ANIMALS • FRUIT & VEG • LAND SKILLS • POULTRY • CRAFTS

SMALL
SHEEP IN FOCUS
▼
January /
February 2018

HOLDING
£3.99

The Greyfaced
Dartmoor

Get a good hatch BEES

Step-by-step hive
construction
A guide to incubation
Housing for Keeping
Goats Cows
Producing
coloured
eggs
What are
Rights of
Way?

Work with wildlife Alpacas in archeology

Biodynamics in action Using hot beds for plants Pigs: Tail biting prevention

News and Views • Smallholding Clubs • Show Diary

Smallholder jan-feb 18.indd 1 09/01/2018 15:13
The Humane Slaughter Association –
providing technical advice and support for over a
century
Risks to animal welfare increase when animals leave the farm, for
transport, marketing and slaughter. The Humane Slaughter Association
(HSA) has been a significant force in bringing about long-lasting
improvements in food animal welfare, many of which we now take for
granted. The charity is internationally recognised for its livestock
expertise and provides education and training in the UK and around
the world.

Can we help you?

Education and Training – Our courses are designed to suit smallholders
and hobby farmers, amongst others. Courses are run by licensed
personnel, who have both theoretical and practical knowledge of
animal slaughter. The charity also produces various print and video
guidance publications – please see the website for further details.

Advice - The HSA offers independent advice on animal welfare

matters at markets, during transport and at slaughter in addition to
handling specific requests for advice from members of the general
public.

Assessments - The HSA can also provide a welfare assessment

service to slaughterhouses and livestock markets, at the request of
the business operator, along with suggestions for improvement where
necessary.

If you require advice on a particular matter, please contact us.

Can you help us?

There are many parts of the world where much could be achieved by
improving understanding of humane transport and slaughter.

We’ve already achieved so much, thanks to the backing of people who

share our concern for the welfare of animals, but there is much more
to do and we can’t do it alone. Please will you help us to continue to
make a difference? By making a donation or becoming a member,
you become part of a more than century-long effort to make histor-
ic change – and a better world for animals. Please help the HSA to
continue its work – you can donate online at www.hsa.org.uk or by
calling 01582 831919. Thank you.

Registered charity no 1159690 : Charitable Incorporated Organisation

 Contents Issue 6 January / February 2018

10 18 22

26 30 34

38 46 58
Ask the Experts 7 Growing 38 Cattle 56
Starting with sheep; what is a donkey? Work with wildlife for best results What is the attraction of cows?
Making chicken sausages How to make hot beds to get ahead
The Medlar – growing and using Focus on feeding 58
Incubation Special 10 Winter management for equines
Get the most from your In the smallholding workshop 42 Cutting the costs of forage but
hatching eggs Getting the best from your angle grinder not the quality of feed

Chickens Alpaca 46 Rights of Way 60

Management resolutions Archeology and alpacas plus a look at TB
for the year ahead 15 View from Scotland 62
Producing coloured (blue) eggs Fibre 49 News from the North of Britain
from your chickens Getting to know the clubs and
societies for enthusiasts Last Word 66
Waterfowl 20 Escaping from social events
Manage the mating for your ducks' Bees 50
health and welfare
REGULARS
Goat behaviour 22
Plan your housing using research Events Diary 5
into goat-friendly accommodation
News 6
Sheep Breed 26 News and views from the UK
The Grey Faced Dartmoor - the
gentle sheep with a lustrous fleece Subscribe 64
Get your Smallholding
Pigs 30 sent to your door
How to prevent tail biting
Introducing the Welsh How to construct a hive in photos
Black Pig
Buying a smallholding 53 Just about the easiest and quickest way to subscribe to
Biodynamics 34 Smallholding or any of Kelsey Publishing Group’s many
other interesting titles is to call the new subscription
Explaining this fascinating Poisonous Plants 54 hotline on 01959 543 747. We’ve also introduced a new
method of growing More in our new series on plants to avoid number for customer services 0845 8727388.

January/February 2018 | 3

Contents nov-dec17.indd 41 09/01/2018 17:17

 CUDHAM TITHE BARN,
BERRY’S HILL, CUDHAM,
KENT TN16 3AG
EDITORIAL
Editor: Liz Wright - smallholding.ed@kelsey.co.uk
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
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CLASSIFIEDS
Getting ready for spring
I
Tel: 0906 802 0279
n the cold (and often wet) months of
(premium rate line, operated by Kelsey Publishing
Ltd. Calls cost 65p per minute from a BT landline; January and February, it's sometimes • To try again to control the weight of the
other networks and mobiles may vary. Lines open Exmoor ponies who seem intent on drowning
Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm) hard to remember that spring is just a few
For complaints or any queries about the premium out the sun with their large bodies. They have
rate number, please call 01959 543723, weeks away and that signs of its arrival are all
available 9-5pm, Mon-Fri. large fields but really rough grazing and are
around. I get ridiculously excited about Catkins
Contact us
exceptionally 'good doers', even the 29 year old
UK subscription and back issue orderline: (or Pussy Willow as we used to call it) and the who has not as many teeth as the others.
01959 543 747 sight of snow drops always gives me huge joy.
Overseas subscription orderline:
Clearly a lamb is another big sign of spring
0044 (0) 1959 543 747
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• To grow some cut flowers. I love flowers and I
1-888-777-0275 love giving them and maybe even selling some.
UK customer service team: 01959 543 747
Customer service email address: is a chance to take stock and plan the months But I keep failing to grow them and there is no
subs@kelsey.co.uk ahead – even if I am sometimes a bit optimistic.
Customer service and subscription postal address: reason for this except lack of organisation on
Smallholding Customer Service Team Learning from last year is always a good idea my part. There is a very good book called ' The
Kelsey Publishing Ltd
Cudham Tithe Barn as well. Flower Farmer's Year' by Georgie Newberry and
Berry's Hill, Cudham, Kent TN16 3AG
United Kingdom So randomly a few things I am going to do I resolve that will be my bed time reading.
Find current subscription offers at differently this year are:- There are more of these resolutions, learnt
shop.kelsey.co.uk/sh by repeated experience, too numerous to
Buy back issues at shop.kelsey.co.uk/shback
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• Not grow any runner beans. I have come to mention and to achieve them I need to start
Manage your subscription online at realise I detest them as a vegetable and am planning now! Which is what January and
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DISTRIBUTION eaten, in a most unpleasant way. Jars of runner
Seymour Distribution Ltd,
2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT bean chutney remain uneaten as well. This year Potato Days and Seed Swops
www.seymour.co.uk Tel: 020 7429 4000 I will be growing french beans instead as they Look out for these at this time of the year
PRINTING are much better about being eaten when past where you can go and look at heritage and
PCP Printers Haldane, Halesfield 1,
Telford , Shropshire TF7 4QQ their youth and can also be used cooked but commercial varieties of potatoes and in some
Kelsey Media 2017 © all rights reserved.
cold in salads. cases, even try some. You can normally buy
Kelsey Media is a trading name of Kelsey just a few tubers and mix and match. They
Publishing Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part
is forbidden except with permission in writing
from the publishers. Note to contributors:
• Not to let the ducks have ducklings. They often have seed swops too where you take your
articles submitted for consideration by the editor were the most rubbish mothers they could unused seeds – even half packets, and swop
must be the original work of the author and possibly have been last year and most of the them for someone else's seeds. You can find a
not previously published. Where photographs
are included, which are not the property of ducklings had to be taken into care. Out of the list of some of the many potato days on this link
the contributor, permission to reproduce them
must have been obtained from the owner of blue, they then decided to peck each other's but have a look round your local area as well.
the copyright. The editor cannot guarantee
a personal response to all letters and emails
feathers for no apparent or obvious reason. www.nsalg.org.uk/news/potato-days-2018/
received. The views expressed in the magazine They had plenty of space, not bored, able to We love to hear from you so do let us know
are not necessarily those of the Editor or the
Publisher. Kelsey Publishing Ltd accepts no show natural behaviour and so on. So more your experiences on your smallholding and if
liability for products and services offered by you have a question for our experts, then we'd
third parties. separation until we had ducks in every building
we possess and then the joy of putting them be very pleased to answer it for you.
Kelsey Publishing Ltd uses a multi-layered
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we would like to use your personal information.

Liz Wright
For full details, visit www.kelsey.co.uk , or call of quite smart Muscovy ducks and a freezer
01959 543524. If you have any questions, full of duck but even so, I'm not going through
please ask as submitting your details indicates
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we and our partners may contact you about
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You can opt out at ANY time via email: data. that I'll end up being mother duck.
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SMALING
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Page 4 FLANNEL WELCOME.indd 4 09/01/2018 15:54

 WINTER STOCK FESTIVAL TENTH ANNIVERSARY TRIUMPH
A fantastic couple of days were enjoyed
by exhibitors and visitors of the
tenth annual Winter Stock Festival which
was held on the 1st and 2nd December
at the East of England Showground,
Peterborough.
Both days attracted an excellent
crowd, with top quality commercial and
pedigree cattle and sheep on show, as
well as pigs, which were introduced to
the event this year.
In addition to its popular livestock
classes, the festival has become
renowned for youth competitions and
once again welcomed many enthusiastic
young individuals for the hotly
contested College Challenge and Young
Stockperson of the Year final.
As the only dedicated livestock event
in the Eastern counties, the programme
of seminars and host of trade stands also
proved popular attractions with farmers
taking the opportunity to network and
learn about the latest technologies and
thinking in the agricultural sector.
Commenting on this year’s event,
show director William Haire said it had
been a great success. “The quality
of commercial and pedigree stock
presented was superb and the pig
classes were an excellent addition to our
tenth anniversary festival.
“The youth competitions were
once again a major highlight, and
the enthusiasm, knowledge and skill
demonstrated by so many young
individuals, fills me with confidence that
our industry will be in safe hands in the
future.”
Leading the way in the
commercial cattle, was Beth and
Luke Wilkinson and John Smith
Jackson who took the supreme
championship with Garned Model,
a 14-month-old Limousin heifer.
Reserve commercial champion
went to Andrew Bishop with his
home-bred British Blue cross heifer,
Might Bite.
John Smith Jackson was also
in the prizes on day two, and
won the baby beef champion with Overall Champion - Garned Model
home-bred Limousin heifer Dancing
Queen, with Judy and Richard
Fountain taking reserve with Jazzy Girl.
The top prize in the sheep section
went to Robert Garth with a Beltex pair
of lambs, with reserve going to Andrew
Bishop.
Reigning supreme in the newly
introduced pig section was K and B
Arden from Peterborough, who took
home both the supreme champion pair
and supreme champion single pig.
The College Challenge once again
attracted a fantastic entry of teams from
agricultural colleges across the UK. After
a tight competition, Easton and Otley
scooped the title, closely followed by
Reaseheath B team, with Reaseheath A
team taking third place.
The final of Young Stock Person of
the Year took centre stage on day two,
with some of the country’s top young
handlers going head-to-head. Winning
the Young Stock Person of the Year
beef section was Thomas Martin from
Norfolk, and Chelsea Bennett from
Stafford took first place in the lamb
competition.
Day two also saw an impressive
display of pedigree stock take to the
ring in the pedigree calf show. The
interbreed pedigree calf championship
was awarded to Meadowbrook Flossie,
an Aberdeen Angus heifer from Mark
Haistead, Norwich. In the interbreed
group of three, it was the Lincoln
Red’s that caught the judges eye and
were awarded the prestigious Duke of
Gloucester trophy.
“We would like to thank this year’s
exhibitors and sponsors for their support
and look forward to seeing them again
at next year’s festival, which will be held
on Friday 30th November and Saturday
1st December 2018,” concludes William.
For a full set of results, please visit
www.winterstockfestival.co.uk
The event, which is free for visitors to
attend, also features a dedicated trade
stand area and a programme of topical
seminars and demonstration.

EVENTS 24/25 Reading and District Bantam Society Open Show

By now, geese should be laying even in our modern world.
' On Candlemas Day, a good Goose will lay
But on Valentine's Day, any Goose will lay.'
January
17/18 LAMMA 18 More than 850 exhibitors of agricultural equipement
and machinery plus a display from Peterborough Vintage Machinery
Club East of England Showground, Peterborough.
20/21 Scottish National Poultry Show
Lanark Agricultural Centre ML11 9SZ
27-29 Big Garden Birdwatch 2018 - Count the birds on your smallholding
for one hour and share the information rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
February
3 High Peak Poultry Club Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell,
Derbyshire DE45 1AH Email:  highpeak.poultryclub@gmail.com
Website: highpeakpoultryclub.co.uk
4 Driffield Bantam Society Show Driffield Showground YO25 9DN
4 Fenland Smallholders Club AGM 11am Upwell Village Hall,
Cambridgeshire – details John Francis Chair Chairman@
fenlandsmallholders.org.uk
17 Colchester Poultry Club Spring Regional Show
www.colchesterpoultryclub.com
DISCLAIMER: If your show or event is not listed in our diary, email: sga.ed@kelsey.co.uk or post details to: Liz Wright, Smallholding
Magazine, Cudham, Tithe Barn, Berry's Hill, Cudham, Kent TN16 3AG and we will include it in the relevant issue.
Northcroft Leisure Centre, Newbury RG14 1RS
http://www.readingbantams.org.uk
Please note most Poultry Shows will need a Participant Declaration Form
which is available from show organisers.
24/25 Spring Tractor World Show Three Counties Showground, Malvern
H J Pugh vintage auction sale on the 24th and a Vintage Sort out and
Spares day on the 25th. There’s a wide range of attractions for fans of
vintage tractors & classic commercials alike, with veteran, vintage, classic
and new tractors and vintage farm machinery, plus the well-supported
regional and national club displays also give visitors the chance to chat
over the chassis and swap tips and stories with fellow enthusiasts.  
www.tractorworldshows.co.uk or call: 016974 51882.
For auction entries: www.hjpugh.co.uk or call: 01531 631122.
(Candlemas is 2 February)
24th February – St Matthias Day
Although little is known of St Matthias, his day is important in the
growing world and brings some advice. It's believed it is the day
that sap is sent up the trees. Im reality, it could be a very cold time
indeed so don't necessarily follow this advice!
'On St Matthias Day sow both leaf and grass'
'At St Matthias take thy seed kod and sow'

January/February 2018 | 5

Page 5 winter festival.indd 7 09/01/2018 12:04

 SMALLHOLDING News & views
Call for Government to support nature friendly farming policies post-Brexit
F
armers unite to launch Nature Friendly
Farming Network to drive future of farming
A group of more than 100 farmers with
a new vision for the future of British agriculture
was launched at the Nature Friendly Farming
Network (NFFN) on Friday 5 January 2018, at the
Real Farming Conference in Oxford.
The independent organisation is calling on
the UK and devolved governments to create a
post-Brexit framework that will help farmers
restore British wildlife, reverse declines in soil
quality and help manage the impacts of climate
change, as well as growing affordable, healthy
food.
Leaving the EU's Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) necessitates a new approach to British
farming policy. The NFFN believes the UK should
use this opportunity to help farmers across the
UK transition towards a nature friendly future.
Thousands of British farmers already use
nature friendly farming practices, but NFFN says
that the scale of the decline in wildlife and soil
quality and the challenges presented by climate
change mean that this work needs to be scaled
up rapidly with strong policy support.
The NFFN aims to provide a political voice
for the thousands of farmers who are committed
to managing their land for wildlife and public
service, as well as growing and providing food.
Post-Brexit, agricultural policies need to help
all British farmers to produce high quality food
at the same time as helping our soil, landscapes
and wildlife recover and flourish. Among other
things this means that farming payments
need to be continued and redirected towards
mainstreaming nature friendly farming across
the UK. The NFFN wants this not just because
the farmers care about nature – but because
they firmly believe that a more nature friendly
approach will be key to the long-term survival
and success of British farming.
The Nature Friendly Farming Network
believes that post-Brexit agriculture policy
should:
1. Help all British farmers to produce safe,
healthy food at the same time as helping our
soil, landscapes, rivers and wildlife to recover
and flourish.
2. Maintain and redirect farming payments
towards mainstreaming nature friendly farming
across the UK.
3. Recognise that the shift towards a more nature
friendly approach is not just good for wildlife but
is key to the long-term survival and success of
British farming, delivering broader benefits to the
public [flood protection, water and air quality, and
access to thriving natural landscapes].
 The chair of NFFN, Martin Lines, who
runs an arable family farm in Cambridgeshire,
says: "Brexit presents a once in a generation
opportunity to create a new farming policy that
will help farms evolve and thrive, at the same
time as restoring and protecting our natural
heritage. We can use this opportunity to create
a long-term, stable policy framework that will
drive a mainstream shift towards a sustainable,
productive, nature-friendly future for British
farming as well as protecting the landscape
across the UK."
6 | SMALLHOLDING
News 6-7.indd 6
Britain needs to change its approach to
agriculture. Existing farm practices often rely
on the heavy use of chemical pesticides and
herbicides which have a profound impact on
biodiversity and public health. Industrialised
farming is responsible for 2.9 million tonnes
of topsoil lost each year in the UK alone. Farm
birds, a key indicator of the health of wildlife,
have declined by 54% since 1970. Over the last
50 years, there has been a marked decline in
over 600 farmland species across the UK.
Over 70% of the land in the UK is farmland.
The NFFN aims to unite farmers who are
passionate about wildlife and sustainable
farming and who want to deliver rapid progress
towards a future in which wildlife on farmland
recovers and thrives. More than 4,000 farmers
across the UK are already committed to nature
friendly farming with encouraging results for
biodiversity, soil health, water quality, air quality
and species that were formerly on the brink of
extinction.
The Network is welcomed by a range of
environmental and conservation charities
including Soil Association, National Trust,
Woodland Trust, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts,
Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly
Conservation, Amphibian and Reptile
Conservation Trust, Bat Conservation Trust,
Buglife and Plantlife.
Rob Macklin, Head of Farming at the National
Trust, says: "Many of the things we need from
the countryside – wildlife, healthy soils, clean
water, flood protection and carbon storage are
‘public goods’ that fall outside conventional
markets.   many farmers who are wildflower lovers and
“Post-Brexit, we need a policy and subsidy
framework that rewards farmers to conserve
natural resources alongside production. We
want Government to offer farmers a joined-up
package of support to benefit nature-friendly
farming across the UK. We recognise that
the most powerful way to make this case is for
farmers themselves to champion these ideas.
This is exactly what the Nature Friendly Farming
Network will be aiming to achieve."
NFFN will launch a policy ask to recognise
that agriculture across the UK needs to be
profitable and sustainable, and that farmers
should receive adequate payments for
undertaking environmental and nature friendly
activities. The farmers behind the network are
committed to securing farming policies that
support wildlife, sustainable agriculture and
fairness for farmers across the UK.
Six-point Framework for Sustainable Farming
The Nature Friendly Farming Network has
focused on six key areas where sustainable
farming adds value, asking for recognition and
support from UK and devolved governments
post-Brexit:
 
1. Growing healthy nutritious food.
2. Addressing degradation and improving the
quality of soil.
3. Helping wildlife to recover and thrive.
4. Reducing greenhouse gases and managing
impacts of climate change, such as flooding.
5. Keeping our seas and rivers clean and
reducing water born pollution.
6. Being custodians of the British landscape and
enabling the public to enjoy and benefit from our
natural heritage.
 Marian Spain, CEO of Plantlife, comments:
"All too often, farmers and conservationists
are pitched against each other, apparently
irreconcilable adversaries. This 'farming versus
environment' narrative is holding wildlife-friendly
back at a critical moment. It overlooks the vast
swathes of common ground between farmers
and nature conservationists. It excludes those
countryside stewards as well as food producers
and business owners. 
As post-Brexit agricultural policy develops,
we have the chance of a lifetime to reclaim
the common ground – with a shared
language and shared expertise. Through ever
closer co-operation, we can deliver a bright
future for farming that is truly sustainable -
environmentally, economically and socially."
Farmers can join the NFFN on
www.nffn.org.uk
09/01/2018 12:05
s Processors call for clean livestock at slaughter
F ollowing a rise in dirty animals being
presented to abattoirs this winter, beef
and sheep producers are being reminded of
the importance of sending clean livestock to
slaughter.
The Clean Livestock Policy, set out by The
Food Standard Agency, states that abattoirs are
strictly not allowed to slaughter dirty animals
and therefore it is important for both producers
and the supply chain that animals are received
clean. Sending dirty livestock to slaughter also
has a major impact on the financial return to
the producer.
The policy is in place to protect against a
risk of pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella
being present on dirty animals, which could
potentially cause food-borne illnesses in
humans if transferred onto sterile carcase meat.
Steve Powdrill, AHDB Technical Manager,
said: “Dirty stock can seriously impact the
PIG KEEPERS WARNED NOT TO FEED KITCHEN SCRAPS TO PIGS DUE TO AFRICAN SWINE FEVER RISK
P ig keepers are being reminded not to feed
kitchen scraps to their animals to prevent
outbreaks of animal disease.
The warning comes after the risk level of
African swine fever entering the UK was raised
over the summer following the spread of the
disease in Eastern and Central Europe.
There has never been a case of African
swine fever in the UK and it does not affect
humans, but it is potentially fatal to pigs.  If
the disease were to reach the UK it could have
a devastating effect on our export market and
would also mean the humane culling of pigs
on infected premises to prevent further spread.   have been attributed to wild boar or domestic
 Keepers are being reminded it is illegal
AIC warns of shortages of Vitamins A and E for livestock feed supplies
T he livestock feed industry is facing a
lack of supply of vitamins A and E due to
two recent incidents, warns the Agricultural
Industries Confederation.
The first incident was a fire during
October in a German plant that produces
a key precursor to production of the two
vitamins; second, closure of a Chinese facility
on environmental grounds.
“There are reports that supplies are
BVA congratulates Christine Middlemiss on appointment as next UK chief vet
C hristine Middlemiss has been appointed
as the UK's next Chief Veterinary Officer
(CVO). She will take over from Nigel Gibbens
who is stepping down at the end of February
2018 following 10 years in the post.
Responding to the news, British Veterinary
Association President John Fishwick said:
“We’d like to congratulate Christine
News 6-7.indd 7
financial return to beef and lamb producers, as
well as the impact to human health. If dirt is
transferred on to the carcase, the contaminated
meat is trimmed away which reduces the
carcase weight and therefore the price paid.
Most processors also deduct a charge for the
additional work handling overly dirty livestock.
“With this in mind, it’s really important that
food producers present clean animals, not
only to ensure that they get the best possible
returns, but to ensure the food produced is safe
to eat.”
The legal responsibility to ensure animals
are clean when being presented for slaughter is
taken seriously by the entire supply chain.
Michael Winchester, Woodhead Brothers
senior livestock manager said: “We use the
Clean Livestock Policy scoring system, whereby
cattle are scored on a one to five scale at the
time of unloading, with one being clean and
to feed catering waste of any description or
domestic food waste to farm animals in the
UK, including pigs kept as pets, as some of
the outbreaks of African swine fever in Europe
pigs consuming contaminated pork or pork
becoming very tight and the industry
worldwide will have to manage a significant
shortfall of two critical ingredients for several
months,” said George Perrott, Head of AIC’s
Feed Sector. “It would appear that normal
volumes may not be produced until March or
April 2018.”
FEFAC, the European trade body for animal
feed has warned that as stocks are not
sufficient to offset the deficit of production,
Middlemiss on her appointment as the UK’s
next CVO and welcome her return to Defra - as
well as to the UK, following her 16 months as
CVO in New South Wales, Australia.
“As Christine notes, she will take up her
role amidst EU Exit negotiations when the vital
role veterinary surgeons play in so many areas
of political and public life must be championed
five being dirty. Any cattle scoring three to five
cannot proceed to slaughter without further
action being taken.
“In most cases, cattle will be clipped that
day or left alive and slaughtered the following
day. The cost of clipping is then charged back
to producers.”
While avoiding dirty livestock can be difficult
due to winter weather conditions, advice is
available to ensure producers are aware of
the steps involved in presenting animals in an
acceptable, clean condition.
This work is part of AHDB Beef & Lamb’s
Inspiring Success strategy which aims to help
producers to increase the number of beef and
lamb animals meeting market requirements.
AHDB Beef & Lamb has produced videos
that demonstrate best practice in this area. The
videos are available on AHDB Beef & Lamb’s
YouTube channel, Beef & Lamb TV
products. Viruses such as foot and mouth
disease could also be introduced to the UK
through food products.  This includes food
from vegetarian kitchens, as there is still a
risk of cross contamination from products of
animal origin such as milk.
Strict hygiene measures are essential in
preventing disease – people should not take
meat or meat products into areas where
pigs are kept and should only eat food in
designated areas such as staff rooms or the
farm kitchen. Pig keepers, farm staff and
anyone in contact with pigs should wash
their hands before and after eating or
preparing food.
feed manufacturers globally will have no
choice but to reduce the inclusion rates in
feed.  Although, for young and gestating
animals, levels of supplementation will have
to be maintained to avoid adverse effects on
animal welfare and livestock production. 
AIC is liaising with Defra and farming
unions on the issue and professional feed
operators will strive to ensure any risk is
minimised.
and considered more than ever.
“The work of all vets in government is
indispensable in protecting and promoting
animal health and welfare and public health,
and current UK CVO Nigel Gibbens CBE
has been crucial in steering this with calm
direction and sage insight from the heart of
government.
January/February 2018 | 7
09/01/2018 12:05
 Ask th eExperts. . .
Every issue we get our experts to reply to your questions – they can be on anything from
veterinary topics to livestock care, spinning to dairying or advice on current regulations – in
fact anything at all. We'll find the expert to answer your question.

Q I'm thinking about keeping sheep

and was going to collect a couple
locally but they told me I couldn't do
so without a CPH number. Could you
give me some advice please?

A Keeping small numbers of sheep

and especially rare breed sheep
is popular amongst smallholders as
they provide meat for the freezer and
fleeces for home spinning. Sheep
milking has also enjoyed an increasing
following. There is no doubt that sheep
need good grass in plentiful supply.
Remember that if an area that has
been overgrazed by sheep will take a
long time to recover. Don’t exceed the
number of sheep that your acreage can
support which will only be two or three
an acre if they are going to stay on it all
year round.
Before you move any sheep on to
your holding you will need a County
Parish Holding number (CPH). You will
also need to register with your local
Animal Health Office who will give
you a unique DEFRA flock/herd mark.
All sheep movements will need to be
logged on an a movement licence
(AML1). Your sheep will also need to
be ear tagged – sheep born after 21st
December 2009 must be identified
within six months of birth if housed
over night, nine months if not housed
overnight and sooner if they are moved
off the holding of birth Two tags are
needed on breeding sheep (or any
over twelve months old) of which one
must be electronic. The regulations are
subject so check on the DEFRA website.
All flock keepers must also keep a
flock record.
The importance of grass
Grass will usually form the basis of your
flocks nutrition although you may have
to house in the winter – this would need
to be a large well ventilated building
where they can move freely.
Sheep nutrition is a complex subject
depending on your grassland, the age
of the sheep and the breed of the sheep
but sheep can only live completely
from grass when there is sufficient
grass of a suitable quality. For most
small scale sheep keepers this will
only be for part of the year so they will
require supplementary feeding in the
form of forage (hay usually) when the
grass is not there. With Britain's rather
challenging weather pattern this could
be in a drought in August if the grass
has stopped growing, in a cold winter
or even in a wet cold spring when the
grass has not started to grow. Don't
look at the calendar, look at the grazing!
They will also need compound foods
which provide protein, minerals and
vitamins plus more nutrition before
being put in lamb (tupping), when
carrying lambs and usually when being
'finished' for the freezer – if you have
really good grass you may be able to do
this from grass but again it depends on
the grazing available. Lambs are usually
given a 'creep' feed to give them a
good start.

Q I successfully raised some broiler

chickens before Christmas but
they are very large and I have a
freezer full. We are keen sausage
makers with our pork but I'm getting
mixed reactions to the idea of chicken
sausages with some people saying
they are bland. How do you make
chicken sausages and are they tasty?
very meaty sausage, some prefer a
more filling sausage. You can also use
cheese instead of breadcrumbs or as
well as. In fact the great thing about a
sausage that you can invent your own
recipe to your own taste. Add herbs –
suggest oregano or thyme but again up
to you and for my taste plenty of black
pepper and some sea salt.
I think from this you can see that

A You can use any part of the chicken

– for low fat sausages use breast
meat but thighs and legs give more
flavour.
Blend minced chicken with
breadcrumbs or better still rusk (buy
from sausage makers). The ratio is
to your individual taste – some like a
they can be very very tasty indeed!
You can obtain casings from
sausage maker suppliers or roll into
sausages and cook as skinless.
* Top tip – you can just fry a
spoonful of the mixture to taste before
you make a whole batch to check it is
to your taste.

8 | SMALLHOLDING

ask the experts 8-9.indd 8 09/01/2018 12:07

 Q I intend to plant a small orchard
but not sure where to go for
advice or how to start. I understand
this is the time of the year to plant
trees so need to be getting on with
this!

A Apple trees are the very basis of

an orchard and a wealth to choose
from. If you contact your local heritage
orchard stockists or association such
as the East of England Apples and
Orchards Project (similar projects are
found in most orchard growing areas in
the UK), you'll get a wealth of help and
advice on the individual varieties.
First draw a plan considering the
succession of apples – early, mid,
season or late. Consider the pollination
group – the tree if not self-pollinating
will need a tree of the same pollination
group in order to set apples Think
about the harvesting – you'll need
to pick the fruit and get it out of the
orchard. Allow more rather than less
space around the apple trees. Think
about how you will manage the grass
around the trees. commitments. Otherwise native solution is to choose taller trees and
Fruit trees will grow in an incredibly hedging which is slower growing but late flowering varieties.
wide range of soils but do not like being can provide foraging opportunities for There are over 2000 apples in the
waterlogged. For a traditional orchard, both you and wildlife and you might National Fruit Collection (and 300
do not attempt to 'improve' the soil but consider plums or damsons which are Pears) so you can plan varieties to
in a back garden or allotment, the street more wind tolerant. keep you in apples from August to
can benefit from mulching with organic Cooking apples and morello cherries May – August for the early fruiters and
matter. are more tolerant to shade (this is May for apples that will store. Choose
You'll need a natural windbreak because acid tasting fruit don't need so the apple for your purpose such as
around the orchard in the form of a much sunlight to develop sugar. Culinary, Desert, Dual Purpose and
hedge – willow will grow obligingly Be aware of frost pockets in Cider or Perry. There's even a special
quickly and provide material for willow undulating ground - not a problem in Toffee Apple variety – Cockitt's Red!
weaving and another enterprise that winter but when the blossom is on the Don't forget to plant some nut trees
is good for those with heavy work tree it will devastate the crop. The too!

Q Can you tell me the difference

between a donkey, a mule and
an ass?
had the attributes of both animals. They
had the hardiness of the donkey and
were a bit faster than the donkey as
they had more horse like limbs. A hinny

A In this country, donkey is the

name given to those of an asinine
persuasion – the word ass would
mean what we call a donkey in other
countries. Wild donkeys (asses) still
run free in areas of the world but their
numbers are much reduced. Donkeys
originated in the desert areas of the
world and have been domesticated for
thousands of years but did not arrive
in Britain until 2000 years ago when,
predicatably, they came over with the
Romans, carrying goods and being part
of the slave army. They didn't arrive
in Ireland until much later when they
went over as beasts of burden with
Cromwell's army (yes Cromwell!), for
the stragglers that followed the army
such as prostitutes, sword sharpeners
and general followers. As such they
have not had a lot of opportunity to
fully adapt to their new wet landscape
(compared with the desert) and still
bear all the characterstics of desert
animals, such as their coats are not
waterproof, their feet are very tough
and it is believed their long ears help
them to lose heat.
Mules on the other hand are part
horse, part donkey. A mule is a male
donkey and a female horse or pony. The
foal normally grows to nearer the size
of the mother and perhaps takes more
of the mother's characteristics so these
bigger half donkey, half horse creatures
is the opposite, a donkey mare and a
horse/pony stallion. Although there have
been very few exceptions, the mule
cannot reproduce – although it will have
sexual activity but is sterile. Mules are
used exensively in many countries for
their hardiness and their bigger size
than most donkeys. They also played a
big part in the first (and in Burma, the
second too) World War.
If you'd like to know more about
donkeys or mules, check out The
Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth website.
www. thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk.
They are open 365 days a year and
it is completely free. They also have
a Guardian scheme where you can
rehome two (or more) donkeys or
mules on to your smallholding – full
details on the website or call them on
01395 578222

January/February 2018 | 9

ask the experts 8-9.indd 9 09/01/2018 12:07

 Photo credit - Brinsea Incubators https://brinsea.co.uk/
Happy hatching
H
atching eggs can be done with
a broody duck or hen (not all
poultry breeds are very good
mothers – a broody breed of hen may
be a preferable alternative to one that
is not known for its mothering abilities)
or by artificial incubation. Whichever
method you choose, a good hatch is
always dependent on the quality of
the eggs brooded whether by bird or
incubator. A good broody breed will
lay her clutch and then, when she has
enough, she will sit on them – normally
it’s best not to disturb her to check the
eggs – those that are clean, uncracked
and well shaped have the ability to
hatch and the others do not. If she gets
off and you get a chance to look you
can remove anything obviously wrong.
Otherwise leave her alone.
10 | SMALLHOLDING
Incubation Jan-Feb18.indd 26
Insight on incubation for cheerful chicks!
Selecting Eggs for
Artificial Incubation
When selecting eggs yourself however,
you need to take more care. Any dirty
egg will not hatch and what’s more,
the warmth of the incubator will spread
any possible harmful bacteria from this
to the other eggs and ultimately the
hatchlings. If you can select clean eggs
that don’t need washing this is best,
otherwise wash with care. Cracked
eggs, misshapen eggs and poor shell
quality should also go. Collect the eggs
at least once a day and store in a clean,
dry, cool place (between 12-16 degrees
Centigrade). Any warmth will cause the
embryo inside to begin its development,
thus rendering them useless when
put under a hen or in an incubator.
Store point down in clean egg trays.
Don’t store longer than ten days but
conversely, new laid eggs should not
go straight for incubation – give them
24 hours to settle down. If they have
arrived by post or have come from a
sale, settle them for 24 hours before
incubating.
Record everything!
Keep records of the date collected and
where from (such as in hen house or in
shed) before you incubate.
When you have enough eggs for either
the broody hen (if using a bantam, she
should not have to cover more than four
to six large eggs) or for the incubator
– place them either under the hen or
in the machine which will have been
running with the temperature constant
at 37.5 C.
09/01/2018 12:10
 ALWAYS FOLLOW INDIVIDUAL
MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS
EGG SELECTION – HOW TO CHOOSE
FOR SUCCESSFUL HATCHING
DISCARD EGGS THAT ARE
• Cracked – these will not hatch and
as they deteriorate will affect the
!
•• other eggs
Dirty – heat will only help
bacteria breed
Thin shelled or shells that are not
•• smooth such as ridged
Oddly shaped eggs such as long
and thin or too round
Small eggs for the breed – often
• laid by young birds
Double yolkers (these(show as
oversized eggs for the breed)
Managing the incubation
Natural Incubation
If the eggs are under a duck or a
hen, all you need to do is to mark the
number of days until the expected
hatch – she will do all the rest! Keep
her safe and well fed. Before she has
become broody, you should have
ensured she is not carrying any mite
burden which will be dangerous for her
if she is sitting all the time and may
cause her to abandon the hatch. Mite
are far more than irritants, they can
and will kill a sitting broody by blood
sucking.
Artificial Incubation
The incubator is another matter. This
needs more attention. You will need
to carefully record the temperature
every single day and check that the
incubator is working. If it is a manual
or semi manual model, you will need
Incubation Jan-Feb18.indd 27
to turn the eggs, if a fully automatic,
just keep an eye on the eggs to ensure
they are turning. Do not keep opening
the lid of the incubator. Record too
the temperature where the incubator
is sited. A big increase or decrease
in temperature will make a difference
to the incubation process as will the
outside humidity. It will help enormously
if you have a poor hatch to be able to
look back and see what might have
affected the embryos.
Remember the manufacturer will
know their machine well and want it to
be successful so carefully follow their
handbook. All reputable incubators will
have a manufacturer’s name clearly
displayed and usually a help line plus a
clear manual.
INCUBATION PERIODS
Hens – bantams and large fowl 21 days
Ducks except Muscovy 28 days
Muscovy 35 days
Pheasant 23-24
Geese small breeds 30
Geese large breeds 33-35
Quail Japanese 16-17
Quail Bob White 23-24
Making the checks - candling
Quite simply, candling involves shining
a bright light through the eggshell to
see what is happening to the embryo.
Very basically, you are looking for the
development of the air sac. You can use
a torch or buy a purpose built candler.
They are not expensive and I think it is
well worth buying a decent candler if
you are going to do a lot of incubation,
perhaps the sort that the egg sits in
with a light underneath. Carry out the
candling as swiftly as possible so not
to disturb the air temperature within the
incubator too much.
First candle at 5-7 days to see if the
eggs are developing or if they are ‘clear’
(that is there is no embryo forming). You
should see red veins developing and
the beginning of the air sac at the broad
end of the egg. By the last few days of
the incubation period, this air sac will
take up about a third of the egg. A small
air sac means that there is too much
moisture in the air – the egg is not losing
sufficient moisture, while an over large
air sac means that there is not enough
moisture. Both conditions will lead to the
embryo being found dead in the shell.
Candle weekly, not more often.
Remove any clear eggs or anything at all
that smells.
Although its hard to get your eye in to
start with, as you do more you will learn
to spot the optimum size of the air sac.
Initially just look for a gradual increase in
the air sac at the broad end of the egg,
developing more quickly towards the
end of the hatch.
Incubators normally have a water tray
for adding water to increase humidity.
This can become a very technical
discussion – two things to remember
are to always consult the manufacturer’s
instructions for their machine – and
ducks are different to hens as regards Ê
January/February 2018 | 11
09/01/2018 12:10
 humidity so check that too and to
consider the humidity in the outside air.
In a humid season it might be you don’t
need to add water – indeed one of the
best hatches we ever had was when we
forgot to put water into the incubator!
Also consider the development of air
sacs as indicated above.
Hatching out
As before, consult your incubator’s
manual. Most machines have an inbuilt
hatcher. Normally you have to stop the
eggs turning and replace the rollers
with a hatching tray a day or so before
the eggs are due to hatch – another
reason for keeping good records. Some
machines recommend a slightly lower
temperature for hatching.
Before hatching comes the ‘pipping’
stage when the hatchling begins to
break through the shell. Do not try
to help them and keep the incubator
closed. It can take a day or so for a
duckling to fully emerge. There may
be times when intervention is possible
when you get more experienced but
the down side of helping is that early
intervention may cause blood to run and
the death of the hatchlings. Hatchlings
if fit enough to live, are usually fit
enough to get out of the egg on their
own. The only time you want to help
them is when they have made a hole in
the egg but not got any further for about
12 hours. If this is the case you can very
carefully help the hatchling. If there is
any blood when you break pieces off
the shell, stop and wait several hours.
Once hatched, the chicks or
ducklings should then be left in the
hatcher for a ‘rest’ of 24 hours or so
after hatching and remove them to a
brooding area. They are wet when they
emerge so need to dry. Any eggs not
hatched can be left for a few more days
just in case but a quick candling will tell
you what is really happening.
What happens in a hatching?
Around five days before hatching
chicks in the egg react to their mothers’
calls with quickening heartbeats. The
embryo moves so that the head no
longer rests between the legs. Now it
is tucked under the right wing, with the
beak facing the blunt end of the egg.
12 | SMALLHOLDING
Incubation Jan-Feb18.indd 28
The beak then enters into the airspace
at the blunt end and at this point the
chick starts to take in air through its
lungs. Soon after, the air supply is
improved through ‘pipping’ as the chick
forces a hole in the shell with its beak.
The lungs then become fully functional
and the membrane which lines the shell
and had previously allowed interchange
of gases, dries up.
Some 15- 40 hours after pipping,
the chick starts to work its way out
of the shell. It makes holes all round
the blunt end of the egg. The feet are
braced against the pointed end while
the chick continues to knock away with
the aid of the egg tooth on its upper
mandible. (This drops off within a few
days of hatching). The special hatching
muscle which develops on the back
of the head just before hatching also
disappears rapidly after hatching. The
chick rests between bouts of pushing
and eventually the shell end is weak
enough to be pushed off. It looks like
someone has neatly taken the end off
a boiled egg. Almost all birds follow the
same procedure.
TOP TIP
When buying an incubator the
distributor or seller should be
contactable by phone and have a FULL
trading address with a returns policy. It
is extremely helpful to be able to contact
a manufacturer for help and advice,
plus after sales service and of course
for spares if necessary.
Chicks which hatch in an advanced
state are known as precocial and they
start to call before hatching - in fact as
soon as the bill penetrates the airspace
at the end of the egg. Remarkably these
calls have a variety of functions, that
indicate distress and needs mother to
take action and roll or sit on the egg. The
broody bird communicates with the chick
so that it is used to her voice before
hatching. I have found that it does help
to talk to the hatching eggs to encourage
them, maybe it is just my imagination but
I think it makes a difference!
Dead in Shell
To find a dead duckling or chick folded
in the shell, almost ready to hatch is,
I think, one of the saddest parts of
incubation. It’s yet another reason for
keeping records. The only think you
can do for the dead chicks is to try and
work out what went wrong so it doesn’t
happen again. The cause is usually
that there is either too much or too
little humidity leading to the wrong size
air sac. More rarely the embryo is just
in the wrong position so it cannot pip
properly.
Other reasons are the incubator at
too high a temperature causing a weak
embryo or a small or misshapen egg
initially.
I have found that ducklings are much
more difficult to hatch in an incubator
than chicks or even guinea fowl. I
suspect that this is due to my inability
to get the humidity correct.
By giving the chicks a good start and
a stress free hatching, they are well set
up for the next stage that all important
rearing through the first few days and
weeks of life.
If you have a problem, why not
contact our panel of experts for some
advice? Please include as many details
as possible, as indicated in the record
keeping section above.
•
Check list
Always clean the incubator with an
approved sterilising product before
•• usefulness
Always ensure it is running correctly
before putting in the eggshell
Site the incubator in an area which
• has the least temperature fluctuations
Thoroughly read the user manual
There should be a manufacturer’s
address on the product or on the
instructions.
If there is not a manufacturer on the
incubator, this is where the internet is so
useful. Do a search for the incubator if
there is anything to go on – there should
be a website which if not UK based,
should have an English translation
and there should be a contact for the
manufacturer.
There should be a warning of
electrical safety hazards and recycling
symbols. If they are absent or imprecise
then it does not comply with EU
regulations and may be dangerous. SH
09/01/2018 12:10
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 New Year resolutions
Jessica Wombwell looks at improvement ideas to stick to
Keep nest boxes appealing to hens
E
very now and again we all think
that perhaps now is the time
to assess what we are doing
with the poultry and could there be
improvements? Although you may
recall doing plenty of homework when
first thinking about keeping chickens,
many of us fall into the same routine
and never think about whether or not
anything should be changed.
Apart from the traditional New Year
resolutions – most of which are never
kept for longer than a few weeks – it is
certainly a good time of year to think
about the poultry and whether they have
been a sound investment or how their
well-being could be bettered and the
work load lessened.
Firstly, think about what you have
and why you keep them? This may
seem rather obvious but quite often
we breed or are given chickens that
are surplus to our needs and it is only
a kind heart that agrees to look after
them.
As with any other livestock, fewer
are easier to look after than a lot! Look
at whether you can sell those that you
really don’t need or how you can cut
New year resolutions Jan/feb2018.indd 10
You may wish to replace non-productive
birds with point of lay pullets
back should you want a few more point
of lay pullets.
Generally smallholders keep chickens
for their eggs and although the birds are
not machines, depending on the breed
you keep, they will either provide you
with lots of eggs throughout the season
or just a few. If it is eggs for the kitchen
you are after then think about whether
you want immediate replacements
if your chickens go into the moult or
whether you are prepared to look after
them and wait until the next laying cycle
comes around. Whatever you decide
remember that all birds cost the same
to keep whether they are providing eggs
or not.
One of the most important issues
with keeping poultry is their environment
and protection from predators. Look at
your system and work out if it can be
improved?
In an ideal world it is a good idea
to have housing with a permanent pen
attached so that if you are away from
home for long periods or someone else
is looking after the birds you have peace
of mind that if in their enclosure they
will remain safe. To be fox proof the
surrounding fencing needs to be dug
into the ground by 2ft and the fencing
itself should be galvanised or if the
usual chicken wire, then doubled up
with rabbit wire along the lower part.
Foxes are capable of biting through the
two inch chicken wire but if the mesh
January/February 2018 | 15
09/01/2018 12:14
 Make sure your birds keep clear of scaly leg
Resolve to keep drinkers clean at all times
width is less than this they cannot
get their nose in far enough to begin
chewing.
Another way of making a penning
area more secure is to attach rabbit
fencing around the sides and then
another layer further down so that it can
then be stretched out along the ground
about 2ft and pegged down. The grass
will then grow through this wire and
foxes are unlikely to begin digging
further than 2ft from the perimetre
fencing in order to gain access.
Mobile units can be made more
secure by placing 2ft square paving
slabs around the unit and this will
prevent foxes from digging under
the pen. This is not as practical as
other solutions but certainly protects
the birds more than if the unit is just
standing on the ground.
Keep the poultry clean by removing
soiled bedding regularly. This will
ensure the birds and their eggs are
clean and presentable. It is also less
of a task if done regularly rather than
letting droppings and damp bedding
build up when it then becomes a much
bigger job.
16 | SMALLHOLDING
New year resolutions Jan/feb2018.indd 11
Keep the poultry house clean
Check that your layers are fed efficiently and safe from predators
Large font drinkers should provide
your birds with sufficient water for the
day and if stood on something that
keeps them just above the ground
there will be less contamination from
the birds scratching near the drinker.
All drinkers and feeders do need to be
cleaned and disinfected regularly.
Treadle feeders are becoming more
popular and these are really efficient.
Not only do they keep feed from being
wasted, wild birds and rodents are less
likely to take their share. Talk to your
agricultural merchant and find out what
brands of feed they sell or can get for
you. Look at the tickets on the bags
and see if the formulations are similar.
Check the prices because they do differ
between brands and if the ingredients
are still what you need for your birds
then you may be able to go for a
cheaper brand.
Use plastic dustbins for feed
storage. It will keep better than in
moisture retentive paper bags and
the feed will also be out of the way of
any rodents. Bait for rodents and keep
them at bay because disease as well as
feed wastage is caused by these pests.
Make sure though that any poisonous
bait put down is hidden and safe from
children, pets, wildlife and the poultry.
Look up the nearest vegetable
wholesaler for if birds are being kept
penned, for whatever reason, some
greenery hung up would be welcomed.
Large boxes of cabbages wholesale
will be cheaper than retail. Also, they
may be selling off some greenery even
cheaper if it has not been sold by the
time replacement products are due in.
Keep a separate calendar for
the poultry and write out a routine
veterinary care rota for the year. Regular
worming with Flubenvet, which is the
only licensed wormer for poultry will not
only keep the poultry clean internally it
will also help keep pasture fresher as
well. If you also write down when the
birds should be checked for external
parasites you are more likely to keep on
top of any problems that may occur.
Have some dates when you look
at maintenance of the housing and
regularly check for any signs of red
mite. Prevention is better than cure is
something that your poultry will really
benefit from. SH
09/01/2018 12:14
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 Coloured eggs
The coloured eggs really stand out in an egg box
T
he egg is one of our staple foods,
so much so that 12.6 billion of
them are eaten in the UK every
year according to The British Egg
Industry Council. Although the egg has
had its ups and downs over the years
it is now not only enjoying a healthy
revival and being promoted as such,
it is also quietly becoming extremely
fashionable in an increasing market for
speciality eggs.
No longer are the eggshells just
white or brown but varying pastel
shades are now available in a wide
range of outlets.
One of the largest producers of
coloured eggs is Clarence Court and
they refer to them as their ‘speciality’
eggs. In 1928 Clarence Elliot brought
back Jungle Fowl from Patagonia and
bred them with some pure breeds back
in Gloucestershire. Now the company is
able to rear chickens that lay blue eggs.
Essentially a Legbar, they have the
trading name of Old Cotswold Legbar.
The blue eggs are being commercially
successful and demand is increasing.
Croad Langshan ‘Victoria plum’ eggs Photo: Tracey Chubb
18 | SMALLHOLDING
Coloured eggs Jan-feb2018.indd 10
Janice Houghton-Wallace looks at whether
speciality eggs are a marketing trend
The inside of an Araucana eggshell is also blue
Adrian Gott, Managing Director of
Clarence Court said: “Eggs in general
and free-range in particular are being
purchased more often than ever before.
This trend is being driven by people
looking for the best quality products
– therefore having an impact on the
speciality eggs and Clarence Court
which are the high end of this category.
We know that hotels and restaurants
British blue eggs such as Claridges, The Goring, Hix etc
all feature our eggs on their menu which
builds trust and desirability among
consumers.”
Major supermarkets are also entering
the world of coloured eggs, with
Sainsburys having launched their British
Blue eggs earlier this year. Sainsbury’s
Taste the Difference Egg supplier, LG
Fairburns & Sons Ltd took genetics
from rare breed chickens and crossed
them with commercial egg laying birds
so that the blue eggs could be farmed
to sufficient scale.
A Lavender Araucana female James Curtis, Sainsbury’s Egg
Photo: Rupert Stephenson Buyer, said: “We’ve been working with
Legbar blue eggs
09/01/2018 12:16
er
Legbar chicken
our supplier Fairburn’s for five years
to make our Taste the Difference Egg
range really distinctive. The unique
British Blue breed produces an
amazing pastel blue shell egg with
a larger and more golden yolk. The
result is a delicious, rich tasting egg
that I’m confident will be really popular
with customers. I think they make a
weekend brunch, ‘Eggs-tra’ special.”
These blue eggs are also available
online with the Old Cotswold Legbar
eggs selling for £2.25 for six. The Taste
the Difference Free Range British Blue
eggs are £1.85 for six and 1p from
every dozen goes to the Woodland
Trust.
With pure breeds and some hybrids
producing a range of different coloured
eggs, such as white, cream, tinted,
brown, speckled, blue, green, olive
and plum, perhaps smallholders could
benefit from this trend?
Certainly an egg box of different
shades of eggs looks most attractive
and if selling at the gate or at a
farmer’s market could smallholders
gain from this demand?
The most notable breed for laying
blue eggs is the Araucana. The origin
of the Araucana hen is recorded by
Onelli in 1923 where he states:…
”beyond a doubt the hen laying blue-
shelled eggs came from South America
between 37 degrees and 43 degrees
latitude and the Pacific Ocean and
Andes Mountains. Several theories
have been offered as to how the blue
egg gene entered the native flocks of
Araucanas. One such by Castello in
1924 is that the Araucana hen was a
descendent of an ancient bird known
as the ‘American Pheasant’ as the blue
egg gene is found in some species
Coloured eggs Jan-feb2018.indd 11
A Rumpless Araucana female.
Could smallholders benefit
from this niche market?
of pheasant and not
others.
It is well documented
that traders who sailed
from Northern Europe
to Chile would carry
poultry on board ship for
fresh provisions. There are plenty
of anecdotes in the Hebrides and
Shetland Isles of trading ships carrying
blue egg laying hens which had been
exchanged for other commodities.
During the Second World War there
are stories of supply ships moored
off the West Coast of Scotland which
carried trays and trays of blue and
green eggs. By the end of the War
the Araucana breed was struggling
and in the 1948 Spring issue of The
Countryman Magazine, it mentions that
two hens, imported by Mr. Elliot were
being kept at Cambridge University.
To keep the breed going they were
mated with males of other breeds. At
Cambridge, it was Michael Pease who
created the auto-sexing Cream Legbar
which had a crest and laid blue eggs.
The Cream Legbar has become very
popular in recent years and can lay 180
blue eggs per year.
There is something specific
though that denotes whether a blue
egg is from a pure Araucana. If an
Araucana egg is cracked open and the
membrane peeled back, it will have the
blue colour on the inside of the shell
as well as the outside. This determines
an Araucana egg from other blue egg
laying breeds, which have a blue shell
on the outside and white
shell inside.
What is also
known is that the
blue egg gene
is dominant
and is linked
to the pea
comb and
an enzyme in
the liver. Poultry
keepers interested in
eggs of different colours
can therefore breed a blue egg laying
Araucana with a brown egg breed such
as Marans, Barnevelder or Welsummer
to produce distinctly deep olive
coloured eggs.
The Columbine hybrid has been
developed using the Cream Legbar,
so the eggs will mainly be a greenish
blue but a small portion will be pastel
coloured.
Another egg colour, that of the
Croad Langshan is classified as brown
but is also known as the ‘plum’ egg.
This is because the shade is a pinkish
brown with a bloom on it when newly
laid, reminiscent of the bloom on a
freshly picked Victoria plum. The hybrid
Bluebelle also lays a brown egg but
with a pink tinge.
By keeping some different coloured
egg laying beeds it should be possible
to sell into this trending niche market
with the premium that brings. SH
January/February 2018 | 19
09/01/2018 12:16
 Keep your
ducks happy

Wild mallard female at Slimbridge indicating her preference for one drake (to
her left). Unfortunately for the females, there is often a surplus of males

Understand their sex life and social behaviour to protect the females says Chris Ashton

D omesticated duck behaviour

is closely linked to that of their
cousin, the wild mallard. Even
though mallards have been tamed
and selected to make the many
different breeds we know today, the
domesticated duck’s natural year
is still controlled by the calendar.
Temperature and light affect the quality
of their feathers, and control their
seasonal ability to mate, lay eggs and to
reproduce. Their behaviour towards each
other is also governed by those factors.
It’s therefore very useful to understand
natural duck habits around the year in
order to keep your birds happy, protect
the females, provide the right food
ration, and to avoid problems.
Behaviour
Wild mallards will pair-bond from the
autumn into the breeding season, but are
said to pair only for that period because
the sexes generally split up when the
females sit. This division of the sexes
generally happens in species where the
young are able to forage for themselves
shortly after hatching and the female on
her own can provide for them.
Mallard populations generally have
an excess of males, probably caused
by predation upon sitting females, and
also by the behaviour of the males which
can even lead to the drowning of ducks.
Because of this imbalance in numbers,
not all males can obtain a mate, so
drakes have evolved complex displays
to attract females.
The male displays (in several species)
were originally described by the
German ethologist Konrad Lorenz, who
gave them descriptive names such as
‘grunt-whistle’ and ‘head-up-tail-up.’
These movements are practised by the
little Call ducks, but less so by Indian
Runners and other breeds.
In natural, wild populations, females
will court the most colourful mallard
partners. They will demonstrate, with
their inciting displays, which partner
they want. Even in domestic ducks, this
process will also start in the autumn
when young females will start their
inciting calls. A series of loud, single
note quacks denoted ‘gak’ indicate a
duck which is looking for a mate. These
calls are also very persistent in single
ducks in the early spring, and in ‘pairs’
of domesticated females kept together
as pets but looking for a mate!
Unattached young females will also
cruise around on the water looking for a
suitable drake. They adopt a behaviour
pattern known as ‘nod-swimming’
where the female swims forward, her
neck stretched out, low in the water,
before sharply bring it back. This
display, with the neck lowered, is similar
to the pre-copulatory pose, and is a

In the Head-Up-Tail-Up movement, the male suddenly

The grunt-whistle is a short display where the male raises out of the
water, pulls his head up, and literally gives a remarkable whistle,
followed by a grunt as he moves back into a normal posture. This is
often seen in groups of males showing off to females.
whistles while stretching his neck vertically, at the same
time raising the tail and lifting his folded wings. This pose is
usually performed in profile view to a specific female, and so
provides maximum visual impact of the iridescent speculum.
The male then turns his head to point the bill toward the
courted bird, and usually holds this rigid posture for a short
time as. He then lowers his head almost to the water and
swims rapidly past her in a manner called ‘nod swimming,’
and ends by raising his head and quivering his glossy green
head feathers toward the female.

20 | SMALLHOLDING

Ashton waterfowl Jan-Feb18.indd 20 09/01/2018 12:19

 SMALLHOLDING

The Carolina duck is in pre-copulatory pose to attract the drake before mating. Call ducks in particular, and Runners to some extent,
will perform this ‘nod-swimming’ to incite drakes to mate with them.When an unwanted male approaches a female, she will often
do a further inciting display. She swims (or runs, in the case of Indian Runners) after her preferred mate while producing a rapid
staccato series of quacks, and stabs her beak away from her chosen partner, downwards to her side.

stimulus for the males to display as well. using high-speed cameras, revealed ducks. There can possibly be more
Call ducks in particular, and Runners that a male Muscovy duck fully extends males in a group of birds which have
to some extent, will perform this ‘nod- his 20-centimeter penis in a third of been reared together because they treat
swimming’ to incite drakes to mate each other better. And it also works if
second, perhaps all the time he has with
with them. When an unwanted male the birds have a lot of free range with
a resisting female trying to escape him.
approaches a female, she will often do She also observed that species with interesting food to find.
a further inciting display. She swims more contentious sex lives, such as the In a more a confined group, just one
(or runs, in the case of Indian Runners) mallards, tend to have more elaborate male is essential because the ducks
after her preferred mate while producing genitals in both sexes. are at close quarters and females
a rapid staccato series of quacks, and Females have also evolved a way cannot get away. The style of ‘mating’
stabs her beak away from her chosen to resist unwanted males. Studies of can also cause damage. The drake
partner, downwards to her side. mallards show that, despite trying, ‘treads’ the duck, and hangs on to her
unwelcome males end up siring only head feathers to maintain his balance.
Mating in the breeding season a few percent of a female’s offspring. Feathers are often pulled off the head
Wild waterfowl generally mate on water, of the duck, and if several drakes are
Bends and twists in the female tract can
and it is thought that their genitalia have prevent the sperm from getting very farinvolved skin is damaged, and she
adapted to this environment. In poultry may even bleed. Eye damage can also
into the reproductive tract if she resists.
which mate on land, the male also So a male forcing himself on a female occur, and be followed by infection.
‘treads’ the females, but there are no would be less likely to sire her young.Where birds are well paired (i.e. one
external genitalia. The sperm from the male and one female), and males are
‘rooster’ is delivered when he spreads One drake per group not competing with each other, this is
his tail feathers and his cloaca (external During the coldest, darkest months, a more gentle affair. But several males
orifice) touches that of the female as a drakes are sometimes less interested in after the same duck will cause her a
‘cloacal kiss’. Clearly, this would risk mating; the weather and light conditions lot of distress and can even lead to
losing the penetration of sperm on water probably affect their hormones. prolapse of the oviduct. This means
as the ejaculate could get washed away. However, light-weight breeds of ducks that as she passes an egg, the lining of
Mallards and some other waterfowl such as Runners and Campbells will the egg tube (oviduct) is also pushed
are therefore among the few birds that continue to copulate throughout the outwards. There is often no solution to
have an insertable sperm-delivery organ winter. It is essential to have more this, and the female needs to be put
and drakes have evolved a log spiral- females in a group than males. A good down. Don’t allow your females to get
shaped penis to deliver the sperm along rule of thumb is to have only one male into this dangerous situation; they are
its length into the oviduct of the duck. per group – that can be a pair, a trio more vulnerable and more valuable than
Patricia Brennan of Yale University, or even a ratio of one male to seven the males. SH
◄ Not–so-elegant
treading on land …
and why you only
need one drake per
group of birds.
Photo –Jane Cole

► Mating on water
causes less physical
damage to the female,
but can lead to her
being pushed under
water and drowning.
Shallow pools are,
however, better for
domesticated birds,
and useful for better
fertility in heavy
ducks such as Rouen
and Aylesbury where
the water takes their
weight.

January/February 2018 | 21

Ashton waterfowl Jan-Feb18.indd 21 09/01/2018 12:19

 GOATS
Brush, platform/niche, podium, partition and extra rack
Harmonious Housing for Goats
Tamsin Cooper investigates research into goat-friendly accommodation
U
nless your goats are the closest
of friends or unusually mild
mannered, you’ll probably have
noticed skirmishes around hay racks,
troughs and within enclosed areas. This
is due to goats’ natural social strategy
of establishing a hierarchy to govern
which goats have priority access to
feed and prime locations. Subordinate
goats are expected to keep their
distance and out of the way of top-
ranking individuals. This is no problem
at pasture, but it can cause conflict
within the barn and around feed. In
restricted areas, subordinates are not
always able to get out of the way in
time, and may even get trapped in a
narrow space or dead end. The solution
involves providing facilities that allow
goats to take evasive action at any
time. You can space out feeding and
resting places, or provide furnishings
that allow goats to avoid confrontations.
Goat accommodation needs to meet
their social, physical and mental needs.
We would ideally provide them with a
natural environment, while maintaining
22 | SMALLHOLDING
Goat Tamsin Cooper.indd 20
© Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Tänikon
Structural Enrichment:
• Multilevel platforms
• Solid partitions
• Hiding/resting niches
• Wooden resting shelves
• Brushes
an efficient management system. Where
that is not possible, due to space or
practical restrictions, good design can
be the answer.
Designing for goats' needs
Goats need to be able to exercise
(walk, run, play, climb and jump),
socialize (interact with herd-mates and
establish hierarchy), rest comfortably
and maintain personal space. They
need to groom themselves for personal
hygiene and comfort, investigate their
environment to ensure that it is safe
and for mental stimulation, access
sufficient food and water, and hide or
escape when they feel threatened. Well-
designed enclosures can ensure that
goats can satisfy all these needs.
TAMSIN COOPER is a smallholder in north-
west France, where she keeps and writes about
goats. She follows the latest research in animal
behaviour and welfare, and mentors online
courses. Find her at www.goatwriter.com.
The basics are a dry, well-ventilated,
draught-free barn with good drainage
and access to an exercise yard or,
preferably, rotated pastureland. You
might find there is competition among
the goats to enter the barn or access
hay racks, and more vulnerable animals
may get stuck out in the rain. Moreover,
some animals may be frightened of
entering a dark, enclosed space. I have
found that providing a wide entrance or
two entrances and a light interior gives
goats more confidence to enter and an
escape route if they get chased.
Peace at the feed face
When feed is distributed, goats
compete for first choice, and conflict
often breaks out at feed racks and
stations where these are close together.
One solution is to space out feeding
stations and provide more stations
than goats. Friendly goats and females
that were raised together as kids may
eat side by side at proximities of half
to one metre. Most goats that have
been introduced as adults need much
09/01/2018 12:40
 Platform/niche and partition Small dairy platforms and divided niches
© Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Tänikon © Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Tänikon

more space, from one to four metres.

Alternatives investigated at the Centre
for Proper Housing of Ruminants
and Pigs, in Tänikon, Switzerland,
were to separate feed stations with
head spaces, use partitions between

© Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Tänikon

stations, place stations at different
levels, and put blinds inside the manger
between stations.
Solid partitions between feeding
places allowed subordinate goats to eat
alongside a higher-ranking individual
without fear of aggression. Reducing
visibility probably diminished the sense
of competition and invasion of privacy.
A length of 1.1 m was most effective,
but a space of 1.3 m is needed
between partitions to allow trapped
goats to escape. Shorter partitions (50
cm long) were also effective, but less
so, although they require less escape
space. A podium 80 cm high allowed
one goat to eat above but close to
Solid partition enables subordinates (right) to eat next to dominant (left)
another, safely out of horns’ reach.
A comparison of barriers used at palisades worked best as they allow diagonal fences slower to exit,
the feed face revealed that palisades good visibility of activity behind. As exposing them to increased risk of
were the most effective and resulted in metal structures require considerable aggression from other herd members.
less stress at feeding times. Underlings investment, wood could be used for Neck rails were less effective at
could quickly escape the approach home construction of this design. reducing conflicts as feeding places
of higher-ranking individuals. Metal Horned goats found neck rails and were not separated. Ê
© Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Tänikon

© Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Tänikon

Metal palisade with manger blinds Platforms and multiple racks reduce conflict in confined spaces

January/February 2018 | 23

Goat Tamsin Cooper.indd 21 09/01/2018 12:40

 Goats prefer to follow their herder

Podium with elevated rack Hay racks on different levels with podium Multiple racks with partitions

Respecting personal space

Horned goats were still reluctant to
feed beside a dominant herd member
whatever feed barrier was used, as they
continued to respect personal space
as required by the hierarchy. To ensure
that all goats get sufficient nutrition,
there are options. Equal-quality feed
can be distributed regularly, so that
when dominants have had their fill,
lower-ranking goats can take their turn.
Alternatively, goats can be locked into
the feed barrier during food distribution.
This is often done during milking. Solid
blinds within the manger between each
goat’s head prevent butting or biting
aggression between neighbours. Care
is needed to ensure that the blinds are
the right shape and size to prevent
Partitions define eating places and reduce butting
goats getting their horns stuck when
trying to butt their neighbours. of 70 cm and 125 cm were found perspective. The improvement in their
Trough height is also important, during trials to reduce conflict within welfare will also benefit your working
so that the goat is comfortable while the rest areas. experience and their health and
eating. The base should be at least 10 Platforms and partitions can be productivity. SH
cm from the ground. Feeding height economically constructed to divide
also affects how much distance goats interior space to allow goats to Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Tänikon:
will tolerate between each other. If circulate freely, avoid aggression, find ART 708, 727, 757 www.agroscope.admin.ch
there is bedding in the feed area, places to hide, avoid competition Keil, Nina M., et al. "Determining suitable dimensions for dairy
goat feeding places by evaluating body posture and feeding
you’ll need to make sure the distance while feeding, and rest with minimal reach." Journal of Dairy Science 100.2 (2017): 1353–1362.
between floor level and manger remain disturbance. Not only do they increase Sutherland, Mhairi A., et al. "Dairy goats prefer to use different
the same. It’s easier to position feed the floor space, they improve the flooring types to perform different behaviours." Applied Animal
Behaviour Science 197 (2017): 24–31.
racks on hardstanding and keep a quality of that space from a goat’s
separate rest area.

Rest and relax! CORRECTION

A rest and activity area that is divided The November/December 2017 edition of Smallholding included these
by partitions and podiums gives goats photographs on pages 21 and 22 with incorrect captions. We apologise for any
the opportunity to seek out safe confusion arising from the error. The correct captions should be as follows:
rest spots and avoid higher-ranking
individuals. It also allows them to
entertain themselves by climbing
and jumping. Solid partitions allow
lower-ranking individuals to hide
from aggressors and podiums allow
smaller goats to jump up out of the
way. Goats also like to rest high up
on solid surfaces with a good view
of surrounding activity. At times,
goats wish to retreat to a comfortable
Left: Sick goat lowers head and isolates himself This characteristic stance of lowered head and hunched
niche out of the way of rougher herd body is a clear sign that the goat is unwell. Sick goats are likely to refuse food, be lethargic and seek
members. Goats sometimes prefer to isolation, often facing a wall. They may also be oblivious to surrounding activity. The goat in this photograph
lie in straw, but often they prefer a solid had a temperature and was suffering from a systemic infection. If your goat looks like this, I would
surface, like wood, plastic or rubber. recommend first taking a rectal temperature and then telephoning the vet. Right: Relaxed while resting
Wooden pallets can be adapted to When a goat relaxes, facial muscles also relax. This often results in the ears drooping. Goats often chew cud
provide comfortable shelves for goats at this time. Ears may also droop while enjoying a grooming session. This is a good sign that your goat is
content and getting rest, which is necessary for efficient rumination.
to climb or sleep on. Different heights

24 | SMALLHOLDING

Goat Tamsin Cooper.indd 22 09/01/2018 12:41

 Societies and Clubs
SMALLHOLDER
If you are a smallholding or breed club secretary and want to be
inlcuded please send your details to smallholding.ed@kelsey.co.uk

British Goat Society South West Wales Goat Club British Angora Goat Society and Somerset Smallholders
01434 240866 Corrinne Stewart British Mohair Marketing Association
secretary@allgoats.com ploughcottage@sky.com 135 West Bawtry Road 01963 240268
www.allgoats.com southwestwalesgoatclub.co.uk Rotherham hello@somersetsmallholders.org.uk
South Yorkshire, S60 2XQ www.somersetsmallholders.org.uk
Anglo Nubian Goat Society The Highland Goat Club (HGC) Email:
Ray Edginton 01847851448 secretary@angoragoats-mohair.org.uk
01757618756 diane.meikle@btinternet.com www.angoragoats-mohair.org.uk
www.anglonubiangoatsociety.com highlandgoatclub.co.uk
Cambridgeshire Self
Sufficiency Group
www.cambs-ssg.co.uk

East Essex Smallholders

www.eastessexsmallholders.org.uk
Danielle.Perkins@yahoo.co.uk
New Zealand Arapawa Goat 07854595640
Association
Alison Sutherland
064063786686 Goat Genetics Suffolk Smallholders Society
alison@xtra.co.nz 01785824897 01449 711178
arapawagoats.org.nz info@goatgenetics.com wendy.brame@crumblycottage.co.uk
www.goatgenetics.com www.suffolksmallholders.co.uk
British Alpine Society
Joanne Smith Buttercups Goat Sanctuary West Sussex Smallholders Club
01246 854898 01622 746420 01403 783849
annithgoats@googlemail.com enquiries@buttercups.org.uk chairman@westsussexsmallholders.
www.britishalpines.co.uk www.buttercups.org.uk Fenland Goatkeepers and co.uk
Smallholders Club (FGSC) www.westsussexsmallholders.co.uk
English Goat Breeders Association Scottish Southdown Breeders' secretary@fgsc.org.uk
Linda Doyle 01926 814214 Group www.fgsc.org.uk Rare Breeds Survival Trust,
egba.org.uk Jacqui and Mary Watson Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth,
01888544710 Cheshire Smallholders Association Warwickshire CV8 2LG
The Harness Goat Society raremary@gmail.com Lesley Gallagher Tel: 024 7669 6551
Angela Rickerby www.facebook.com 01928 740212 Email: enquiries@rbst.org.uk
01886 832294 www.cheshiresmallholders.org.uk membership@rbst.org.uk
angelarickerby@advantagemail.co.uk www.rbst.org.uk
www.harnessgoats.co.uk Devon Association of Smallholders
Mark Hajdukiewicz Regional Field Officers for RBST
Old English Goats Society 01237 451186 Richard Broad - South West England,
Denny Pearson info@devonsmallholders.co.uk Wales & Northern Ireland
01223290875 www.devonsmallholders.co.uk Tel: 07772 007399
dennyallan@yahoo.co.uk Email: r.broad@rbst.org.uk
British Alpaca Society Dyfed Smallholders Ruth Dalton -
The Pygmy Goat Club For all things Alpaca 01559 384412 Northern England & Scotland
Sharon Davies The Secretary www.dyfedsmallholders.org.uk Tel: 07880 584551
0140 924 1993 0845 331 2468 Email: ruth@rbst.org.uk
sharondavies9853@btinternet.com secretary@bas-uk.com Kent Smallholders Tom Blunt - Midlands,
www.pygmygoatclub.org www.bas-uk.com 01959 523098 East & South East England
Christine-fuller@live.co.uk Tel: 07794 714197
Beds& Herts Goat Society The South West Alpaca Group www.kentsmallholders.co.uk Email: tomblunt@rbst.org.uk
Doreen Pardian Jo Mcmanus
01234 740365 07866516020 Lincolnshire Smallholders
doreen.padian@btinternet.com josimon@weaverswood.co.uk and Self Sufficiency Club
www.swagroup.org.uk 01476 879026
Kent Goat Club National Sheep Association, www.lsssc.org.uk
Rachel Fox The Sheep Centre, Malvern, Shropshire Smallholders
Tel 07976214903 Worcestershire, WR13 6PH 01588 640538
rachelfoxuk2002@yahoo.co.uk 01684 892661 mel.grergory@btinternet.com
www.allgoats.com www.nationalsheep.org.uk shropshiresmallholdersgroup.org

January/February 2018 | 25

Directory and clubs.indd 25 09/01/2018 15:27

 BREED FOCUS
Greyface Dartmoor sheep
Greyface Dartmoor ewe and lamb (Photo: Lewis Steer)
HELEN BABBS finds out about this hardy West Country breed.
T
here are several breeds of sheep
native to the West Country, but
the most lovable has to be the
Greyface Dartmoor. Behind their big,
kind eyes and smiling grey noses, the
“Greyfaces” have an affectionate and
endearing temperament. “I’ve only
known one ram,” says Shaun Smith,
who keeps a small flock at Harcourt
Rare Breeds in Warwickshire. “He’s like
all the Greyfaces, not a nasty bone in
his body. He’s a clown, who loves to
be fussed.” This good nature isn’t just
towards the man with the food bucket.
“They’re extremely sociable and have
a strong bond between mum and
offspring. I’ve been kept awake at night
by them chatting from one side of the
field to the other; they don’t seem to be
able to whisper into each other’s ear!”
The gentle sheep
Lewis Steer, who keeps 65 Greyface
Dartmoors near Chudleigh in Devon,
agrees with this description of their
character. “They are a very docile
breed, that come to the bucket readily
26 | SMALLHOLDING
Grey face Dartmoor Jan-Feb18.indd 26
once they are used to it. We take our
Dartmoors to lots of country, craft and
design shows where they draw the
crowds and seem to enjoy the attention
and a good scratch behind the ears!”
Greyface Dartmoors combine their
good nature with a medium size: ewes
typically weigh 60-70kg, and the rams
75kg or more. They are deep bodied,
with short legs, and both rams and
ewes are naturally polled.
As might be expected for sheep with
“Dartmoor” in their name, Greyfaces
are a hardy breed, and are also
reputed to be more resistant to foot-
rot. “In terms of bad weather, they will
withstand pretty much anything thanks
to their amazing fleece,” says Lewis.
“However, although they have Dartmoor
in their name, they were not bred for
the high moor but rather the valleys
and peripheries of the moor, where
the grass is of a better quality and the
weather a tad better.” Consequently,
Greyfaces are usually listed with upland
breeds, but are not officially classified
as a “Hill Breed.”
The quite large size of Greyface
Dartmoors for such an upland breed
is in part attributable to 19th century
“improvement” work, when Leicester
longwools were brought in and crossed
with the native Dartmoor hill sheep.
The Greyface Dartmoor, distinguished
by its dark grey muzzle and strong,
hard-wearing white wool, traditionally
supplied the Devon serge cloth and
blanket industries. Sadly their numbers,
like those of many native British sheep
breeds, declined throughout the 20th
century. The Greyfaces today are listed
as a “Minority” breed by the RBST, with
under 3000 pedigree breeding ewes.
Great big coats
For their size, Greyface Dartmoors
produce a lot of wool, averaging 7-9kg
or more annually. This heavy fleece
grows in thick locks, 25-30cm long,
all over their bodies, ears, faces and
legs. On the shearling lambs, the fleece
is distinctly curly, similar to that of
Cotswold sheep or mohair goats. Only
their grey spotted noses and dark feet
09/01/2018 12:44

Greyface Dartmoor ewe in full fleece
are wool-less. Just before the annual
shearing, the front and rear view of a
Greyface Dartmoor aren’t very different!
This can present a problem with the
sheep getting stuck on their backs, or
“cast,” when in their full fleeces. “In the
past two years, we have started shearing
twice a year, in May and then again
in September,” Lewis explains. “The
winters seem to be getting ever milder
and as our flocks go away in winter to
the coast, the lighter fleece seems to
help prevent them going cast as much.”
Their thick coats also mean Greyface
Dartmoors need regular dagging. “They
do need dagging in order to prevent
fly strike,” says Lewis. “Prevention is
always better than cure, so I always
ensure the dagging of our flock is kept
on top of.”
The creamy white wool is classifed as
“lustre longwool,” with typical fineness
of 40 microns, at the coarser end of the
range usually popular with handspinners.
Lewis has his Greyface Dartmoor wool
blended with that from his Blue-faced
Leicester flock, to produce a range of
soft but strong, 100% British knitting
yarns. The hard-wearing nature of the
Greyface Dartmoor fleece also means the
whole sheepskins make excellent rugs.
The heavy coats are fully weatherproof
Grey face Dartmoor Jan-Feb18.indd 27
Greyface Dartmoor sheep have a short-legged, deep bodied build
“ The hard-wearing nature of the
Greyface Dartmoor fleece also means the
whole sheepskins make excellent rugs.
Gourmet meat
As with many traditional breeds,
Greyface Dartmoors produce excellent
meat in addition to their wool. Although
the lambs are small at birth, they
grow rapidly, so can reach a saleable
dead-weight early. However, Greyface
lambs can also be kept on longer, to
reach a much larger size for slaughter
as hogget or even mutton, since they
tend to remain lean. “I sell the meat
via a meat-box scheme,” says Lewis.
Called “The Dartmoor Shepherd”, his
meat-box business sells fresh lamb to
“gastro pubs” and restaurants in Devon,
and direct to consumers throughout
the UK. This is pedigree Greyface
Dartmoor meat, but Greyface ewes can
also be bred with a terminal sire of
a commercial breed, such as a Texel,
to produce a fast-growing cross-bred
lamb.
There's a strong bond between mother and lambs
SMALLHOLDING
”
Feeding the flock
To support this high productivity,
Greyface Dartmoor sheep need good
feeding. “Many people think that as
they have ‘Dartmoor’ in the name,
Greyfaces can live off poor grazing with
no supplement feeding,” explains Lewis.
“In my experience, this is not the case.
Whilst they can cope with grazing that
isn’t the best, they tend to need a trickle
of feed to ensure they keep in good
condition through the winter, and before
and after lambing. Some hay when the
grass stops growing is always a good
bet too.”
For their mineral needs, Lewis prefers
to use mineral boluses. “I bolus all
of our ewes before tupping and after
lambing, therefore ensuring the ewe
is always getting the correct level of
minerals.”
Ê
(Photo: Lewis Steer)
January/February 2018 | 27
09/01/2018 12:44
 BREED FOCUS Greyface Dartmoor sheep

Fleece grows in thick, dense locks The newborn lambs are quite small

Breeding
With their sociable nature, Greyface
Dartmoors make good mothers. Ewes
may have twins or single lambs. As
they are good milkers, they can easily
rear twins. “We lamb indoors, usually
at 125% with the Greyfaces,” says
Lewis. “On the whole they do well.
However, it’s important to ensure the
wool around the ewes’ back ends and
udders is well trimmed prior to lambing,
so the lambs can find the udder
through their massive coat!”
Although they grow fast when lambs,
Greyface Dartmoors are quite slow
maturing, taking up to three years to
reach maturity. This does turn into a
good point for those who are looking
for a long-lasting small flock, as
Greyfaces go on to be long-lived. “We
have some ewes here that are seven
or eight years old and still doing well,”
Lewis says. “However, I know of others
with sheep far older, although they are
kept as pets not working ewes.”
Show time
Perhaps it’s the friendly sheep they
keep, but the Dartmoor Sheep Breeders
Association is also very welcoming and
helpful. “The Association is always
eager to welcome and encourage
new members who share a passion
and interest in our lovely breed,” says
Lewis, who is a councillor for the
DSBA. Show classes for Greyface
Dartmoors are common throughout
the UK. There’s always a warm and
friendly atmosphere, despite the
competitive situation, making your local
show a good place to start meeting
nearby Greyface breeders – and get a
few smiles from these charming sheep.
For more information about the
breed and upcoming shows and sales,
visit the Dartmoor Sheep Breeders
Association website at:
www.greyface-dartmoor.org.uk SH

Greyfaces are inquisitive and The breed is named for its

friendly (Photo: Lewis Steer) dark grey nose
(Photo: Lewis Steer)

Left: Greyfaces are very friendly within the flock Right: The breed is suited to lower hills and valleys rather than high moorland

28 | SMALLHOLDING

Grey face Dartmoor Jan-Feb18.indd 28 09/01/2018 12:44

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 PIGS
Tail Biting in Pigs
Richard Remmer from animal nutrition experts, DSM, looks at
this long standing issue and suggests ways to prevent it.
T
he problem of tail biting in pigs can
occur in all types of production
systems as well as in smallholding
units. The incidence varies widely, can
start for no apparent reason, and can
just as easily stop. However, once it
starts to occur within a batch of pigs the
numbers of affected pigs can increase
rapidly if intervention does not happen
quickly. Legislation does not allow
routine tail docking and states that it
should only be done as a last resort after
all other measures to prevent tail biting
have been proved ineffective.
There has been a huge amount of
research done into the causes of and
methods of preventing tail biting but it
remains a complex area with no silver
bullet with which to stop it. There
seems to be three different behavioural
types and the factors, which appear to
influence each type.
30 | SMALLHOLDING
Pigs jan-feb18.indd 30
DSM are leading suppliers of: vitamins, carotenoids, eubiotics,
and feed enzymes to the global feed industry, helping farmers
tocost-effectively improve animal welfare, optimise growth,
feed conversion rates, heath and breeding performance.
These are as follows:- frequency of aggressive behaviour
Two Stage – consists of an initial between pigs. Poorly located drinkers
pre-damaging stage during which and feeders can lead to increased
the pig appears to play with the tail competition for food and water thus
and is non-aggressive. It is thought increasing aggression leading to
to be a substitute for rooting and sudden-forceful tail biting.
foraging behaviour when the animals High stocking density or reduced
are in a barren environment. Gastric lying areas can lead to both two stage
ulcers causing discomfort has been and sudden-forceful tail biting as it is
suggested to increase this type of more difficult for the pigs to get away
behaviour. This is followed by a from aggressors leading to increased
damaging stage during which the aggression. However this is less likely
tail skin is broken causing bleeding, to happen in a smallholding situation,
which can attract other pigs causing a unless weather conditions are dictating
potential escalation of the problem. enforced confinement.
Sudden-forceful tail biting – results Changes to the environmental
from a shortage of resources such as conditions such as lighting, new
food, water or enrichment materials stockman, feed composition and
causing frustration and aggression. feeding frequency can all lead to
Obsessive tail biting – likely to be increased stress causing aggression.
linked to individual pigs and is fanatical The climate within the building
and obsessive. Pigs that exhibit this can play a very important role in pig
type of behaviour are likely to be husbandry. Temperature changes,
smaller than average and may have build-up of certain gases, humidity
some underlying health or digestive and dust lead to discomfort,
tract issues. increasing stress levels. Thermal
stress has been shown to increase
Factors linked to tail biting. Particularly large variations
incidences of tail biting in temperature such as those seen
Housing and environment between night and day in spring
This area covers a wide range of and autumn can be a trigger. These
factors, which can arguably be seen to temperature changes are likely to affect
be some of the most important causes. the ventilation within the house and the
The design of the pen may play a role airflow resulting in potential draughts
as it can influence the degree and or gas build up. Sub-optimal humidity
09/01/2018 12:46

and poor ventilation, leading to high
ammonia and carbon dioxide levels,
will cause the pigs to be stressed and
potentially induce tail-biting.
Enrichment of the environment
has been shown to reduce two
stage tail biting indicating that it
is a form of misdirected foraging
and rooting behaviour. This can be
achieved by placing objects in the
pen that provide a continued interest
to the pigs. These should ideally
be destructible, ingestible but not
something, that can be removed from
a point of attachment i.e. contained
Pigs jan-feb18.indd 31
or suspended. They should not be
easily soiled so that they become
uninteresting. Suspended logs, plastic
pipes and balls are all potentially
beneficial. Pigs with access to straw
often have a lower incidence of tail
biting as it can be played with and
eaten but should be replenished often
so it remains clean. When adding
items to the pen it is important
to add enough in order to ensure
sufficient access, otherwise they may
inadvertently create the opposite
effect. Tyres should not be used as the
wire in them may injure the pigs.
Diet and Feeding
It has long been thought that the diet
can have an influence on the incidence
of tail biting. Restricted feeding causing
lack of gut fill or an imbalanced
feed can lead to increased foraging,
which in a confined environment can
manifest itself as tail biting, so in this
case introduce a higher fibre diets and
access to straw to reduced misdirected
foraging behaviour
A low salt level in the feed has
often been thought to be a cause
and is routinely increased in tail biting
outbreaks. Pigs fed lower salt levels
have demonstrated higher levels of
rooting behaviour but this did not result
in higher incidences of tail biting Salt-
seeking is a stress response shown
in animals due to the stress causing
increased sodium excretion suggesting
stressed pigs may have higher foraging
behaviour and be at a greater risk of tail
biting.
Similarly, increasing the magnesium
level has also been thought to be
beneficial effects on pig welfare.
Nutritional imbalances can result in
increased foraging behaviour as the
pigs look for missing nutrients. This
can result in two stage tail biting. Low
energy and low protein diets have led to
pigs showing a stronger preference for
a blood soaked tail model. Amino acid
imbalances have also been shown to
increase the incidence of tail biting.
January/February 2018 | 31
09/01/2018 12:46
 PIGS
How the pigs are fed will affect both
two stage and sudden-forceful tail
biting. Lack of feed or delay in feeding
will induce stress leading to aggression
and potentially tail biting. Many farmers
have seen feeder and drinker problems
as causes of tail biting. Pigs fed using
an automated feeding system are more
likely to exhibit tail biting than hand
fed pigs. Ad-lib feeding and multiple
feeding spaces in a house reduce the
incidence of tail biting (Any factor,
which reduces competition for food, will
reduce aggression and potentially the
incidence of tail biting
Health and Genetics
Liquid and meal fed pigs have been
shown to have lower incidences of
tail biting from farm surveys when
compared to pellet fed animals.
Pelleted feeds are associated with
higher gastro-intestinal discomfort
as a result of increased stomach
ulcers. These conditions increase the
motivation to chew and hence the
tendency to tail bite.
Health status of pigs can also
increase the level of tail biting with a
strong link existing between sudden-
forceful tail biting and respiratory
disease, possibly due to discomfort
and inability to move causing frustration
32 | SMALLHOLDING
Pigs jan-feb18.indd 60
leading to aggressive behaviour.
Disease will lead to uneven growth
rates and varying sizes of pigs within a
group leading to sudden-forceful and
obsessive type tail biting behaviour.
Parasites can cause discomfort leading
to higher levels of aggression and
potentially sudden-forceful tail biting.
Certain breeds appear to be
more pre-disposed to tail biting than
others are with traditional Yorkshire
and Landrace having higher levels.
There also appears to be a link with
lean tissue growth rate and back fat
thickness, with leaner faster growing
pigs showing higher incidences of tail
biting.
Summary and
conclusions
It is clear that tail biting is unlikely to
be caused by one factor alone and
that it is probably due to a combination
of several factors coming together at
a particular point in time. There are
however certain important points that
should be noted:-
• Offending pigs should be removed
from the group as soon as possible
• Tail bitten pigs should be removed
as soon as possible and treated as
necessary
• Ensure optimal stocking density
• Maintain a stable climatic environment
in the house as far as practical
• Reduce stress levels
• Provide environment enrichment,
straw where possible on a daily basis
• Provide adequate access to feed
and water
• Feed a nutritionally balanced diet
matched to the age/weight of the pigs
• Maintain a high health status
For further information, please contact
Richard Remmer (richard.remmer@dsm.
com) or visit our website www.dsm.
com/animal-nutrition-health SH
HDB Pork has
published a guide
to help producers
provide the best
environmental
enrichment within
a wide variety
of housing and
systems.
Its practical Guide to
Environmental Enrichment for Pigs
is now available in hard copy and
online
www.pork.ahdb.org.uk/research-innovation
09/01/2018 12:46
 The Welsh Pig
T he pedigree Welsh Pig is fast
re-establishing itself as the
smallholders choice. Of the 128
registered herds, 85 have a breeding herd
size 1-5 ie 66% with a further 19 herds
with a size of 6-9, ie 14%.
The history of the Welsh Pig denotes
its roots as a smallholder's pig in South
and West Wales. Prior to 1922 the breed
was represented by two societies, the
Glamorgan Pig Society in the South and
the Welsh Pig Society for West Wales.
The two societies amalgamated in 1922
and the Society was later taken in under
the wing of the National Pig Breeders
Association in the early 1950s.
The Welsh Council of the National
Pig Breeders Association opened a
supplementary register for the Welsh
Herd Book in 1953 whereby certain
highly selected landrace boars of welsh
type could, on inspection, be mated with
welsh sows. The progeny resulting from
this mating was eligible for entry into a
supplementary register of the Welsh Herd
Book. Selected gilts from this mating
could then be served by Welsh boars with
the resulting progeny eligible for entry in
the Welsh Herd Book.
This was a marriage made in heaven
with many people believing that the welsh
and landrace were one and the same
breed anyway. James Baker, the well
known historian maintained that there
were physical similarities which were
unique to the welsh and landrace breeds.
James Baker maintained that the only
indigenous pig in Scandinavia was the
wild boar. His theory was that the Vikings
favoured raiding Wales and carried off the
welsh pigs. After many years of progeny
testing in Scandinavia, resulting in the
landrace as we know it, who knows?
33 Welsh Pigs.indd 33
The Welsh Pig became extremely
popular during the period 1950-1980.
The supreme championships at the
Royal Smithfield Show, Earls Court, were
dominated by Welsh breeders during this
period, as they were at most summer
shows throughout the country.
The points tables at progeny testing
stations were regularly topped by Welsh
Boars at this time.
In 1954, 1363 Welsh Boars and 3738
females were registered. By 2002, only
82 Welsh Pigs were registered. This
fall from grace came about mainly
due to a concerted campaign by the
multi- national feed companies offering
package deals in many guises including
the supply of hybrid breeding stock. At
the same time this was going on, the pig
industry authority was advising breeders
that to show a profit they should adapt
to a system whereby sows are chained
in stalls thus restricting the movement,
therefore saving energy and reducing
food requirements.
The sows were then to be taken from
the stalls and put into farrowing crates
to farrow. The piglets could then be
weaned into incubators at 2-3 weeks old,
allowing the sow to return to be chained
up in stalls and served, Thank goodness
that this system has been banned in this
country for some time!
This situation brought about the
demise of large numbers of top pedigree
herds of all breeds. This led eventually to
the Welsh breed being designated a rare
breed despite its illustrious past.
I greatly admire the dedicated band
of super welsh breeders who soldiered
on despite adversity to keep the breed
going. Their hard work and dedication
is recognised by the National Welsh
Assembly Government who in 2009
supported the formation of the Pedigree
Welsh Pig Society.
The Society has a dedicated project
manager backed by a council of very
experienced practical breeders who in
turn are backed up by a network of field
officers covering the country. The field
officers are there to help and advise on
all aspects of the pedigree welsh pig. It is
not surprising that with all the society has
to offer that there is so much interest.
Things that we should know
about Pedigree Welsh Pigs
• Excellent mothering ability with low
piglet mortality
• Fast live weight gain with a good
feed ratio
• Sufficient back fat to retain a real
pork flavour
• Hardy outdoor breed
• Quality carcass
• Excellent crossing potential
with other breeds
Points to remember
• The stall system that is banned in this
country is now being made illegal in the
EU too to technically give the opportunity
of competing on a level playing field.
• When buying pork from a supermarket
marked British, the chances are that it
has been imported and reared under
conditions banned in this country as it
was pre- packed only in this country, not
reared. This is an absolute scandal.
If you are thinking about pig keeping
– think Pedigree Welsh Pigs. Together we
can bring back some of our former status
and enjoy some very special pork and
pork products. SH
January/February 2018 | 33
09/01/2018 12:47
 What you’ve always wondered about biodynamics…
Communications manager for the Biodynamic Land Trust
E
very smallholder wants to create
compost and return goodness to
the earth. Biodynamic methods
help make it happen. A biodynamic
smallholding aims to grow healthy
crops without fertilisers, herbicides
and pesticides, using natural biological
methods such as companion planting
for pest protection, and crop rotations to
build soil fertility. So far, so organic. But
biodynamic goes that bit further.
Using herbal-based preparations
and a moon and planet-related planting
calendar, the biodynamic smallholder can
put more back into the land than they
take out, develop compost teeming with
life, and encourage plants to reach their
potential.
Author and broadcaster Tom
Petherick is an inspector for organic
and biodynamic certification schemes.
After a lifelong interest in organic farming
(he helped restore the Lost Gardens of
Heligan), he started experimenting with
biodynamic methods on his 10-acre
smallholding in 2007.
“The attraction to biodynamic is
34 | SMALLHOLDING
Land and PeopleJan-Feb18.indd 34
by Elisabeth Winkler
the mix between the spiritual and the
scientific,” says Tom Petherick. “It is
the science behind it which makes
biodynamic growing such a stand-
out. Trialling can be done, and cause
and effect observed. It’s complex and
deep. Even after ten years of growing,
my biodynamic journey is just getting
going.”
Science can now demonstrate that
biodynamic methods work. According
to the the world’s longest-running trial
comparing organic and conventional
farming systems (Biodynamic, Organic
and Conventional or DOK crop
systems trial in Therwil, Switzerland),
biodynamic soils are higher in biodiverse
microbial activity than organic ones,
and supersede organic soils for drought
resistance and carbon capture.
Biodynamic farming was born from
eight lectures on agriculture given
on a Silesian farm estate by Austrian
philosopher Rudolf Steiner in 1924.
He was invited by German farmers
concerned with the decline of soil fertility
due to the advent of chemical farming.
Steiner’s agricultural lectures outlined
a set of practices and principles for
sustainable farming. It was at about
the same time that the father of
organic farming, Sir Albert Howard,
was learning traditional methods from
farmers in India. Steiner, who grew up in
rural Croatia suggested practices both
traditional and new. “Steiner’s idea was
to make the farm self-generating and
sustainable, and furthermore, harness
the forces within nature to do so,” says
Tom Petherick.
Today, biodynamic farming has
developed into a methodology, and
its basic requirements spelled out in
the international Demeter standards
of farming. Founded in 1928, Demeter
is the world’s first ecological farming
trademark.
Demeter
Used in over 50 countries, Demeter
(Biodynamic) Certification verifies
that biodynamic products meet
international standards in production
and processing. Its trade mark is legally
09/01/2018 13:57

Weekly farm clubs on Huxhams Cross Farm
registered in many countries including
the EU. Regulated in the UK by the
Biodynamic Agriculture Association
(BDA), biodynamic standards stand
upon legally-enshrined EU organic
… standards. Biodynamic farmers wishing
for Demeter accreditation must first
comply with organic regulations (two-
year conversion), then biodynamic
requirements (additional one-year
conversion).
Biodynamic compliance requires the
use of eight herbal-based preparations.
Two preparations, Horn Manure (500)
and Horn Silica (501), are added to the
soil and plants through field sprays,
while the remaining six (502 - 507),
based on yarrow, camomile, stinging
nettle, oak bark, dandelion and valerian,
are used to treat the compost heap (or
to make an additional culture that can
be used as a field spray). Smallholding
will look at biodynamic preparations in
future issues.
Land and PeopleJan-Feb18.indd 35
Biodynamic calendar - a
new science of timing
The calendar is now in its 56th year.
Inspired by Steiner making a connection
between planetary forces and plant
growth, German farmer, Maria Thun
(1922 - 2012) experimented with the
planetary effects on planting, sowing
and harvesting. Traditional farming has
long used lunar almanacs for successful
farming. Thun’s calendar goes that
much further to include constellations
and planetary alignments.
Marina O’Connell has been using
biodynamic methods for thirty years.
After setting up Dartington Hall’s
School Farm in the 1980s, she started a
smallholding in Essex from scratch and
is now farming 34-acre Huxhams Cross
Farm near Totnes in South Devon using
biodynamic farming with permaculture
design.
Although using the calendar is not
mandatory for Demeter certification,
SMALLHOLDING
Tom’s Top Tips
• The calendar is a good way into
biodynamics. Plant your beans on a
fruit day using the calendar in the sky
like the old ways
• Find a local biodynamic group to
meet experienced people generous
with their knowledge
• Use common sense and test
biodynamics through your own
experience.
• The Biodynamic Association is
your portal to all things biodynamic
including the preparations and
calendar www.biodynamic.org.uk/
Marina believes it has many benefits for
farmers and smallholders. She explains
how it used.
“The biodynamic calendar observes
the waxing and waning 27-day cycle
of the moon, or the synodic cycle, and
January/February 2018 | 35
Ê
09/01/2018 13:58
 The farm team: Marina O'Connell,
Bob Mehew and Dave Wright

Bob Mehew, farm manager, serving customers at Totnes Friday market

Bob Mehew packing the weekly local

the sidereal cycle when the moon is “in
front” of the constellations that make
up the zodiac. The moon takes about
one month to rotate through the signs
of the zodiac and these are divided into
four groups: water, earth, air, and fire.
“In the sidereal – from the Latin
sidus or star – system of growing,
work is focused on leaf crops when the
moon is in a water sign, on roots when
the moon is in an earth sign, on flower
crops when in an air sign, and on fruit
and seed when in a fire sign. Although
this might seem implausible to the
modern mind, it has been in practice
for millenia. In my experience farmers
only continue a practice if it has some
practical benefit.”
Huxhams Cross Farm
Three years ago the 34-acre farm
was bare land, depleted by chemical
farming. Now it is a hub of activity, both
below and above ground. Thanks to
biodynamic farming methods, the soil
is becoming carbon-rich and fertile.
Marina O’Connell and her farm team
plus volunteers have raised a barn
and planted over 3,000 trees and over
2,000 soft fruits plants and produced
veg and produce bag for delivery.
the first harvest of a large variety of
vegetables. The farm manages weekly
learning-by-doing farming activities for
local children, and a local food delivery
service including biodynamic eggs from
their mobile flock of 100 White Leghorn
chickens. Marina uses permaculture
design to plan the layout of the farm,
water systems and energy uses.
The farm is secured in community
ownership for generations to come,
thanks to community investment, and
is looking for further investment for
an on-farm building. The low-carbon
building will have a kitchen so it can
offer farm-to-fork cookery classes for
children and adults, and turn excess
fresh produce into jams, juices and
chutneys. In addition, it will offer
training in permaculture and biodynamic
farming methods.
Invest for Huxhams Cross
Farm with the Biodynamic
Land Trust
The Biodynamic Land Trust secured the
land in 2015, and rents Huxhams Cross
Farm on a long lease to Marina and
the Apricot Centre team. A charitable
community benefit society, the
Biodynamic Land Trust offers community
shares for investment in Huxhams
Cross Farm to de-commodify the land
and secure it in community ownership.
Investing in the Biodynamic Land Trust
creates biodynamic organic farms held in
trust for future generations, to revitalise
nature, local food systems and the rural
economy.
www.biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk/huxhams
Rudolf Steiner
The Austrian philosopher, Rudolf
Steiner (1861-1925), wrote 30
books and gave over 6,000 lectures
throughout Europe, developing a
philosophy called anthroposophy
(anthropo = human, sophia =
wisdom). The belief that all beings
can develop their inner-potential
founded an education system (Waldorf
or Steiner schools), a therapeutic
movement for people with learning
disabilities (Camphill communities),
anthroposophic medicine, an arts
movement (eurythmy) and biodynamic
farming.

36 | SMALLHOLDING

Land and PeopleJan-Feb18.indd 36 09/01/2018 13:58

 Work with wildlife for a thriving environment
It will make life easier for everything says Liz Wright
S ometimes called biodiversity, the
environment or the ecosystem,
there is a range of living beings
that inhabit our world that deserve our
care and consideration. From a practical
point of view, we and they are all part of
an ecosystem and so often if a link in that
eco system is lost, the whole chain goes
down which can lead to conditions where
food cannot be produced. There are studies
done recently that show a very real risk
of soils being too exhausted to grow food
in sixty years time – and the one thing we
cannot reproduce is soil! On an moral level,
it is our duty to share this earth, not push
everything except our species, out of it.
First steps in improving conditions for
wild life is to identify what you already
have. Keep a notebook of the birds you
see, the insects and mammals and learn to
identify them. Conserving wildlife doesn’t
just happen on the plains of a far away
country, we can play our part in our gardens
whatever their size.
Bumblebees are well known to gardeners
and a real sign of summer. There are 25
native species of bumblebees but already
three species have become nationally
extinct with five on the UKBAP list and two
more scheduled for inclusion. Numbers of
the others are down. This is due to the loss
of many traditional farming habitats and the
increased use of pesticides, though now
these are much more tightly controlled.
They get the most nectar from traditional
cottage garden flowers and the least from
annual bedding plants such as pelargonium,
begonia and busy lizzies. In early spring
your fruit trees such as apple, cherry, pear
and plums will attract them and then in early
summer they enjoy thyme and chives (plus
flowers such as wall flower, campanula,
honeysuckle and single roses). Late summer
they love lavender, mint and marjoram and
are very attracted to sunflowers.
Providing a habitat too can help
Bumble bees like a dry, dark, ventilated
cavity with a small entrance hole they can
access at ground level. They are situated in
a sheltered spot along a hedge or fence out
of direct sunlight. You can also buy purpose
built bumble bee nests.
All birds and wildlife need somewhere
37 Working with wildlife.indd 37
to breed and shelter and food to eat. In the
winter, leave leaves and sticks as shelter
to insects and small mammals. If possible
have some shrubs or a hedge to provide
shelter for birds. Leave some deadwood
logs for beetles. Ivy is especially good,
providing late autumn nectar for insects
(and honey bees) and shelter and fruit for
birds. If you have livestock though, keep it
away from them.
Hedges and shrubs should not be
trimmed during the nesting season from
April to end of July and even then watch
out for second broods.
Minimise the use of slug pellets and look
for alternative methods. There are many
of these from copper rings to crushed egg
shell or a tobacco solution. If you really have
to use them, check the label very carefully
for safety and remember that birds will eat
the slugs that you have poisoned with the
pellets and you need to be sure that this will
not harm them. Slugs and snails are food
for so many creatures, the fast disappearing
song thrush, small mammals, toads and
larger mammals such as urban foxes.
Water features and ponds are great
for wildlife and are used for drinking and
for bathing birds while ponds encourage
aquatic insects, dragonflies and frogs and
toads to breed.
Keep a small patch of long grass to
encourage insects for the birds.
Permaculture
On a deeper level, there are farming
systems that are based on working with
nature such as Permaculture.
Permaculture attempts to model its
methods on ecosystems. Mechanization
and oil based fuels have no part to play in
permaculture!
Whilst still in the initial stages of
development and dismissed as ‘Cranky’
by conventional agriculture, it is possibly
one way in which we can hope to feed the
world, as oil supplies dry up. The more
people who can turn to permaculture, the
quicker it will develop into an acceptable
and necessary form of agriculture, just as
organic farming is doing at the moment.
The example used by those who
promote permaculture is the abundance
of growth in forest and woodland, with far
greater production per hectare than arable
or grassland farming and all without any
cultivation, weeding fertilizer, or work by
man.
If the fertility in the forest floor can be
utilized to grow crops and trees which grow
fruits and nuts encouraged, then it would
appear that we are in with a chance of both
saving the world and feeding the population.
We have to create edible ecosystems,
similar to traditional woodland and forest,
to replace the existing agriculture we all
know and love, but which operates within
such a thin layer of cropping, so close
to the surface. Even if you don't plan
to convert to permaculture, it is worth
reading up on it and putting some of the
principles in place on your holding.
Woodland
Permaculture values woodland for more
than timber and is altering the view
of woodland generally. There was a
“smallholder’s hedge” in earlier times which
produced berries, nuts and supported
wildlife for the pot such as rabbits.
Woodland can become a wonderful
habitat for pigs and poultry and shelter for
cattle, whilst creating a renewable source
of fuel for the house. It is usually cheaper
than farmland too and can be much more
pleasant to live and work in, than a large
open field.
Do not dismiss it, but adapt to it and be
creative in its use.
Working with the Seasons
It always costs more if you work against
the seasons such as the need to keep
things cool in summer or warm in winter
so plan your enterprises to work with the
most appropriate time of the year. Produce
in season may not sell for as much money
as out of season produce but you have to
balance up the expense of extra energy
plus the long term viability of pushing crops
or livestock to produce out of their natural
time. Early lambs may make a premium but
the extra feed needed because the grass
is not ready can soon take that back. If
producing solely for yourself or the family,
the most cost effective and environmentally
friendly way is to work in harmony with the
seasons. SH
January/February 2018 | 37
09/01/2018 13:59
 GROWING
Mary Larham continues her

Plant Husbandry: helpful hints on getting the best

from your plot

Hot Beds – How to beat the ‘hungry gap’

Wheelbarrow with manure Salads growing in a cold frame

W e all know that well-rotted

Farmyard Manure is good for
our soil; adding nutrients and
improving soil structure. We have also
all seen stacks of farmyard manure
‘steaming’ on a cold day as the micro-
organisms within it break it down to
a useable compost. What if we could
make use of this heat to produce
earlier crops and so beat the so called
‘hungry gap’?
Traditionally late winter through
to early summer was a time of
famine, known as the ‘hungry gap’,
when the last of the overwintering
and stored vegetables have been
consumed and the first of the new year
are yet to be harvested
Plants have few basic needs;
air, water, light and heat, plus a few
mineral nutrients. In temperate zones,
such as the UK, the limiting factor for
germination and growth is the lack
of heat. Light is a major stimulus for
plant growth, and day length starts
to increase once we pass the 21st
December. But cold, wet soils mean
that sowing of seeds will be delayed
until March or April, maybe even later
in some areas. If, however, you can
lay your hands on a supply of fresh
manure, you could be harvesting
crops before your neighbour has even
opened his seed packet!
Animals have been domesticated
for thousands of years, often being
kept in the same buildings in order to
benefit from the warmth they generate.
The animal manure, along with food
scraps from the household, would be
stacked outside and no doubt some
of the seeds in the food that had been
consumed by man or animal would
germinate on these fermenting heaps.
Bonus – a much appreciated early
crop.
The Romans are well documented to
have developed this technique in order
to grow salad crops out-of-season to
satisfy the demands of their emperors.
The gardeners of Tiberius (42BC –
37AD) built beds of stable manure,
placed wooden frames upon them with
a layer of some good quality top soil
inside. These frames were covered with
thin sheets of ‘talc’ (translucent sheets)
to let the light through. The heat from

Butternut squashes will appreciate the well rotted manure later Young plants may be started off in modules ready for planting
in the season out as soon as others are harvested

38 | SMALLHOLDING

Plant husbandry.indd 38 09/01/2018 14:07


Fresh and healthy. Bunches of carrots could be ready as early as April
the manure warmed both the soil
beneath the crop and the air around it.
This same technique has been used
over the centuries by many nations to
help fill the ‘hungry gap’, between the
winter vegetable crops and the start
of the summer harvest. The Parisian
market gardeners of the 19th and early
20th century were particularly efficient
at this, spreading manure over large
sites and positioning rows of frames
from east to west to make the best
use of the low level sunlight early in
the year. Radishes and carrots would
be sown broadcast in these frames,
alongside young plants of cauliflower
and lettuce which would have been
raised inside. A book titled ‘The
French Garden in England’ by C. D.
McKay, printed around 1908, states
that the French were sending over to
London up to 5000 crates of lettuce
(with three dozen lettuces per crate),
up to 500 crates of carrots (each with
a dozen bunches), plus 100 crates
each of asparagus and turnips, and 50
crates of celeriac every day between
Christmas and March at that time.
Victorian kitchen gardens also used
the same techniques to produce early
salad crops in later winter and early
spring, often followed by growing
melons or other more tender crops
in the summer as the manure rotted
down, but not to the same extent as
their French counterparts. Gardening
publications of the time often had a
few pages devoted to this method of
growing, often referred to as ‘under
frame culture’ or ‘forcing’.
A Hot Bed is a warmed, protected
environment, created by heat
generated from decomposing organic
matter, used for producing early crops
So Hot Beds, as we now call them,
are nothing new and there are many
ways of going about making them once
you understand the basic principles.
Most vegetable seeds require
Plant husbandry.indd 39
Freshly harvested radish
ground temperatures of at least 8 –
10C to germinate and grow. Although
we may get these temperatures, and
more, in a UK Spring (often tempting
us into an early sowing), we will most
certainly get returning frost, snow or
rain which cools the ground and kills
our seedlings. We need to manage
a heat source for as long as possible
early in the year in the knowledge that
as the manure declines in temperature,
the days are getting warmer and longer
to compensate.
Colourful leaves of mixed lettuces ready
for harvest in early spring
The Heat Source is generally fresh
stable manure, complete with straw
or other bedding. This is best from
horses or other livestock, although
any organic matter will decompose
and give off heat. This needs to be
compacted by treading to restrict
the air supply which will slow down
the work of the micro-organisms and
extend the period of heat production.
Aim for a layer around 60-90cm deep
after treading. The manure itself can be
placed in an outer frame to contain it,
if required.
The Growing Frame sits on top
of the compacted manure. This is
generally lower than traditional cold
frames so there is a smaller volume
of air to heat up. A frame of around
30cm at the back, sloping to 20cm at
the front is sufficient. Long beds are
SMALLHOLDING
usually more efficient and easier to
work with, but it is best if the manure
extends about 30cm all around the
growing frame. A lid, or light, to place
over the top may be made with timber
rails and acrylic sheets or polythene.
Growing Medium in which to
sow or plant is placed on top of the
manure in a layer 20-30cm deep.
This needs to be a good quality soil,
moisture retentive but free draining; we
are aiming for fast germination, root
development and growth. Ordinary
garden soil is rarely suitable on its
own, but may be mixed with leaf
mould or garden compost to improve
it. Alternatively use a proprietary
(purchased) bag of soil-less compost
the first year, and in future use some
of the medium made by mixing up the
previous year’s hot bed.
Sowing seeds and planting out
young modular–grown plants can
commence when the temperature of
the growing medium (as shown by a
soil thermometer) is between 7 and
15C. The seedbed should have a good
fine tilth and be moist prior to sowing.
You need to make maximum use of
space and many early crops may be
sown broadcast rather than in drills.
Mixed salad leaves, lettuce, rocket,
spinach, radish, beetroot, carrot and
many herbs are all suitable for direct
sowing in January through to April.
Young plants or modules of these may
also be raised and planted into the bed
to further hasten the harvest.
As these early crops are harvested,
more may be sown in their place.
From April onwards, the gaps could
also be filled with dwarf French beans,
peas, potatoes, courgettes and other
squashes, outdoor tomatoes and
summer herbs such as basil. All these
will benefit from the now well-rotted
manure beneath their feet, with the
summer sun now providing all the
warmth they need. SH
January/February 2018 | 39
09/01/2018 14:08
 GROWING Mary Larham - Teenage summers spent fruit
picking led Mary to a life-long career in horticul-
ture. After studying Commercial Horticulture at
Writtle College Essex and gaining a range of prac-
tical experience she started her own nursery in the
Fenland area of Cambridgeshire.
Mary now runs Manea School of Gardening,
a Royal Horticultural Society Approved Centre
for the delivery of RHS qualifications. Covering
both theory and practical units the courses offer
the opportunity for keen amateurs, those already
in the industry, as well as career changers, to
increase their knowledge and practice a wide
range of horticultural skills. Limited places remain-
ing for the RHS courses commencing September
www.maneaschoolofgardening.org

Grow something different Medlar

In this series of articles I am suggesting a few ‘alternative’ crops that are
easy to grow - something ‘different’ to sell at the farm gate or at Farmers
Markets or simply for the enjoyment friends and family.

Y ou may already have a few

fruit trees in your holding, most
probably apples, pears or plums.
But there are other tree fruits that are
just as easy to grow such as Medlar,
Quince and the Mulberry.
As well as the unusual and so-rarely
seen fruit they can all be made into a
range of preserves for winter use and
sales.
The Medlar, Mespilus germanica
The name alone has a historic sound to
it, as well it might; for this unusual fruit
tree with its odd-looking fruit has been
cultivated for over 3000 years. The
Latin name translates to German, or
Germanic, medlar, although it is actually
indigenous to southwest Asia and
south-eastern Europe, such as Bulgaria
and Turkey, and not Germany!
A member of the Rosaceae family,
closely related to apples, the Medlar
makes an attractive tree, or large
shrub, with dark green leaves, and
an abundance of white (oft with the
slightest tinge of pale pink) flowers
in spring. The flowers are self-fertile,
unlike apples, so a crop of the curious
reddish-brown fruits, correctly termed
pomes, will be borne even if a single
tree is grown.
We planted a Medlar in the orchard
here at Manea School of Gardening in
the spring of 2015 and after a stunning
display of blossom each May were
rewarded with over two dozen fruits in
its second year.
Cultivation of the medlar can be
traced back about three thousand
years ago, in the Caspian Sea region
of norther Iran and Azerbaijan. It was
introduced to Greece around 700 BC,
and to Rome about 500 years later.
Most probably introduced to our shores
by the Romans, it was an important
fruit plant in medieval times, the dessert
of choice at banquets, although it fell
out of favour as other tree fruits were
introduced.
It is not cultivated commercially in
the UK but is an interesting and, I think,
charming tree well worthy of finding
a space for. The fruits are hard and
acidic when fresh, and only become
edible when they have softened,
or ‘bletted’ either by frost or during
storage. The acids and tannins from
the fruit are eliminated during the
process of flesh decay! The wrinkled
brown skin and the soft brown flesh
inside can look quite unappetising, but
the scooped out flesh is actually quite
delicious! I would liken it to cinnamon-
flavoured cold baked apple, or apple
sauce, and have got to love it these last
few days since the frost has now done
its work.
To blet medlars
Medlars may be picked whilst still hard
but need to be bletted until softened.
Pull off any leaves and place the whole
fruits on a shallow plate. Don’t pile
them up. Leave them at cool room
temperature till they turn deep brown
and are soft, almost squishy, to the
touch. They are then ready to cook.

Medlars need to be left to blet, or ripen, before use Medlar trees will produce ample medlars for wine or other preserves

40 | SMALLHOLDING

Grow to be different Jan-feb2018.indd 40 09/01/2018 14:17

 Although I am happy to eat it the
fruit in its raw state (an excuse to take
the dogs for a walk past the tree) it
may also be made into jellies, jams and
other preserves (all good for add-on
sales at Farmers Markets). One of
my customers has a mature tree which
provides enough fruit for 60 bottles of
wine each year; my tree may be a few
years to reach that but it has prompted
me to plant another couple of trees this
winter!
Historically the medlar has been
used for a range of medical conditions,
from the treatment of kidney stones and
diarrhoea, to throat abscesses. The
wood of the tree is hard and durable,
so although the trees are never large,
the timber was valued for the making of
spears and other weapons.
Both the unusual shape of the
fruit, and that is has to be ‘rotten
before it is ripe’ has led to the Medlar
being used figuratively in literature by
poets, authors and playwrights, from
Chaucer and Shakespeare up to D H
Lawrence. Few of the references to
the medlar, either as the fruit or as a
play on the word itself (meddler), are
complementary. A shame really, for a
fruit that was once enjoyed at the table
of kings.
Medlar Jelly is a bronze-coloured
preserve for eating with cold roast meat.
Ingredients:
Aprox 1 kg bletted medlars
1.2 litres water
2 lemons
500g sugar
Achieving the perfect results
Make sure the medlars are well bletted
and remove any leaves. Cut each fruit
in half and drop into a heavy-based
saucepan. Pour over the water. Cut
the lemon into six pieces and add it to
the fruit. Bring to the boil then turn the
temperature down so that the liquid
simmers gently. Partially cover with a
lid and leave to cook for an hour, taking
Grow to be different Jan-feb2018.indd 41
care that the liquid doesn’t evaporate,
and giving the fruit an occasional
squash with a wooden spoon. Avoid
the temptation to stir or mash the fruit
which will send the finished jelly cloudy.
Pour the fruit and its liquid into a jelly
bag suspended over a large jug or bowl.
Let the juice drip into the jug, giving it
the occasional squeeze till all the juice
has dribbled through.
Put the juice back into a clean
saucepan and boil for four minutes,
then add an equal amount of sugar (this
is likely to be about 500g). When the
sugar has dissolved pour into clean,
warm jars and seal (such as Kilner jars
with rubber seals). Leave to cool.
Medlar Cheese
Although Medlars had been around
since Medieval times, it was
‘re-invented’ by Victorian cooks who
used it to make a succulent ‘medlar
cheese’. This unusual sweetmeat was
their variation on the mediaeval spiced
fruit paste known as chardequince – but
made from medlar instead of quince.
The moulds they used were known to
Victorian cooks as entrée moulds; little
tinned copper moulds usually used for
moulding savoury forcemeats but here
used for an allspice-flavoured sweet
dish.
Note: Victorian entrée moulds, usually
in the shapes of birds or animal, are
often incorrectly labelled as chocolate
moulds. Antique dealers have been
known to polish off the outside coating
of tin to reveal the copper underneath to
make them more ‘attractive’. However
they are not as useful in the kitchen like
this as the copper quickly gets stained
by fruit acids and is difficult to clean.
Theodore Garrett was the editor
of the magisterial Encyclopaedia of
Practical Cookery, (London 1891),
probably the most important English
recipe collection of the nineteenth
century and a book that deserves to be
much more widely known. His recipe for
Medlar Cheese is printed below in his
own words.
Medlar Cheese
Put some Medlars into an earthernware
jar, stand it in a saucepan with boiling
water nearly to the top and keep it
boiling gently over a slow fire. When
the Medlars are quite soft, pass them
through a fine hair sieve, and weigh
the pulp, and for every pound allow
one and a half breakfast cups of
coarsely crushed loaf sugar and half
a teaspoonful of allspice. Put all the
ingredients together in the preserving
pan, and stir them over the fire with a
wooden spoon until thickly reduced,
skimming occasionally. Turn the cheese
into moulds, and keep them in a cold
place. When ready to serve, turn the
cheeses out of the moulds on to a dish.
From Theodore Garrett The
Encyclopaedia of Practical
Cookery (London 1891)
Medlar Wine
6 to 8lb medlars
1lb chopped raisins
1 kilo sugar
Camden tablet
1 tsp pectic enzyme
1 tsp yeast nutrient
1 tsp yeast
Sterilise a plastic bucket
Wash and crush the bletted medlars,
add the chopped raisins, 500 grams
of sugar, pour on 4 pints of boiling
water, 1 tsp pectic enzyme, 1 campden
tablet, stir then add 4 pints cold water
and stir
Keep covered and stir daily for 5
days.  Strain/sieve into demi but do
not press fruit top up demi if necessary
leaving approx 2 in of space from top.
Add yeast nutrient, yeast and 500
grams of sugar.
Add airlock and keep in a warm
place until fermenting has stopped.
Transfer to a second demi to clear.
When clear bottle leave for approx 1
month and enjoy. SH
January/February 2018 | 41
09/01/2018 14:17
 ANGLE GRINDERS - TIPS for all users
L
ike the welder we looked at in
the last article, the disc cutter
(also called angle grinder or cut-
off disc) is a workshop essential. They
all have a motor which spins a disc
at around 10,000 rpm. The disc has
abrasive compounds in a mesh and the
edge wears with use. There are discs
for grinding, and thin ones for cutting.
There are flap discs with abrasive
paper flaps that wear with use. You can
replace the disc with a wire wheel for
removing paint and also other abrasive
tools, some sufficiently gentle for
aluminium.
Grinders come in three sizes, 4in; 5in
and 9in. I visit many farm workshops
in the course of a year and all will have
both 4 or 5in machines as well as the
larger 9in models, and the smaller ones
get as much if not more work. The 4in
is the one to buy for many smallholders,
and many will find their machine does
the work and feels safe. The 5in will cut
a 1in dia tube from one side, while the
4in will often need the job completed
from the other side. They are handy
in small spaces and are also much
lighter and easier to use. The 9in is a
powerful and heavy machine and the
big blade has a greater chance of doing
accidental damage. Their size can make
them difficult to use in restricted places.
Grinders do a very wide range
of jobs with metal including cutting,
cleaning parts with a brush attachment,
sharpening tools and so on. Use them
on building work to clean out grouting,
chase out cement prior to re-pointing,
cutting tiles, slates, plastic drainpipe,
guttering. The brush is great to remove
caked on cement on tools and mixers
as well as old paint on metal gutters and
Cordless
models like this
Makita 4in cost
more and have
a limited duty
cycle - yet are
the bee’s knees
if you are
working away
from mains
power
42 | SMALLHOLDING
welding jan-feb18.indd 58
A 4 inch grinder with a standard grinding disc fitted. A useful sized machine
for the smallholder’s workshop
downpipes which you want to restore.
Dairy farmers buy a special blade for
their 4in which is like a cheese grater
and cuts away over-grown feet on their
cows.
Angles and rotation direction
You need to develop a sixth sense when
using every grinder tool. When working
on an edge, such as cleaning cement
off a shovel, the brush needs to be used
with the bristles sweeping off the edge.
Change the angle so the bristles are
striking the edge and the machine will
kick back out of control.
The same applies when sharpening a
mower blade - the grinding wheel needs
to turn so it goes off the work, with the
sparks being thrown away.
Sharpening means retaining the
manufacturer’s blade angle, which is
done by resting the stationary disc on
the blade and feeling the angle. It’s then
a question of working slowly down the
blade with a light touch, maintaining
the same angle. It’s easy to overheat a
metal blade with a grinder. Overheated
metal turns a bluish black or straw
colour and won’t stay sharp for long.
To avoid overheating, apply only light
pressure and keep the grinder moving.
Also keep a bucket of water and sponge
or rag handy and drench the metal
frequently to keep it cool.
Grinder Safety
Experienced farm workshop people
injure themselves, but the lack of data
from HSE means there are no stats to
go on. After a recent article in Practical
Farm Ideas however I had some readers
call in to tell me of their experiences,
some which were horrific. The problem
occurs when the machine kicks back,
often caused when the disc is trapped
while cutting. One man sliced his throat
open and the cutter missed the main
artery by a few mms. The weight and
power of 9in models makes a kick-back
very difficult to control.
For this reason I would always advise
the smaller machine. Grinders spin ten
times faster than most power drills. The
hand held machines can not only get
out of control, they can flip debris into
your eye and onto your skin at very high
speeds. Here are a few ‘Do’s’ which
should be done whenever the machine
is used
09/01/2018 15:16
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 Flap sander will
leave a neat finish

A minor injury of very many caused

by a disc grinder. A full face guard
would clearly have saved this man
- but not the farmer whose stomach
was cut open when the machine
kicked back. Pic too grisly to publish.

1 Use goggles, a face shield or at the 13 Keep your angle grinder somewhere learned by its mistakes which in part
very least safety spectacles. Keep children cannot get to. means recording data such as eye
them by the machine. They are cheap It all sounds boring - why not just injuries caused by using abrasive
while your sight is hugely valuable. get on with the job? Well, the accident wheels without any eye protection...
Have more than one workable pair. rate in farming is appalling and I believe we might begin to see a reduction
Buy half a dozen and keep them where the industry needs a complete re-think in accidents. Meantime it’s up to us,
needed - the power drill, where’s of safety procedures. If farming had a as potential victims, to use advice
there’s paint or fluids, where there’s target of zero incidents; if protective and common sense and prevent it
cement or hydrated lime around, saw action was not simply token but seen happening on our patch. SH
dust and wood waste etc. Don’t copy as a means of keeping the people
the guy, however experienced, who involved safe; if accidents of all kinds The author, Mike Donovan, is editor
thinks he can duck away from a fleck were seen as a failure rather than bad and founder of Practical Farm Ideas
of rust. luck or freak incidents; if the industry www.farmideas.co.uk
2 Paint dust, rust dust and other stuff
shouldn’t be inhaled, so a mask is not
just for sissies.
3 Unplug the grinder when you’re
changing wheels.
4 Fix the side handle and use the
grinder with both hands - always.
5 Use the guard, it’s there for a
reason.
6 Be prepared for a defective disc.
Cheap ones are more likely to
disintegrate
7 Position the job so debris is directed
downward onto the floor and not up
and away
8 Keep other people away.
9 Angle the work so the wheel spins
away from, not into, sharp edges.
10 Be respectful of sparks, which
have caused more than one barn fire.
Keep them away from stuff which
might burn. Have a hand squirt of
water close by to douse anything that’s
smouldering.
11 Cut metal is very hot and can
equally set fire to oily rags.
12 Secure the work, preferably with
more than your left boot. Mole grips
etc are useless.

44 | SMALLHOLDING

welding jan-feb18.indd 59 09/01/2018 15:16

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developed to be highly absorbent, and is naturally free from harmful bacteria After seven days we could detect no smell or increased humidity, so carried
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Looking rather like peat, Tropibed straight from the bag is dark, smells contained-albeit large - wodges. The
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Our chicken coops are ‘poo-picked’ daily and, with this in mind, we used an experiences, Tropibed far
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This material makes it possible to gently sweep a gloved hand across newly-laid eggs (it brushes
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 Healthy Alpacas
JOY WHITEHEAD on Parasite Control, TB Awareness and Alpacas in Archelology
A lpacas can produce abundant
luxury fibre which, in the very
best alpacas, can remain fine
and highly sought-after throughout
the lifetime of the animal. The alpacas
you will see at the premium shows,
where hundreds of superb alpacas will
be competing for rosettes, may show
very little variation in quality across
the first six placings, and with the
coveted Champion ribbons only being
awarded to truly outstanding alpacas.
These alpacas can produce several
kilos of sought-after fine fleece every
year. Other alpacas may produce less
46 | SMALLHOLDING
Alpacas Jan-Feb18.indd 46
and/or coarser fleece, and there is a
wide variation of quality across the UK
herd in general so, when starting out,
you need to know what you’re aiming
for, and source healthy stock for best
results.
Keeping alpacas healthy
We keep our alpacas healthy by giving
them daily minerals and hay or haylage
plus supplements when necessary,
and Vitamins A,D and E during winter.
Hay and haylage are offered ad lib.
throughout winter, and at various
other times of year, e.g. if there is a
drought. Regular weighing and/or
body condition score (BCS) results
are used to determine our regimes for
supplementary feeding.
But what happens when our alpacas
get sick? Or die? When I purchased
my first five alpacas a local farmer
warned me “When you have livestock,
you will have dead stock”; that’s
something we all need to face at some
time. It can happen even in the best
managed herds. Alpacas are in fact
very stoical animals: because if they
show weakness in their native Andes,
they would be obvious targets for the
09/01/2018 14:26
 wild puma. But their stoicity means
that we, as owners of alpacas in the
UK, must be extra vigilant on our daily
inspections, and aware of what our
alpacas look like and how they normally
behave every day: if an alpaca that is
normally first to the trough, for example,
but then is seen to be behaving
differently, we should start to wonder if
there might be a problem developing,
and take appropriate action. It might
just be a limp to monitor, or something
more serious. If you are concerned you
should call your vet. Upon examination,
unless your vet sees something
obvious, he/she will normally advise
blood and faecal testing initially. and all
Alpacas Jan-Feb18.indd 47
being well a short course of treatment diarrhoea and weight loss and some
will soon have your alpaca back to can even lead to swift death by causing
normal. anaemia in alpacas. So where internal
parasites are suspected, it is imperative
Controlling Parasites to have faecal samples tested as
Any animals, including alpacas, may quickly as possible so that the correct
have problems with external or internal treatment can be given. Faecal testing
parasites from time to time, and at any should be undertaken by a laboratory
time of year. 25 years ago we thought which uses the correct procedures
that a twice yearly wormer would applicable for alpacas. We use Camelid
protect our alpacas, but this is simply Vet Services, as they offer camelid-
not the case, whatever wormer is specific testing; and, importantly,
used. Clearing the poo piles every a fast turnaround along with
few days can help towards specialist diagnosis and
avoiding problems with t a r t in g
When s what
advice is included in the
internal parasites. Certain w testing fee. Testing kits
internal parasites may cause out, kno ing for, are also supplied. see
im
you’re a ce healthy www.ukalpacavet.com.
and sour for best External parasites
stock lts should also be
resu correctly diagnosed and
suitably treated before
the condition worsens. In
fact, consult your vet whenever
you are concerned about your alpacas’
health: better safe than sorry.
Control of TB
Certain areas of the UK are known
to be at high risk of TB, and the
installation of badger-proof fencing
has been effective in eradicating TB
incidences on susceptible farms.
The British Alpaca Society (BAS)
recommends the enferplex blood test
for TB, for pre-movement testing within
the UK, and we do this as a matter of
course at Bozedown for all breeding
animals, which gives reassurance both
to ourselves and our clients. Pre-export
testing is conducted by DEFRA, and
requires an intradermal skin test, but
it is perfectly acceptable to use both
Ê
January/February 2018 | 47
09/01/2018 14:26
 Alpacas
tests. If an alpaca is sick and TB is
suspected then the animal should be
tested and, if it dies, should have a post
mortem examination.
If the cause of any alpaca death
is unknown, then a post-mortem
examination would normally be
advisable. Further deaths can be the gods from ancient times, they
avoided if we can discover the problem. were the sacrifice of choice to bring
If TB lesions are discovered, then prosperity when a new home was being
DEFRA will treat the alpacas in exactly built.
the same way as they would treat cattle In 1993 I was fortunate to be able
in the same situation: by closing the to combine two of my great interests -
herd, i.e. no movements allowed off the archaeology and alpacas - when I was
farm until the remaining animals in the invited by my friend Dr Jane Wheeler
herd are tested clear. TB is an airborne to investigate mummified alpacas and
disease so, if TB is suspected, make llamas excavated from shallow graves
sure your alpacas have plenty of space in Southern Peru. More than one
to feed, and it’s better not keep them thousand years earlier, these animals
indoors, where they will inevitably be had been sacrificed to Pacha Mamma,
closer together and so more at risk. the earth goddess, and buried in house
foundations to bring prosperity. This
Peruvian Alpaca mummies tradition continues to this day, with
In Peru alpacas have always been Peruvian christians still retaining some
highly valued, as they produce of their old beliefs: but nowadays
precious fibre for clothing they use pig foetuses.   but steadily closer to our goal!
as well as nutritious The incredibly well
cient
cholesterol-free meat and From an cas preserved mummies still had
a
times alp ed to grass
skins. Because they were between their teeth,
held in very high regard, e v stomachs full of identifiable
believed to be gifts from were beli om the food, and fully preserved
fr
be gifts s faeces: they were still in full
god fleece too, even though they
were discovered with only
about twenty centimetres of soil
cover.
The samples that we collected during
our 4 weeks work inspired research
projects at Universities across the USA.
This research resulted in vast amounts
of new knowledge of pre-conquest
camelids, including conclusive DNA
proof of the domestication of alpacas
from vicugnas, and the domestication
48 | SMALLHOLDING
Alpacas Jan-Feb18.indd 48
of llamas from guanacos. The samples
showed that pre-conquest camelids
also had internal parasites, as
nematode worms were discovered in
the animals’ stomachs.
The alpaca mummy in the photo
provided the inspiration for our
advanced breeding programme for
alpaca improvement at Bozedown
Alpacas. This alpaca had an average
diameter of only 17.9 microns across
its entire fleece, along with a standard
deviation of only 1.1: incredible
uniformity! The genetics for such
amazing fleeces must be stored away
somewhere in our current alpacas. It is
25 years since I saw this mummy, and I
see every generation bringing us slowly
Come along to one of our Beginners’
Day Courses, which are held throughout
the year, the next one being 7th
February 2018. During the day you
will see first hand how we manage our
alpacas in winter. There is lots more
information on our web site: http://
www.bozedown-alpacas.co.uk 
Joy Whitehead founded Bozedown
Alpacas in 1989, with niece Mary-Jo
Smith joining her in 2000. In South
Oxfordshire they farm around 700
huacayas and suris from prizewinning
pedigree bloodlines. Please call
Mary-Jo on 07718 750 303 with any
enquiries for reliable breeding stock or
geldings, all at realistic prices.  SH
09/01/2018 15:09
 Getting crafty by getting
together with other enthusiasts
Liz Wright looks at the rise and rise of fibre

F
ibre has been a necessary
fascination since man first realised
he (or was it she?) could take
the hair from an animal and make it
wearable for warmth and protection.
All thought that still remains the basic
idea of clothes, they have now become
a statement that tell the outside world
something about us. Wearing well
designed or home inspired natural fibres
is a unique fashion statement as it allows
the style to be absolutely individual and
in many cases, never to be repeated.
Ultimately the fibre will be grown on your
own animals, spun by you, dyed by you
and finally made up to a design that
reflects your own personality. But if you
don’t keep animals or are not a great
spinner you can still make individual
clothes and crafts using yarns from all
over the country and in the case of silk,
indeed the world. The only limit is your
imagination.
But how to get started if like me you
are not a great knitter or don’t know one Each fibre animal also has its own
end of a spinning wheel from another? society. The Briish Alpaca Society has
Ideally you can go on a course where a wealth of experience and expertise
you can learn the basics of spinning, for those taking the fleece forward to
dyeing or knitting. There is also help yarn and garments. They also have
and advice from organisations such as year round fleece shows where you can
the WI. But there is also a specialist exhibit or simply go along to learn more
association, the Association of Weavers, about fleece quality.
Spinners and Dyers. The objectives The British Angora Goat Society
of the Association as stated on their (BAGS) exists to provide advice
website (/www.wsd.org.uk) are the shearing, sorting and promoting
preservation and improvement of the archives in developing and maintaining the mohair fleece that angora goats
craftsmanship in hand weaving, spinning skills and business. On the Sunday how produce.
and dyeing for the benefit of the public modern dyeing has developed from These are not to be confused with
and the promotion of public education past discoveries and achievements and the Angora wool produced by rabbits.
in such craftsmanship. There are groups hope to finish with a long-established My recent visit to Fibre East showed
countrywide and if you contact the business which has survived by a wealth of diverse uses for all types
Association they will be able to put you being responsive to the present while of fibre. Spinning, though very much
in touch. continuing to use skills developed in the practiced, is not the only use as felting
Their conference will be held from past. both wet and dry and the use of fibre
Friday 11 to Sunday 13 May at the Kents Every Guild affiliated to the in art, rag rugs with fibre and so many
Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Association is encouraged to submit innovative uses of fibre, were on show.
Swallow House, Timbold Drive, Kents its members work. The exhibition will I have all the things now to make a rug,
Hill Park, Milton Keynes MK7 6BZ (www. comprise of two parts, selected work, just need the time!
kentshillpark.co.uk). and unselected work. Again more details Remember, all spinners, weavers,
The conference theme is “Then and on their website. dyers and knitters have to have fibre so
Now”, i.e. the origins of craft and artisan Another really useful organization is if you are not crafty but just enjoy the
production tracing forwards through the UK Hand Knitting Association which livestock keeping side, then there is a
revivals to the current increased levels together with the Crafts Council and the choice of fibre producing animals on
of interest. WI are working together to promote Craft offer from the elegant angora goat to the
The first talk will focus way back Club, a national campaign that champions alpaca, specialist sheep breeds to the
to the Bronze Age and show that fine knitting and crafts for people of all ages. luxurious angora rabbit fibre. If you can
weaving was already in place and so in The joint aim is to have a knitting club in link up directly with people who want to
some ways little has changed! On the every school and community venue. use your fibre then it will be beneficial to
Saturday the focus will be on the role of www.ukhandknitting.com both sides. SH

January/February 2018 | 49

Clubs societies Nov-dec17.indd 39 09/01/2018 15:12

 COMPLETING YOUR HIVE – THE QUEEN
EXCLUDER, INNER COVER AND FLOORS
Claire Waring describes the construction methods
A metal queen excluder. They are also
available in plastic
L
ast month, we detailed how to
put together a National brood box
and supers from a flat pack. To
complete your hive, you need a floor,
a roof, a queen excluder and an inner
cover.
THE QUEEN EXCLUDER
You will have to buy a queen excluder
and can choose either a flat metal or
plastic one with slots or a framed wired
excluder consisting of parallel wires.
The slots and the spacing between
the wires are large enough for worker
bees to pass through but too small for
the queen and drones. It thus confines
these to the brood box. The aim is to
prevent the queen gaining access to
the supers where she could lay eggs
among the honey storage cells. The
drones get excluded as a by-product
because of their size.
THE INNER COVER
You are probably best to buy your
inner cover as well although this can
be made relatively easily. You need a
50 | SMALLHOLDING
Bees jan-feb18.indd 38
A framed wire excluder. The fillets add an additional bee
space between the boxes
sheet of waterproof ply the size of the
hive cross-section. Cut one or two feed
holes towards the centre that will take
Porter bee escapes for when you want
to use it as a clearer board. Glue and
nail fillets to one side only. These need
to be one bee space (6–9 mm) deep.
For a top bee-space hive, the inner
cover is placed flat side down over the
brood box/super. For a bottom bee-
space hive, put the fillets underneath to
give the bees a space over the top of
the frames.
FLOORS
A large number of beekeepers now use
open-mesh floors. These consist of a
framework over the centre of which is
fixed metal mesh. The holes are too
small for bees to pass through but
debris from the hive, including varroa
mites, fall through, either onto a tray
which slides in underneath or down
onto the ground. In either case, the gap
under the mesh is too great for any live
mites to climb back into the hive.
I have not been able to find anyone
◄ The inner
cover can serve
as a clearer
board when
Porter bee
escapes are
fitted to the feed
holes
► Open-mesh
floors are
popular as part
of varroa control
selling flat-pack open-mesh floors so,
if you want to use one, you will have to
buy it ready made-up.
Prior to the advent of open-mesh
floors, beehive floors were solid. You
can stillBEES
buy these in flat packs and put
them together yourself. This is probably
the easiest hive part to assemble.
Basically, the floor is made of several
flat pieces of wood which are grooved
where their faces come together. Thin
strips of wood slide into the adjacent
grooves effectively to give a tongue-
and-groove set up. Two side pieces
have wide grooves to take the floor
boards and you need to make sure
that both go on the right way round.
Generally, the grooves are off-set so
that there is a deep side and a shallow
side.
First do a dry run and put the floor
pieces together, fitting them into one of
the side pieces. Some manufacturers
make the floor slightly longer than the
sides. If the extra extends out at the
front, it gives the bees a mini alighting
board. If it extends out the back, it
09/01/2018 14:34
 Left: One section of the floor together with the ‘tongue’ that will hold it to the
The parts of a flat-pack floor
adjacent section Right: The floor boards with the ‘tongues’ in place

provides a ledge to catch the rain which
may eventually rot the back of the floor.
If you don’t want the floor to stick out,
plane off the extension once you have
completed the assembly.
In the illustrations, I used water-
resistant Cascamite powdered resin
wood glue. The powder is mixed 2:1
with cold water. Mix up a sufficient
amount and stir well to smooth out the
lumps. You can wash out the container
when you have finished or, if the left-
over glue sets, it will generally peel off.
Any excess glue can be wiped off with
a damp cloth.
First spread glue down the groove in
one of the side pieces. Insert the first
floor section, making sure the groove
is towards the centre of the floor. Insert
the second, which is grooved on both
edges, and then push the ‘tongue’
down the resulting groove. Do the same
with the third section, making sure the
grooves match up.
Glue the groove in the other side
piece and put it in position. The floor
is then rigid. Now nail the side pieces
to the floor from the outside, using the
longest nails in the pack. Either line up
the nails by eye or, if you want to be
sure, run a pencil line down the outside
and follow that.
There are two fillets. One is square.
This blocks the back of the deep side
of the floor. There are small rebates in
the deep side of the side pieces at the
front of the hive. The entrance block
fits into these and is prevented from
disappearing inside. Glue the fillet and
fit it flush with the ends of the side
pieces. Nail it with the middle length
nails. Nail through the side piece into
the fillet at each end and also through
the fillet into the floor boards.
The thinner fillet blocks the space
underneath the entrance, ie, at the
opposite end and on the other side.
Glue and nail this in place in the same
manner.
The entrance block will now fit into
the rebated end of the side pieces at
the front of the floor. If you want to use
a shallow floor, simply turn it over and
through 180 degrees. You will need to
find a couple of suitably sized pieces
of wood if you want to reduce this
entrance, say to stop robbing. Broken
frame bottom bars usually fit.
Wipe off any excess glue with a
damp cloth and you have made your
floor.
(Next Month we will discuss the roof
and then your hive is complete)

Gluing the groove in the side piece Fitting the floor sections into the groove Inserting the ‘tongue’

Putting the other side piece in place Nailing the side piece into Lining up the nails so that they drive
the floor sections into the floor sections

January/February 2018 | 51 Ê
Bees jan-feb18.indd 39 09/01/2018 14:34
 BEES

WINTER ALERT!
During the winter, the bees cluster
in the hive and use their stores to
maintain their warmth. If you have fed
your colonies properly in the autumn,
everything should be fine but it is
always worth checking. Heft your
hives. That means lifting them just off
the floor at the back and one side.
If you did this after you had finished
feeding, you will be able to gauge how
much food has been consumed. If you
think your colony is light, then feed it.
Get some candy from a beekeeping
equipment supplier or some bakers’
fondant. You will need an eke or empty
super to go round the candy.
Cut open one side of the block but
do not remove the plastic which helps
to stop the candy drying out . Remove
the roof and the inner cover and place
the candy over the cluster. You can put
layers of newspaper on top if you wish
to help retain the warmth in the hive.
Add the eke or super, then the inner
cover and roof.
You need to work smoothly and
quickly. If it is a cold day, the bees are
likely to stay in the hive. If some fly
out, they may get chilled and lost.

The side pieces nailed in place Gluing the deep fillet on one side Nailing the deep fillet to the floor section

1 Nailing through the side piece into the end of the deep fillet. Note that the fillet is flush with the end of the side
piece 2 Cleaning off the glue with a damp cloth 3 Gluing the shallow fillet 4 Nailing the shallow fillet. Note that the
floor sections protrude in front of the entrance.

Left: The shallow fillet in place on the underside of the deep floor Middle: The finished floor with the entrance block
in place Right: The parts of the flat-pack roof

PESKY WOODPECKERS
Woodpeckers naturally listen for
movement by insects or grubs beneath
tree bark. They then drill through to the
food. To this bird, a bee hive is a big tree
with food inside. If a woodpecker realises
this, it will drill through your hive to get
to the cluster. This seems to be a learnt
behaviour. We had no trouble for years
and then one bird worked it out. Now I
have to protect all the hives during the
winter.
The best protection is small-mesh
chicken wire. Wrap a length loosely
around the hive so that, even if the bird
gets a foothold, it cannot peck through to
the box. It works best if the wire is wide
enough to reach the floor and also fold
over the roof. You can fold up the wire
over the entrance if you don’t want the
bees to have to fly through it. Wires can
last for a long time if you look after them.
Alternatively, get a large plastic sack,
from compost or coal, for example, and
slit it open into a sheet. Cut strips not
quite across the width and then pin the
top to the hive roof. The flapping of the
strips will deter the woodpecker and it
will also find it difficult to get a grip on
the slippery plastic. SH

52 | SMALLHOLDING

Bees jan-feb18.indd 40 09/01/2018 14:35


A change of circumstances
Buying or selling a smallholding? JOHN SONES looks at some of the things to consider.
THE DWELLING:
The considerations when viewing the
dwelling will not be much different to
viewing any prospective home. However,
having a ‘boot room’ and how the dwelling
is positioned on the holding may be
additional relevant factors.
Some smallholdings may have an
agricultural restriction meaning that the
occupiers have to use the land themselves
for agricultural purposes. This often means
that the property is cheaper but also it is
likely that at some stage in your life you
will have to move out when running the
smallholding becomes no longer physically
possible. Agricultural ties can sometimes
be removed but this is a specialist area
and by no means guaranteed.
THE OUTBUILDINGS:
Are they functional? What state are they
in? Will you need to build new ones? Is
planning consent likely to be needed?
These are just some of the questions
you should be considering together
with any cost implications. Our current
holding came with planning permission
that had been approved for a small barn
which was essential for what we wanted
to do. However, do not accept the seller
saying that planning permission will not
be a problem – it is a difficult area varying
between authorities.
It is unlikely that outbuildings unlike
the dwelling will be surveyed unless you
specifically request it which will be at a
cost so look closely at the condition of
the structure of the buildings including
the plumbing and electrics. If in doubt,
have anything checked out by an expert.
At the end of the day, from the buyer’s
perspective it is a matter of what is
acceptable for the price.
It is also highly likely that old buildings
will contain cement asbestos in some
What is the other side of the hedge?
SonesProperty Jan-Feb18.indd 9
form. As it ages, it cracks and will
eventually need to be replaced. As it is
deemed to be a hazardous material, its
removal can be very expensive and a
buyer should consider whether they are
purchasing a property where such costs
might be incurred.
Also ask if there are any records of
where pipes/cables etc are as they will be
very useful.
THE LAND:
The title to the property held by Land
Registry or on the title deeds will reveal
information on any ties on the property or
land and who may have rights over it. Also
walk the whole holding checking among
other things its general condition and the
state of the hedges and fences. You do
not want surprise bills after purchase! In
particular, especially if you are intending
to keep horses, inspect the land and
surroundings for ragwort and other noxious
weeds. Depending on the time of year,
they may not be easy to spot and could be
a real problem.
When purchasing our current property,
the seller showed me a scale plan and I
noticed that the boundary lines were not in
line. It turned out that a neighbour owned
a strip of what appeared to be included in
the land we were interested in and it had
to be sorted out (at a cost to the seller)
before purchase so check everything!
EXPERT advice
What state are the buildings in?
Check out the current planning status
of the holding not only in respect of the
buildings but also their permitted use and
the permitted use of the land. For example,
horses are not generally deemed to be
within ‘agriculture’ unless used on the land
so if you wish to keep them, you may need
to apply for ‘change of use’. If in doubt, a
visit to the local authority and a chat with
the duty planning officer may resolve your
queries.
Is the holding in a nitrate vulnerable
zone? Is the soil type suitable for what
you want?
If so will the restrictions affect what
you want to do?
THE SURROUNDINGS:
By this I mean property and any roads
that adjoin the smallholding. A buyer may
wish to consider how any of these might
impact on them or not as the case may
be. Near to a housing estate could mean
trespass is a problem. In particular, a
prospective buyer may wish in the future to
increase the size of their holding by buying
or renting additional land and now is the
time to consider if such a prospect might
be achievable. Current and alternative
access may also be important particularly
if machinery is likely to be involved. If
there is a shared access, could this be a
problem and are you responsible for its
maintenance? Also, if hedges are next
to a road, there will be a liability to keep
them trimmed. However being next to a
road could also mean that gate sales are a
possibility.
It is a good idea to visit the area at
different times so you see and hear what
is normally going on. Also check with the
local planning authority to see if anything
has been proposed locally that might affect
you.
Is public transport important and if so,
how good is it?
Finally do make sure that you have
suitable insurance to cover events like
escaping animals and product liability. SH
January/February 2018 | 53
09/01/2018 19:26
 Poisonous plants
Jane Brooks continues her look at
the dark side of our native flora
with a look at some beautiful but
deadly plants that produce the most
potent of nature’s poisons to be
found in the British Isles.
Belladonna –
Atropa Belladonna
B elladonna and Deadly
Nightshade are the most
common names used for
Atropa belladonna, a relative of the
potato and tomato plant it belongs
to the Solanaceae family of plants.
It has also been called The Devil’s
Herb, Witches Berry, Fair Lady and
Banewort.
A perennial plant that produces
bell shaped flowers from June to
August, the entire plant, although
beautiful, contains tropane alkaloids,
these are just as dangerous when
dried and it is one of the most
poisonous plants to be found in the
British Isles.
It is more rare than it was 50
or so years ago however, it can
still be found in chalk or limestone
soils, it sometimes is found growing
alongside blackberries and in old
ruins.
Belladonna has been used to
poison entire armies, history relates
of a Germanic army using it as a not
so peaceful offering of a drink to their
enemies.
Generally animals are unlikely to
touch the plant but it’s particularly
dangerous because its darkly coloured
berries are pretty and have a sweet
taste that appeals to children. In fact,
just three berries can be a fatal dose for
a child.
54 | SMALLHOLDING
Poisenous plants Jan-feb18.indd 38
Belladonna is also quite commonly
know as Deadly Nightshade, one
of the most dangerous of all the
plants to be found growing wild in
the British Isles it is less common
than it was around 50 years ago,
although it can sometimes be found
growing alongside blackberries.
Symptoms of Belladonna poisoning
generally start with a red face, dry
mouth, dilated pupils and fast pulse,
leading to heart arrhythmia, tremors,
hallucinations, paranoia and muscle
cramping.
The name Belladonna probably refers
to the fact that when eaten in very small
amounts it causes the pupils of the
eyes to dilate. In ancient times women
would risk, often dire, consequences to
beautify their eyes in this way.
It also has a long history as a
medicinal herb and it is still used for the
same purpose in atropine drops.
Even the genus name of Atropa
points to its toxicity, as it is linked to the
Greek goddess Atropos, she was one
of the three ‘fates’ her role was to cut
the threads to end a life.
Buttercups - Ranunculus
T he Buttercup family is part of
the Ranunculaceae genus,
which consists of well over
2000 species. Several members of the
buttercup family need to be included
in any list of poisonous plants. Many
are merely irritants, others severely
poisonous due to them containing
acrid protoanemonin glycoside oil.
Generally the flowers are the most
harmful followed by the leaves and then
the stems. Buttercups do taste acrid
although it is more pronounced in some
plants than others, although some
very mild buttercups are used as salad
greens.
There is an old wives tale that
feeding buttercups to dairy cows will
affect the colour of butter, but grazing
cattle commonly avoid them. The acrid
properties of buttercups are unstable
and are rendered harmless by drying
or cooking, which is why they are often
found in hay.
There are some members of the
09/01/2018 15:04
 Aconitum carmichaelii arendsii or monkshood flowers
Buttercup family that are best avoided,
such as The Lesser Spearwort,
generally found in water meadows or
marshes it is recognisable by its long
pointed leaves, which are quite different
from the common buttercup.
The Lesser Celandine has heart
shaped leaves and single flowers just
over a cm wide with bright yellow
petals, it is not very high and flowers
early, usually from March to May.
Although it is not harmful when young,
it can be when older.
A common species in pasture is the
Acrid Buttercup, this is an upright hairy
perennial, it has cylindrical flower stalks,
fibrous rootstock, divided lobed leaves
and its yellow flowers bloom from April
to September. The Veterinary Journal of
1901 recorded the unfortunate deaths of
three young heifers and a cow due their
ingestion of the Acrid Buttercup. It is an
irritant and can lead to inflammation of
the digestive organs.
Aconite – Aconitum Napellus L
T he most dangerous relative of the
Buttercup family, which is also a
member of the Ranunculaceae
genus, is the Aconite or Monkshood.
Nowadays it is more often found
cultivated in gardens, however it does
still occasionally occur in the wild.
Sometimes mistaken for a Delphinium,
the Aconite is a perennial plant that
produces long spikes of deep blue
flowers from July to September, the upper
sepal of the flowers look like a hood or
cowl, hence the name Monkshood.
Poisenous plants Jan-feb18.indd 39
Deadly nightshade
The beautiful but deadly Aconite
Napellus can still occasionally be
found in the wild, it is also cultivated
in gardens, although it generally
carries a warning not to grow it
around children or pets and to take
care when handling the plants.
The Anglo-Saxons called it Thung,
although that may have been a name
that referred to any poisonous plant, it is
also know as Wolfsbane as it was once
used to kill wolves. In Roman times a
law was passed that anyone growing
the plant could be sentenced to death
as it was often used to dispatch ones
enemies.
The entire plant is extremely
poisonous, even touching the plant can
potentially lead to multi-organ failure and
death (percutaneous poisoning). Aconite
contains cardiotoxins and neurotoxins
such as aconitine, mesaconitine,
hypaconitine and other aconitum
alkaloids. Animals tend to avoid eating
it, but according to the 18th Century
Swedish Botanist Carl Linnaeus it is fatal
to cows and goats when they eat it fresh.
Aconitine is a ‘secondary metabolite’,
which refers to chemicals produced by a
plant that aren’t actually to keep it alive.
They can help a plant grow or develop,
but are generally part of a plants defence
system, which is the role filled by
Aconitine.
When any part of the plant is ingested,
it quickly attacks key components of
the nervous system and heart causing
paralysis and death, currently there is no
know antidote.
It is sometimes referred to as the
poisoners poison of choice and has
appeared in English literature on many
occasions. Agatha Christie featured it
doing deadly work in a box of chocolates
in the Miss Marple mystery ‘They do it
with Mirrors’. It has also appeared as the
murder weapon of choice in an episode
of Midsummer Murders.
Many plants produce different
alkaloids, some are used medically,
others can be fatal. Most have a bitter
taste. The liver processes alkaloids
where some become harmless whereas
others become more toxic. For example,
Caffeine is a common alkaloid with very
low toxicity. SH
January/February 2018 | 55
09/01/2018 15:04
 Going back to Dairy Roots
Oh how my parents would be amused to see me now ! I was adamant at the
age of 16 when my father asked if I wanted to go farming – that it was not a
direction I was at all interested in !

PEN PORTRAIT: Wendy Symons

was brought up on a Cornish Dairy farm in
the 70’s where here parents, George & Jenny
Matthews believed the whole family should get
involved with jobs on the farm. Whilst her mum
had a flourishing Bed & Breakfast business, her
father worked tirelessly for 15 years, with no
relief from milking, and no holidays, building up
the herd and a strong foundation for the farm.
Wendy took her turn in bringing in cows at 5am
and feeding the baby calves, along with her
older sisters and brother.
Whilst her older sisters moved into nursing
and joining the Police Force, and her brother
stayed on the farm, Wendy was adamant the
trials and tribulations of farming, was not for
her, so she started her working life at Mole
Valley Farmers in 1986, when the branch at
St Columb first opened, and later moving, and
having many years of success in the world of
agricultural advertising in 2000.
Don’t you just LOVE cows !!

H
owever, you never do quite know
how your life is going to turn out, and
you wouldn’t expect your life to take
a turn back to your roots, after being away
from it for 30 years, but that is exactly what
happened. After being widowed, and then
leaving the world of agricultural advertising
sales in 2011, I thought it was unlikely I
would ever mix in farming circles again, but I
was wrong, very wrong !
After looking up some handsome ( and
some not so handsome ) men on a dating
website, I found myself drawn to a friendly
looking face, standing with his cow at an
agricultural show.
Before long, I found myself up to my
knees in cow muck and helping to rear baby
calves, and within 2 years, I was fully back
to my roots, living and working on a Dairy
Farm.
I am no fool, I am fully experienced
in cold, wet and windy mornings, and in
particular those very early starts, that teach
you never to stay up late watching some
silly film, but at the end of the day, it is
impossible not to fall in love with living in the
countryside, and its fair to say, I fell for it,
hook, line and sinker !
I began having a few favourite cows,
which is only natural. The cows that had
been taken to agricultural shows, were the
most friendly, and had the most character in
some ways.
I started off helping out, when we took
cows to the small one days shows. The early
morning starts were bit of a nightmare, and
scrubbing all the muck of the cows until
they were glistening, is no easy task, but the
feeling you get when you walk alongside a
beautiful cow, is mind blowing.
I am sure there are people out there that
think that drugs can give them a high – but
they haven’t got a clue, there is nothing that
comes close to the pride and buzz you get,
once you get in that show ring.
After doing a few of the one day shows,
we got the opportunity to take some of our
cows and heifers to the Royal Cornwall
Show in 2016.
You basically give up a week of your life
to attend this 3 day show, and we couldn’t
have done it without our good friend,
and very experienced showman, David
Christophers, whose family are legends
when it comes to cows and these events.
Considering it was our first time at the
show, we came away feeling very proud.
We won some prizes and had also
participated in the Grand Parade, where
you lead your animals on the inside of the
main ring, surrounded by what seemed like
thousands of people in the stadium and
stalls, watching you do your best to show off
your animals, without losing control of it.
I was adamant I was going to take my
favourite cow in the ring. I had been warned
she was a massive challenge, as she is
probably the biggest and heaviest cow
we have, and when she decides to go in a
certain direction, there isn’t a lot you can do
about it, just hold on very tight, pray, and
hope you don’t make a complete fool of
yourself.
I recall hearing a few gasps from those
around the ring, as I led this big cow around,
so much taller than myself, and I delighted
on posing for a photo as we left the main
ring, feeling so pleased that someone
wanted to capture a picture of my favourite
cow.
I am very proud that I survived the
experience, even though it took every ounce
of strength I had to hold my cow back,
especially when we walked down the steep
path, back to the housing shed.
We got all our animals home safe, and it
didn’t surprise me that nearly every muscle
in my body ached the next day, but it still
felt brilliant to have such a buzz, from such a
memorable event.
I was delighted to see some lovely
photos of our cows at the show, taken
by ourselves, friends and neighbours, but

56 | SMALLHOLDING

last word.indd 66 09/01/2018 14:50


nothing prepared me for the massive shock
I had, when I saw all the catalogues and
leaflets for the 2017 Royal Cornwall Show.
Each poster, leaflet and catalogue had
pictures of some lovely animals from the
2016 show, including sheep, horses, pigs,
and many more, but most important to me,
was a picture of one very special cow, called
Tregustick Shottle Tilly !
I was absolutely amazed that the picture
taken of me walking Tilly out of the main
ring, was included on all the catalogues and
programs – Tilly was famous !
Whilst no-one ever asked for my
autograph or a hoof print from Tilly, it didn’t
stop me feeling immensely proud, and mega
chuffed!
As most dairy farmers know, pedigree
holstein dairy cows are ‘classified’ on a
regular basis, and in Summer 2017 the
Holstein Classifier turned up at the farm to
see what cows we had, that needed to be
reviewed and hopefully, some upgraded.
On the farm, we are very proud, of our
ratio of excellent cows, for the number of
cows that we actually have. We are not large
Dairy Farmers, but the cows we have, we are
mostly very proud of.
When the Classifier looked at Tilly,
he stood still for a while, looking a
little shocked, but smiling broadly, and
commented it would take 2 people to give
her an updated figure.
It takes just one classifier to grade cows
up to 94 points, but for anything above that,
it has to have a second opinion, and the
last word.indd 67
classifier, was so impressed with Tilly, he
knew he needed someone else to review her.
Each cow is judged, for her udder quality,
dairy strength, the way she walks, plus other
details, that add up to give a number from
0 to 97.
The figure of 97, is the maximum points a
cow can be given. There are just a few cows
in the world with 97 points, it is that rare !
Obviously 96 is absolutely amazing as well,
so any dairy farmer with cows and those
► ‘Tregustick Shottle Tilly’, with Lindon
the Senior Classsifier, and Nick Warren,
Tillys owner and Pedgiree Holstein Dairy
farmer. I think the smile says it all !
points, are amongst the very elite.
A few weeks later, we had a call from
Lindon the Senior Classifier for Holstein UK,
making an appointment to meet and classify
Tilly.
One day in October, after waving a
bucket of food to Tilly, she soon came
out the shed to me, for a mini feast of her
favourite food, and bit of a wash, just a short
time before Lindon was due.
Even though she is very experienced, at
being washed, I don’t think she was over
delighted at the prospect of having all the
dirt removed from her, but being a mainly
white cow, she would look far better clean
and shinning, rather than having any dried-in
muck on her.
After a munch on some nice fresh silage,
and a quick cuddle from me, Tilly was ready
to meet Lindon, who promptly arrived to see
Tilly.
As I led Tilly out the shed, I whispered in
her ear, to do her best.
In true Tilly fashion, she soon lifted her
head up to about 7ft in the air, like some
kind of fashion diva, strutting her stuff.
I couldn’t have been more proud of her,
and with her pose as if she were in a Miss
World competition, it wasn’t long before we
got the result we had been hoping for.
Tregustick Shottle Tilly, awarded 95
points.
As a few tears slipped down my face,
I kissed Tilly on her gorgeous nose, and
whispered in her ear, “You done it Tilly, you
done it” !
There are only about 4 or 5 cows that are
awarded a score that high each year, and for
a moderately sized Dairy Farmer in Cornwall,
having a cow with that score was totally
amazing. SH
January/February 2018 | 57
09/01/2018 15:57
 Winter warmers for horses,
ponies and donkeys
W i nter care for horses and
ponies does depend on their
breed, age and what facilities
you have available to you. For British
native ponies and traditional cobs, they
can usually be left out all winter with a
good shelter and supplementary feed
when necessary. Cast a critical eye
over your field, is it naturally sheltered
or exposed? The colder the animals
are, the more they will eat. But don’t
just feed because it is WINTER, check
out the weight of your animal and
the amount of grazing available. You
don’t want them thin in the winter but
you do want them to lose any excess
weight - it’s about your only chance
unless you adopt a strict feeding and
exercise routine in the summer. Native
ponies are supposed to be able to exist
in the winter on browsing hedges
and grazing – the problem
comes if there is not
sufficient of this
available to them
or if the weather
is so bad that the
ground freezes
or is covered in
snow. It really is
important to watch
the condition of your
animals and feed accordingly.
They even tell you by their behaviour.
My Exmoors will come up to the gate
when they feel they need more food but
will graze happily right down the field
when they are content. You will need
to have good quality, ragwort free hay
available to feed and I find it helps to
bed the shelter with clean, non dusty
straw which they also like to pick at.
If the weather is really bad you can
supplement with a basic horse and
pony mix, chaff and sugar beet or use
one of the forage based feeds – check
with your local supplier. You will need a
salt lick in the field – I find the Rockies
mineral lick blocks are tough and water
resistant. But do check if you have
other grazing animals in the field such
as sheep, that the lick will be suitable
for both species. Some licks contain
minerals which are detrimental to sheep
or vice versa so read the label to see
if it is safe for both equines and other
animals.
Water is very important and must be
broken twice daily in bad weather. Lack
of water can lead to colic.
58 | SMALLHOLDING
58-59.indd 58
Should you rug?
Well I say no, not if
it is a native pony
with a good coat
and there is a
good sized shelter
in the field that can
be used by the animal
– if there are more than
a couple in the field make
sure there isn’t one that has to stand
outside because it is last in the pecking
order. You should only have to rug older
ponies or those with particular needs. A
youngish, healthy native pony with food
and shelter should laugh in the face of
winter!
Donkeys too don’t need rugging
unless they are older or you have
noticed that they continually choose not
to use the shelter in wet weather. But as
their coats are not waterproof they must
have access to good shelters at all times
and they need to have barley straw
available to them as well. In addition
they need an area of hard standing, the
larger the better, as their hooves are
designed for desert conditions, not wet
weather and prolonged wetness will be
injurious to their health.
Remember rugs should not be
used to compensate for lack of good
management eg using poor quality
feed, not feeding hay or not providing a
waterproof shelter.
It’s worth noting that field based
animals may stay in the shelter during
JANE LEFEVRE wipes
out winter woes
bad weather so reducing their grazing
time and as well as the reduction of
goodness in the grass, this will reduce
food intake. It helps enormously if you
can feed hay in a safe container that
minimises waste. Remember there is a
pecking order (or kicking order!) and if
feeding from the floor you need to put
out one more pile than you have ponies
to avoid injury as the lead horse exerts
its position by trying to eat all the piles
at once!
Check list
• Become a weather expert – don’t
go by the month of the year go by the
weather. If its mild then the grass is
growing. But it could be March and the
temperature too low for grass to grow.
• Equines tend to lose more weight
after Christmas so the new year
onwards is a time to monitor weight. If
they are in a full coat, get your hands on
them and feel to see if there is weight
loss (or weight gain!) and adjust feed
accordingly
• Don’t waste feed by allowing it to be
trodden into the mud, choose and use
feeders. If using haynets be aware of the
danger of catching feet in them – best to
use the ones with very small holes.
• Look round the horses, ponies and
donkeys regularly for signs of injury, mud
fever (on the heels) and seedy toe. SH
09/01/2018 14:54
 Don’t economize on feed costs
But do make every penny count for good nutrition says BOB LIGHTLY
I n previous years it was the cost of
hay and straw and this year due to
the wet summer and more recently
the cost of raw commodities has risen
causing an increase in price of bagged
feed. Livestock keepers from back yard
poultry keepers to large farmers will find
that feed bills increase this winter. So
how do you manage the costs? Here are
some dos and don’ts.
DON’T stop feeding balanced
compound feeds such as layer’s pellets
or sheep nuts. These contain all the
nutrients needed for whatever they are
formulated. Modern hybrid hens simply
cannot lay on grain and scraps (which
incidentally are largely illegal to feed)
alone. All you will get is a decrease in
eggs and if you are trying to finish an
animal for the freezer, a lack of growth.
DO feed the correct amount and make
sure it is all eaten up by the poultry
or livestock. You should never have
to discard waste feed – either you are
feeding too much or your feeders are
not keeping it clean and dry in winter
weather. You are literally throwing away
money.
DON’T necessarily go for the cheapest
feed. Laying pellets can have different
formulations and hybrids or ex batts will
need a higher protein. Check out the
label. Take advice from feed companies
on the right feed for your stock.
DO give thought to safe storage of feed.
Rats and mice should not be dining at
58-59.indd 59
your expense. It is easier to protect the
feed with metal bins than to eradicate
rodents if they can get free food. Plus
there is a disease risk if rodents are
contaminating your feed
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE how much
feed you need – be realistic. It’s better to
be able to budget for the correct costs
than be taken by surprise.
DO make sure you have enough feed in
stock to get through bad weather when
you perhaps cannot get to the feed
merchants.
DON’T UNDERVALUE your produce
when you sell it. If it is costing you more
to produce eggs then put the price up.
Most smallholders sell eggs way below
the supermarket price anyway. Don’t
just give eggs to visitors unless you are
bartering. Just because you produce
eggs and they don’t doesn’t mean that
just turning up with an empty egg box
means you have to fill it!
DO feed plenty of forage – hay, haylage
or barley straw and buy this ahead as
well. Good quality forage or access to
a well grassed paddock will help keep
your livestock healthy.
Although of low feed value, winter
grass does have some nutrients and is a
natural feed for livestock – but you’ll still
need to keep up the bagged feed and
get a mineral lick.
DON’T feed worms – get worm counts
down on all your livestock and have
programme for worming poultry which
includes worm counts.
DO check the weight of your livestock
by feeling them, measuring them in the
case of equines and weighing them if
finishing for meat. Feed chickens their
normal laying diet through the stress of
moulting.
DON’T think that rugging your equine
means you can feed less – this is a
common myth. Rugging is to keep
ridden animals clean and dry, not to
cut feed costs in equines that have
perfectly good coats of their own such
as native ponies. Older animals may
benefit from a rug but it’s no substitute
for feeding the right amount of a
balanced ration.
DO think of the future and consider your
management of the pasture as winter
moves towards spring.
DON’T overstock your field which will
damage the grass perhaps beyond re
establishment. If you are over stocked,
make it a New Year’s resolution to deal
with the issue before next year, either
by taking on extra pasture or reducing
stock.
DO feed plenty of forage, that is hay,
haylage or straw as all grazing animals
rely on fibre for good health and the very
act of eating helps to keep them warm
and content. Think about getting your hay
analysed for content so you can see what
value it is to the nutritional regime. SH
January/February 2018 | 59
09/01/2018 14:54
 Rights of Way explained
Do you know your bridleway from your byway? HEATHER JAMES explains
O nce a highway always a
highway. Well that's the theory
behind Rights of Way. If only it
were that simple though.......
In the not so distant past, Britain
was a nation of walkers, riders and
carriage drivers – though to be fair,
mostly walkers. It was obvious that
if there was a shorter way from place
to place, people would take it unless
actively discouraged, and over time,
a network of path ways were created.
These helped ploughman walk to work,
the gentry to visit each other by horse,
deliveries by horse and cart and children
to go to school. They were essential
routes, well used and well known.
After the wars, with the development
and eventual increase in motor vehicles
plus the development of land that
threatened these routes, it was decided
to list them all and put them on a
'definitive map'
The problem with this was that in
many cases this was the responsibility
of the Parish Council and working
and poor people didn't tend to be
represented on most of these Councils!
They tended to be more comprised
of land owners, gentry and business
people. So it was possible that
members of the Council perhaps did not
walk these paths and at worse, they had
an active interest in not wanting some
of them to continue.
But despite this, it was a useful
exercise and offered a huge amount of
protection to paths that were listed on
this map and this is the map that we still
use today. The Definitive Map is easy
to access and easy to read. The Parish
Council, Town Council, District and
County Council will all have copies and
it is available on line as well.
The types of paths are:
Byway - This is a Right of Way that is
open to all including motorised vehicles.
If the route is constantly abused by
motorised vehicles then it may be
possible to obtain a short term closure
for motorised vehicles and/or other
groups of users such as horses. This
is not something the land owner can
just do – this has to go through the
appropriate channels and an order has
to be granted.
Equestrian carriage drivers may
use the byways as they have wheeled
vehicles but they may not use the
bridleways.
60 | SMALLHOLDING
60 right of way.indd 58
Bridleway - This Right of Way is open
to walkers and to horse riders. It is not
open to off road motor cyclists as they
are wheeled vehicles.
Footpath - This Right of Way is open
to walkers only (and dogs of course).
It may include stiles although these
days, where possible, stiles have been
replaced with more accessible access.
Permissive Paths – This Right of Way
is as it suggests, a permissive route
with the blessing of the land owner. This
may be a philanthropic estate owner,
a Council land route or an old railway
line but permission can be withdrawn. It
might be that the land is not wanted at
present but might be in the future. They
do not always show on the Definitive
Map but should be on the Parish or
Town Council maps.
These routes are signposted and
have various specifications for minimum
width although as these routes are
natural terrain over open countryside,
its not always possible to reproduce
perfect conditions and this should not
be expected, but access should be.
Rights of Way must be passable.
If a right of way is on the Definitive Map
it is the land owners and the Councils'
responsibility to keep this way open. It
is an offence for a land owner or any
other person to close a path without
permission. They cannot be redirected
without an application and permission
granted and this is not given lightly. “I
don't like it going past my workshop” is
not normally a good enough reason.
The inability to use the Right of Way
due to uncontrolled dogs or dangerous
livestock is considered as a blocked
path and you will be expected by law to
rectify the situation and make it safe to
use. Many paths go through livestock
without issue but a field of colts which
render the path unrideable for horse
riders is not acceptable.
Providing an alternative route in itself
is not a justification for a re direct. If as
a walker, rider or driver you encounter a
blocked path, it should immediately be
reported to the County Council which in
most cases now is via a fault reporting
on line in the Highways Department.
Unfortunately, most Councils have cut
their Rights of Way team to a bare
minimum to cope with their budget
restrictions so you may also find
organisations such as The Ramblers, the
Open Spaces Society and the British
Horse Society, helpful if you have an
issue with a Right of Way.
Buying a property with a Right of Way
Rights of Way will show up on the
property search but most people buying
a smallholding will have looked at a map
of the area anyway and the are clearly
marked on Ordnance Survey Map. If you
are not happy with a Right of Way over
your property then you should not buy
the property. Don't confuse a Right of
Way on the definitive map with a right by
a neighbour to come across your land –
this is a totally different issue.
Remember you will not be able
to close or divert the Right of Way
except in exceptional circumstances
and it will all have go to through a
legal process.
There tends to be very negative views
on having a way through your land but it
can work to your advantage. If well used
by walkers, then you can have some
useful sales of produce from people
passing by or even sales of drinks and
snacks. If you have bridleway access,
horse owners will find your premises
very attractive for livery.
The countryside is getting
increasingly crowded by residential
development, leisure use and population
increase but we all have to learn to
share. We can only do this by thoughtful
use – so keeping dogs on leads around
sheep and housing, walking with our
horses when we see walkers or again
through livestock and not driving off
road vehicles through mud and ruining
the track for everyone. We have to
respect everyone's usage so that we
can ALL keep our heritage, the Rights of
Way network. SH
09/01/2018 15:19
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 Beyond
the wall

A snug croft at Clachtoll Bay on the North West Highlands of Scotland

seen it yet. In fact, I’ve only recently

Rosemary Champion and her husband, Dan, run a 12 acre smallholding in Angus,
finished watching the first series. Still,
breeding Coloured Ryeland sheep and Shetalnd cattle and doing all sorts of other
plenty long dark nights to go yet for me
smallholdery type things. They run The Accidental Smallholder website and regular
to get caught up. “The Scottish Farmer”
courses throughout the year (details on the website www.accidentalsmallholder.net/
has been running a series of articles
smallholding/courses/). In their spare time, they are part of the (very) small team
on the families that took part, and how
of volunteers that organises the Scottish Smallholder Festival, Lanark Agricultural
things have changed for them since the
Centre, www.ssgf.uk).
filming. I hope there will be a third series
but I wish they would cut the incredibly

B y the time you read this, the

festive season will be over and
we’ll be into 2018. The days will
be lengthening and many of us will be
starting to look forward to lambing,
kidding, farrowing, calving and hatching.
No doubt Brexit will still be rumbling on
and my prediction is that no one will
have any idea how it’s all going to pan
out. But we smallholders will just get on
with it, as we have done for centuries.
Since the last “Beyond the Wall”,
the Scottish Government has ruled out
fracking in Scotland, which is good
news. Scotland and in particular, its
food and drink brands, has always made
Woman in traditional Tudor clothes
demonstrates woollen crafts at
Mary Arden’s Farm
much of green credentials – allowing
fracking would not be consistent with
that. And much is being made on social
media of protecting the Scottish brand
as more Scottish products are being
branded as British. This is also linked
to growing concerns about the impact
of Brexit on protected geographical
branding. While this probably doesn’t
impact directly on many smallholders,
it’s a worrying trend.
The second series of “This Farming
Life” has come to an end. The series
included a dairy farm, a buffalo farm
and a crofting couple. Again, it’s proved
to be very popular – although I haven’t
repetitive introduction at the start of
every episode.
We’ve been watching the ”Tudor
Monastery Farm”, which is from the
same production company that made
“Tales of the Green Valley”, “The
Edwardian Farm”, “The Victorian Farm”
and “The Wartime Farm”. We’ll be
watching the “Wartime Farm” series next
– I suspect we’ll see some similarities
with how we run our smallholding now.
The unpredictable weather this
summer and autumn is expected to
cause a shortage of fodder – especially
hay and straw – and consequent high
prices. Here in the East of Scotland, the
weather hasn’t been too bad but I’m
sure we’ll feel the hit too, as demand in
other areas takes effect. Sadly, increased
costs are unlikely to be reflected in
better prices for finished stock next year.

Scotland’s Healthy Animals

The spectre of Avian Influenza has
raised its head again, albeit briefly and
in mainland Europe. After last year,
we’ve been improving one of our sheds
that we used last winter to house
birds. I have no doubt that there will be
more incidents of AI – if not this year,
then in future years, so we need to be
prepared.
The Blue Tongue Virus has also
popped up but thankfully, prompt
testing and action seems to have
eliminated its spread.
Coincidentally, (or perhaps not)
a new website called “Scotland’s

62 | SMALLHOLDING

Beyond the wall p6.indd 58 09/01/2018 15:07

 Simmental bull grazing with heifers
Healthy Animals” has been launched
to provide guidance to animal owners,
professionals and members of the
public on keeping animals healthy. It
includes a poultry hub, with advice
on steps poultry keepers can take to
minimise the risk of Avian Influenza
infections. It’s still very much in
development but, hopefully, it will
become a useful resource in time.
Bull and Tup (Ram) sales
The mainstream farming press in
the last couple of months has been
dominated by the bull and tup sales.
I truly struggle to get my head round
prices like £58,000 for a Blackie ram
lamb or £90,000 for a Swaledale tup,
or £22,000 for a Simmental bull or
£28,000 for a Simmental maiden heifer.
It’s just astounding. There’s been some
discussion in ShBy Duncan Andison.
At market, they tend not to make good
prices and that’s reflected in private
sales (which make up the majority
of transactions) but I fear if we, as
breeders, don’t value our cattle, then
no-one else will. We’re just not very
good at marketing, sadly.
Smallholding Scotland
The issue of land reform remains
active. The Scottish Land Commission,
established under the Land Reform
(Scotland) Act 2016, has published its
first strategic plan called “Making More
of Scotland’s Land”. The Commission
was established on 1st April 2017
with a remit to drive forward land
reform in Scotland. This is no mean
challenge in a country with one of the
most concentrated patterns of land
ownership on Europe.
“Smallholding Scotland” submitted
a somewhat brief response to the
ScotGov consultation of the reform
of crofting law. Some of the areas
Beyond the wall p6.indd 59
being consulted on were specific to
crofting but what was interesting was
the suggestion by one respondent that
perhaps crofting should be extended
to the whole of Scotland. It’s only
by a historical glitch that crofting
legislation IS restricted to the current
area and while attempts to extend the
legislation to the whole of Scotland in
the early part of the 20th century that
have since been superseded, a recent
extension of the “crofting counties”
boundaries to coincide with those of
Highlands and Islands Enterprise hasn’t
resulted in the registration of many
new crofts. Of course, the crofting
legislation was originally intended as
protection for tenants and the vast
majority of smallholdings are owner
occupied; indeed, since crofters gained
the absolute right to buy under 1976
legislation, about ¼ of registered crofts
are now owner-occupied, which has
complicated the legislative framework
even more. Personally, I would be
happy to see the term “croft” applied to
all small agricultural units in Scotland,
and I would not be unhappy, in
principle, to have the duties of crofters
– to live within 32km of their croft; to
maintain it in good agricultural and
environmental condition; and to use it
for agriculture, horticulture, woodland or
other purposeful use – extended across
the country. But I think it is an area for
significant debate if such an extension
is actually proposed.
It’s always good to see Scottish
based, world-class organisations
coming together to improve joined up
working, so the collaboration between
the Moredun Research Institute and
Scottish Rural Colleges (SRUC) is to be
welcomed.
Food security is an area that’s
being discussed widely in Scotland,
along with our poor diet and its
impact on health and wellbeing. The
Scottish Government has previously
produced two food strategies and
a “Good Food Nation” bill is in the
offing. I was interested to come across
some interesting statistics the other
day. Firstly, 2/3 of adults and 1/3 of
children in Scotland are overweight
(Revised Dietary Goals March 2016).
I’m one of them but I’m working on
it. In response, the government has
set the target for fruit and vegetable
consumption to 400g per day, double
the previous target. Based on a
population of 5.4 million, that’s just
under 800,000 tonnes of fruit and SH
vegetables per year to improve our
health. According to the Economic
Report on Scottish Agriculture 2017,
we were producing about 350,000
tonnes of veg. – mainly carrots (200,000
tonnes), turnips (49,000 tonnes), peas
(49,000 tonnes) and broccoli (17,000
tonnes) –and 30,000 tonnes of fruit
(mainly strawberries and raspberries).
That’s a hell of a shortfall, setting aside
the losses incurred between production
and consumption! Now folk are always
going to want bananas and citrus,
which won’t grow here but maybe
future government support should be
aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable
production, on both a large and a small
scale.
We’ve just had our Annual Sheep
and Goat Inventory form to complete.
My BH was surfing the web the other
day and surprised me with the fact
that there are 5,500 flocks of sheep
in Scotland with fewer than 50 ewes.
My gut feeling is that the number of
people keeping sheep has risen over
the ten years we’ve kept them. Through
Smallholding Scotland, we’re hoping
to work with ScotGov to get a better
picture of our sector, based on such
data collections. SH
January/February 2018 | 63
09/01/2018 15:07
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 Knowing the rules
Working farmer Jim Webster describes himself as a peasant in the North of England
O
bviously the minute you get
involved with livestock you end
up getting involved with rules
and regulations. Holding numbers,
registers, movement documents
etc. Even with poultry you can have
government telling you to keep them
inside because of avian flu.
But now it’s January/February.
February especially can be the
grimmest, darkest and longest month in
the year, for all it’s only got twenty-eight
days. So I decided that I ought to do
something to cheer people up. Because
of this I’ve decided that I’ll let you into a
secret. Sometimes, when you’re
involved in agriculture at any level, the
rules don’t apply to you. Firstly look
at the working time directive. The EU
brought it in as part of Health and
Safety. This was basically a fudge,
because H&S regulations could
be passed by qualified majority voting.
Otherwise several member states had
stated they would veto the directive as
a step too far. But once the directive
was law, the EU has been approached
by various lobby groups who pointed
out that the deluge of regulations falling
on agriculture and other sectors were
forcing self-employed small business
people to work longer hours, either
to do the paperwork or to earn the
money to pay somebody else to do the
paperwork. But apparently this bit of
Health and Safety regulation doesn’t
apply to the self-employed. Employees
are delicate flowers who have
to be cosseted and nurtured. The self-
employed are tough, perfectly capable
of working inordinately long hours for
no perceptible gain. So you super-hero
66 | SMALLHOLDING
Jim Webster jan-feb18.indd 34
you, put your underpants on over your
trousers, grab your cape,
and power your way through that pile
of paperwork.
There are other times I’ve realised
the rules weren’t meant to cover me.
Think of the endless evening meetings
where the chair-person is incompetent
and various people drone on for hours
about nothing that is either relevant
or interesting. Or the parties where
you’re stuck trying to be nice to
people you’d normally cross the road
to avoid if you thought they hadn’t
seen you coming. Yet courtesy keeps
you there, struggling to stay awake,
until finally, at last, the damned thing
finally comes to an end and you’re
free.
It is here that you can experience
the joy of being able to stand up about
9pm and say, with a note of regret in
your voice, “I’m afraid I have to go,
I’m milking in the morning.”
Now I realise that you might not
have a dairy herd to fall back on. But it
is amazing what can be pressed into
service. Just say something vague
about, ‘there’s a ewe I’m worried about
and I’ve got to check her every few
hours,’ or even, ‘it’s my turn to lock the
hens in for the night and I’d better get
in done before 10pm.’ With this
pronouncement, calmly pick up your
jacket and make your way quietly out
of the room. It’s considered unkind to
punch the air and shout, “Free, free,
I’m free at last,” when you’re still within
ear shot of the other victims.
I learned early that not every rule
applied to me. I was fifteen and our
French Master was sick of our class
and announced that he was just going
to keep us in an extra forty minutes. As
his was the last lesson he just kept
teaching after the final bell. Quietly I
packed my bag, stood up, slung it
over my shoulder, and walked to the
door. “Webster, where do you think
you’re going?” I turned to face him,
and courteously explained, “My Dad is
off at a farm sale today, and will be late
back. I promised I’d get cows in and
start milking.”
With that I turned and walked out of
the class room. As excuses go it has
the advantage of being entirely true. It
also had the advantage of being
entirely successful. Nobody ever
followed up on it or demanded I do my
detention on a separate evening. SH
As an aside,
‘by popular
demand’ I
produced a
second volume
of anecdotes
about peasant
agriculture in
the North of
England. As
usual Border
Collies,
Cattle and Sheep get fair coverage,
but it's mixed with family history and
the joys of living along a single track
road.
‘And sometimes I just sits?’
www.amazon.co.uk/sometimes-I-
just-sits-ebook/dp/B077C89YDH/
09/01/2018 15:17
 SE

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Three Counties Showground,
Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW

24th & 25th

February 2018 W
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The Royal Highland Centre,
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24th & 25th
March 2018
SATURDAY '568( &4;058( "=-!:; ,5#(
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 Give your hens
some L VE this
season with our
Farmgate Super
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