The Close of Lambing Season

As another lambing season in Sutherland comes to a close, our farm manager Allan Mackay reflects on the ups, the downs, and the endurance of bringing new life into the world en masse.

If you ever ask a farmer how their lambing season is going, you’re sure to get a positive response. Everything’s fine, no problems here. My advice? Don’t believe a word of it!

The trials and tribulations of the lambing season, while they can often be challenging, are also what can make this a special time of year for farmers. It’s a test of endurance - once you start you are on call 24 hours a day, seven days per week. It’s a test of stamina - often involving long days and nights in high winds, persistent snow and beating sun (sometimes all in the same afternoon…). Above all, it’s a test of character - you will find yourself dealing with loss and unexpected complications, all while operating on hardly any sleep.

I’ve been farming now for over 30 years, and I’ll readily admit that as a young farmer, lambing was never my favourite time of the year. There were some days when I’d come home for a few hours of respite, ready to pack the whole lot in. But I always listen to those older and (much) wiser than me, who would reassure me that while the day might have been long and the work might have been hard, tomorrow would be better - and so it was.

WildLand keeps sheep across two farms on Sutherland northern coast. We believe in finding the balance between conservation and agriculture - farming in a responsible, low-impact way. As you can imagine, the elements coming in off the wild seas to the north make for particularly ‘refreshing’ lambing weather. This year we have been tending to around 800 pregnant ewes. While the world quite rightly stays at home to stay safe (our team has been practicing social distancing throughout the lambing season), it seems nature continues to take its course.

While our season this year has not been without challenges (as I write this piece, we are dealing with a particularly tricky birth), we have seen a relatively easy lambing season here in the North. Thanks to the hard work of our team, a new generation of lambs have made their way into the world and will call these fields home.