SHEEP farmers, mainly in the north of Scotland, are counting the cost of their lambing time losses following an unseasonal Arctic blast which brought snow and hailstorms sweeping in at the start of this week.

The official Met Office statement, from spokesman Grahame Madge, said simply: “The areas affected include Caithness, West Highlands, and Cairngorm" – but “a year’s work gone in one night” was how farmer David Stewart described the situation to The Scottish Farmer.

David and wife Elizabeth have been battling the elements at their core farm Mains of Dalrulzion, and at their higher ground Finegand hirsel, in Glenshee.

Said David: “The 550 Cheviots at Finegand have been the worst hit. The Texels at Dalrulzion have the luxury of being inside and having the heat box.

“It was the combination of the snow and the ferocity of the wind that has been the problem. Conditions have been atrocious – a whiteout. We still have snow two feet deep on both sides of the dykes at Finegand.

“I've never known wind like it," he added. "I could hardly stand up. We had eight lambs dead behind one dyke, probably over 20 dead altogether, but we won’t know how bad things are until, the snow has gone.”

Alastair Nairn and his son Stuart faced similar conditions at his Clashnoir farm, Glenlivet. Said Alastair: "We were getting on grand until Tuesday, then we had four inches of snow within two hours, which got driven into drifts two to three feet deep by the strength of the wind.

“Our farm is 1050 feet above sea level rising to 1400 feet on the high fields. We have 700 Blackies and 400 Mules and have been hauling them in as fast as we can. This weather couldn’t have come at a worse time. It’s hard to say at this stage how many lambs have been lost until the snow goes.”

Alastair’s near neighbour Michael Durno, of Auchorachan, is lambing 600 Blackies. Said Michael: “It’s been pretty rough. We have had five to six inches of snow, driven into drifts by the wind. It’s been a job getting to the ewes, but so far we have had only a handful of lambs dead.”

John Scott has in the region of 3000 ewes to lamb at his Fearn farm, Tain. Said John: “We’ve had two bad days this week. The chill factor has been the problem with lambs struggling to live as soon as they hit the ground.

“We have had around 30 dead so far," reported Mr Scott. "We have a lot of young sheep, lambing in exposed places, so it's not good.”

Jonny Campbell, of Balnaclavan farm, has also been struggling with the elements lambing his 500 hill Cheviots at his Brawlbin hirsel eight miles from Thurso.

Said Johnny: “The combination of wind, rain, sleet and snow has been vicious. It would be white for two hours then all clear, then white again. There is water everywhere. We have lost seven lambs so far, but it could have been worse.”