I am currently the Head shepherd for 2000ewes where I finish all lambs on the farm to be sold in the dead weight market with some being sold live weight at local markets. Mostly finished on grass being creep fed with the rest being finished on cover crops and root crops that I electric fence and maintain. Also, I keep our own replacement ewe lambs which are selected through a strict breeding programme with lots of data being recorded for the best maximum growth rates, and low antibiotic/drug use and strong motherly instincts for the outside lambing flock.

Other duties include: foot trimming, drenching, vaccinating, dagging, using pratleys, moving stock in trailers, foot bathing, fencing, lambing sorting and weighing, data recording, filling in and completing medical records as well as movement forms and all other relevant paperwork. I also do a fair amount of the shearing every year myself, as well as along side the shearing gang that come in.

The last couple of Lambings I have lamb 1200 north county Mules, blue domain and half bred sheep inside starting the beginning of February onwards. Then lamb 800 cheviots ewes outside at the end of April where a high level of health and welfare is top priority to maximise the lambing percentage and performance for the flock and the ewes. I carry out all lambing duties such as; feeding and maintaining the sheeps diet pre lambing to post lambing, wet fostering of lambs feeding pet lambs and all pen work including water, hay etc. As the head shepherd my main job role during this busy period is checking the sheep that have lambed are all fit and healthy and most importantly, love their lambs! This is vital for both the ewes and new lambs health and well-being.

Although I am the head shepherd by job role, I am always eager to help the rest of my team out by assisting with other jobs around the farm. During the winter period I have helped feed and winter 400 cows and calves and assist with calving and general winter jobs on the farm. During the summer, again I am very adaptable and I have bale carted for my current farm and local farms as and when needed.

Not born into the agricultural industry but always wanted to be a farmer went to to college for 2 years to study and get my qualifications. Since then I have worked on a number of different farms and experienced a lot of different things. References available upon request.