Castell Welsh Black - One of the oldest registered Welsh Black Herds - Welsh Black Stock For Sale, Welsh Black Bulls For Sale, Welsh Black Heifers For Sale, Welsh Black Cattle For Sale

18/06/2011 at 22.21

Time flies when you are having fun, so they say, and allthough I write my diary every night a year has passed since I did this one, we are still here - Ni yma o hyd!!

The coldest winter in living memory, it beat last year in length and in low temperatures. first snow on the 26th November and the cold snap lasted well into the New Year.

Early lambing this year, first time in many years and after sponging a small number of ewes they all lambed within a week, not enough carrying twins but they were strong lambs and it was good to have these out of the way before the main lot.
First lambs were sold on the 11th April for £115.50, only two, pity it wasnt a trailer load, the next lot a tidy 14 this time averaged over £105 a fortnight later, these early lambers have now all been sold and have kept our bank manager happy, for the time being.

March came in with the good sunny warm weather that carried on through to April, making it the best lambing ever, with ewes producing good strong lambs and these out in the fields within hours. Cattle calving were sent out and were happy with a good bite of grass to see them on their way. Lambing our first lot of Lleyn ewes this year they have worked well with plenty of milk to rear their twins and triplets.
Turning cattle out at least a month earlier than normal, with grass waiting for them.
Ploughed four fields, three with fodder crop undersown with red clover to go into the silage clamp and the fourth with red clover and rape to fatten the lambs, even with regular visits from wild geese and the local population of crows we still seem to have a good crop that's growing well now.
May came along and the driest spring on record continued with strong cold winds which dried everything off to a frazzle, and no rain. Shearing was done again with the job just as long and exhausting as ever, but its done for another year.
Just as we were ready to bale our Haylage the forecast found some rain so we baled a day early and have been fortunate to have some good stuff for the sheep next winter the red clover grew very fast and gave us a good crop.
June has so far been quite wet and chilly we have had enough rain now for a while, when it stops we are ready for the main crop of silage to be put into the clamp.
27th May saw the Llandovery Welsh Black Pedigree sale and we had Champion and Reserve Champion Female. Prices were between 1460 and 1680 gns, so quite fair for in -calf heifers, we have since sold some from home, which is so much easier without the washing and polishing. We have increased our breeding cow numbers as we have some cracking in calf and maiden heifers to join the herd. Sheep numbers have also risen as we have purchased some neighbouring land.
May also saw our two Jenny donkeys foaling and giving us two little Jenny foals so their numbers are also on the increase (on the quiet) and the addition of a Jack donkey too.
Gareth and I had a belated christmas present at the begining of April one of our sons treated us to a day in Cardiff to see the musical 'QUEEN' it has taken us two country bumpkins a long time to recover from the loud noise - it must be old age!
Next week we are going to Aberglasney to listen to Bryn Terfel singing, bet we'll be on the silage!
Starting to eat our home grown new potatoes - lovely