The Year Round: We have to keep an eye on the calves in the cold

My brother and son helped me with a 50-strong herd of Holstein Friesians and 80 breeding ewes just starting to lamb.

I have become much quicker mending burst pipes through constant practice.

Some of the young calves have suffered from the cold and we keep a special eye on them, combined with a course of antibiotics in some cases.

They seem to grow out of this stage in a few weeks.

We farm about 200 acres, some being our own and some rented, and some grazing is usually taken in addition.

Most days our farm transporter is on the move. Farmers without transport know their stock will be handled carefully by my brother and son and they enjoy these market trips.

These days when trade is reasonably good it is handy to keep up with the market. We need a special transport licence from DEFRA to undertake this work.

Another local dairy farmer has sold up.

Milk producers have been hit by the supermarkets' grip on prices and I wonder what sort of trouble this country is heading for if we start importing milk in any quantity.

Our young bull is coming along nicely.

He is a pedigree Red Holstein and will grow to replace the present one who is rather too heavy. I like the red and white colour, and there is always a special pleasure in breeding good stock.

Some of the cows are put to a Belgian Blue bull to breed suitable beef calves.

Here again I am very particular when choosing a bull and go for a nice, neat animal to avoid calving difficulties.

Young Farmers' Club meetings are going well, despite very bad travelling conditions.