The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Sharondp on July 17, 2010, 10:18:11 pm
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Just asking for a friend...
If a property comes with mountain grazing rights and allows you to graze your sheep over thousands of acres of mountain, how on earth do you round them all when needed, e.g.shearing, tupping, lambing etc?
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A good sheepdog ;) ;D
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Hill sheep become bonded with their land - hefted is the Scot's word, once they have lambed in a place. Thereafter, they will stay in the general area (while ignoring obstacles such as walls & fences etc.....).
That is why a hill farm will normally be sold with hefted stock - the sheep stay with the land. Having said that, a good sheep dog is essential for gathering up for shearing etc.
John
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There is truth in that - although in that situation it is unsually unfenced land that is owned by the farm.
If you are talking about mountain grazing rights, it may work more like common land, and you r sheep will run will everyone elses. In that situation you have to work with fellow graziers to gather and do things with your sheep. Your sheep would probably have ear mark (some sort of notching) that identify them as your enabling them to be picked out of the flock when the mountain is gathered.
There is a peice of common mountain grazing not too far from here that has iro 20,000 ewes running on it.
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Thanks all very useful!