[rmorris]

Hi all,

I thought I would let everyone know that I have found a Lambing Course in Scotland (Elmwood College - Cupar, Fife).  They are running a course on Friday 26th March (6:00pm - 9:00pm) and Saturday 27th March (9:00am - 4:30pm).

Their website is www.elmwood.ac.uk and I have dealt with Susanne Howieson (tel: 01334-658800).

Hopefuly I might meet some fellow Accidental Smallholder Forum members there....

Cheers,

Richard.

[Rosemary]

Hi, Richard

How much are they charging?

[countrygirlatheart]

Hi Richard

thanks for the info re the course                do you happen to know if any of it is hands on or using a ewe simulator??       having recently started my first lambing my personal experience  is that its all very well reading the books/getting the theory but the biggest help is having someone experienced tell you what you are actually looking at e.g. as the ewe goes through the pre-lambing stages whether or not what you're looking at means birth is imminent or you can just go back to bed!!   Even when you get to watch one giving birth (I've only seen one so far!!) you're thinking 'one foot is back a bit - is that normal or not' someone experienced might just need to glance and say it's fine leave it be!

[rmorris]

Hi,

The price is £120.  As far as I am aware the Friday will be theory, with the Saturday being 'hands on' the 'real thing'.  I think this as when I initially booked my place, they had yet to confirm the date of the course - awaiting lambing dates...

Hope this helps,

Richard.

[egglady]

hey Richard, I'm going on it so will meet oyu there.  a friend of mine went on it last year and she said it was good and really helpful for when her ewes lambed in the april

[countrygirlatheart]

thanks Richard

[rmorris]

Just to let everyone know, the course ran successfully and I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning (either from scratch) or as a refresher course.

There were 8 of us on the course, and we had a detailed theory lesson on the Friday night.  TOwards the end of the evening we went to the lambing shed to have a look around, and stumbled across a ewe having difficulties.  Our lecturer stepped in and calmly demonstrated what to do, and before too long had assisted in her lambing. 

Saturday was full on practical, starting with checking on the lamb from the previous night, before moving on to tasks such as docking, castrating, tubing, iodine for belly buttons and fostering.  We all had a turn at these tasks and no one missed out. 

There were three more lambs born that day, a single and a twin, and we all had a go at 'feeling about inside' to check on any more. 

I am sure I have missed something here, but I thought I would just add to this thread so that if anyone stumbles across these posts in the future, they can be encouraged to know that I thought it was a very good course.

Richard Morris.