0:00:02 > 0:00:05Across some of the most beautiful
0:00:05 > 0:00:07and remote landscapes of the British Isles...
0:00:07 > 0:00:11This is not a bad office, is it? You know, look at it.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13..Scotland's farmers carve a living...
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Everything has a time and a season.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19- Nature doesn't stop. - ..breeding sheep and cattle...
0:00:19 > 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.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Wait a second!
0:00:27 > 0:00:30..bringing new life into the world
0:00:30 > 0:00:32and battling with the elements.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34HE WHISTLES
0:00:34 > 0:00:36They're all cute in their own way
0:00:36 > 0:00:40and 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 > 0:00:49- let cameras onto their farms... - Hell of a size of nuts on him!
0:00:49 > 0:00:52..and into their lives to share their struggles...
0:00:52 > 0:00:55I don't know why you won't go forward, missus.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58- Do you need to do this? - ..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 > 0:01:07That's just depressing, really.
0:01:07 > 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 > 0:01:16I feel sad that I haven't provided
0:01:16 > 0:01:18the next generation to 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 > 0:01:24It's not a job, it's a way of life.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49February in Scotland.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Winter still has a hold in the hills...
0:02:04 > 0:02:06..but the season is starting to change.
0:02:09 > 0:02:15I don't particularly like the winter months. I really miss the sun.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18I like sun. I like to feel the sun on my back.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22I always feel spring's round the corner
0:02:22 > 0:02:24when you start to see the bulbs coming out.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28The snowdrops are popping through and then you'll get the crocuses
0:02:28 > 0:02:31and the daffodils, and that's when I feel, oh, spring's just about there.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34And you feel just the brightness.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40The seasons of the year, they are very linked with farming.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42You all have particular jobs you have to do.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44You're starting to prepare for lambing time
0:02:44 > 0:02:46and you're sorting the ones you're going to keep,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49so everything is linked, and I like that.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57In Central Scotland, near Loch Lomond,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Anne and Bobby Lennox run a 5,000-acre hill farm.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07Bobby is away for two days, attending Farmers Union meetings,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09leaving Anne alone to run things.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15Bobby has... He's away skiving. Oh, sorry, he's away to the NFU AGM
0:03:15 > 0:03:17and meetings at St Andrews today.
0:03:17 > 0:03:23So, he's away, so I'm the sole farm worker. I'm in charge.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26I'm just doing the feeding now, while he's away.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Morning! How are you today?
0:03:30 > 0:03:34This morning, Anne has over 600 mouths to feed.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Morning!
0:03:41 > 0:03:43How are you today?
0:03:44 > 0:03:47You're out here on your own. You just talk to them.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49They don't answer back, you see,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51and you have the best kind of conversation.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Hello, girls. Hello, calvies.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56These are hill cows. These are new cows we got last June.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58These are beef.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02They'll go for your nice bits of steak and what have you, eventually.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05ENGINE SPLUTTERS
0:04:05 > 0:04:06Flooded it!
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Just have to sit and wait for a minute or two.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13I went and flooded it.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15This is it when Bobby's away.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18I'm a cook and cleaner, I keep telling him.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20I'm not technically minded.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24I'm just going to feed Charlie. He's our old Charlie bull.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26We're very unique with our names -
0:04:26 > 0:04:28they just get called Charlie, all of them.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33And then this is, this is greedy blackie sheep
0:04:33 > 0:04:36and they come and nick Charlie's feeding.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40He's a good lad, but he's old, he's done.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43He's waiting to off to the... the abattoir.
0:04:43 > 0:04:4812-year-old Charlie will sell for around £1,000 for slaughter.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Their farm is spread over 5,000 acres
0:04:54 > 0:04:58and their herd of Blue Greys and Blue Grey crosses
0:04:58 > 0:05:00are out in the hills
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Come on.
0:05:03 > 0:05:04Morning, girls.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09These hybrid cows are incredibly hardy and capable of surviving
0:05:09 > 0:05:12on relatively poor grazing throughout the year.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15Yes, I know, I know, we're late, we're late.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Here we go.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23I think they're lovely big creatures, lovely animals.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26I was brought up on a dairy farm. Well, it was a mixed farm -
0:05:26 > 0:05:28we had dairy beef, sheep, pigs, hens.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32I probably have a rosy-eyed view of it because I enjoyed it.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34I liked the cows. I liked the milking,
0:05:34 > 0:05:38but I wasn't getting up at five o'clock in the morning
0:05:38 > 0:05:40to go and milk cows, regularly.
0:05:40 > 0:05:41Hi, girls.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45There you are. Now, don't shove.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Look where we are today. It's beautiful.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52We live in a lovely area.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56On a wet day, you might not see that, when you're out here,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00but on a good day like today, you can see it. It's lovely.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03And you've got these ladies to talk to. Haven't we, girls?
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Hello.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Bye, girls.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22Next job, the blackface sheep, back from their winter grazing.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24This is the fattening lambs.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28So, hopefully, they're eating and put on weight.
0:06:28 > 0:06:29And then they'll leave, bye-bye.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Lamb chops, leg of lamb, mint sauce.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37The Lennoxes make most of their income from the sale of prime lambs.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40These are young lambs under 12 months old,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42raised purely for their meat.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46They send about 600 animals to the abattoir each year.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Well, this is our crop, this is our harvest.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53This is what we've got to live on for the rest of year.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55What money we get, when these are sold
0:06:55 > 0:06:58in the next couple of weeks, the next month, six weeks,
0:06:58 > 0:07:01that's what we have to live on for the rest of the year,
0:07:01 > 0:07:04and we've got no idea what we'll get for them.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06There is little financial security
0:07:06 > 0:07:09for tenant farmers like Anne and Bobby.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15Each lamb sells for between £45 to £60, depending on its weight
0:07:15 > 0:07:19and the current market price paid per kilo of meat.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22We put the tups out. They go out with the lambs...out with the ewes
0:07:22 > 0:07:24to have lambs in the spring.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28We've no idea how many lambs they're going have till we scan them
0:07:28 > 0:07:32and then, once these lambs are born and they end up here,
0:07:32 > 0:07:36we've got absolutely no idea, any time, of what price we'll get.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39And our costs are going up all the time.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43I mean, the supermarkets have got too much power.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45And the government gave them that power.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47They didn't have to, but they did.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Supermarkets set the prices.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55They can stop contracts, and change
0:07:55 > 0:08:00and go and buy goods and food and items from other countries
0:08:00 > 0:08:03that are not of the same quality.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07And things are not, they're not as good, in my view.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21On the other side of Scotland, north of Aberdeen,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Martin Irvine and his family are also tenant farmers.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28They rent a 240-acre farm.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Martin has two loves.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36One is breeding and selling pedigree Limousin cattle.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39It's just a nice sight really. Everything's happy, content.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45The other is fiancee Mel, who's recently converted Martin
0:08:45 > 0:08:48to the financial benefits of sheep.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Whatever happens in the next five weeks
0:08:52 > 0:08:54depends how good a spring we'll have at lambing
0:08:54 > 0:08:57- so, this is the important bit. - Lots of babies, hopefully.- Yeah.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03They bought 130 ewes and, along with some new tups,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06they quickly set about increasing the flock.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Done. Where there's a willy there's a way.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Now it's February. The sheep are about six weeks from lambing
0:09:16 > 0:09:20and cattle farmer Martin is learning some new skills.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Now, every day, we have to feed the sheep concentrates.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26It's just to boost their feed intake,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29a bit of extra protein, and keep them in good condition.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35Martin is hopeful that the move into sheep will be profitable.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Signs look good so far.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44We scanned these last month, so there's a lot of triplets,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47there's a lot of lambs. The more lambs, really, the better.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50If trade's good, I could probably raise them
0:09:50 > 0:09:52about £50 a head, if I sell them right now.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57There's a good market for the sale of ewes already in lamb.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Some farmers want to quickly boost numbers
0:10:00 > 0:10:03and also introduce new genes into their flock.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06So I could make probably about £6,000 profit
0:10:06 > 0:10:09or we could lamb them and make even more profit,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11but in our head we said we're gonna lamb them,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14so we're gonna lamb them, so that's what we'll do.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18So, we've fed our sheep at home
0:10:18 > 0:10:20and now it's about a three-mile run
0:10:20 > 0:10:23up to the estate sheep. I'll go feed them.
0:10:26 > 0:10:31Mel has also has taken on a contract to manage 500 Lleyn cross sheep
0:10:31 > 0:10:34for the estate they rent their farm from.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38We needed some extra money
0:10:38 > 0:10:40and the estate offered us a job, so we took it.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45You can hear them looking for it. They know it, as soon as they see me
0:10:45 > 0:10:47coming about here, they know I'm coming.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Christmas, January is the hard bit,
0:10:50 > 0:10:52cos you're only halfway through winter.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54You get to this time of year, weather's picking up,
0:10:54 > 0:10:56the days are getting longer, it feels better.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59You get that kind of thrill of spring's coming, here we go
0:10:59 > 0:11:02and, hopefully, we get another good summer.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Used to hate sheep.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07I remember when mum had the Bluefaced litters at home
0:11:07 > 0:11:11when I was younger, I had nothing to do with sheep, I hated sheep.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Stupid things and just didn't like them. I've changed, yeah.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Martin's main passion is his beloved Limousins.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Mel, who grew up on a farm,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31has also been known to keep a few mementos of her favourite animals.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36I do love sheep. It's ridiculous.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Yeah, you get to know them
0:11:38 > 0:11:44and I just took photos of...sheep all the time, it seemed.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Look at this one.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54That was at another sheep show.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59My whole wall was filled with...
0:12:01 > 0:12:03..sheep photos.
0:12:05 > 0:12:11In fact, I didn't have any boyband photos at all. They were all sheep.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14How sad.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16MEL LAUGHS
0:12:18 > 0:12:21I grew up on a dairy farm, to start with,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23and then onto a mixed livestock farm
0:12:23 > 0:12:28and people say that, you know, sheep, they're all white
0:12:28 > 0:12:32and they've all got white faces and you can't tell which one's which,
0:12:32 > 0:12:36but I could pretty much tell you, that one had twins that year,
0:12:36 > 0:12:40she had triplets or we struggled lambing her, something happened,
0:12:40 > 0:12:46so, sheep were just... I don't know, just... I love sheep.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Look how skinny I used to be!
0:12:49 > 0:12:51I just met Martin and it went all to pot.
0:12:52 > 0:12:58Soon Mel will have around 200 more lambs to add her family album.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17150 miles away, in Western Scotland,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21husband and wife team Sybil and George MacPherson farm sheep
0:13:21 > 0:13:25and cattle across 15,000 acres of mountainous terrain.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Their land is also home to wild red deer.
0:13:32 > 0:13:37Native to Scotland, the red deer population has more than doubled,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40since the '60s, to around 400,000.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47Sybil and George are part of a local deer management group
0:13:47 > 0:13:50and to help control numbers, they run deer stalking trips.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Well, we're out to do some red deer stalking
0:13:55 > 0:13:57with some Belgian clients.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59This is the first day. Just fuelling up,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01ready to go out on the mountain.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Wee bit concerned there's not an awful lot of wind today
0:14:04 > 0:14:05but we can only try our best.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09George runs these shooting trips every year.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12It's a slight income for the farm
0:14:12 > 0:14:15but it's more a management tool for the farm as well.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18If we've too many red deer on the farm, it's not good for them
0:14:18 > 0:14:20and it's not good for us either,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23because it's over populating the grazing for the sheep.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Right, what do I need?
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Stags can be hunted between July and October.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36At this time of year, February, it's the hinds.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39It's important to cull the weak deer
0:14:39 > 0:14:42because, nobody likes to see dead animals about the place, you know.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45It's far better to cull it, rather than let the beast just perish
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and die in the mountain and then all it'll do is feed a fox.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56Stalkers typically pay about £300 a day to hunt and shoot deer
0:14:56 > 0:14:59and the local game dealer gets a freezer full of venison.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Morning. You good?
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Today, they have returning visitors - a group from Belgium.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Really exciting to have our Belgian friends over again for the stalking.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13They've been coming for a great number of years
0:15:13 > 0:15:16and they've become family friends.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19We've been very lucky with the people who do come here,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21both for the stag and the hind stalking,
0:15:21 > 0:15:23that most of them have come for many years
0:15:23 > 0:15:25and we've built up friendships over the years.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- I think you're being a bit cheeky, darling.- I am cheeky, yes.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Because I come here for 20 and more years
0:15:32 > 0:15:35and I brought my friends. I invited them, I talked about it,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39and they were immediately very happy to come here...
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Pleased to come here. And see you.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Before they go out on the hills, George needs to check the accuracy
0:15:49 > 0:15:53of both the stalkers' and their guns with a bit of target practice.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56I always have a test shot in the morning.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01A lot of people think it's easy to pull a trigger and kill an animal.
0:16:01 > 0:16:02It's not that flipping easy
0:16:02 > 0:16:05and a lot of folk have, maybe, shot roe deer
0:16:05 > 0:16:07and then they go onto this big red.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09It's a completely different beast to shoot.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13The cocky ones usually make the biggest mess of things.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14Right, Alistair!
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Alistair, a neighbour of George's, checks the target and reports back.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30It's a little above the blue, but straight above.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33But it's good.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37This is maybe slightly less than an average shot in the mountain,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39but if the guns are set good for this,
0:16:39 > 0:16:42we're quite confident they can be able to do a shot on the hill.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43GUNSHOT
0:16:43 > 0:16:47I've always found, with Johan and his friends and his family,
0:16:47 > 0:16:49they're very able shots.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51GUNSHOT
0:16:52 > 0:16:56That's better. That's better, aye. Right, Ali.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- Do you want another or are you happy with that?- Happy with that.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Good-oh! Yep, perfect! Excellent.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06George is confident that the stalkers have the skill
0:17:06 > 0:17:08needed for a clean kill,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11so they head out into the hills in search of their quarry.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25In the Northeast of Scotland, near Inverness,
0:17:25 > 0:17:31sheep farmer John Scott runs three farms, covering 4,000 acres.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Since he joined his father in the family business,
0:17:35 > 0:17:40he's increased the original flock of 800 sheep to 4,000.
0:17:40 > 0:17:46Most are commercial crossbreeds, but he also has 400 pedigree ewes.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50His lambing season starts next month,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53but this morning he's on the way to the vet
0:17:53 > 0:17:57with a pregnant Beltex, a valuable pedigree.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59She needs immediate attention.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03She's got a slight prolapse and she has had for a few days,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06which I wasn't too worried about, but she's tried to lamb as well.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08When I put my hand inside, I thought,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11"No, it's going to be a bit of a struggle
0:18:11 > 0:18:15"to get the lambs out naturally. We'll see what the vet thinks."
0:18:15 > 0:18:18But she's quite a high-value Beltex ewe
0:18:18 > 0:18:20that we bought in lamb this year.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23She's the first ewe we've got to lamb
0:18:23 > 0:18:26and she's carrying triplets, so fingers crossed.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38John paid £756 for this ewe, called National Treasure,
0:18:38 > 0:18:42so he doesn't want to lose her or her triplets.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54So you can see the slight prolapse there, but that looks quite clean.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58That's a little water bag but it doesn't look discoloured.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02A prolapse can happen late in pregnancy,
0:19:02 > 0:19:06particularly when multiple lambs are creating pressure inside the uterus.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10John's vet is Paco,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13who left Barcelona for Scotland 14 years ago.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17- How long have you been a vet now, Paco?- 15 years.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Loved every minute of it.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Most of the time.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25They're a very long-suffering team in here.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31The prolapse means that National Treasure will need a Caesarean
0:19:31 > 0:19:34if her triplets are to be delivered safely.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48So all we're doing, just now, is just securing her
0:19:48 > 0:19:51so we can... Paco can work his magic.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Once they settle, they get...
0:19:54 > 0:19:58It is stressful. You cannot deny that, you know, it's bad.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02What we're doing is just to help her.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06We were not to do that, the lambs would likely die,
0:20:06 > 0:20:10and she would... She COULD die too, so...
0:20:10 > 0:20:12That goes into a painkiller
0:20:12 > 0:20:16that will be kicking in in 15, 20 minutes.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18If we were to give her a full anaesthetic,
0:20:18 > 0:20:22there is further risk for the mother
0:20:22 > 0:20:28and the lambs inside could struggle, as well, to wake up -
0:20:28 > 0:20:32that's assuming, and hoping, that the lambs are still alive.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39It's one of the things that, as a vet you do, because you know
0:20:39 > 0:20:43that if you don't do this, they're going to die, you know,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47and that's why you want to do it, sort of, pretty promptly
0:20:47 > 0:20:50and, you know, just get them out, you know,
0:20:50 > 0:20:53and then look after the mother.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Although I will say that, in any Caesar -
0:20:56 > 0:21:00and probably that's something that a farmer doesn't sometimes agree -
0:21:00 > 0:21:03the priority for us is mum.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07Mum is the one that we already know she's fine,
0:21:07 > 0:21:13we already know that she's alive and well, so priority is mother.
0:21:22 > 0:21:23I'm not brilliant with blood.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28- I haven't passed out yet, have I? - No, not yet.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- It's not a favourite thing. - We're in.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37And now we have to find them.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Paco still can't tell whether the lambs are alive.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Rebecca, can you give me a hand, please?
0:21:49 > 0:21:54This is always the... the nervous wait.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Paco needs to be careful.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58The muscle layer in sheep is very thin.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01He must be sure not to damage her stomach wall
0:22:01 > 0:22:04or the three tightly packed lambs she is carrying.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08- You going to hold the sheep or do the lambs?- I'll hold the sheep.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Strongly, OK?
0:22:20 > 0:22:22That's a leg he's got there.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26That's one coming backwards. One, two, three.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Yours it is.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33- It's alive.- Is it alive?- Yep.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- Are you ready for another one?- Yes.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Ready? Second one.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47Second one's alive. We've got a boy and a girl so far.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53There's always a worry, if they're a wee bit premature like this,
0:22:53 > 0:22:55that they're not fully developed properly
0:22:55 > 0:22:57I'm a little bit worried about this one.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59This one's stronger than this one.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05So we'll get them home and we'll get them under a heat lamp. Um...
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Just look after them, make sure they've got plenty of feed.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18That's alive too. I can see it moving.
0:23:21 > 0:23:22That's another girl.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Check there's nobody else in there.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31It's not often that he leaves one in there but...
0:23:31 > 0:23:32THEY LAUGH
0:23:32 > 0:23:35If I were to choose, for bringing in a new bloodline,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38I'd have chosen to have a couple of ewe lambs and a tup.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40That's what we've got, so chuffed with that.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43It's also exciting. That's the first lamb born of the season.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47It's also a little bit daunting. That's one down.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51This one's starting to get up, look.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Doesn't take long before they want to get up and get a suckle.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Two females and one male, all alive.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01It's a good result from a valuable pedigree ewe.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04It's always exciting.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08We always find it exciting, getting the first lambs of the season.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11It's even better when they're alive.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14It is exciting. It's the start of spring.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23The first 48 hours of life are the most perilous.
0:24:23 > 0:24:29One of the females is particularly weak and, as they're all premature,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32John will need to keep a close eye on them.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Also preparing for lambing is Martin Irvine.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Over a year ago, he and fiancee Mel took on the contract
0:25:03 > 0:25:06to manage the sheep owned by the local estate.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10The offer came at a good time for the farm's finances.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13There's not enough work at home for two people
0:25:13 > 0:25:16but there's too much for one, and farming being tight
0:25:16 > 0:25:19and it's going to be a rocky couple of years, probably, with the beef,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21this extra money's going to come in handy.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24Plus, I have a wedding to pay for, so I'll need it.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Martin and dad, Stevie, are adapting
0:25:27 > 0:25:31one of the estate's cattle barns into a lambing shed.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34This morning, we're just getting the lambing shed pretty ready.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Another month for lambing, but we've a bit of spare time this week,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41so any spare time, I just come up here and do odd jobs.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43So this is us building our lambing pens.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50We're due to start lambing about the 25th, on paper.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53So the sheep will come in, probably about the 15th to 20th March,
0:25:53 > 0:25:57depending on the weather, so they'll all come into their sheds.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00So, it'll be, twins in here, triplets in there,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03singles in the next shed, and the caravan,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05it'll come into the centre pass here
0:26:05 > 0:26:07and I'll sleep in the caravan for a month.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13We've got 500...515, 520 to lamb,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16so you're looking at nearly 1,000 lambs.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21The worst bit about the sheep is the lambing,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24just cos it's so intense.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27But then, it's when you see your reward really, the lambing,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29see how good your year's been
0:26:29 > 0:26:31and, how good your next year's going to be.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35OK?
0:26:37 > 0:26:40There's one other change Martin and Stevie want to make
0:26:40 > 0:26:42to the newly converted cattle shed.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Last year we had our first lambing in here
0:26:46 > 0:26:49and realised it's a draughty wind.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52It drives right through the middle of the shed,
0:26:52 > 0:26:56so this year, we've got the estate to invest in some gale breakers.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58What am I doing wrong?
0:26:59 > 0:27:02- Help! - First one's going to be the worst.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05By the time you get that opened up it'll be like a sail,
0:27:05 > 0:27:07so a good chance me and Dad will go flying.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09- I'm going to lose it.- Got it.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14Me and Dad, we're stuck together every day on the farm.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18I enjoy working with Dad and, to be honest with you, Dad's a big kid.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20He is the biggest kid
0:27:20 > 0:27:24and he likes a good laugh, a good caper, to mess about.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30Too short.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Put that closer. I can pull it tight myself.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41- Got it?- Right there.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45Stupid thing.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50We do have a lot of banter and we don't worry about things too much.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Even if there is things we should be worrying about and stressing about,
0:27:53 > 0:27:56we just don't let it get to us and we just kind of laugh it off.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59# When you're happy and you know it clap your hand. #
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Eh? What did he say?
0:28:01 > 0:28:03# When you're happy and you know it clap your hand. #
0:28:03 > 0:28:06When you're happy and you know it clap your hands.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08Getting demented in his old age.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11I think the first big puff and it'll be gone.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Squint!
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Come on, Zebedee, is that level?
0:28:21 > 0:28:25I think it's great working at home with your family, to be honest.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Happy. Dad is like my best friend.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44In the hillsides of Argyll,
0:28:44 > 0:28:49above the MacPhersons' farm, the red deer are proving elusive.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53The Scottish weather is against the stalkers.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Yeah, because it's so misty and the way the wind is,
0:28:55 > 0:28:58I want to cut back along, just so far here,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00and then we'll go into a river and we'll go up,
0:29:00 > 0:29:02split between the two mountains and then we'll come back
0:29:02 > 0:29:05down the other side into the wind and see what we can see that way.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07Hopefully, in the heat of the day,
0:29:07 > 0:29:09the mist will lift and give us more vision.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11That's the plan of attack just now, anyway.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16February is near the end of the deer stalking season.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20I like to leave it slightly later than a lot of folk
0:29:20 > 0:29:25because you get a far better chance of picking out the older hinds.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27The older they are, the longer their noses are,
0:29:27 > 0:29:31their head and their necks are, the bigger the droop in their bellies.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33It's experience, eh?
0:29:33 > 0:29:35We've got to take so many numbers off
0:29:35 > 0:29:37to keep the numbers just about right,
0:29:37 > 0:29:39cos if we get too infested, it's just no good for the deer
0:29:39 > 0:29:42and it's no good for the sheep. You need to keep a balance.
0:29:42 > 0:29:43See them?
0:29:45 > 0:29:46On the horizon.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51We might have to go into the trees to come down
0:29:51 > 0:29:53cos the wind's very bad for us just now,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56and come back out through the other side.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59I think that might be a plan. Come on.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04- THEY LAUGH - Oh!
0:30:04 > 0:30:07- What happened there? - I've broken my leg!
0:30:07 > 0:30:10I knew we had a walk but I didn't think you needed a wee lie down!
0:30:21 > 0:30:25Four hours in, they finally get close enough.
0:30:28 > 0:30:29GUNSHOT
0:30:29 > 0:30:31Yep, perfect.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Good, Johan.
0:30:37 > 0:30:38There we go.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44After a long day in the hills, they return to George and Sybil's farm.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49We've been out, stretched our legs, we've tried our best.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51The deer won today, really.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55- Yes.- You don't have to... It's not a killing game,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58- do you know what I mean?- No, no. You don't need to...
0:30:58 > 0:31:00- To shoot every day.- No.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04This is what makes it, this wee comradeship after we finish up
0:31:04 > 0:31:07and we get a dram, when we come in, and a blether.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10It's just... That's what it's all about. It is for us, anyway,
0:31:10 > 0:31:15to keep friends coming back to help us manage the deer, as well.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18As well as give us some lolly.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20THEY LAUGH
0:31:22 > 0:31:25The guests do pay for the privilege of coming out to shoot a deer
0:31:25 > 0:31:28and we do have an income from the venison, but it's not...
0:31:28 > 0:31:32The financial part of it isn't hugely important to our business,
0:31:32 > 0:31:35but the management of the deer herd certainly is.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37But it will be a small cheque.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39THEY LAUGH
0:31:39 > 0:31:41And not in euros!
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Oh, not in euros?!
0:31:52 > 0:31:55In the north of Scotland, near Inverness,
0:31:55 > 0:31:57John Scott is back at the farm
0:31:57 > 0:32:00with his pedigree ewe and her premature triplets.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09John's dad is on hand to help with the newborns,
0:32:09 > 0:32:14the first of this year's anticipated crop of over 6,000 spring lambs.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18SHEEP BLEAT
0:32:20 > 0:32:22Just got them under a bit of heat
0:32:22 > 0:32:24to make sure they get plenty of body warmth
0:32:24 > 0:32:29and I'm going to go and get some colostrum made up for them.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33She's got a little bit but she hasn't got much.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35A mother's first milk or colostrum
0:32:35 > 0:32:38is full of vital proteins and antibodies -
0:32:38 > 0:32:41all the goodness a lamb needs to grow and develop.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50At the moment, I'm digging out last year's lambing kit,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53which should have all been, of course,
0:32:53 > 0:32:56sterilised and ready to go again. But we're just not quite ready.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00Normally this place just runs like a clockwork
0:33:00 > 0:33:03and everything's ready to go
0:33:03 > 0:33:07and, as we get into lambing proper, this place will be spotless.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11But we just... We've been caught out slightly, this morning.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16It's essential that lambs and calves get their colostrum
0:33:16 > 0:33:19in the first few hours of life. Very important for development.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21It's got all the right nutrients.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23Normally they would get it from the mother,
0:33:23 > 0:33:27but in this situation, where we've got, you know,
0:33:27 > 0:33:31slightly premature and the mother hasn't got a huge amount of milk,
0:33:31 > 0:33:35it's important we just substitute it,
0:33:35 > 0:33:37so that's what we're going to do.
0:33:38 > 0:33:43They're quite weak. I am a little bit worried about them.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47So, just going to ease this tube
0:33:47 > 0:33:50to get some colostrum into this little lamb.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57I've picked the smallest one first.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59That's the one I'm most worried about.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Just a wee bit concerned about them.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07They're not as lively as they were when they were in the surgery.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15Give them colostrum, I've got a heat lamp on them.
0:34:15 > 0:34:16She's been quite attentive.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20There's nothing much I can do, really.
0:34:23 > 0:34:24We'll just have to hope.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29The second born lamb is still weaker than her two siblings.
0:34:30 > 0:34:35Almost half of lamb deaths happen within the first two days of birth,
0:34:35 > 0:34:38so the next few hours will be critical.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00Sybil and George MacPherson are both big players
0:35:00 > 0:35:03in the world of Scottish sheep breeding.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07This evening, they are co-hosting a competition in Dalmally,
0:35:07 > 0:35:10where people's knowledge of blackface sheep
0:35:10 > 0:35:13will be put to the test. It's called stock judging.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17It's a case of different breeders in the area bringing four sheep
0:35:17 > 0:35:19and there's looking a right good turnout.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22We've maybe over 100 competitors, which is good,
0:35:22 > 0:35:24considering where we live, in this vast area.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28But there's folk travel from afar to be here, which is good.
0:35:28 > 0:35:34It's a very important social event for lots of farmers.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37Farming's quite a solitary existence,
0:35:37 > 0:35:40and, certainly during the winter months, people are quite isolated.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44It's also very interesting, from the sheep breed point of view,
0:35:44 > 0:35:47that people bring along the best of their livestock
0:35:47 > 0:35:49and then we have a little competition.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53A warm welcome to our judge this evening,
0:35:53 > 0:35:55Kevin MacKinnon from Glen Fruin.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58So, let's get under way with the first class,
0:35:58 > 0:36:02which is gimmers from Soay Mor. Gimmers from Soay Mor.
0:36:02 > 0:36:07Judge Kevin is an estate manager and shepherd from the Isle of Skye.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12He must use his expertise to rank four sheep in order of merit,
0:36:12 > 0:36:17assessing body shape, head and eyes, quality of coat.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21To win, the competitors in the audience
0:36:21 > 0:36:24must match his expert selection in eight different rounds.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31Gimmers from Soay Mor. Gimmers from Soay Mor.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35First of all, maybe you're looking at its...looking at its coat,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38see what coat it's got, how it goes on its legs.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40But everyone's got their own pet idea
0:36:40 > 0:36:43about what is the most important thing or what faults.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Everything's got a fault, however little it is,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49and it depends where you want to rate that.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56We put a tape on the horn of the sheep,
0:36:56 > 0:37:00so that the judge judges them, red, blue, yellow, green.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04And the idea is to match up with the judge's decisions.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Each colour has a letter set against it.
0:37:07 > 0:37:13And the judge has placed them Y, B, A, X.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18- That's the first class I've got right.- Well done, George.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22- Good for him.- Stock judging's a big part of agriculture.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24It's how young farmers learn.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27Instead of judging the sheep as you would judge yourself,
0:37:27 > 0:37:31you've to try and guess how the judge would judge them.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33That's the art of stock judging.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36How do you pick a boyfriend? How do you pick a girlfriend?
0:37:36 > 0:37:40Everyone's got their favourites. Everyone's got their type.
0:37:49 > 0:37:50It's quite a big ask, actually,
0:37:50 > 0:37:53to be asked to judge Dalmally Stock Judging
0:37:53 > 0:37:55cos there's a lot of very good sheep at it.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57And it's a fair old pressure.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59There's quite a lot of the top breeders here tonight.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01Kevin will be feeling the pressure a wee bit.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05We don't usually give the judge too much stick.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09I did, one time, when Sybil was doing it, she was the master judge.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Had a wee outburst and I got a big row for it.
0:38:14 > 0:38:15It's quite a tricky thing.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18Some people take it very seriously, others don't.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Some people take it too seriously, in my opinion,
0:38:21 > 0:38:23and because the scoring is so complicated,
0:38:23 > 0:38:26people who've maybe got three or four classes absolutely correct
0:38:26 > 0:38:29can actually be beaten by somebody who's only got one class correct,
0:38:29 > 0:38:31but been nearly there with the rest.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35Time's up. Thank you.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39The judge has changed his card twice, but...
0:38:39 > 0:38:42LAUGHTER
0:38:42 > 0:38:45..it's B, X, Y, A.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49B, X, Y, A.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52Sorry, Kevin, I just couldn't resist that chance.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59After the last round, each competitor's scoring is totted up.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01It's not all about the winning, but taking part!
0:39:02 > 0:39:06There are trophies and prizes for the winners.
0:39:06 > 0:39:11McMan team shield is Jim Fairlie, David Murray and Stephen Two.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14APPLAUSE
0:39:20 > 0:39:22Well done.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25A big thank you goes to our judge for tonight.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28I'm sure you'll agree that he had a difficult task,
0:39:28 > 0:39:31even if you did not agree with him.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34So, Kevin, thank you very much for being our master judge.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37APPLAUSE
0:39:37 > 0:39:40- You've done all right. - Safe journey home.
0:39:54 > 0:39:58It's the Royal Northern Spring Show in Aberdeen,
0:39:58 > 0:40:02an annual agricultural show and pedigree cattle sale,
0:40:02 > 0:40:04attracting around 5,000 visitors.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10- Are you going up there to wait? - Yeah, I'll go up in a minute.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14The event gives Martin Irvine a second chance
0:40:14 > 0:40:17to sell two of his top Limousin bulls.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21This is Imperial and Ice that we never sold at Stirling.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28So we're back again and, hopefully, we'll get them sold today.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31There's a bit more atmosphere today than there was at Stirling.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39As usual, Imperial was put through a vet's inspection
0:40:39 > 0:40:41before the auction.
0:40:41 > 0:40:47His teeth and testicles made the grade, but not his walking.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51- What's wrong?- Lame back left. - Think so?- Aye.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54- Is it that bad, Steve?- Eh? - Is it that bad?
0:40:54 > 0:41:00One of Martin's superstar bulls, he was disqualified.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02I can't show him and I can't sell him.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04They're saying he's slightly lame.
0:41:04 > 0:41:09Ice made the auction but failed to reach his reserve price.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11It was a disappointing day for Martin.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18He's here to try again for a sale.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22He's timed it so that these two 21-month-old bulls
0:41:22 > 0:41:25are in prime condition for this February auction.
0:41:26 > 0:41:30He needs a buyer today. He needs the income.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34Hopefully, this afternoon, we'll have two sold bulls,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37a cheque and an empty lorry on the way home, would be ideal.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41If we could average a four for the pair of them, I'd be delighted.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44Worst comes to the worst, an average of three a head,
0:41:44 > 0:41:46which is just covering our costs.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49Ideally I'd get more. I'd like more for them. They're good bulls.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51But, on a day, you just take what you get.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56£4,000 as his target, Martin prepares the bulls
0:41:56 > 0:41:59for the judging round before the auction itself.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02A first or second prize ticket here
0:42:02 > 0:42:05should lead to a better sale price later on today.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14I'm a wee bit nervous. This is just the show.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17It's always good to get tickets for selling
0:42:17 > 0:42:20but, it's the next part that really counts,
0:42:20 > 0:42:25to get these boys sold, so... I'm excited and a bit nervous.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30First and second would be great.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32- Am I going in there now?- Hopefully.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38The Spring Show is a benchmark for the Northeast of Scotland.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42For a lot of farmers, it's the first date of the year, really.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Went through January and Christmas and you come into February
0:42:45 > 0:42:48and now you're thinking of spring, the weather's picking up.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51Just means a lot.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53Things are tight and every pound matters at the moment.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55Ready?
0:42:55 > 0:42:58The Limousin class is next in the show ring.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03- I've got butterflies. - It just makes you hungry. It's good.
0:43:03 > 0:43:08Hungry for...winning? Or hungry in general?
0:43:08 > 0:43:09Hungry for winning.
0:43:16 > 0:43:20Martin takes Imperial and Mel is in charge of Ice.
0:43:20 > 0:43:24- Oi. Oi.- Mel's bull is being a right twit, like.
0:43:26 > 0:43:28Oi. You've done this.
0:43:28 > 0:43:30Ice is keen to make his presence felt
0:43:30 > 0:43:33amongst other unfamiliar young bulls.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36Mel just has to hang on tight.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38He's getting to that age when they're more masculine,
0:43:38 > 0:43:40so they start squaring up,
0:43:40 > 0:43:42looking to put themselves into a funny shape,
0:43:42 > 0:43:43and don't show themselves well.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47The judge assesses Imperial.
0:43:49 > 0:43:56Judges look for size, length, muscle definition, good locomotion,
0:43:56 > 0:43:59and an animal that exemplifies the Limousin breed characteristics.
0:44:10 > 0:44:12The judge is ready to make her decision.
0:44:17 > 0:44:22- It's Imperial. He gets first in class.- I held on.
0:44:22 > 0:44:26- Thank you, m'dear. - And Ice is placed second.
0:44:28 > 0:44:32A good start. Happy with that. A ticket always helps.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34There's 19 Limousin bulls here.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37There might be a buyer for 10, 12 of them.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41If you're at the top end and you get two boys that are capable
0:44:41 > 0:44:46to chase a bull, can make a bit of money, so time will tell.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50Martin knows to be cautiously optimistic.
0:44:50 > 0:44:53He's had prize winners fail to sell before.
0:44:53 > 0:44:56The auction begins in just a few hours.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06At their farm near Loch Lomond,
0:45:06 > 0:45:10Anne Lennox's stint of being in charge is over.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13Bobby is back and it's business as usual.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15Go! Go!
0:45:15 > 0:45:17Anne, can you put that wee gate,
0:45:17 > 0:45:20slope it across so they don't get in the back of there?
0:45:20 > 0:45:22Bobby's the boss on the farm.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25If Bobby says we do something, we do it.
0:45:26 > 0:45:29I might mutter a bit, but Bobby's the boss.
0:45:29 > 0:45:31Hey, come here!
0:45:35 > 0:45:38The main job, today, is just going through the lambs,
0:45:38 > 0:45:41weighing them and picking out,
0:45:41 > 0:45:44hopefully, 50 or 60 lambs that are ready for the abattoir.
0:45:44 > 0:45:46February is the time
0:45:46 > 0:45:48that Bobby sends some of his sheep for slaughter -
0:45:48 > 0:45:51mostly last year's male lambs,
0:45:51 > 0:45:55plus a few females not suitable for breeding.
0:45:55 > 0:45:59This one's weighing...40.5 kilos.
0:45:59 > 0:46:03So, it's in the weight range that I'm looking for -
0:46:03 > 0:46:0636 to 45 kilo live weight -
0:46:06 > 0:46:10and then I just put my hand on their back,
0:46:10 > 0:46:13and what I'm feeling for is the amount of flesh
0:46:13 > 0:46:16that's over the top of the bumps on top of the spine.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19There's the odd one at 35 I'm taking
0:46:19 > 0:46:22because they're actually, when I handle, they're very fat.
0:46:22 > 0:46:24If I go any more, they're going to be way over fat.
0:46:27 > 0:46:29A green mark means the abattoir.
0:46:29 > 0:46:31Supermarkets are specific,
0:46:31 > 0:46:35in terms of the carcass weights they require from suppliers.
0:46:35 > 0:46:40The live animal needs to weigh between 36 and 45 kilos
0:46:40 > 0:46:43and Bobby must ensure all his animals
0:46:43 > 0:46:46are within this weight range.
0:46:46 > 0:46:50The supermarkets want lamb chops that will fit in the white packets.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53If they're over 21 kilos, they're too big
0:46:53 > 0:46:56for the average consumer to eat for one meal or two person,
0:46:56 > 0:47:00and if they're too small, they're not big enough to fill the packet.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03So it's basically, we're... The supermarkets stipulate
0:47:03 > 0:47:07they want carcasses in the 16 to 21 kilo range.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10And if you go over the top, they penalise you
0:47:10 > 0:47:13and if you go underneath it, they penalise you very heavily.
0:47:13 > 0:47:16It could be the difference of £15 to £20 a lamb.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18Bobby sells his sheep to the abattoir
0:47:18 > 0:47:21and the supermarket buys direct from there.
0:47:21 > 0:47:23He has no control over where his lamb ends up.
0:47:23 > 0:47:25When we find lamb does us best,
0:47:25 > 0:47:27is if there is a big demand in France.
0:47:28 > 0:47:32Just one other buyer, other than the big four supermarket chains,
0:47:32 > 0:47:34so it just needs one other buyer in the system,
0:47:34 > 0:47:38and that can make quite a big difference to the lamb price.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46The sooner I get them away...
0:47:47 > 0:47:52..the less feeding it takes me to fatten them, so it costs me less,
0:47:52 > 0:47:55but if they're smaller they're not eating so much anyway, so...
0:47:55 > 0:47:58That one's got the weight but it's not quite fat enough yet,
0:47:58 > 0:48:00so I'll give it another week.
0:48:02 > 0:48:03These sheep get a reprieve.
0:48:03 > 0:48:07No green mark means a few more weeks of life
0:48:07 > 0:48:09being fattened up on the farm.
0:48:14 > 0:48:16In Aberdeen, at the cattle show,
0:48:16 > 0:48:19the all-important auction is about to start.
0:48:19 > 0:48:22He's a good bull. Mel showed him last summer. Good family.
0:48:25 > 0:48:30We need to sell these bulls to keep money coming in.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33And if we don't, then there's no money coming in.
0:48:33 > 0:48:38This is pay day for us and if we don't sell them, we don't get paid.
0:48:42 > 0:48:44The price these pedigree breeding bulls are fetching
0:48:44 > 0:48:49has dropped since last year and demand is less.
0:48:50 > 0:48:54Two years ago, Martin managed to sell 15 bulls.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56Last year he sold just 11.
0:48:56 > 0:48:59We always say you need to make three to break even.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01Hopefully, they'll make more.
0:49:01 > 0:49:05Just cos this is kind of the last chance, money's tight,
0:49:05 > 0:49:08we put a low reserve on them - three.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10Hopefully, we'll get somebody.
0:49:10 > 0:49:12What are we going to do with them if we don't sell them?
0:49:12 > 0:49:14Hamburgers.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18Sending these bulls to slaughter
0:49:18 > 0:49:22means a maximum price of £1,800 each -
0:49:22 > 0:49:27a financial loss for Martin and the end for two fine young bulls.
0:49:29 > 0:49:32AUCTIONEER CALLS OUT INDISTINCTLY
0:49:36 > 0:49:40The Limousin auction is under way and Mel's up next with Imperial.
0:49:42 > 0:49:442,6. 2.7.
0:49:44 > 0:49:47All the livestock sales are still in guineas.
0:49:47 > 0:49:51One guinea is the equivalent, today, of £1.05.
0:49:51 > 0:49:542,1. 2,2.
0:49:54 > 0:49:562,3. 2,4.
0:49:56 > 0:49:582,6. 2,8.
0:49:58 > 0:50:003,000.
0:50:00 > 0:50:02Martin sticks close to the auctioneer.
0:50:02 > 0:50:053,000. 3,000 bid. 3,000.
0:50:05 > 0:50:08He hopes for at least 4,000 guineas for his star bull,
0:50:08 > 0:50:12but has set a reserve price of 3,000
0:50:12 > 0:50:15to cover his costs, at the very least.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19- Cheap, cheap. - At 3,000, he's a cheap boy.
0:50:19 > 0:50:213,2. 3,2. 3,2.
0:50:21 > 0:50:233,4. 3,400.
0:50:23 > 0:50:253,4.
0:50:25 > 0:50:283,400 bid. 3,400 bid.
0:50:28 > 0:50:313,4.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33Disappointed but can't do anything.
0:50:33 > 0:50:37- At 3,400 bid. 3,400. - AUCTIONEER BANGS ON STAND
0:50:37 > 0:50:44Imperial goes for 3,400 guineas, just over £3,500.
0:50:48 > 0:50:51Now, it's Ice's turn.
0:50:51 > 0:50:55AUCTIONEER SHOUTS OUT INDISTINCTLY
0:50:55 > 0:50:592,800 bid. 2,800 bid. Come on now.
0:50:59 > 0:51:01At 2,800. 3,000.
0:51:01 > 0:51:033,000. 3,000 bid.
0:51:03 > 0:51:063,000 is bid.
0:51:06 > 0:51:09Someone else in. At 3,2. 3,2. 3,200.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11- 3,4. 3,400.- We're getting there.
0:51:11 > 0:51:15- 3,400.- We're getting there.- At 3,4.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18Ice sells for the same, 3,400 guineas.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21It's not the best result for Martin.
0:51:21 > 0:51:23That's the two bulls sold. That's the first bit.
0:51:23 > 0:51:27Trade...was all right. It was nothing special.
0:51:27 > 0:51:32All I can say is, two people got two really cheap bulls...
0:51:32 > 0:51:35- ICE LOWS - ..to be honest.
0:51:35 > 0:51:38They're away cheap, but happy that they're away,
0:51:38 > 0:51:40so I've made a bit on them.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46See you all again next visit.
0:51:47 > 0:51:49After auction fees are paid,
0:51:49 > 0:51:53Martin walks away with just under £7,000,
0:51:53 > 0:51:56a profit of less than £1,000.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01When you do get a hiding or a kicking
0:52:01 > 0:52:04or a doing or you don't get the sale that you like
0:52:04 > 0:52:07or you get beaten or something like that, all it does for me,
0:52:07 > 0:52:11is it makes me more determined to come back and be better.
0:52:11 > 0:52:16I want to come back next time and be better.
0:52:17 > 0:52:20And that's what I'll try and do.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25- Ready? One, two... - MEL SQUEALS
0:52:29 > 0:52:32We need some enjoyment in our lives.
0:52:34 > 0:52:38Ice leaves with his buyer to become the breeding bull on a new farm.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44Imperial will be picked up from Martin's tomorrow.
0:53:10 > 0:53:13Where's my scoop gone? Got it, got it.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17Got it. That's another thing, yep.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20John Scott is on morning feeding duty
0:53:20 > 0:53:24for his first, unexpectedly early spring lambs.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27LAMB BLEATS
0:53:27 > 0:53:30It's breakfast time for National Treasure.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35Sometimes after a Caesarean,
0:53:35 > 0:53:37they maybe go off their food a bit for a while,
0:53:37 > 0:53:41but I always like to see lambs, getting up and stretching.
0:53:46 > 0:53:48So these guys are a bit...
0:53:49 > 0:53:52These guys are a bit stronger than they were last night
0:53:52 > 0:53:56but, as you can see, we're one down, which is a bit unfortunate.
0:53:56 > 0:53:58When I came in at half past ten last night,
0:53:58 > 0:54:03the little one had died, but it's just the way it goes.
0:54:03 > 0:54:04Um...
0:54:04 > 0:54:08I did suspect one of them was just not going to be strong enough
0:54:08 > 0:54:09and that was certainly the case.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17It's a loss for John from a new pedigree bloodline.
0:54:26 > 0:54:30The focus of our attention now is on these two.
0:54:30 > 0:54:33The sooner I see these up and sucking themselves, the better.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38She's a bit uncomfortable from the Caesarean,
0:54:38 > 0:54:41so she's kicking a wee bit there, but that'll pass.
0:54:42 > 0:54:46I'm just trying to get this wee ewe lamb to feed off mum.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49I'm not 100% sure she hasn't, actually, herself.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54John checks to see if the ewe is producing
0:54:54 > 0:54:56enough milk to feed both lambs.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02She hasn't let her milk down fully yet. There's not...
0:55:02 > 0:55:05There's a tiny little drop there of milk but really,
0:55:05 > 0:55:07there's not much there. Um...
0:55:09 > 0:55:13So, we'll have to continue supplementing this just now.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17This one's slightly weaker.
0:55:17 > 0:55:19The tup lamb's slightly weaker than the ewe lamb.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24But we'll keep feeding them every three or four hours
0:55:24 > 0:55:26and, hopefully, her milk will come on her,
0:55:26 > 0:55:29and then we can, as her milk comes on her,
0:55:29 > 0:55:32we can gradually ease back and feed them less by the bottle ourselves.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36So we'll just persevere. We'll get there.
0:55:43 > 0:55:48These lambs have survived the perilous first 24 hours of life
0:55:48 > 0:55:49and are through the worst.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04At the Irvine's farm,
0:56:04 > 0:56:07it's time to say goodbye to a family favourite.
0:56:09 > 0:56:14Gentle natured Imperial, one of Martin's superstar bulls,
0:56:14 > 0:56:16is about to be picked up by his new owner.
0:56:18 > 0:56:21He'll be heading off, see some ladies, hopefully, and get to work.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24In nine months' time, a year's time,
0:56:24 > 0:56:28there's going to be calves off of him, so it means a bit.
0:56:29 > 0:56:32The whole family are sad to see him go.
0:56:32 > 0:56:33You get attached to them,
0:56:33 > 0:56:35especially if they've got a character like him.
0:56:35 > 0:56:38You just hope they go to a good home. That's the main thing.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41His new owner arrives.
0:56:50 > 0:56:52Yeah, get him loaded.
0:56:52 > 0:56:53Tsch, tsch, come on then.
0:56:57 > 0:56:59Come, come, come, come, come.
0:57:09 > 0:57:14Imperial's new home will be just 20 miles away on a farm they know.
0:57:35 > 0:57:38BULL LOWS
0:57:43 > 0:57:44There you go.
0:57:46 > 0:57:48He maybe went away cheap.
0:57:48 > 0:57:52But knowing he went to someone you ken doesn't make it feel so bad.
0:57:58 > 0:58:02Next time, spring finally arrives
0:58:02 > 0:58:05and John Scott is on full-time lambing duty.
0:58:05 > 0:58:09Sometimes it's good just to have a bit of time on your own,
0:58:09 > 0:58:12just be a shepherd.
0:58:14 > 0:58:16Sybil gives George a spring clean.
0:58:16 > 0:58:19The good thing about taking it off now is that,
0:58:19 > 0:58:21quite possibly, birds might use it for nesting material.
0:58:23 > 0:58:27And Martin Irvine harvests a specimen from his prize bull.
0:58:27 > 0:58:29Good boy.
0:58:29 > 0:58:31That's my boy.
0:58:31 > 0:58:34- LAUGHTER - That's my boy.