Home > Breeding Animals > Working on a Sheep Farm

Working on a Sheep Farm

By: Margaret Paxton - Updated: 22 Apr 2021 | comments*Discuss
 
Sheep Farm Working Ewes Lambsshepherd

With 47 years experience of working on sheep farms, Terry Wigmore certainly knows a thing or two about sheep!The grandson of a traditional shepherd, Terry’s professional shepherding career began when he left school aged 15.

Terry did four years of general farm training but had spent much of his youth helping at a local farm during the busiest periods of lambing and shearing and knew that he wanted to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps.

“It was usual for a shepherd to care for flocks of around 200 sheep at this time, so when I started a job as under-shepherd for 1000 sheep, a friend said I wouldn’t cope.”

Terry did more than cope; he later became Head Shepherd of 1200 sheep with a lambing success rate of 193% (in 28 days!) and set up a flock of 1000 at Blenheim Palace. His success prompted entry to ‘Shepherd of the Year’ competition in which he drew first.Working on a sheep farm is an all-year-round position that includes all weathers and all jobs.

Daily Routine (during lambing season of March/April)

06:30 am Lambs that have been born overnight are brought in to pens with their mothers. Interestingly, lambs are usually born before midnight or after 05:00 as the ewes give birth on a rising tide.
07:30 am First bottle feeds are given to lambs not fed by their mothers-this is repeated at four- hourly intervals.
08:30 am First concentrate feed is given where appropriate.

Mucking out the lambing sheds or pens, topping up hay racks and providing fresh drinking water are all part of the daily routine. The majority of lambs are castrated, ear-tagged and tail-docked before they are one week old. Imagine all these jobs when a flock of 1000 ewes give birth-within a few days of each other-some with multiple births...

Newborn lambs are penned with their mothers so that each family group has its own space in which to bond. Terry then moves them to ‘mothering pens’ with other similar groups to encourage the lamb/ewe recognition in a crowd; this is vital for the lambs’ survival. These groups are kept in mothering pens for about a week before being moved into nearby fields.

17:30 Further feed of concentrates
19:30 Terry goes home for his own feed! He then carries out the necessary administration tasks.
22:00 Final bottle feed of the day is given, any more newborns are brought in with their mothers and all the penned animals are checked that they are secure from predators, have sufficient water and hay, show no signs of illness, stress or injury and are tucked up in bed, safe and sound for the night (no doubt counting people as they doze off...)
During lambing time, Terry finishes between 23:00 and 01:00 depending on the situation.

Seasonal Jobs

On top of all the daily and weekly husbandry chores, there are different seasonal tasks to be carried out, too. These include worming, providing blue-tongue vaccinations and protection against blow-fly, along with veterinary footbaths that help prevent foot-rot. Then there are the time-consuming piles of paperwork to be done too...

During August the lambs are weaned from their mothers.
Sheep Shearing -one of the two busiest times of year on sheep farms.
Autumn Sales-selected animals are bought and sold at market.
September/October-Flushing takes place. Ewes are moved to rich pasture about two weeks before being mated as the quality of grazing influences fertility. During flushing ewes gain weight and are therefore more likely to maintain top condition throughout gestation.
October/November-Tupping takes place (when the ram, or ‘tup’ as it is referred to, is turned out with ewes to mate.)
The ewes’ five-month pregnancy leads back into March and the whole cycle starts again.

To help dispel the myth that sheep are stupid creatures, Terry told me about one of his sponsored lambs. “When she was with her mother in the pen closest to the car park, this lamb recognised the sound of her sponsor’s car engine as it approached and would leap about bleating with excitement. Now she’s older she’s further away on the farm but always knows when her sponsor is here and reacts like an over-excited child at the thought of all those treats and more devoted attention!”

Apparently, sheep can recognise up to 50 human faces and remember them for as long as two years. Terry should know; with 55 different types of sheep thriving there, his sheep centre has the largest collection of sheep breeds in the world and is a big hit with the public.

Business Energy With a Difference

If you are looking for business energy or need advanced solutions like remote energy monitoring, new supplies, downgrading or upgrading capacity, have a no obligation chat with Purely Energy.

To find our more get in touch here. or call 0161 521 3400.

You might also like...
Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice..
Solicito empleo como cuidador de ovejas en una granja en Londres Entiendo muy poco ingles
elsa - 22-Apr-21 @ 1:40 PM
Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice...
Title:
(never shown)
Firstname:
(never shown)
Surname:
(never shown)
Email:
(never shown)
Nickname:
(shown)
Comment:
Validate:
Enter word:
Topics
Latest Comments
  • Fitzy
    Re: Run your own Animal Shelter
    Just read this. I was considering buying land with stables into a cat sanctuary and I didn't realise you have to approach a council…
    1 March 2025
  • Humera
    Re: Run your own Animal Shelter
    Hi guys, I see there are many of us here in the UK. Have you guys managed to set up a WhatsApp group or anything like that to stay…
    31 January 2025
  • Han
    Re: Run your own Animal Shelter
    Hi all, I currently manage a children's home and love it but I have always wanted to care for animals. Can anyone help me to learn…
    18 January 2025
  • Tsveti
    Re: Work with Farm Animals or on a Farm
    Hi I'm from Bulgaria.I was looking a job for farms with animals.I have 1.5 years experience at pigs farm and 3 years for…
    17 January 2025
  • Jon
    Re: Work as a Flying Groom
    Hi there this is a useful article, however how do you actually go about finding employment in this role? Please advise. Best wishes Jon
    15 January 2025
  • Rob
    Re: General Work Experience with Animals
    I am currently in year 10 and I was looking into your placements as I will need one week of experience in July. I am…
    12 January 2025
  • Slay
    Re: Work as a Horse or Equine Dentist
    It's a great
    10 December 2024
  • Emma
    Re: Run your own Animal Shelter
    Hi I see there are like minded individuals who feel and know the need to help animals more so now than ever! It would be amazing if…
    1 December 2024
  • FiMice
    Re: Run your own Animal Shelter
    I look after fieldmice that already inhabit an old church, the 'church mice' if you like. As the mice destroy woodwork, masonry,…
    21 November 2024
  • Monika
    Re: Run your own Animal Shelter
    Hi, I'm also animal crazy and would like to do something to help in life. have you guys started it? I live in Malvern do I think…
    16 November 2024