Flockmasters up and down the country are hoping it’ll be third time lucky for the National Sheep Association’s flagsheep event in Scotland, Scotsheep which has been postponed until 2022, and so too are host farmers, Robert and Hazel McNee, who are already gearing up for what they believe will be their year.

Already postponed from its 2020 date, it was due to be staged next week on May 27 and has of course been rescheduled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Organisers are however confident that it will go ahead next year on Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

“We are hoping that it will be a case of third time lucky for Scotsheep, as it’s something that has been at the back of our minds all winter since the event was cancelled last year,” said Robert.

“We have been gearing up for this event for almost two years now and every aspect of farm management has revolved around being prepared for the big day, so for it to be re-scheduled again until next year is disappointing.”

One specific aspect that is playing on the McNees minds is this year’s crop rotation, with a reseeded 14-acre field of grass located close to the steading having to remain in grass and isolated until the event has passed.

“A month before the event, we have to isolate two fields for use as car parks, marquees and trade stands. In a normal year, these fields would be sown for feed barley so it has been difficult to re-think our crop rotation plans which we had in place two years ago,” he added.

The McNees enjoyed a successful scanning with their 1100-ewe flock, producing similar results to 2020 with ewe hoggs at 140%, Blackface ewes at 198%, Blackface gimmers 155%, Cheviot ewes 182% and Cheviot gimmers scanning at 148%.

“Our lambing percentages were on par with what we would be looking to achieve in a normal year, however, the Blackies scanned with too many, which has resulted in an abundance of triplets. It’s not a problem but more of an inconvenience, especially with the lack of grass this spring,” Robert stated.

Lambing kicked off on April 15 this year but with the farm situated at 800ft above sea-level and rising to 1150ft, the cold weather has taken its toll. The earlier starting date does seem to have benefitted the condition of the ewes and actual lambing has been fine.

“We usually fall victim to the cold weather – it’s not abnormal to witness snow most mornings here and the past two weeks have proved difficult weather wise. Feed costs have gone up a fair bit too this year and we’ve needed extra feed with the lack of grass,” he commented.

“We have had one or two sheep which scanned in lamb but re-absorbed due to the cold weather that lasted from January through to April. We feed our sheep out of trailer silage six weeks prior to lambing but the snow we experienced over the winter made it difficult transporting feed a lot of the time.

“About 1% of the flock re-absorbed this year, however, following blood testing and ruling our any major issues to cause abortion, we have put it down to stress during the harsh winter,” said Robert.

“On the whole, the sheep have lambed really well as the ewes were leaner and therefore easier lambed. In years gone by, the Cheviot ewes have almost been too fit as it’s hard to keep ewes lean in May, which can sometimes create issues in itself. We have been feeding them well and they have lambed well because of their condition.

“We are hopeful that after next year’s Scotsheep event, we can return to our normal lambing season in May as it allows grass to get established in plenty of time for the sheep. We have been short of grass this spring, which means we are having to buy in extra concentrates just to keep the sheep in good condition until the warm weather comes and we can see some growth in the grass,” explained Robert.

With a view to ensuring ewes are kept in the best of health on the run up to the NSA event, the McNees have been trialling a new vaccine to help control mastitis in ewes which can be an issue with Over Finlarg’s cold climate.

“We do experience the odd bit of mastitis but, unlike last year, we seem to be on top of the issue,” said Robert. “However, we are currently actively vaccinating our Texel gimmers, as they seem to fall victim to mastitis most.

“We are lucky to have a vet stay in the farm cottage and he was very keen to trial the mastitis vaccine and, touch wood, the Texels have been okay so far. Looking to the future, we would only look to vaccinate the Texels when the vaccine is so expensive.”

Unfortunately, the McNees have also witnessed a healthy predator population, with foxes, sea eagles and badgers all causing problems.

“We are the only sheep farm in the area so we do lose a few lambs to predators.

We are lucky enough though to have fox control on the neighbouring estate and so far this year, they have shot 153 foxes, which definitely helps our mortality rates,” commented Robert.

Despite the continued cold weather and lack of available grazing, the first of the cows and calves have been turned outside, albeit with additional silage.

With a new proposed date now in the diary for the NSA Scotland event, Robert

and his family are looking to ensure they are prepared for one of the biggest sheep events in the calendar.

“I think we are on track for Scotsheep next year. The biggest issue is getting tidied up for it in time so its going to be a fair challenge

but one that we are all

looking forward to. I have asked for a lot of advice from past hosts and they all say the same thing: “Start getting ready as it comes around quicker than you can imagine!

“We do hope that 2022 will be our year and are really looking forward to welcoming farmers from all corners of the country to our farm.”

FARMfacts:

  • Robert and Hazel McNee farm at Over Finlarg, near Tealing, Dundee, comprising 740 acres and 40 acres of seasonal rented grazing.
  • Commercial sheep: A closed flock with only home-bred replacements used for breeding and tups and bulls bought in. In total, the flock sits at 1100 head comprising 600 Lairg hill-type North Country Cheviot ewes of which 200 are bred pure and the remaining crossed to the Bluefaced Leicester for producing Cheviot Mules. Also present are 200 Blackface ewes crossed to home-bred crossing-type Bluefaced Leicesters to produce Scotch Mules, which are then tupped to Texel rams and sold as hoggs with lambs at foot.
  • Pedigree sheep: 100 pure Texels and pedigree Bluefaced Leicesters for breeding tups.
  • Cattle: 180 pedigree cows, including 100 Luings, 60 Limousins, 12 Simmentals and eight Charolais.