Report on the Sheep Management Day

held at Beer Mill Farm on May 24th 2003

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This Sheep Day covered the practical aspects of sheep keeping. From transport and containment to foot trimming, ear tagging and the many other tasks essential to sheep keeping. including dealing with the scourge of all sheep keepers: Fly Strike.

As with previous meetings, participants had travelled from all over the country. Some having rather frustrating journies due to heavy Bank Holiday traffic.

The first session covered some essential points about the purchase and use of trailers with both the legal responsibilites and the need to maintain and drive them with due care. How many people have carry not only a spare wheel but also the correct wheel spanner? There followed a short session on how to move sheep in a field and into a handling system. The message was 'sheep are not stupid, just cautious. Learn to think as they do and moving them is a lot easier'.

After an overview on fencing and containment the sessions moved on to items such as using a vet correctly. 'Don't just pay the bill. Listen and learn'. There then followed, sessions on Dagging, Foot Trimming, Injections, Worming and Ear Tagging. There was much interest in how to handle and turn a sheep correctly. The final practical session covered in detail how to recognise and treat that scourge of sheep keepers in the summer and Autumn, 'Fly Strike'.

The day ended with a discussion on equipment we have found essential/useful or not so useful.

At the end of the day a specially printed booklet was given to everyone attending.