0:00:03 > 0:00:05Across some of the most beautiful
0:00:05 > 0:00:07and remote landscapes of the British Isles...
0:00:07 > 0:00:11It's not a bad office, is it? You know, look at it.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14..Scotland's farmers carve a living...
0:00:14 > 0:00:18Everything has got a time and a season. Nature doesn't stop.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20..breeding sheep and cattle...
0:00:20 > 0:00:21There's a lot of old friends here.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24They've come to the end of their working life. Quite a sad day.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Wait a second!
0:00:27 > 0:00:31..bringing new life into the world
0:00:31 > 0:00:33and battling with the elements.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37They're all cute in their own way,
0:00:37 > 0:00:41and especially if they end up on your plate as a lamb chop - yum!
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Over a year, five very different families
0:00:44 > 0:00:47let cameras onto their farms...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Hell of a size of nuts on him.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53..and into their lives, to share their struggles...
0:00:53 > 0:00:54I don't know why you won't go forward, Mrs.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Do you need to do this?
0:00:56 > 0:00:58..and their triumphs...
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Look at my baby. He's alive!
0:01:02 > 0:01:06..as they try and turn a profit in testing economic times.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09That's just depressing, that, really.
0:01:09 > 0:01:10There's cause for celebration...
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Gorgeous.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14..and a time to reflect.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17I feel sad that I haven't provided the next generation
0:01:17 > 0:01:18to carry on here.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20But it's never dull.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22I'm not letting go!
0:01:22 > 0:01:25It's not a job. It's a way of life.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Late autumn, early winter.
0:01:42 > 0:01:47In Scotland, short, chill, wet days
0:01:47 > 0:01:50are followed by long, cold nights.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59But in the cycle of the farming calendar,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02these inhospitable, barren conditions
0:02:02 > 0:02:05spell birth and new life.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10These are busy months for mating and calving.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Late autumn, for me, is the arrival of new life
0:02:16 > 0:02:19with another batch of cows due to start calving,
0:02:19 > 0:02:21and with new calves it's exciting
0:02:21 > 0:02:25because you've got the potential of new superstars to come through,
0:02:25 > 0:02:27for us, which is for the shows,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30for the sales, and that's exciting for me.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37In the north-east of Scotland, Martin Irvine and his family
0:02:37 > 0:02:42run a 240-acre farm, breeding pedigree Limousin cattle.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44COWS LOW
0:02:44 > 0:02:45Come on, girls.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Come on, then.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51Late autumn is one of the two main calving times of the year,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54and eight new calves are expected any day.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58In a playful kind of mood.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00They're in a playful kind of mood.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02Sit at peace.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Martin and his father Stevie are trying to move
0:03:04 > 0:03:07the expectant mothers into their own maternity pen.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12In my diary, she is due in the next five to eight days.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15She'll start getting slack in the back end
0:03:15 > 0:03:16and that's your kind of telltale sign.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19So we've got one here and two in the far-off pen.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20We'll bring them all through together.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25A calf's gestation period is about 21 days longer than a human.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29And by Martin's calculations,
0:03:29 > 0:03:31all these cows are now ready to deliver.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34Some well-endowed ladies.
0:03:36 > 0:03:37Big bellies.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41New stock is the lifeblood of this farm.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46A good calf can grow into a young bull that could fetch
0:03:46 > 0:03:48up to £30,000 at auction.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52One big sale, or lack of it,
0:03:52 > 0:03:56has an enormous financial impact on a family farm like the Irvines'.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00As exciting as it is to get a new calf, it is quite nervous,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02cos it kind of means a lot.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04There was bad spell we had last year
0:04:04 > 0:04:06when we lost three calves in a row.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09We don't like losing calves. It's just a bad feeling.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Kind of punish ourselves if we do lose calves.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18When we do lose something, I know me and Dad take it very personally.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Dying's just not an option for us.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Martin has his eye on one cow in particular,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31five-year-old Duchess, who is now four days overdue.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36She had a difficult breech birth last year and her calf died.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40I've been worrying about her for the last couple of weeks
0:04:40 > 0:04:43just cos of the kind of trouble we had last year.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45It can be quite simple. It could be a couple of pushes
0:04:45 > 0:04:47and it's out, or it could get stuck,
0:04:47 > 0:04:49and then that's when we have to intervene,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51and if we have to intervene it'll be quick.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54We'll catch her, we'll tie her up, and if we're nae happy
0:04:54 > 0:04:56and nothing's happening, we'll calf it.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03The key decision for Martin and his dad
0:05:03 > 0:05:06is always whether to get involved or not.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10It's a hard thing for us to sit and watch.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13As much as you want to go intervene and do stuff and check things,
0:05:13 > 0:05:15you're better to leave it alone.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17It's a fine line of just waiting long enough
0:05:17 > 0:05:20and not waiting too long.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25First in Martin's precious herd to go into labour
0:05:25 > 0:05:27is four-year-old Florence.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30This will be her second calf.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33She started pretty much making a nest, smelling the ground,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36and she'll start making mummy noises
0:05:36 > 0:05:37which is like "mm-mmm",
0:05:37 > 0:05:40this is her searching for her calf which is not yet born,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43and that's letting us know that's her starting calving.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49She can't put her tail right down, it sticks half up a bit,
0:05:49 > 0:05:51so there's something coming.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55And that's her just getting the calf into position, like this,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57ready for calving.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Cows can be unpredictable and aggressive during calving.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05As each of these cows weighs around 850 kilos,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07they must be treated with caution.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17They are quite quiet normally but soon as they start calving,
0:06:17 > 0:06:19they change, because they could just come for you.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22They don't like anybody near them, when they're calving.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Don't get too close, cos she could just change, they can.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28So the gate's open for a quick exit.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37If there are any problems with Florence's labour,
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Martin and Stevie will have just seconds
0:06:39 > 0:06:42to step in and save the valuable unborn calf.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48For now, it's a waiting game.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02In central Scotland, near Loch Lomond...
0:07:05 > 0:07:09..sheep farmer Bobby Lennox runs a 5,000-acre hill farm.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Early winter is mating or tupping time
0:07:13 > 0:07:15for his flock of blackface sheep
0:07:15 > 0:07:19and he's preparing the sheds for the rams, or tups, with wife Anne.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25What way are we going?
0:07:25 > 0:07:26That way.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28We're 35 years married, and we still get on.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30If Bobby tells me to do something,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32I'll jump immediately and do it right away.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37With a scowl on my face, maybe, or a mutter!
0:07:39 > 0:07:41We were in the same Young Farmers Club.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43I think we fenced around each other for a wee while,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45and basically three or four weeks later,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48we thought, "I think we should get engaged."
0:07:48 > 0:07:53It was all fairly quick when it happened. Never regretted it.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Well, we have our moments.
0:07:56 > 0:08:01Not me, of course. I'm the quiet, dutiful wife(!)
0:08:02 > 0:08:07For the tupping season their ewes must be brought down from the hills.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Some were gathered in last week, but most are still roaming free.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22There they are, they're waiting on us.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26There should be about 500 sheep, depends what's hiding
0:08:26 > 0:08:27and what comes in.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30This is perfect weather, the sun is shining, there's no rain,
0:08:30 > 0:08:31there's no mist in the hills,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34so that makes our job an awful lot easier.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Grandparents Bobby and Anne show few signs of slowing down.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Go on, boy.
0:08:43 > 0:08:4660-year-old Bobby is on a trail bike,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50as 500 sheep are grazing over miles of hillside
0:08:50 > 0:08:52rising up as high as 3,000 feet.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57With the help of friend and contract shepherd Derek, and their four dogs,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00they must find them and drive them down towards the farm.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Good boy, good boy.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06It's basically about two and a half miles to the end of the glen,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10and Bobby, he'll be going out the top, and Derek goes along
0:09:10 > 0:09:13about the middle and then they'll sweep the sheep round
0:09:13 > 0:09:18down to the farm. That's the plan - nobody's told the sheep.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Come on, girls, ho, ho, ho!
0:09:22 > 0:09:24It's tough.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27With only seven hours of daylight at this time of year,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30they must work fast in difficult and uneven terrain.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39'Terrain is probably the biggest challenge.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42'Sheep can spread over a big area.'
0:09:44 > 0:09:47'It's not just a case of going out to the field for 10, 15 minutes
0:09:47 > 0:09:50'with a dog and gathering the sheep up.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53'We're away for four, five, sometimes six hours.'
0:09:55 > 0:09:58On a day like this, it's nice - clean, fresh air.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00I don't mind working with the sheep.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03If you get a wet miserable day, it's not so enjoyable.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06But when you get weather like this, it's fine.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14They're making good progress,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17but some sheep can evade the gather year after year.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Bobby spots two potential escapees.
0:10:24 > 0:10:25Go on!
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Shoo! Yah!
0:10:29 > 0:10:32There's two sheep, unfortunately,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35just above the bottom crossings, and they don't want to come.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Shoo! Yah!
0:10:38 > 0:10:40Come on!
0:10:41 > 0:10:44This is time-consuming work when the days are so short.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53That was tricky. It's a bit slippy in there.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Just going to go down this sheep path, cross the burn and follow
0:11:04 > 0:11:08another sheep path across, then if it's slick, just ride with it.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Hopefully not too far!
0:11:13 > 0:11:16It's a well-trodden path for 62-year-old Anne,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19who clambers through these hills about eight times a year
0:11:19 > 0:11:21to bring in the sheep.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24I'd a very cushy job, I used to sit in an office.
0:11:24 > 0:11:30Shorthand typist, went into my work for half past eight in the morning
0:11:30 > 0:11:33and I left about ten to five at night, five days a week.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35That was lovely.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Bobby came along and that was it.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44And the first day that I was on the farm,
0:11:44 > 0:11:48the rain was coming out the sky in torrents
0:11:48 > 0:11:53and I was standing there in my waterproof gear,
0:11:53 > 0:11:58leggings, the whole lot, thinking, "I left my office job for this?"
0:12:04 > 0:12:07As long as I'm fit enough to keep going,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10my hips and knees and ankles keep going, I will.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19An hour and a half in, conditions suddenly change.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Now, this is a bummer, the mist coming down.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Means you can't see where the sheep are running
0:12:28 > 0:12:31and it becomes dangerous for Bobby on the bike
0:12:31 > 0:12:32cos you can't see where you're going.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35With only a few hours of light left,
0:12:35 > 0:12:39this weather could mean they need to abandon the gather.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41If the mist came down to my height
0:12:41 > 0:12:45and it didn't clear, we would have to. We'd stop.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Anne is worried about Bobby.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Bobby's round that top bit now.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Can't see him at the moment, but he'll be somewhere.
0:12:54 > 0:12:55Jim, get down.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Too many steep bits.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02You can't see where you're going. It's not safe.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09- RADIO BROADCASTS: - BBC Radio Scotland.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11Met Office amber "be prepared" warnings
0:13:11 > 0:13:13are in place for the west coast and also the...
0:13:13 > 0:13:17..winds gusting up to 80mph, there'll be disruption...
0:13:17 > 0:13:20..severe weather over the Atlantic is predicted to cause high seas
0:13:20 > 0:13:24and strong winds across Scotland overnight and through tomorrow...
0:13:24 > 0:13:29270 miles north, the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides
0:13:29 > 0:13:31is at the centre of a violent storm.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Well, it's quite wild, really, really wild.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44This is the first really good gale of the winter.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Don't really want to be out too much.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51Former barristers turned crofters Sandy and Ali Granville
0:13:51 > 0:13:54have opted to stay indoors this morning.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56It's been pretty horrid, yes, pretty horrid.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59One of the things about being here, this is a beautiful place
0:13:59 > 0:14:01to have a house cos you can see these lovely views,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03but we really get the wind
0:14:03 > 0:14:06and it just hits the house and, this time,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10you know, we lost a lot of tiles and things, but...it's noisy.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17They have 12 Highland cattle,
0:14:17 > 0:14:20more suited than their owners to the extreme weather.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25And 100 hardy blackface sheep.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29Crofting is a traditional, more communal style of farming
0:14:29 > 0:14:32with shared common grazing for the island's livestock.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Sandy and Ali made their life-changing move
0:14:37 > 0:14:40from being lawyers in London to crofters in Lewis
0:14:40 > 0:14:43when they were in their late forties.
0:14:43 > 0:14:4712 years on, Ali is about to turn 60.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Not sure that I will feel so different at 60,
0:14:50 > 0:14:55but I suspect that by 70, we will be feeling much more frail
0:14:55 > 0:15:00and so therefore we should be maybe thinking about
0:15:00 > 0:15:03not doing the things that we're doing now.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06But I'm not sure what we would be doing.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11Maybe another adventure, perhaps, I don't know.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Sandy makes a living by selling the beef and mutton he rears.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24He also has a sideline in making mutton sausages
0:15:24 > 0:15:26for selected friends and family.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Got these quite well-organised here
0:15:28 > 0:15:30so I'll just take the top ones out first.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Look quite nice and smoked.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44I like to get everything vacuum-packed,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48then you know it's clean and germ-free.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Sandy is waiting to hear from the vet as, today of all days,
0:15:52 > 0:15:56a blood test is due on his herd of Highland cattle.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01PHONE RINGS
0:16:01 > 0:16:03Hello?
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Hello.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09It appears bad weather doesn't stop an island vet on his rounds.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12He's just leaving now.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17We will have him in about an hour.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26The test is for BVD, or bovine viral diarrhoea.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32It's a compulsory check-up for the calves
0:16:32 > 0:16:35so Sandy will have to brave the weather
0:16:35 > 0:16:37to bring them down from the hills.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39OK, we're off.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43We're always watching the weather here.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46We have these big gales.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Of course, none of us know what's coming to us,
0:16:48 > 0:16:49and the forecasts are always right,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52but not always right at the time they say they're going to be.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55DOGS WHIMPER
0:16:59 > 0:17:02As a crofter, Sandy can graze his sheep and cattle
0:17:02 > 0:17:05on the island's 3,000 acres of common land.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11He's hoping to find his Highland cattle
0:17:11 > 0:17:15sheltering amongst the rocks on one of their favourite hills.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Come on, boys.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20It's a force 11 gale,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24with winds blowing at over 60mph.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29I think they will be sheltering
0:17:29 > 0:17:33and I think they might be a bit surprised to see him.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36If he brings them down here, we just want to move them along the road
0:17:36 > 0:17:41and take them back up into our farm, where they can wait for the vet.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54'It's a fine thing to be testing yourself
0:17:54 > 0:17:57'against a hard physical challenge.'
0:18:00 > 0:18:03'Many people would think it doesn't look very pleasurable
0:18:03 > 0:18:06'but there's a lot of joy in it.'
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Highland cattle originated in Scotland
0:18:24 > 0:18:28and are ideally suited to these harsh conditions.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32Their coats are double-layered with a fine, insulating inner coat
0:18:32 > 0:18:35and a well-oiled, shaggy outer coat.
0:18:38 > 0:18:43'Highland cattle, they wouldn't be chosen by farmers in softer places,
0:18:43 > 0:18:47'but they're suited to our hills, they live outside all the time.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51'They've usually got a cheery smile on their face
0:18:51 > 0:18:54'no matter how fierce the weather.'
0:18:54 > 0:18:55Pretty grim. Pretty grim.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Probably going to get worse yet.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Sandy only needs the calves,
0:19:02 > 0:19:04but they won't come without their mothers
0:19:04 > 0:19:08so he must try to lead the whole bedraggled herd down to the barn.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11It could take some time.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31In Central Scotland, near Loch Lomond,
0:19:31 > 0:19:34Bobby and Anne are also battling the elements.
0:19:37 > 0:19:38Oh, God...
0:19:40 > 0:19:45A sudden mist has enveloped the hillside, ruining visibility.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Anne is worried about Bobby on his bike.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50Bobby's round that top bit now.
0:19:52 > 0:19:58He must be coming round to go the other side of the Finlas, the water.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04As Bobby gets to the brow of the hill,
0:20:04 > 0:20:09the mist suddenly eases.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13And Anne finally catches sight of him.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18He's fine, he was looking for sheep, which I can't see.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24But with three and a half hours of daylight left,
0:20:24 > 0:20:25they need to get a move on.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Bobby has guided most of the flock down towards Derek and Anne
0:20:31 > 0:20:33who can drive them on towards the farm.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Hey, hey, hey, ho!
0:20:40 > 0:20:42They're all in the right place,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44we'll just wait till we get them together.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Stragglers don't always want to come.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58My heart is filled with joy. My bit is done.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00I was to stop them running down to the bottom
0:21:00 > 0:21:02to keep them all above the road,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05keep them above and down, so I've done my bit.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09They go wrong now, it's not my problem.
0:21:17 > 0:21:24Mission accomplished, with just an hour of daylight to spare.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25They're good at this time of year.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27They generally run the right way,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30but there's two that have been dodging me the past two gathers
0:21:30 > 0:21:33and I've had to leave them. Anyway, they're in.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37Quick bite to eat, and we'll probably make a start
0:21:37 > 0:21:39on sorting these out after we've done that.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42They must now separate the best breeding ewes
0:21:42 > 0:21:44from the rest of the flock.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47We will work on till we can't see,
0:21:47 > 0:21:50which, at this time of year, is unfortunately too early -
0:21:50 > 0:21:53about four o'clock, half four, we're stuffed.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56It's this very loss of daylight in November
0:21:56 > 0:21:58that brings these ewes into season.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01It affects their hormones so they're ready to mate.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07The shorter days may work wonders on the sheep,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09but they do nothing for Anne.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11We try to work by the light of the moon sometimes.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Can't see.
0:22:15 > 0:22:21Doesn't work, and it's not romantic, trust me, cos it's usually freezing.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41In north-east Scotland at the Irvines' family farm,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Martin's vigil with Florence is coming to an end.
0:22:46 > 0:22:47Her labour has gone well
0:22:47 > 0:22:51and it now looks like she's about to give birth.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55If you turn around, you will see feet, just.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Florence has been unsettled with her tail up for over an hour,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04a sign that her calf's arrival is imminent.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07So what I want to see is two feet showing.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09I'll probably give it another ten minutes,
0:23:09 > 0:23:10if I haven't seen the second foot,
0:23:10 > 0:23:14have a feel, see if everything's OK and let her go, like.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17It's her second calf. She calved herself first time.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24So far, there's been no reason for Martin and his dad to intervene.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28But as a calf is born, the cord breaks
0:23:28 > 0:23:29and it takes its first breath.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33If this happens while it's still in the birth canal,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36it could inhale amniotic fluid and drown.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40You don't want to lose a calf just because you're too slow,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43so you're better doing it a wee bit earlier, to be safer.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51They lost three calves last year so they're keen to make sure
0:23:51 > 0:23:54that this calf is breathing properly as soon as possible.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58We've got two buckets of water
0:23:58 > 0:24:01and the bucket of water's for the calf.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04If they do calf the calf and it's not getting a proper breath,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07the bucket of cold water, throw it over the calf
0:24:07 > 0:24:10and it's just like if I threw a bucket of cold water over you,
0:24:10 > 0:24:12- you're going to go... - HE GASPS
0:24:12 > 0:24:14It's the same technique with the calf.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Right, you're going to peek around the corner, OK?
0:24:19 > 0:24:21Nice and slow.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Florence still looks to be doing well on her own.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37But then Martin's dad thinks there might be a problem.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39It is stuck at the hips there just now
0:24:39 > 0:24:43so it just needs to be pulled out now.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47The calf's chest could be compressed and its breathing impeded.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Now is the time to intervene.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Go on, Martin, you've no choice.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07With Florence secured, they move quickly to free the calf.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51So, there you go, shaking the head is the perfect thing for us.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55- You'll hear him, hear his throat. - CALF TAKES RASPING BREATHS
0:25:55 > 0:25:58He's kind of raspy, he has got a bit of glut in his throat.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01Glut is amniotic fluid.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Give him a rub.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06And Martin helps him cough it up.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Flooded with birth hormones, Florence wants to get to her calf.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Kind of got worried there cos it was stuck at the chest for too long.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17It's a heifer, so it's a girl.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20It's a healthy female.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30So we're perfectly happy with that.
0:26:30 > 0:26:35Limousin are particularly alert and active newborns
0:26:35 > 0:26:38and she will soon be on her feet and suckling.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44I'd say in about an hour, this calf will be up and standing,
0:26:44 > 0:26:46and trying to suck its mum.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48You can see she's got a great bag of milk.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53She's just perfect.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55It's a good start, anyway.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Just 50 minutes after being born,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05she stands for the very first time...
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Well, almost.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19On the other side of the country,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides...
0:27:23 > 0:27:27..Sandy Granville has been battling the elements
0:27:27 > 0:27:30in pursuit of his herd of Highland cattle
0:27:30 > 0:27:33that he needs to bring down from the hill for the vet.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37They are due an annual BVD test
0:27:37 > 0:27:40and the vet needs a blood sample from three calves.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45First, they must be separated from their mothers, so Sandy has a plan.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51I'll call them all in and lead them through the pen and, with luck,
0:27:51 > 0:27:56I'll get the two cows out the other side and shut the young ones in.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59That's perfect, Sandy, we just need three.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Getting three inquisitive horned calves from their mothers
0:28:02 > 0:28:04in a howling gale...
0:28:06 > 0:28:09..is a bit of a challenge.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25Get in, you silly beast! No, get in!
0:28:27 > 0:28:32Luckily, Highland cattle are a docile and good-natured breed,
0:28:32 > 0:28:34not easily stressed.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38They're bred primarily for their fine, low-cholesterol meat.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46It was a bit of a bad start that they all had broken out of the pen.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Go on, shove up.
0:28:54 > 0:28:55They need to be penned in
0:28:55 > 0:28:58so the vet can access a vein in the calves' tail.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08BVD is a contagious disease that can cause infertility
0:29:08 > 0:29:11and is particularly dangerous for unborn calves,
0:29:11 > 0:29:13leading to deformities at birth.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20'We do a lot of voluntary disease checking.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23'Fortunately, we've never...
0:29:23 > 0:29:25'We've never had any positive results for anything.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28'We've also got a largely closed herd.
0:29:28 > 0:29:34'We don't buy in any beasts, we breed all our own.'
0:29:34 > 0:29:38Come on, then. Out you go. Out you go.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42The blood samples successfully taken,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45the mothers and calves can be reunited.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57They return to their communal grazing on the hillside.
0:30:01 > 0:30:06Sandy will find out the results of the blood test in a couple of weeks.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12'In a way, it gets harder as you get older, but, in other ways,
0:30:12 > 0:30:16'we get cleverer and manage to make jobs easier for ourselves.'
0:30:20 > 0:30:22Pretty wet!
0:30:22 > 0:30:27In the end, we'll be too old and weak to carry on.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29We haven't quite reached that point yet.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55On the mainland, much further south,
0:30:55 > 0:30:57farmers Sybil and George Macpherson
0:30:57 > 0:31:03work two farms spread over 15,000 acres of mountainous terrain.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09Come on, ladies. Come on. Come on, sheep, come on.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Like other farmers across Scotland, they're getting their flock,
0:31:12 > 0:31:171,500 blackface sheep, ready for winter tupping.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20Come on, sheep, just be brave and go through there.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23Any lame or unfit ewes need to be separated out
0:31:23 > 0:31:26so they can be looked at.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Here she comes.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Slow down, missus. Oh!
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Sybil and George have known each other since childhood.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39Together for 18 years and married for 12,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41they work as partners on the farm.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43George is a remarkable character.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47He is the kindest, funniest,
0:31:47 > 0:31:50most supportive person that I think I've ever met.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56'She's honest, down to earth and a smart person,
0:31:56 > 0:31:58'she's a very clever person.'
0:31:58 > 0:32:00She's my best friend, she's certainly turned into that,
0:32:00 > 0:32:03without any doubt, and I'm very proud of that.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05We'll put them in there, I think.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07I can't tell you just how much I rely on him
0:32:07 > 0:32:09for so many things in life.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13He's my rock, he's my everything.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18Sybil and George make joint decisions about their livestock.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21With the blackface breeding season almost here,
0:32:21 > 0:32:23time for a shopping trip.
0:32:30 > 0:32:35Sybil and George need at least four new tups for their winter tupping.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38Luckily, they have one of the country's top livestock auctions
0:32:38 > 0:32:40on their doorstep.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45We're at Dalmally blackface tup sale.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47The best tup sale in the world.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49We'll have folk from all over the country here.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53This is where you buy your best hill tups.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57It's very exciting because there's a lot of hype,
0:32:57 > 0:33:00there's a tremendous amount of really good sheep here.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03It's also anticipation of buying something
0:33:03 > 0:33:05that's going to knit into your flock
0:33:05 > 0:33:07and you're going to have its offspring for years and years
0:33:07 > 0:33:09forming part of the flock
0:33:09 > 0:33:11so it's important to try and make the right decision.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17Now they just need to find some tups they both like the look of.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19I was looking at them over there.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21I think they're a nice pair of lambs.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23- Have you looked at them? - They're nice.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26There's a woolly one in there, that really is quite a smart lamb.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33It's very interesting to see the cream of the crop, so to speak.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38We look for a coat that was dense and thick
0:33:38 > 0:33:40and able to withstand wind and rain
0:33:40 > 0:33:42and all the elements that come at it.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44We'll be looking for a sheep
0:33:44 > 0:33:46that was very bright and alert and lively.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48A big sleepy sheep's no use on a mountain.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51Maybe OK in a flat green field, but we look for something with spark.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57I think they're awful good.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01Most everything, you can see something in them.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05I like to see nice hair on their faces.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08The old people tell you that's a sign that the ewes will milk well.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12- AUCTIONEER:- 500... 500...
0:34:12 > 0:34:14It's an all-day annual event
0:34:14 > 0:34:17with nearly 700 tups being auctioned.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20Nine... 1,000... 1,000.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23Some livestock sales are still in guineas.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27One guinea is the equivalent today of £1.05.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31Top prices can be achieved for a prized breeding specimen.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Five thousand five... 6,000...
0:34:33 > 0:34:366,000... 6,000... 6,000...
0:34:36 > 0:34:40The record here being 90,000 guineas for one tup.
0:34:40 > 0:34:436,000... 6,000...
0:34:43 > 0:34:46There's lots of competition.
0:34:46 > 0:34:51This is THE big tup auction of the year and everyone's after the best.
0:34:51 > 0:34:537,000... 7,000... 7,000.
0:34:53 > 0:34:557,000, Mr Toner.
0:34:55 > 0:34:577,000 guineas for this animal.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01Next up, a tup from a much-admired bloodline.
0:35:01 > 0:35:0640. Come on, at 40,000, 40,000 he goes, then.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09At 40,000, he's off at 40,000...
0:35:09 > 0:35:1240,000 guineas.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16It was a syndicate of three of the biggest breeders
0:35:16 > 0:35:19that bought it between the three of them.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21Sybil is hoping to spend a rather more modest
0:35:21 > 0:35:23500 guineas per tup.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26She isn't looking for a pedigree bloodline,
0:35:26 > 0:35:28but for strong healthy animals
0:35:28 > 0:35:31that will survive and breed out on her hills.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36For what we call a hill tup, just to chase away to the mountain,
0:35:36 > 0:35:38you have to be realistic about how much you can afford.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41We can't justify it cos it's just too much money to lose
0:35:41 > 0:35:43if they don't come back in.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48Sybil's now got her expert eye in.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51Just fell in love with one of your tups, Patsy.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53- What one are you liking? - He's in this pen at 620.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56That one.
0:35:58 > 0:36:00And she's smitten.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02I love the back of his head.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04I like the colours in the hair on his face
0:36:04 > 0:36:07and he's got a really good waterproof coat.
0:36:07 > 0:36:08I just like him.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11I'm sure he's well outwith my price range,
0:36:11 > 0:36:13but there's something about it.
0:36:13 > 0:36:14I just was walking past and he caught my eye,
0:36:14 > 0:36:19so I need to go and speak to George now to see what we think.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22Will he be just as enamoured?
0:36:22 > 0:36:25I saw a really nice tup in Ian's pen away down the line,
0:36:25 > 0:36:27- 620, have you seen him?- No.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35Strong teeth are needed to forage for food on the mountains.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37I think he's pretty good, him.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41They agree. Now they have to bid for him.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45If it all looks perfect, possibly four figures, I don't know.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49Maybe. Maybe. We just need to see.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53It's the turn of Sybil's favourite in the ring.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55200 bid.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59200, 250, 300, 50,
0:36:59 > 0:37:02four, 50, five, 50.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05550. Six, seven, eight,
0:37:05 > 0:37:08800, 900, 1,000 bid.
0:37:08 > 0:37:131,000, 1,000 bid. One and hundred, one and hundred.....
0:37:13 > 0:37:16With bids now well over her ideal price,
0:37:16 > 0:37:20determined Sybil seems to have lost any sense of caution.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24Could this top tup tip her budget completely over the edge?
0:37:33 > 0:37:35At Martin's Irvine's farm,
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Florence's newborn calf needs to be named and tagged.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41She's to be called Jaya.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44COW BELLOWS
0:37:44 > 0:37:46So what you're hearing is Mum, Florence.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49She sees us taking her calf away and handling her calf
0:37:49 > 0:37:51and she wants to look after it.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56It sounds bad, but it's actually a good thing. She's a good mum.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Every newborn calf will get tagged and, on the tag,
0:37:59 > 0:38:00you've got the name of the calf.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03The E stands for his father, it's Enfield.
0:38:07 > 0:38:13Every pedigree breed has a letter, and the Limousins' for 2014 is J,
0:38:13 > 0:38:15and, next year, it'll be...
0:38:16 > 0:38:17..H?
0:38:19 > 0:38:21It's usually the alphabet, we just follow the alphabet.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23So this year, 2014, the letter is J.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25At the start of the year,
0:38:25 > 0:38:28it's quite easy cos you've got every name you can choose.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31You start getting to the end of the year, November, December,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34we've already had about 65, 70 calves already,
0:38:34 > 0:38:39names start getting tricky so we start getting quite creative.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41We've had Juggernaut, that's a bull calf,
0:38:41 > 0:38:43that was a good name I quite liked.
0:38:43 > 0:38:48We've got a Jaws, we've got, er, Jarvis off of Iron Man, the robot.
0:38:48 > 0:38:53Just random names, but the superhero comics,
0:38:53 > 0:38:55TV, movies, and if you have got a cow
0:38:55 > 0:38:58you think's going to give you a good calf and she has a bull calf,
0:38:58 > 0:39:00you kind of save the good names for the better calves
0:39:00 > 0:39:03cos you think they might come through to the bull sales
0:39:03 > 0:39:05at the end of the day and a catchy name kind of reads well.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09Jurassic Park was on TV last night and it came in my head this morning.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12In the short term, bulls are better
0:39:12 > 0:39:15because you can take money in with bulls quicker.
0:39:15 > 0:39:16Long term, you want females.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20If you've got a really good cow, you like to get females off her
0:39:20 > 0:39:22because that's keeping that bloodline going.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26A good breeding cow like Florence
0:39:26 > 0:39:29could have up to 12 calves in her lifetime.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33She's proving herself to be an attentive and protective mother.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36She's a really hard worker. She puts everything into the calf.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38She's got a big bag of milk.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41She puts everything into the calf and that's what I like to see.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43She's a very good mummy.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47Hopefully, her new daughter Jaya will be an equally valuable addition
0:39:47 > 0:39:49to Martin's growing family of Limousin.
0:40:05 > 0:40:10At their farm near Loch Lomond, Anne and Bobby Lennox are getting ready
0:40:10 > 0:40:13to create the next generation of spring lambs.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15- How many do you want?- Half of them.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18How many's half?
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Rough half.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23With the girls all gathered in from the hills,
0:40:23 > 0:40:27Bobby's now turning his attention to the boys.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31He has to choose ten strong tups that will be up to the job.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38Come on, boys, let's go, let's go!
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Ha-ha!
0:40:40 > 0:40:43Bobby is a bit of a pioneer when it comes to genetics.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47In the 1990s, he started keeping meticulous records
0:40:47 > 0:40:48about his best animals.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56Using this data, he can now select which tups should be put
0:40:56 > 0:41:00with which ewes to improve the meat quality of their lambs.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06Let me get that one's number. 2458.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Bobby needs to check his paperwork to select the chosen few.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14It shows me all the history on that particular sheep,
0:41:14 > 0:41:15and this is the important bit,
0:41:15 > 0:41:18is EBV, estimated breeding value, so this sort of tells you...
0:41:18 > 0:41:20predicts what the genetics will produce.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24That lamb's going to be a very big one -
0:41:24 > 0:41:26at 11.5kg, heavier than the average.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Very, very good, that's in the top 1%.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31That's my best sheep in figures,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35and I think it's, you know, one of the best sheep to look at as well.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40Bobby's system has made him an expert at breeding lambs
0:41:40 > 0:41:42with a high lean-meat yield,
0:41:42 > 0:41:45which is exactly what the supermarkets want.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47Before I started doing this,
0:41:47 > 0:41:50we were averaging 14.5kg of carcass.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54We're now averaging 20kg of carcass, that's 6kg heavier.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58That's about £20 in value.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01He separates the best.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04These tups and the new lambs they will father next year
0:42:04 > 0:42:08are key to the financial survival of the Lennox's farm.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14Profit margins are tight for tenant hill farmers like Bobby and Anne.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18It used to be 500 sheep per man to make a living
0:42:18 > 0:42:21and you're now about 1,100 sheep per man.
0:42:21 > 0:42:27Bobby's family have been working this farm as tenants since 1750.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29There is no doubt the amount of rent
0:42:29 > 0:42:33we have paid over the last 260 years would have bought the farm over,
0:42:33 > 0:42:38probably several times, but there never has been an opportunity
0:42:38 > 0:42:42to buy the farm, so the occasion has never arisen.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45If we owned it, we would do things a lot differently.
0:42:45 > 0:42:53I mean we don't know, say, within the next ten years what'll happen.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58I mean, I said when I was about 50, "Give us ten years."
0:42:58 > 0:43:00At 62, I'm now saying, "Give us another ten years, please."
0:43:00 > 0:43:02And then we'll make our mind up what we do.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06Ten tups are selected.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09All are fit and agile with strong back legs,
0:43:09 > 0:43:12which they'll need to successfully mount
0:43:12 > 0:43:15up to ten females a day for the next few weeks.
0:43:17 > 0:43:18This is what we call skirting
0:43:18 > 0:43:21and it's just putting a big mark on the rams
0:43:21 > 0:43:23so that they're easily spotted from a long distance.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26There's roughly 600 ewes up on this field,
0:43:26 > 0:43:30so they're all just in one big paddock so it's a free-for-all now.
0:43:30 > 0:43:31Survival of the fittest.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34Don't worry, the girls will come and find them. They know.
0:43:34 > 0:43:39It all goes back into the mists of time, into the length of day.
0:43:39 > 0:43:41It's all inbred in them.
0:43:41 > 0:43:44On you go. Your luck is in.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47Here is your moment, these are the chosen ones, yes, the chosen ones.
0:43:47 > 0:43:50Woohoo!
0:43:53 > 0:43:55Hello, there!
0:44:01 > 0:44:03Hello, darlings!
0:44:06 > 0:44:09Each female is fertile and receptive for a 24- to 36-hour period
0:44:09 > 0:44:14every 17 days, so it's action stations.
0:44:16 > 0:44:17Time to get a cuddle.
0:44:17 > 0:44:21- SHE LAUGHS - Priceless.
0:44:21 > 0:44:23The tups lose 15% of their body weight
0:44:23 > 0:44:25during the three-week breeding season,
0:44:25 > 0:44:28impregnating 50 to 60 females each.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34They go for the older, more experienced ewes first.
0:44:35 > 0:44:40At the moment, they are fighting over one ewe there. Poor girl!
0:44:40 > 0:44:43When you see the first pair of blackie lambs being born,
0:44:43 > 0:44:48we all go, "Oh, aren't they lovely? Aren't they cute?"
0:44:52 > 0:44:541,000... 1,000 bid...
0:44:54 > 0:44:56At the Dalmally auction,
0:44:56 > 0:45:00Sybil has fallen head over heels for a handsome tup.
0:45:00 > 0:45:03The price is now up over 1,000 guineas,
0:45:03 > 0:45:07well beyond her ideal budget, and she's still bidding.
0:45:07 > 0:45:09The bid is 1,200...
0:45:09 > 0:45:101,400... 1,400...
0:45:10 > 0:45:12That's enough, eh?
0:45:12 > 0:45:14Good tup, though.
0:45:14 > 0:45:161,400... 1,400...
0:45:16 > 0:45:17What do you think?
0:45:17 > 0:45:191,400...
0:45:19 > 0:45:221,600... 1,600...
0:45:22 > 0:45:251,600... Final bid at 1,600... 1,600...
0:45:26 > 0:45:29This love match isn't meant to be.
0:45:30 > 0:45:33I liked your tup a hell of a lot, a really hell of a lot.
0:45:33 > 0:45:36- He looked better in there... - Nice tup.
0:45:36 > 0:45:40Aye, his hair was fantastic, and the crown.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42I did like him,
0:45:42 > 0:45:46and I think I probably was in about 1,200, but when it's all happening,
0:45:46 > 0:45:48you just kind of get a bit bemused,
0:45:48 > 0:45:52but I suddenly thought I couldn't personally justify
0:45:52 > 0:45:53spending more than that.
0:45:53 > 0:45:55Two thousand two...
0:45:55 > 0:45:58We can pick them, even though we can't buy them.
0:45:58 > 0:46:02Sybil is down, but not yet out.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05Prices are high, so they must reassess.
0:46:06 > 0:46:10- Nice pair of legs. - Uh-huh, lovely crown.
0:46:12 > 0:46:16The rhythms of nature are at work in these winter months.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19Most tups are fertile all year round,
0:46:19 > 0:46:23but they are at peak performance at this time of year to coincide
0:46:23 > 0:46:27with the ewes' breeding season, so now is the time to buy.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30We marked down three that we're quite interested in,
0:46:30 > 0:46:32so it just depends how they look
0:46:32 > 0:46:34when we see them out on the concrete,
0:46:34 > 0:46:37how their feet look and how they look as to which one,
0:46:37 > 0:46:39but we've marked down three different ones
0:46:39 > 0:46:40with the potential to buying them.
0:46:40 > 0:46:45But it's now so busy, Sybil might not be able to bid on them.
0:46:47 > 0:46:49It's impossible to get in.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53I don't even know if I can push in or not.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56All out in front now.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01She manages to squeeze in, just in time.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04BIDDING CONTINUES
0:47:09 > 0:47:13The first one goes above her 500-guinea price range.
0:47:13 > 0:47:16I'm out!
0:47:16 > 0:47:19I thought I had him. And it's a friend that's bought him,
0:47:19 > 0:47:21but I don't see him, but I shall punch him.
0:47:21 > 0:47:25Outbid, she tries for another in the same group.
0:47:26 > 0:47:30Tupping time is just round the corner
0:47:30 > 0:47:33and this is one of the last big auctions of the season.
0:47:33 > 0:47:34Sybil needs at least four tups.
0:47:34 > 0:47:39BIDDING CONTINUES
0:47:41 > 0:47:43Success at last.
0:47:46 > 0:47:48I liked his attitude in the ring.
0:47:48 > 0:47:51His legs were very correct and he's very bright
0:47:51 > 0:47:54and his coat looked nice, so I bought him at 400.
0:47:57 > 0:47:59We bought your wee tup.
0:47:59 > 0:48:01Yeah. Thank you very much.
0:48:01 > 0:48:03Trying so hard with quite a few of the other ones,
0:48:03 > 0:48:05but you know how stingy I am when it comes to cash.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11That's one tup down, but more to go.
0:48:13 > 0:48:17There are two rings in action, 600 tups still to sell,
0:48:17 > 0:48:20and the buying is continuous.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22We just went and bought this shearling.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24We just both really liked the tup in the ring,
0:48:24 > 0:48:27didn't really look at him much before, but really thought
0:48:27 > 0:48:30he had an excellent coat and watched him in the ring
0:48:30 > 0:48:33and we both liked him so we've bought him,
0:48:33 > 0:48:34but we need to have a look at him now.
0:48:36 > 0:48:39Sybil paid 700 guineas for this young tup,
0:48:39 > 0:48:43so, close up, will she think he's worth it?
0:48:43 > 0:48:44That is him, isn't it, George?
0:48:44 > 0:48:46Aye, it is him, it is him.
0:48:46 > 0:48:48We thought he looked awful well in the ring.
0:48:48 > 0:48:49Just the sort of coat you're looking for
0:48:49 > 0:48:52for coming to Argyllshire, to the wet and whatever else.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54Yep. The weather'll not get through that.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00After nine hours at the sale,
0:49:00 > 0:49:03Sybil and George spend £2,000 guineas,
0:49:03 > 0:49:07just over £2,000, on four new tups.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14That's our purchases. Quite a good day's business there.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17I'm awful pleased with them, Sybil.
0:49:17 > 0:49:19- Yep. Now we need to get them in the trailer.- Yep.
0:49:19 > 0:49:24These hardy tups are destined for a tough life out on the hillside.
0:49:26 > 0:49:30Between them, they will hopefully father hundreds of lambs
0:49:30 > 0:49:33to add to George and Sybil's flock next spring.
0:49:44 > 0:49:48In the north-east of Scotland, north of Aberdeen,
0:49:48 > 0:49:52more new life is ready to emerge at Martin Irvine's farm.
0:49:55 > 0:49:57Duchess is four days overdue,
0:49:57 > 0:50:01but it looks like she is finally going into labour.
0:50:01 > 0:50:05At five o'clock tonight, she started kind of prancing about,
0:50:05 > 0:50:07prancing about, tail was up, looking uncomfortable,
0:50:07 > 0:50:09so we're just going to watch her.
0:50:11 > 0:50:14Martin is anxious about five-year-old Duchess,
0:50:14 > 0:50:15who lost a calf last year.
0:50:18 > 0:50:19The problem we had last year,
0:50:19 > 0:50:21the calf was getting presented the back way,
0:50:21 > 0:50:23so it was coming backwards, back legs first,
0:50:23 > 0:50:26and the problem you have when the calf is coming backwards,
0:50:26 > 0:50:27the last thing to come out is its head
0:50:27 > 0:50:31and when the calf's halfway out, the cord breaks and it starts breathing.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36Got the hips out no problem, he got stuck just at the chest,
0:50:36 > 0:50:39just for ten seconds too long.
0:50:39 > 0:50:42The calf had taken a breath inside, filled with fluid.
0:50:42 > 0:50:44By the time we got the calf out, it wasn't fit to take a breath.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47Tried what we could, and we lost a calf.
0:50:47 > 0:50:51If Duchess can't give birth to a live calf this time,
0:50:51 > 0:50:53she might not have a future on the farm
0:50:53 > 0:50:55and will have to go to slaughter for meat,
0:50:55 > 0:50:58so Martin wants this birth to go well.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00Signs aren't good, though.
0:51:00 > 0:51:04With no calf to feed this year, Duchess is unusually large.
0:51:05 > 0:51:08All the feeding that she's been taking has been going into herself,
0:51:08 > 0:51:11so she hasn't had to feed a calf, and if a cow's feeding a calf,
0:51:11 > 0:51:13she's putting it all into the milk and feeding the calf,
0:51:13 > 0:51:16but because she's only had to look after herself since last year,
0:51:16 > 0:51:20she's kind of... Conditions a bit good, she's a bit hefty,
0:51:20 > 0:51:23carrying a bit much weight and the problem with that being it could put
0:51:23 > 0:51:28that weight into the calf, so what I'm worried about is a big calf.
0:51:28 > 0:51:31Big calf, hard calving - a bit of trouble.
0:51:35 > 0:51:39A cow's labour usually takes about six hours.
0:51:39 > 0:51:43As this could well be a long and difficult birth,
0:51:43 > 0:51:46Martin's mother Denise and fiancee Mel are on hand to help,
0:51:46 > 0:51:48should anything go wrong.
0:51:52 > 0:51:56'Losing animals on the farm is really hard for all of us.
0:51:56 > 0:52:00'Martin takes it quite badly to heart cos that's his job.
0:52:00 > 0:52:03'I suppose it'd be like a doctor losing a patient.'
0:52:04 > 0:52:07It's now half past eight and there's still no action,
0:52:07 > 0:52:10and she just doesn't seem to be getting on with the job.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13Just not interested, sitting there chewing her cud.
0:52:13 > 0:52:17So I phoned the vet, spoke to him and told him
0:52:17 > 0:52:19what I was feeling, what she'd been up to
0:52:19 > 0:52:21and he's thinking she's maybe lacking calcium
0:52:21 > 0:52:23and that's why she's not getting on with the job.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26So at the moment, we're going to put calcium under her skin,
0:52:26 > 0:52:28sort of boost her calcium.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31And then, because the calf hasn't been coming out,
0:52:31 > 0:52:33she's now slackened at the back end so I've got my arms in here,
0:52:33 > 0:52:37just slackening her off while that goes in
0:52:37 > 0:52:39because the problem we've got with this calf
0:52:39 > 0:52:42is the umbilical cord's right up at the front here
0:52:42 > 0:52:46so that's going to get snapped early, so it only gives us minutes
0:52:46 > 0:52:48to get this calf out, so we have to be quick as we can
0:52:48 > 0:52:52getting this calf out. If that cord snaps, soon as we start pulling,
0:52:52 > 0:52:55you've only got two to three minutes to get this calf out and going.
0:53:00 > 0:53:03Duchess has been in labour for almost four hours now.
0:53:05 > 0:53:08The size of the calf's feet confirms Martin's fears.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10Its left leg...
0:53:11 > 0:53:16It's unusually big and Duchess will need help to get it out.
0:53:18 > 0:53:21OK. The other side.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25They need to use a calving jack, a piece of equipment
0:53:25 > 0:53:29that needs expert handling or it can damage the calf.
0:53:29 > 0:53:33It attaches to the ropes round the front legs
0:53:33 > 0:53:36and can provide powerful leverage.
0:53:36 > 0:53:38Hold on. That's the ropes on the feet.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40Dad, he'll work a jack
0:53:40 > 0:53:42and I'll make sure the head is coming out the right way.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44Start putting pressure...
0:53:44 > 0:53:45RATCHETING
0:53:45 > 0:53:47Stop. It's big.
0:53:51 > 0:53:52She's tight.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01Right, we need ropes for the head.
0:54:01 > 0:54:03Where's the ropes for the head?
0:54:05 > 0:54:07The calf's head is stuck.
0:54:08 > 0:54:09Hold there.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14Is it coming?
0:54:20 > 0:54:22How much pressure have we got?
0:54:24 > 0:54:26That's the head...
0:54:26 > 0:54:28Right, you going to go?
0:54:30 > 0:54:32Pal, watch yourself.
0:54:35 > 0:54:37Right.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46It's going to go!
0:54:47 > 0:54:51Just keep going, she's not going to push that hard.
0:54:51 > 0:54:52Right! Right, right, go, go, go.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57Right, stop!
0:55:01 > 0:55:06Finally, the massive calf is born. But it's unresponsive.
0:55:10 > 0:55:12Lift it!
0:55:12 > 0:55:13LIFT IT!
0:55:17 > 0:55:19They need to get it to breathe, and fast.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26Over the wall, Martin.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28HE BLOWS
0:55:30 > 0:55:32- Over the wall, Martin. - Just wait a second!
0:55:35 > 0:55:37HE BLOWS
0:55:40 > 0:55:44- Over the wall...- Lift him now, lift him straight up. Lift.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47Swing, to me.
0:55:47 > 0:55:49Drop!
0:55:52 > 0:55:55It looks brutal, but this could save its life.
0:55:58 > 0:56:01The calf still isn't breathing. Its eyes are dull.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12Right, front leg. FRONT LEGS!
0:56:19 > 0:56:20It's coming, it's coming.
0:56:23 > 0:56:26Holding the calf upside down helps clear the glut.
0:56:28 > 0:56:30OK, throw him back.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33At last, it takes its very first breath.
0:56:36 > 0:56:39Unless they cough and splutter, they don't get that bit up,
0:56:39 > 0:56:42then they drown.
0:56:42 > 0:56:44So that's why it was all systems go.
0:56:44 > 0:56:46- Thick, very thick.- Just like jelly.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54It's been a huge ordeal.
0:56:56 > 0:56:59When he was out, he was gone, nothing in the eye
0:56:59 > 0:57:02till he got a bit of air in his lung, his heart's still going.
0:57:02 > 0:57:06So to blow and get a bit of air into his lung and get him going again.
0:57:06 > 0:57:08Everything that could have went wrong kind of did go wrong.
0:57:08 > 0:57:10Everyone has a bit of a panic.
0:57:10 > 0:57:12This could be worth 30 grand.
0:57:14 > 0:57:16He's still got a bit of glut in his lungs
0:57:16 > 0:57:19so Mel's tickling his nose, pretty much, and it'll make him cough
0:57:19 > 0:57:23and make him kind of gasp and push his air out a bit better.
0:57:23 > 0:57:25He's almost there doing it, that's better.
0:57:25 > 0:57:26What you want to do is see him shake his head.
0:57:28 > 0:57:30- Hey, there we go.- There we go.
0:57:31 > 0:57:33Yay!
0:57:37 > 0:57:39- Bedtime.- Aye!
0:57:40 > 0:57:44The calf will be called, appropriately, Jumbo.
0:57:48 > 0:57:50Next time...
0:57:50 > 0:57:54Jumbo's first day of life doesn't run smoothly.
0:57:54 > 0:57:56Could have quite easily been a dead calf.
0:57:56 > 0:58:00There was a fine line between him living and him dying.
0:58:00 > 0:58:03George and Sybil get in a fix with a haulage lorry.
0:58:03 > 0:58:05Perfect, aye.
0:58:05 > 0:58:08- No.- Yeah, back you come, perfect.
0:58:08 > 0:58:10There's no other way you can do it.
0:58:10 > 0:58:12Oh, no!
0:58:14 > 0:58:16And Christmas arrives...
0:58:18 > 0:58:20..but there's no rest for the farmers.
0:58:21 > 0:58:25It's just after eight o'clock - about time things were getting fed.
0:58:25 > 0:58:28Some people may think it's a bit hard
0:58:28 > 0:58:29having to work on Christmas Day,
0:58:29 > 0:58:33but when you get scenery like this, it's just pretty special.
0:58:33 > 0:58:34Wouldn't change it for the world.