"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all...or rephrase it". All forums do have some issues and people do have off days. Call me old fashioned but I do not appreciate having my ethics publically questioned on the basis of a few quick notes I have posted online to find answers to questions. I admit this may have been misread as being cold, but this is a public forum where I am cautious about divulging private dreams, amitions and feelings regarding the future of our smallholding!
We ARE committed to having livestock, and having had close family who bred pedigree texiles on a local smallholding and two of whom also worked for the Ministry in animal health I am not unaware of the animal management issues. Likewise a good proportion of my friends have local dairy herds in excess of 350 cows. As such I have had infrequent hands-on experience of certain elements...helping with calving, lambing, feeding, bottle rearing, milking, shearing, administering drugs, feet work etc...but it is a totally different ball game when your living with them daily, doing the work (rather than just helping) and investigating different breeds on a totally different scale - hence my questions on here.
The reason for easycare is getting couple of sheep sheared in a prodimately intensive dairy area is very hard unless you do it yourself. My brother adored his Texiles, but I know he hated having to shear them...my thinking was that if it was a job I can reduce/remove via careful breed selection then this would only help with regard to animal welfare. Likewise, I think it is only a bonus if a breed is less prone to ailments...nobody likes seeing their animals sick, or paying the vets bills...if this is not a good trait to aspire to please state why.
We are not just after animals to "look" the part, it will no doubt help, but we DO also want animals for the sake fo keeping them, grazing and hopefully (once our experience has grown) for breeding and eating. We do know of a number of camp sites already that have animals and they get along fine, however thank you for raising that we may need to be extra vigilant regarding litter (although it's only up to 5 caravans, no facilities etc - so generally older couples) and uninvited feeding, extra fencing etc.
Many thanks for all the positive messages, but can people please bear in mind that this is only an internet forum, you don't know my full background nor experience, so please don't feel the need to post in a negative manner. I welcome criticism, but please do so politely and as if you were talking face to face. For example; rather than directly questions someones commitment highlight how much commitment is needed.
We're based near Nantwich, Cheshire. We bought our smallholding in April last year and since then have demolished the derelict barn and house. This April we started building the house, which is now a shell. The barn will get rebuilt when funds permit and the fields reseeded once the construction is complete. Needless to say we have mortgages coming out of our ears, we're living on a tuppence (missing weddings, family gatherings, our little girl only presently has wellies and crocs as shoes are too expensive!) and every spare moment is spent working on the farm. I hope it gives you an indication of the longer term committment we have to the project...although I shouldn't really feel the need to divulge all that on a forum where all I'm seeking is some friendly advice.
Apologies if this seems like a rant, but I love about what I have read on this forum is that it is a friendly forum. Lets try and keep it that way.
It's great to know the price of shearing...is there a price per sheep or a minimum cost?
Thanks,
Oly
