 It is just another food source.
31:36 It also has a low-carbon footprint,
31:38 something that's caught
31:40 the attention of a local chef.
31:44 - Chris has been taking rabbit in the hotel
31:46 and putting it on his menu,
31:48 so that's another reason why we started it in the first place.
31:50 So hopefully we'll be able to sell
31:52 some to him as well as use them for ourselves.
31:54 - In Britain,
31:58 rabbits are seen as pets, not as a food source.
32:00 I think if a lot of people were brought up
32:02 having cows as pets,
32:04 there'd be a lot less people eating them.
32:06 The big plan is to start breeding from their three does,
32:10 so the rabbits earn their keep.
32:12 But there's a problem.
32:14 They think Mick,
32:16 the young male they've just bought,
32:18 might be better named Michelle.
32:20 - Give him a wee check.
32:24 So you see,
32:26 it does stick out more.
32:28 - Sticking out a lot more today, though.
32:30 - So it is
32:32 slightly different
32:34 than the girls there.
32:36 - We're hoping we're OK.
32:40 Super wee boy, hopefully.
32:42 - In another three or four weeks,
32:44 he should start becoming sexually active.
32:46 - The start of the project
32:48 all depends on this youngster being male.
32:50 - He might be a boy,
32:52 it's just...
32:54 Yeah, we'll see.
32:56 Hopefully I'm wrong.
32:58 - A few weeks later, winter arrives.
33:08 - So we've woken up this morning,
33:10 and as forecast, there's snow.
33:12 - Along with two new bucks.
33:14 It turns out
33:16 Olly's suspicions were right.
33:18 Mick is indeed a female.
33:20 - These guys are
33:22 our new boys
33:24 who we are off to pop in
33:26 with our New Zealand girls.
33:28 These are French lop rabbits.
33:30 And, yeah,
33:32 we're going to go introduce them now
33:34 and see how they get on.
33:36 - They're giant French lop ears,
33:38 so as you can see there,
33:40 they're very big.
33:42 And now they'll go in with the girls
33:44 and see how they settle.
33:46 Super exciting, because hopefully
33:52 we've got some two definite boys here now
33:54 that we can start breeding.
33:56 Here we are, a boy and a girl.
33:58 - OK, so we've got our first
34:04 French lop rabbit.
34:06 - I think he's actually trying to do the deed
34:08 already, to be honest.
34:10 - I'm super chuffed, and I'm
34:16 hoping to have
34:18 cute wee fluffy kids soon.
34:20 He's maybe got it
34:22 the wrong way round!
34:24 - It might be cold and wintry outside,
34:28 but it looks like things are heating up
34:30 in the rabbit enclosure.
34:32 (music)
34:34 - 150 miles west,
34:44 in North Uist,
34:46 breeding is on the cards too.
34:48 The new tufts
34:50 Fraser and Carrie Ambott in Fort William
34:52 have been on the croft for three days.
34:54 Their work is about to begin.
35:00 But first they need to bring in
35:02 the ewes for sorting into
35:04 breeding groups.
35:06 - We've got about 100 in the field
35:10 up the road there, it's about a 100 acre field.
35:12 So we're just going to
35:14 get them.
35:16 - Fraser's assistant today is Queenie,
35:18 a trainee.
35:20 His only fully fit experienced
35:22 sheepdog is laid up with puppies.
35:24 - It'll be Queenie's first time
35:26 doing a gather like this.
35:28 It's a big ask of the little pup.
35:30 It's only had a week's work, but we'll give it a go.
35:32 - Lie down.
35:36 Queenie, lie down.
35:38 - Eight-month-old Queenie
35:46 is still learning basic commands.
35:48 Steady means slow down.
35:56 - Lie down there.
35:58 - Lie down should mean stop.
36:00 - Queenie, lie down.
36:02 Queenie, Queenie, that'll do.
36:04 Queenie!
36:06 Queenie, that'll do.
36:08 Queenie, lie down.
36:10 Queenie!
36:12 Do as you're told. Here, heel.
36:14 Queenie, get up.
36:16 Queenie.
36:18 - She's only eight months old and she's had very little training,
36:20 so she's doing very well, but
36:22 it's no comparison to having a dog that's fully trained.
36:24 - We're getting there.
36:26 - Lie down.
36:28 - Yeah, she just sneaks off.
36:30 She thinks I can't see her.
36:32 She's very good at heeling.
36:34 There's no sheep around.
36:36 - Queenie, lie down.
36:40 - Minnie's sheep gather
36:42 accomplished.
36:44 - The pup did well overall.
36:46 Her voice is a little bit sore.
36:48 (Cow moos)
36:50 - Back at home,
37:00 Kariane is looking after the newest
37:02 generation of farm dogs.
37:04 - We're going to wash
37:08 some puppies. We've got some very stinky puppies
37:10 this morning, so
37:12 they're going to have a lovely morning bath.
37:14 (Laughs)
37:16 (Water splashes)
37:18 - Eh,
37:20 get up.
37:22 (Laughs)
37:24 - Their mum, Nan,
37:26 gave birth six weeks ago.
37:28 - It's been a lot of fun.
37:30 I actually thought it was going to be really chaotic,
37:32 but
37:34 they were actually, they were fine.
37:36 - You next.
37:38 - Queenie needs a team mate,
37:44 so she's chosen one to keep and train up.
37:46 - So this is our one.
37:50 - Named Spot, he'll be expected
37:52 to work with both the sheep and the cows.
37:54 - Mr. Spot,
37:56 you needed a head wash
37:58 well and truly the last time you were stinky.
38:00 He looks quite strong.
38:02 He's quite
38:04 ballsy. He's definitely,
38:06 I would say he's the boss out of all of them.
38:08 But he doesn't seem like
38:10 he's too much.
38:12 - You put your nose under there.
38:14 Oh, you're drinking it.
38:16 It's a good job that's filtered water.
38:18 (Laughs)
38:20 - Full training can take up to
38:28 two years.
38:30 - There we go.
38:32 Go on, get in your bed. Bed.
38:34 - Carrie-Anne lost her previous
38:38 dog, Jem, while out working
38:40 with sheep earlier in the year.
38:42 It's something she's struggled to come to
38:44 terms with.
38:46 - 2022 was quite a tough year.
38:52 Obviously we're losing Jem
38:54 back in March.
38:56 So having these little puppies, it's been
39:00 a lot of fun. And they're very good
39:02 for the soul.
39:04 I think if you're ever having a bad day,
39:06 puppy cuddles is always going to fix it.
39:08 - Oh yes, everybody pile in.
39:10 Group hug.
39:12 - Nan has brought four valuable
39:16 working dogs into the world.
39:18 Dogs can go into season and breed at any time
39:24 of the year.
39:26 For sheep, it's the seasons that dictate
39:30 when breeding can begin.
39:32 As the daylight hours get shorter in autumn,
39:36 a gland in the ewes' brain
39:38 triggers hormonal changes,
39:40 making them ready for mating.
39:44 And with sheep, it's all
39:48 in the breeding.
39:50 It's day two of the winter show in Lannert.
40:04 The Barclays are hoping their fat lambs,
40:06 John's new venture into fattening
40:08 for meat rather than breeding,
40:10 will do the family proud.
40:12 Today is a good chance to learn the ropes
40:18 and size up the competition.
40:20 - Fat lamb cider.
40:24 Showing is completely new to us.
40:26 We've never been this afforded.
40:28 I knew this would be a learning curve
40:32 for us today.
40:34 And it is. We arrived in this morning
40:36 and everybody's dressing all their lambs again
40:38 and that's why we started
40:40 doing these ones.
40:42 Right boys, I'll finish this.
40:48 Go with your mum and get
40:50 kitted out.
40:52 - We're just wee amateurs amongst the professionals.
40:56 So if the boys happen to get a ticket
40:58 of any sort, then it usually does help
41:00 to sell them when it comes to later on.
41:02 But first, it's time for brotherly loyalty
41:08 to be forgotten.
41:10 It's the young handlers' class.
41:12 Finlay and Cameron
41:16 and young Archie are in contention.
41:28 The boys always look forward to young handlers.
41:30 It's a good competition for them to be in amongst it.
41:32 But when you win, if you lose, you lose.
41:34 It's the same part.
41:36 Because it is a very stiff competition when it comes to
41:38 young handlers. Serious stuff.
41:40 It's showtime.
41:46 40 kilos of you can be a handful
41:52 when you're only seven.
41:54 That's how we man you, I don't.
41:56 I think you've got him to you.
41:58 They need to demonstrate
42:02 handling skills and good knowledge.
42:04 So tell me about him.
42:08 - Well, I'm off a
42:10 Glenport Dynamite tyre.
42:12 - Tell me about the lamp.
42:14 - It's a Biltex U-lamp, yep.
42:16 Same wee bread as his.
42:22 Cameron's caught the judges' attention.
42:24 - Is Cameron Buckley?
42:26 - No, he's not.
42:28 - Archie might be in the running too.
42:30 - Cameron's shaking.
42:38 - He's fresh-faced.
42:40 - Finlay's six-inch.
42:42 - We're not in common.
42:44 - Yes.
42:46 - I like how they did.
42:56 They made us proud.
42:58 - I'm quite happy with that.
43:00 At least I get a reset.
43:02 - You beat Finlay.
43:04 All those handling skills
43:10 come in useful for the crucial
43:12 round.
43:14 Finlay and Cameron are in the show ring.
43:16 - I've got a draw up, so that's good.
43:22 - Any success here
43:24 will add to the sale value of the lambs
43:26 in the auction that follows.
43:28 Winning third place for the
43:40 Barclay farm is a great result.
43:42 - They'll be happy too.
43:46 - Absolutely delighted.
43:48 The chance to build reputations
43:54 in the show ring is over.
43:56 Now it's about hard cash.
43:58 Time to see how their
44:02 fat lambs fare in the auction.
44:04 - Fat lambs, these
44:06 lambs at 40-odd kilos could be
44:08 100 or 120 pounds, like dead.
44:10 I don't know.
44:12 We'll wait and see.
44:14 Anything above 100
44:16 is a respectable price.
44:18 The first two go for
44:24 182 pounds each.
44:26 Well up on expectations.
44:36 And the rosette-winning
44:38 lambs makes a spectacular
44:40 300 each.
44:42 They might be newcomers,
44:56 but they're doing something right.
44:58 - Absolutely delighted.
45:00 - That last pair there,
45:02 absolutely great.
45:04 I am the same opinion as him,
45:06 absolutely delighted.
45:08 There's nothing else we can say.
45:10 Today's been a big vote of confidence
45:14 for the new fat lamb business.
45:16 It's tough to make farming pay
45:26 in these changeable times.
45:28 As many as 20%
45:32 of British farmers are predicted
45:34 to leave the industry over the next decade.
45:36 Staying afloat can mean
45:40 thinking outside the box.
45:42 Travelling home from a weekend in York,
45:52 Nicky's journey
45:54 has been diverted
45:56 so she can pick up some new arrivals.
45:58 Oli bought the wallabies online,
46:14 which is where he's also been finding out
46:16 how to look after them.
46:18 - So we have looked up
46:20 what type of enclosure they need.
46:22 They're only about a foot tall,
46:24 but they can jump.
46:26 So we've had to put deer fencing
46:28 in with a small
46:30 mesh wire so they can't get through.
46:32 Because the last thing we want to do is
46:34 have wallabies escape. I don't want to be
46:36 the man that introduced
46:38 a thousand wallabies to Murray
46:40 once they start breeding.
46:42 We got them as a tourist attraction
46:46 for the pods.
46:48 People wake up in the morning,
46:50 look out their window and they can see a wallaby
46:52 running around in the field behind them, sort of thing.
46:54 So that was the main reason to get them
46:56 and just because, well,
46:58 they're cool.
47:00 Nicky has picked up three Parma wallabies.
47:06 - They travelled really well
47:12 and we've got a male and two females.
47:14 So this is their new enclosure.
47:16 It's a good set up for them.
47:20 So, hopefully they'll be super happy
47:22 and they'll settle in nice and quickly.
47:24 They'll probably just go and hide,
47:26 but that's okay.
47:28 The smallest of their species,
47:34 Parma wallabies can jump up to three metres.
47:36 - Aren't they so cute?
47:38 - Aren't they so cute?
47:40 But Nicky is unconvinced.
47:50 - It was definitely not
48:00 on the plan about having wallabies.
48:02 I always said to Oli,
48:04 the point in us having the farm
48:06 is more to be self-sustainable
48:08 for us for meat.
48:10 Hence why we have the buffalo,
48:12 the rabbits,
48:14 the sheep, the pigs.
48:16 It's all stuff that we can process
48:18 for ourselves.
48:20 I've always kind of been a great believer,
48:24 except for the dogs,
48:26 to have animals here that we can use
48:28 in some way, shape or form.
48:34 Wallabies, like kangaroos,
48:36 are marsupials who carry and suckle
48:38 their young in a pouch.
48:40 Oli's bought two females and a younger male.
48:44 So they were 1,600 a pair.
48:48 The females are more expensive than the males.
48:52 They're about 1,000, 1,100
48:54 and the males are about 500,
48:56 500, 600.
48:58 They're definitely not a cheap investment.
49:00 Oli has form when it comes to
49:02 impetuous animal purchases.
49:04 I feel like he's mildly got carried away
49:08 with the wallabies,
49:10 but at the same time I do agree.
49:12 They'll be a nice attraction to the glamping pods
49:14 and stuff, even if I am a bit sceptical
49:16 about them.
49:18 I have not got carried away.
49:20 I never get carried away.
49:22 It's all a strategic plan.
49:28 They think the two females are pregnant,
49:30 so there should be baby joeys
49:32 in pouches soon
49:34 to delight their farm visitors.
49:36 That's assuming Oli gets the glamping pods
49:42 finished on time.
49:44 In the outer Hebrides,
49:46 it's two weeks since the newly bought tups
49:48 were put out to start breeding.
49:50 The young ones are still in the process
49:54 of being bred.
49:56 They're still in the process of being bred.
49:58 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:00 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:02 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:04 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:06 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:08 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:10 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:12 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:14 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:16 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:18 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:20 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:22 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:24 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:26 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:28 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:30 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:32 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:34 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:36 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:38 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:40 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:42 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:44 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:46 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:48 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:50 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:52 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:54 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:56 They're still in the process of being bred.
50:58 They're still in the process of being bred.
51:00 They're still in the process of being bred.
51:02 They're still in the process of being bred.
51:04 They're still in the process of being bred.
51:06 They're still in the process of being bred.
51:08 They've never actually had a tuplet.
51:10 They've never actually wanted to jump the sheep before.
51:12 That's the new one.
51:14 We'll just have to wait and see if Maty figures out what he was bred for.
51:18 There we go. Good stuff.
51:20 She needs to establish once and for all if he's getting down to any business.
51:26 Perfect.
51:28 Now, please do not jump out.
51:30 It's rattle and we mix it with oil.
51:36 It sort of sticks into the wool and doesn't get washed off by the rain.
51:40 As to what my next plan is and how I'm going to actually get it on him,
51:43 that's a very good question.
51:45 The rattle goes on the tup's chest to show which females have been mounted.
51:50 Don't you even think about it.
51:54 It means Carrie-Anne, the reluctant shepherd, has to get up close and personal.
52:03 I don't like having my head that close to blackie horns.
52:06 I'll try and do it from the other side now.
52:10 I can.
52:12 I want the other side of you, bud.
52:15 Thank you.
52:18 That was the shunt.
52:21 Down his belly.
52:24 I think that's probably you.
52:31 Not bad, if I do say so myself.
52:33 For not really being able to see what I was doing.
52:36 It's the last chance saloon for the timid celibate tup.
52:42 He's a lovely looking beast, but I guess if he's not doing the job that he was bred for,
52:48 then there's not really much else to do with him.
52:52 [Engine noise]
52:54 Carrie-Anne wants to bring this group up close, so the tup can join them.
53:10 That assumes trainee sheepdog Queenie does her bit.
53:16 Steady, steady, lie down.
53:19 Lie down, steady.
53:21 The other new tup is with this group.
53:23 He has a yellow rattle in his chest.
53:27 He's clearly been hard at work.
53:30 Lie down.
53:32 Steady, lie down.
53:35 Lie down!
53:36 Come back!
53:40 Lie down.
53:45 Stay there.
53:46 Stay there.
53:47 Time for the timid tup to join and prove his value.
53:53 Lie down.
53:55 Lie down!
53:56 Lie down.
53:57 Lie down.
54:01 At least he's with them, that's a start.
54:04 Funnily enough, he's actually with the other tup.
54:08 Go on, get up.
54:10 Up there, get up.
54:14 Get up.
54:15 Right, good girl.
54:17 Let's hope the new tup,
54:21 Hey, Queenie, get up!
54:23 Up!
54:25 like new trainee Queenie,
54:26 quickly starts learning on the job.
54:29 In South Ayrshire, with its temperate climate,
54:40 the Barclays tup and lamb much earlier than they do in Uist.
54:44 Their small flock of pedigree suffolks,
54:46 John's dad's favourite breed,
54:48 still play a vital role alongside the new fat lamb business.
54:53 It's five days since the winter show,
55:01 and today they're finding out if their suffolk tups have earned their keep.
55:05 Set up!
55:09 Scanner options are available.
55:12 Scanner opt Duncan Kennedy is pregnancy testing their 60 ewes.
55:16 I would really like a 100% all-in lamb,
55:20 but let's not be too confident with that one.
55:24 If we don't have lambs on the ground at lambing time,
55:28 we have major problems.
55:29 It is all money at the end of the day.
55:31 Get a bit 60 to scan the day, Duncan.
55:34 OK, I will.
55:35 Aye.
55:42 Single, yeah, a single, yeah.
55:44 Aye, that's a wee shoddy, you.
55:48 Get a lamb down, you can see two bodies there, one here, one here.
55:52 Through, through, through.
55:53 The three boys are keen to keep the suffolk flock going,
55:57 so there's a lot riding on today's results.
56:00 In sheep, we're quite like twins, because they have two teats,
56:04 and they're more than capable of rearing two lambs in the same shed.
56:10 The lambs in the suffolks, we're quite like a big, strong single,
56:14 because when you get a big, strong single,
56:16 they're always a big, strong lamb, right through to the ear.
56:20 Give me a shot, give me a shot.
56:24 Twins and that one.
56:27 One older ewe was much prized by John's dad.
56:34 This ewe's a 2000, 2016 ewe, so she's six-year-old.
56:39 I kept her for sentiment value, because she was my dad's favourite ewe.
56:43 That's looking well, it's selling the first turn.
56:48 Age six, she's still earning her place on the farm.
56:53 We'll scan 56 sheep, with one daughtering lamb, 24 singles, 26 twins and five triplets.
57:06 Five!
57:07 Line up, you're right, yeah, that's it.
57:09 That completes the best ever Suffolk scanning at Mid Broughtal.
57:14 Ever.
57:15 Right, concur.
57:19 There's the sheet there.
57:21 24 singles, 26 twins, five triplets.
57:26 Tremendous.
57:28 It's absolutely unbelievable.
57:30 Never had a scan like it, never.
57:35 That's 91 Suffolk lambs due in early January.
57:39 My dad, he would be awfully pleased to be able to see a baby with that scan.
57:44 But without Grandad around to help, it's going to be all hands to the pumps.
57:50 Next time, winter arrives in earnest.
58:02 We have no war.
58:04 Wreaking havoc in South Ayrshire.
58:06 It's going to be one of these days.
58:08 And creating freezing conditions for Robert's pregnant cows.
58:11 You think you're going to get all your work done and then this happens.
58:14 But for the family at Thorabella, the snow brings extra perks.
58:22 Yes, I did it!
58:26 [Music]
58:54 Sous-titres réalisés para la communauté d'Amara.org