At the beginning of November I was busy with pedigree bull sales – I sold a young Charolais bull at the Welshpool Sale at the beginning of the month followed by a trip to Brecon with Limousin bulls in the same week. Killerton Jackpot was reserve Senior Champion and sold quite well.
Emslies Horny of the Killerton Herd
On the farm, we weaned off a lot of cattle when they were housed mid November. The young stock were vaccinated for pneumonia and IBR pre weaning. Progeny sired by Emslies Horny and AI Bulls all seem to be paying dividends – calves are looking very well.
The autumn/winter has been very mild but wet in the west country which has created a few problems. Cereals are very winter proud and I am hoping cold weather/frost will slow down growth. Moving the fence in the stubble turnip fields is certainly not a pleasure. The high winds and wet weather have resulted in a few break outs which has upset neighbours.
Shooting – it was a pleasure to go to Yorkshire in November to be greeted with horizontal rain and gale force winds resulting in my hat being lost several times. However the “study tour” was fun, as usual. Pheasant shooting in the west country has been good with birds flying well and staying at home.
A farm inspection during December in relation to HLS and Single Farm Payments was not a pleasure – the inspector did not like round straw bales being placed beside a hedge. I am still awaiting the final outcome on the HLS – description and area maps still remain a problem.