Producing good commercial prime lambs from a mixture of home-bred cross-bred females are the main objectives at Minsca, Waterbeck, Lockerbie – goals that have become more achievable since the Connell family installed a slatted shed, using plastic MIK stepper excel slats.
The slats were bought through Hanco to reduce the burden on grass fields caused by the farm’s 530 Grey Mules and Texel cross ewes which run alongside 330 Blackface cross Swaledale females, which tend to poach the ground in wetter winters.
“Outwintering our sheep when the winters are so much wetter, was having a real impact on feed availability and we knew we had to do something to ensure sufficient grass for the cattle in the spring,” said Adrian Connell, the third generation of the family to farm at Minsca.
“That’s when we looked to put up a sheep shed, which has not only saved our grass but also helped in the overall management of the flock. We now only have to doze for fluke three times a year compared to four and we’ve seen a reduction in our feed bills.
“We were feeding all the sheep outside before but so much of it was being wasted in the wet weather, so we no longer have that wastage or the extra costs.
“The sheep do better on the slats too as they are not using any additional energy to keep themselves warm. Feed is predominantly for maintenance in the winter and nearer lambing for the unborn lambs,” said Adrian, adding that the 530 lowland ewes can now be fed in 15 minutes to include mixing.
“The shed has been a great investment for the business, as not only are our sheep doing better, but our cattle are also thriving from more grass in the spring,” he added.
The team opted for a slurry-based system for their new shed as it meant the slats don’t have to be removed to be mucked out.
The tank is six foot deep which allows for plenty of capacity and room to stir. It only has to be emptied once a year, during the summer, with the high nutrient slurry applied to fields that need it most.
The shed is divided into nine pens of three different sizes, to allow for better batching of sheep. Once the sheep are scanned, they are grouped according to singles, twins and triplets and fed accordingly with a Davidsons Animal Feeds Meal.
Tipping water troughs were fitted to keep water clean and fresh, with any water added to the slurry making it easier to stir.
The gale breakers were added to the openings of the shed to reduce wind and rain in rough weather but still maintain good ventilation.
Slats not only reduce bedding costs but have also reduced lameness with little if any now seen. Slats are set on 8ft fibre glass bearers to reduce corrosion on a minimum life expectancy of 25 years and provide 8.5square foot per ewe for stocking density. All construction work of shed, slurry tank and internal fitments were carried out by the Connell family themselves to keep the costs down.
Commenting on the sheep breeds used Adrian said: “The Blackie adds the width to the Swale, whilst the Swale puts a bit of height into our upland females, to produce a good hardy female, which crossed to a Bluefaced Leicester to produce the grey Mule ensures increased prolificacy.”
While their flock comprises mostly Blackface and Swaledale hill ewes, the team is now looking to move more into Mules when they can house all their sheep.
They do however intend retaining their Blackie ewes for breeding and for grazing the rougher ground on the farm.
Although the priority is to be as self-sufficient as possible, the family does buy in occasional Blackie ewe hoggs either at Lanark or Castle Douglas to maintain numbers. Stock tups are purchased at Kelso Ram Sales, as well as breeding the odd Texel tup to be used as a terminal sire on the commercial flock.
Prior to lambing, the lowground ewes on slats are fed a silage and mineral diet mix up until six weeks pre lambing with a 19% Protein Davidson meal introduced every two weeks after.
The hardier Swale cross Blackface ewes which are outside are fed Davidsons’ ewe rolls.
“Good feed management is essential to getting the ewes in the right condition for lambing and ready to rear their lambs. Keeping feed costs down but ensuring the ewes are still satisfied is our main aim,” said Adrian.
All ewes lamb inside from the middle of March onwards with those on slats moved to straw-bedded courts the week they are due.
At tupping time, rams are coloured coded and marked one colour for the first seven days which is then changed to a different colour between days seven and 14 days, which in turn outlines when each ewe is due within a week for better batching. Tups remain with the ewes for 42 days.
A teaser ram is put out with the hoggs for 14 days before a tup is brought in for 21 days.
“Nothing is lambed intentionally on the slats as you would need to lift the lambs straight away to avoid them getting a chill from the plastic, so we have found it easier just to move them onto straw-bedded courts in the sheds.
“By lambing inside, we can keep a closer eye on things, sort out any issues earlier which helps reduce mortality,” said Adrian, who added that last year the hill flock scanned at 190% whilst the lowland flock hit 200%.
All remaining triplets that are not twinned on are lifted and reared on a shepherdess milk feeder, before moving onto a bucket with teats to limit milk consumption.
Ewes and their new born lambs are put in individual pens for 24 hours, to ensure sufficient colostrum has been consumed and lambs have bonded with their mother, before being put out to grass.
Lambs navels are also dipped in iodine at birth and before leaving the shed are marked and rung. Depending on grass availability, ewes can also be fed ewe rolls outside via a snacker.
Lambs are drawn for the prime market from July onwards, with weaning taking place in August, when lambs are put onto forage rape.
When all outdoor feed is cleared, remaining lambs are finished on slats being fed a silage and cereals ration.
Most lambs are sold through Longtown at roughly 40kg upwards with the best ewe lambs retained as replacements.
“We aim to make things as efficient as possible and have livestock that requires little intervention thereby enabling us to grow the business further,” said Adrian, who is looking to increase ewe numbers back up to 1000 due to wet winters causing a reduction in numbers in previous years.
An added income is provided in a 100 suckler cow herd crossed either to a Beef Shorthorn or an Angus bull, with the progeny sold store through Lockerbie or Longtown.
Again, the best heifers are retained as replacements. All cattle are housed through the winter and fed a silage and straw ration before calving in spring.
Farm facts
Involvement – Family run business starting with Hugh and Margaret, their son, Ivor and wife, Elaine along with their son, Adrian.
Acreage – 1200 acres rising from 500ft to 900ft above sea level.
Livestock – 860 ewes put to the tup including Blackface, Swaledale cross Blackface, Grey Mules and Texels. Also, a 100 suckler cow herd producing Beef Shorthorn and Aberdeen-Angus cross store cattle.
On the spot
Best investment? The slatted shed without a doubt. As well as a Ritchie combi clamp for working with sheep. It has put the joy back into working with sheep for me.
Best advice? Don’t be stuck by tradition. Have the courage to try something different, just because it has always been done one way doesn’t mean it is right.
If you could change one thing, what would it be? The weather.
Where do you want to be in 2031? Hopefully we will have achieved what we have set out to do and get to the numbers we aim for. Our main aim is to be more efficient.
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