0:00:02 > 0:00:05Across some of the most beautiful and remote landscapes
0:00:05 > 0:00:07of the British Isles...
0:00:07 > 0:00:10There's not many views like that. It's absolutely stunning.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13..Scotland's farmers work day and night,
0:00:13 > 0:00:18producing our milk and our meat.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Trying out new ideas...
0:00:20 > 0:00:21If a buffalo doesn't want to do something,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24you're going to find it very difficult.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28..and striving to turn a profit in tough economic times.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31We're struggling. We're definitely struggling.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Over the course of a year,
0:00:33 > 0:00:38six very different families let cameras onto their farms...
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Everything that could have gone wrong there went wrong.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44The idea of lying on a beach, bliss.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47..to share their struggles...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49We have to get her out, or she's going to die.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50..and their triumphs.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55- Thank you.- It's not about the pay cheque. It's about the lifestyle.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08It's late autumn.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11In Scotland, short, damp days
0:01:11 > 0:01:15are followed by long, chill nights.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18But in the cycle of the farming calendar,
0:01:18 > 0:01:23such harsh conditions spell new life.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25These are the months for mating.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31The breeding season for the sheep and for the cattle,
0:01:31 > 0:01:34it's very important to the financial aspect of the farm,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36cos that's where all our income comes from.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40So, getting the breeding right is the key to the whole business.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45On the Isle of Mull, off Scotland's West Coast,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48new farmers Janet and Alistair Taylor
0:01:48 > 0:01:51rent 700 acres of mixed terrain,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54where they keep 180 sheep...
0:01:54 > 0:01:57- Lie down.- ..20 Highland cattle...
0:01:57 > 0:01:59- ..two horses...- Stay.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01- ..and nine dogs.- Get in.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07They took over the lease on a rundown farm just five years ago...
0:02:09 > 0:02:12..and are still a long way from making a profit.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16This is just a different way of life.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19You have to love being outside and doing this sort of job.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22You wouldn't do it for money.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26You just get bitten by a bug. It's just something you just want to do.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29You just can't imagine doing anything else but farming.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35- See you at the finish line.- Yep.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37Today, Janet and Alistair
0:02:37 > 0:02:39are bringing their ewes in from the hill.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45He comes across towards me and I come across towards him
0:02:45 > 0:02:49and hopefully we meet in the middle somewhere with the sheep.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Come on up.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56They have 130 ewes, mostly Cheviot and Cheviot-Shetland crosses,
0:02:56 > 0:03:01which do well in the wet and windy Hebridean climate.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05But building up a farm is a financial struggle.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Come out of it!
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Janet and Alistair need to increase their flock and their sales.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15That all begins with mating or tupping.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26The main task today is we are sorting out our ewes
0:03:26 > 0:03:27ready for tupping.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Tup is the male sheep,
0:03:29 > 0:03:34and he will be mated with the females to produce the lambs.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36To us, it's the beginning of the farming year,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39selecting this is selecting what we're going to get next year
0:03:39 > 0:03:41at lambing time.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46This is Alfie with the Irish flag.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49He is our Suffolk tup.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51And then we've got Harold,
0:03:51 > 0:03:55who is the brown Shetland tup standing up facing us.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58And then the black one at the back is Lucky.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01The white tup is the Cheviot tup.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05He's actually retired now.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08This older tup has fathered too many of the ewes.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13To avoid the risk of inbreeding, there's a new boy on the farm.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Young Owen.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18He arrived a week ago and he's still a virgin.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Owen's just a lamb.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26So he was born this year, so he's not very old at all.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30A pedigree tup can cost tens of thousands.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35Owen cost £150 from a friend.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37There's a lot of pressure on him.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40He has no idea what's coming.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44What's coming are the ladies,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47who are getting prepared.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49First, a pedicure.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52So, the sheep are going into this wee tray of water.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55It's got a chemical in it to help fight foot rot.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00These are their mineral boluses.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04So these have copper cobalt and selenium in them.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Come on, fatty.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10And finally, a quick cut and blow-dry.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14This is a rough ewe, so that means she hasn't been clipped this year.
0:05:14 > 0:05:19So, I'm going to give her a wee tidy up so that the tups can get to her.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21I don't know why Janet won't let me cut her hair!
0:05:23 > 0:05:24Out you go.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Oh, you look stylish!
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Right, where were we?
0:05:31 > 0:05:34The next stage is like sheep Blind Date,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36with four tups in the hot seat.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Very much matchmaking.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Choosing the right ewe for the right tups.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Each tup has a different colour
0:05:48 > 0:05:52and we're just marking each ewe that's going to go with each tup
0:05:52 > 0:05:56with the corresponding colour and it's quite complicated.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00What colour was Harold?
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Er...Harold's blue.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08They are hoping to breed strength and vigour into their flock...
0:06:08 > 0:06:10- Green.- ..while avoiding any inbreeding.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Now, we've got daughters of one of the tups here,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18so we need to make sure that we don't put them back to him.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23No!
0:06:23 > 0:06:24He's put the wrong mark.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Luckily it's on a black sheep, so you won't really see it,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29but she's to go to the nothing mark.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33And I've got an eraser here.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38- There you go.- You can still see it, you put so much on.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41Someone got me in trouble for putting too little on!
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Owen's ewes are ready.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48But the question is, is he?
0:06:48 > 0:06:51The farm needs new lambs.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Owen will only have a few weeks to prove himself.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09120 miles east in Fife,
0:07:09 > 0:07:14Scotland's rugged terrain makes way for rich lowland pastures.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20It's here that Stevie Mitchell runs his 450-acre farm.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25His family have worked this land for over a century
0:07:25 > 0:07:29and 12 years ago, Stevie decided to think big.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Very big.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36He started to farm water buffalo
0:07:36 > 0:07:38and he now has a herd of over 400.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Today, with winter approaching,
0:07:46 > 0:07:50Stevie needs to round up a small group of his breeding females
0:07:50 > 0:07:52and transfer them to the warmth of the barns.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57These cold mornings, they've been appearing down at the gate
0:07:57 > 0:07:59of the farm, almost asking to come in.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01They're water buffaloes from Asia,
0:08:01 > 0:08:06so I think they may be not quite as accustomed to this cold weather.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15Stevie was just 23 when he started this bold buffalo experiment.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20At the very start, it was pretty nerve-racking,
0:08:20 > 0:08:22cos I realised that I'd basically invested
0:08:22 > 0:08:23absolutely everything I had,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26plus, you know, a whole heap of money from the bank
0:08:26 > 0:08:27that I didn't have.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29What was it actually going to be like?
0:08:30 > 0:08:33So far, it's working.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36His buffalo meat is selling well, and his herd is expanding.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41The females he's rounding up today have just calved
0:08:41 > 0:08:46and there are now five newborns in the group, only a few days old.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49They need to be ear-tagged and identified.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52These are quite young calves, so the mums are very protective.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55It's very important that we get this spot-on.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58HE WHISTLES
0:08:58 > 0:08:59Come on, girls.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08With the females successfully rounded up,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11he now needs to get access to the calves for the tagging.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18This is probably the point where the buffalo are most dangerous.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20As you can see, they've got these huge horns
0:09:20 > 0:09:23and they could do quite a lot of damage with them, you know.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27So it's the same as a normal cow, though.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31When they've just had a baby, their hormones are their highest.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37And they don't like the fact that we're interfering now
0:09:37 > 0:09:41with their babies, but it's a job that has to be done.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43We try and make it as safe as we possibly can.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Let's plan what we're doing really carefully.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54First, they must move all the pregnant females out,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57leaving just the calves and their mothers.
0:09:59 > 0:10:00Good girl. Come on, up, up, up.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Good work.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Buffalo are similar to beef cattle.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10But they are more aggressive
0:10:10 > 0:10:12and they can be thoroughly unpredictable.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Ah, you devil!
0:10:16 > 0:10:17It's always a little bit daunting
0:10:17 > 0:10:19when you have to work so closely with them
0:10:19 > 0:10:22and you kind of need eyes in the back of your head
0:10:22 > 0:10:25cos you don't know what direction they're coming from.
0:10:28 > 0:10:33Luckily, Stevie's right-hand man, Eddie, is here to help.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35I'm so lucky to have Eddie.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37He works with animals every day, and kind of,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40he knows the ones to watch out for and the ones not to
0:10:40 > 0:10:42a lot more than I do these days.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46One mother tries to make a run for it.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Up, up, as a team.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Come on, you, go. Well done, Eddie.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03That cow there with the collar, Eddie, she's quite aggressive, eh?
0:11:06 > 0:11:09There's one they know they need to watch.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Number 22.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14She's never been parted from her calf
0:11:14 > 0:11:18and is particularly protective and aggressive.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21The buffalo have got these horns and they really know how to use them.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25Both Eddie and I are quite aware to be extremely cautious.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39On the other side of Scotland, on the West Coast,
0:11:39 > 0:11:43husband and wife team David and Sandra Coltart
0:11:43 > 0:11:48run a large hill farm that stretches over 3,200 acres
0:11:48 > 0:11:50out towards the sea.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57On this hilly and inhospitable terrain, they farm 550 sheep...
0:11:59 > 0:12:01..along with 45 cattle,
0:12:01 > 0:12:0412 ponies
0:12:04 > 0:12:06and 15 border collies.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Being a farmer in the time we are at the moment, you know,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13you can't cherry pick the good days
0:12:13 > 0:12:15cos no-one's going to make much money having a hill
0:12:15 > 0:12:19flock of sheep. You really have to take the whole package.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Your darkest days, when everything goes wrong...
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Oh, the bandit!
0:12:24 > 0:12:27..and you think, why did I want to be a farmer?!
0:12:27 > 0:12:29And there are days, you know, when things are the total opposite,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32and you think, thank God I'm a farmer!
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Like all Scottish sheep farmers, David and Sandra are preparing for
0:12:41 > 0:12:44the financially vital breeding season.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49They need to buy four new tups to replace their old stock.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Only David is cutting things a bit fine.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56This is the last local tup sale of the year.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59It's the last chance saloon
0:12:59 > 0:13:03in getting a breeding tup in the UK, really, so...
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Cutting it fine. Cutting it a bit too fine.
0:13:06 > 0:13:07But anyway, we'll get something, won't we?
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Yeah, I'll try to get something earlier on in the sale,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12so that I'm not leaving it till last and just picking some scrubber up.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15That way, if we get it earlier, we know we've got it,
0:13:15 > 0:13:16and we can head to the bar.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19- I mean, I can!- Yeah, I'm driving.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33David and Sandra are looking for blackfaced tups.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37- Last tup is standing right. - Yeah. It's a good tup.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39But they need animals made of the right stuff.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41What's his history? Any history about him?
0:13:41 > 0:13:43- A Nunnery tup.- A Nunnery tup?
0:13:43 > 0:13:47- His mother's a 18,000 Willmore. - Yeah.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50They can't leave empty-handed,
0:13:50 > 0:13:54but they need strong, vigorous tups who can survive out on the hills.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58He's all right.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Sometimes people keep tups in a pen
0:14:01 > 0:14:04and they're used to living inside and eating a lot of cake.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06And then the minute that you fire them out onto the hill,
0:14:06 > 0:14:08they're like, "Where's the cake?!"
0:14:08 > 0:14:10And they're looking to come back in the shed rather than go away
0:14:10 > 0:14:13and look for ewes to cover, so we want something that's going,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16"Yeah, let's go to the hill and find the girls, basically."
0:14:16 > 0:14:19He's got a good coat on him.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23An ideal tup will have strong back legs for mounting the ewes.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Good teeth so he can feed and forage on the hills.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31And two other obvious attributes.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- All right, he's got a pair of knackers.- Yeah.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40Sandra once bought a tup without a hands-on check first.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43We assumed that he had two.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Anyway, we got him home and discovered that he only had one,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49- so...- No, he had none.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51- No, he had one.- None. - I thought he had one?
0:14:51 > 0:14:54No, he had no balls at all!
0:14:56 > 0:15:01David has to rotate his tups every two years to prevent inbreeding.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04It's vital they buy four new animals today.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06Check that it's got two.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Their budget is £200 or £300 per tup,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14but prices can easily reach well into the thousands.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17It's just a bit of a lottery, because, you know,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19trying to get something you want at the right price,
0:15:19 > 0:15:23everyone else probably thinks it's maybe good, so, we'll see.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29It's looking lively in the sale ring.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31- Whoa!- Whoa!
0:15:32 > 0:15:34- He's a wild one, that. - Watch your hands.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42- Is that you, no?- Yeah.- Right.
0:15:48 > 0:15:54David's been spontaneous and bought a bargain tup, sight unseen.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Time for a checkup.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00- He's all right, actually.- Yeah. - He'll do.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02He's got a pair of knackers anyway.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05The general consensus today is that the price is a wee bit lower.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08It's the last tup sale in the UK, so they really have to sell them.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11It seems to be a buyer's market.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Prices are low and David's on a roll.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Time to go and pay before I buy anything else. All right!
0:16:32 > 0:16:35- With an original shopping list of four tups...- Two more to go.
0:16:35 > 0:16:41..they've ended up with ten, costing £2,400.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44These tups will get just two weeks to settle in on the farm
0:16:44 > 0:16:48before they're put out to work with the ewes.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Very pleased with our tups and we didn't have to pay too much
0:16:51 > 0:16:53to get something decent, so we're happy.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56We got a lot of bargains today.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00In the end, you leaving things to the last minute, for a change,
0:17:00 > 0:17:01- has worked out.- Definitely.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05- Isn't that amazing? - Yeah, for once.- Exactly!
0:17:05 > 0:17:07So Last-minute Dave works the trick.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Last-minute Dave!
0:17:09 > 0:17:11THEY CHUCKLE
0:17:15 > 0:17:1985 miles south-east in Fife,
0:17:19 > 0:17:23Buffalo farmer Stevie needs to ear-tag his newborn calves.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29It's a legal requirement to tag and register all new livestock.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34The problem is the mothers, who are protective and unpredictable.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39You can't really tell until you start really handling them
0:17:39 > 0:17:43just what their nature's going to be.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Cow 22 there is certainly giving us a bit of eye at the moment,
0:17:46 > 0:17:48so we'll be careful with her.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Stevie chooses the first candidate carefully.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00We'll start with a nice quiet one.
0:18:00 > 0:18:01It's a wee boy calf.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05So we've just got a wee spray of iodine
0:18:05 > 0:18:09to stop any infection getting in.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12It's just like somebody getting their ear pierced, really.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27That wasn't too bad.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30So one down, the next to go.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Time to choose the next mother and calf.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Cow 22 is looking unsettled.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Hey!
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Steady!
0:19:02 > 0:19:04Cheeky devils.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Hey!
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Get back!
0:19:13 > 0:19:15It's the unpredictability of a buffalo.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18You know, sometimes they can be totally chilled out,
0:19:18 > 0:19:23relaxed and the next minute, that snorting lunatic appears.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26It's the joys of working with an animal that's got such a weapon,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28you know.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Five years ago, Stevie learned the hard way just how dangerous
0:19:34 > 0:19:37these animals can be.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40A calf came up behind quite innocently.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Mother just decided that she didn't approve
0:19:43 > 0:19:45and came charging in.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49She butted me down a hill and let out an almighty war cry.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52The whole herd just joined in.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55It wasn't just on the ground. They were literally throwing me.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57That was the most dramatic part about it.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59They ripped all my clothes off.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02I had several quite nasty gores with their horns,
0:20:02 > 0:20:04a horn right into my hamstring,
0:20:04 > 0:20:08back of my leg and one up my backside, unfortunately.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11They really were going for my blood.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Stevie needed surgery and five weeks in hospital.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21It has definitely made me a little bit more cautious.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Definitely a lot more respect for them.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26A lot stricter with the guys in the team
0:20:26 > 0:20:29to make sure that we work, like today, in twos,
0:20:29 > 0:20:31never to be left kind of in a situation
0:20:31 > 0:20:34where that could happen again.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Time to tackle number 22.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42Go on.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Watch, watch, watch.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55- Right, so what have we got here, a bull calf?- Er...
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Stop it!
0:21:01 > 0:21:04BUFFALO SNORTS
0:21:09 > 0:21:12BUFFALO SNORTS
0:21:15 > 0:21:16BUFFALO BELLOWS
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- Get back!- Her anxiety is alerting the other cows.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Go on!
0:21:32 > 0:21:34The key is, the calf was quite relaxed, you know,
0:21:34 > 0:21:37which helps a lot, because if the calf was fighting us,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41then I suspect that cow would have been over that gate in no time,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44cos they can get over these gates, there's no question about it.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49So, mission accomplished.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02At this time of year, across Scotland, it's dark by five.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06For the sheep farmers,
0:22:06 > 0:22:10it's this very loss of daylight that brings their ewes into season.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15It affects their hormones, so they're ready to mate.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21The seasonal rhythms of nature dictate the farming year.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Two more. Right, OK.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32She says, no foot baths!
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Come on!
0:22:34 > 0:22:35On the Isle of Mull,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Janet and Alistair's ewes are almost ready for tupping.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43As new farmers, they're still building their stock,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45and the decisions they make today
0:22:45 > 0:22:48are crucial to the future success of their farm.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55Any females born on the farm, you couldn't put a price on their heads
0:22:55 > 0:22:57because they will become part of your breeding stock.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01They're going to produce lambs for years to come.
0:23:01 > 0:23:02It's the never-ending circle.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07- Good boy.- Don't hurt yourself. Watch your head.
0:23:07 > 0:23:12This year, they're putting their faith in Owen, a virgin tup lamb.
0:23:12 > 0:23:17- Aw!- On his chest, between his front legs, we're going to put lots of
0:23:17 > 0:23:20this stuff - that's keel.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22So when he jumps on their backs,
0:23:22 > 0:23:24he will leave some of this on their backs,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27so we'll know which ewes he's been on and which ones he hasn't.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Are you worried about this, Owen?
0:23:30 > 0:23:32What the hell are you doing with that glove?!
0:23:32 > 0:23:35SHE LAUGHS
0:23:35 > 0:23:39So I'm just trying to work it into his wool, so it lasts for a while.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45Owen has never been with a ewe before.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47It's all just a gamble.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50It's, er, trying something different, see if it'll work.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52An O for Owen!
0:23:52 > 0:23:54SHE LAUGHS
0:23:59 > 0:24:03So I'm just gonna hide in amongst these ewes with my big green bum.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06- He doesn't seem impressed. - He doesn't.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12He seems more interested in what's happening next door,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16where experienced tup Harold has many successful breeding seasons
0:24:16 > 0:24:19under his fleece.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Harold immediately gets down to business.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28He's smelling their pee and things to see if they're in season
0:24:28 > 0:24:30and ready for him.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32A practised tup like Harold
0:24:32 > 0:24:36will go for the older, experienced ewes first.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40If the female is fertile, she will stand to receive the male.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44He's interested now.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48- She's just a gimmer, isn't she? - Yeah, she won't know what's what.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Owen's getting the idea, but he'd be better off with an older ewe.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59There's a lot to learn and even more at stake.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18In the north-east of Scotland,
0:25:18 > 0:25:23Martin Irvine and his family run a 240-acre farm,
0:25:23 > 0:25:25breeding pedigree Limousin cattle.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Martin's big love since childhood was his prize bulls...
0:25:35 > 0:25:38..until two women came into his life -
0:25:38 > 0:25:41wife Mel and baby daughter Erin.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47When you're really busy and you're having a hard day or whatever,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49you come home and there's Erin with a big smile,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52it just kind of cheers you up and you forget about it really,
0:25:52 > 0:25:54so that's quite nice.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56- Are you sleepy?- She does, she fits in with us.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58She comes on the tractors with us.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00She comes up to the sheep with us.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04She comes to the mart with us. Don't you?
0:26:06 > 0:26:11The Irvines have specialised in bull breeding for over 35 years
0:26:11 > 0:26:15and it's the farm's main source of income,
0:26:15 > 0:26:16but for the last few years,
0:26:16 > 0:26:19as previously seen on This Farming Life,
0:26:19 > 0:26:23Martin's struggled with a sharp downturn in his fortunes.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26His bulls weren't fetching good prices.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Oh, that's just depressing, that, really.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32Not enough. Right, we'll go try the next three.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35I'm nae looking very excited for us really.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37Hard work, really hard work.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Bulls aren't sold on the merit of what they look like.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47There's another factor, which is figures,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50and the figures in the last stock bull weren't very good.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54So his beef values and all this kind of stuff weren't very good
0:26:54 > 0:26:56and that kind of put people off from buying him
0:26:56 > 0:26:59and that was the problem there.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Now, with their own new mouth to feed,
0:27:01 > 0:27:05Mel and Martin hope that better times and prices are on the way.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11So we survived a really hard 18 months and, er,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14if you can survive the bad bits, that's the key.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24One of the last Limousin bull sales of the year is in Carlisle.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28It's a two-day event and all the top breeders and buyers are here.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32It's a chance for Martin to make some much-needed cash.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34We're at Carlisle. It is Limousin central.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37It's a prestigious show and sale.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40You're in amongst big competition.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Bulls from up and down the length and breadth of the country.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Martin's hopes for a change in his fortunes
0:27:48 > 0:27:50rest on these two young bulls,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53brothers Loki and Luke.
0:27:53 > 0:27:54My pick's Loki.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57A bit more size, a bit more character. He's real flashy.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00But Luke, he's a little bit younger, but he's heavier.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04So he's got more carcass and more weight, but he's just not as pretty.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07It takes a long time and a lot of money to get the bulls here,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09so there's a lot of money invested,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12and if we can get a good show day today, it'll help us sell tomorrow.
0:28:12 > 0:28:13It's money, money,
0:28:13 > 0:28:16and this is our business and you need to make money to survive.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21The auction is tomorrow.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Today, it's the show day.
0:28:24 > 0:28:25How are you?
0:28:25 > 0:28:27Mm-hmm.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Yeah. What do you think?
0:28:32 > 0:28:33Yeah?
0:28:33 > 0:28:36It's an Irvine family affair.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38Mum Denise,
0:28:38 > 0:28:39Dad Stephen
0:28:39 > 0:28:41and brother Darren are all here
0:28:41 > 0:28:45to get Luke and Loki looking their best.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48A winner's rosette in the competition rounds today
0:28:48 > 0:28:52can help push up the price tomorrow.
0:28:52 > 0:28:53So all these products,
0:28:53 > 0:28:55all they're gonna do is kind of bulk up the hair,
0:28:55 > 0:29:00it gives the illusion of more size and weight and power.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03The Limousin breed covers so many aspects.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06They've got size, they've got length, they've got a nice bum,
0:29:06 > 0:29:09good character, good locomotion.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Massive balls. 38 centimetres.
0:29:12 > 0:29:13Nearly as big as me!
0:29:13 > 0:29:15HE LAUGHS
0:29:15 > 0:29:17No, I'm only winding you up!
0:29:20 > 0:29:25These fine animals are the first sons of Martin's current stock bull,
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Irish, to go to market.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32When we bought Irish, we were looking for muscle.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34We were looking for the Arnold Schwarzenegger of bulls
0:29:34 > 0:29:37and he is like the Arnold Schwarzenegger of bulls.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40The females are gonna hopefully throw in the genetics for the size
0:29:40 > 0:29:44and power and Irish, with all his extreme muscle and ripness to him,
0:29:44 > 0:29:47he's gonna mix it and, hopefully, the calves off of this will be
0:29:47 > 0:29:49a bit of both.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57Martin bought Irish three years ago - an investment for the future.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00This weekend, he will find out if he chose well.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04It's all about the final touches.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08Looking as good as they can, I think.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10Hey, Uncle Darren.
0:30:10 > 0:30:11Just see what happens.
0:30:11 > 0:30:12BABY WHIMPERS
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Yes. Oh.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Loki will be first into the competition round.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23I'm just going to head down now to the holding area.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26That's Class Three in now. We're Class Five.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30So a ten-minute wait there and we'll see how good we do.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Come on.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Cattle breeding is a long, slow game.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39Martin's about to find out if he has a winning hand.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58A cold snap has hit the West Coast of Scotland...
0:31:00 > 0:31:03..but farmers with sheep to breed, like David and Sandra,
0:31:03 > 0:31:06can't afford to let the weather slow them down.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10They've bought their ten new tups
0:31:10 > 0:31:14and now they need to bring the ewes down from the hills for mating.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17It's the autumn gather.
0:31:20 > 0:31:25Today's plan is to get the sheep and the ewes in for the tup.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27That's the task today.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31It's the kind of last gathering of the calendar year.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33Sandra's come down with a bug,
0:31:33 > 0:31:38so she's not fit for the long, cold climb through the hills.
0:31:38 > 0:31:39Full of dangers but, yeah,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41most of the time, everything works out all right.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43He comes home all bedraggled looking
0:31:43 > 0:31:46and semi-scathed
0:31:46 > 0:31:48and a bit roughed up.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50SHE LAUGHS
0:31:50 > 0:31:52Don't forget your rolls, David.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54You're going to be looking for them.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56- You're going to take a banana as well?- Yep.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Have fun!
0:32:03 > 0:32:07David has recruited seven neighbours and their all-important dogs
0:32:07 > 0:32:11to cover 1,500 acres of the farm.
0:32:11 > 0:32:12We'll take the main lot down.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15If you guys sweep back round and see them down to the gate here,
0:32:15 > 0:32:18- we'll open the gate partly...- Aye. - ..so the sheep can come underneath.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20- Aye.- As long as there's enough light and the weather's fine.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26The usual chaos before I leave anywhere.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28Forget something.
0:32:28 > 0:32:29Forget my piece, forget my phone.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33At least I haven't forgotten my dog!
0:32:36 > 0:32:40It's an eight-mile drive to get into position before they can even start.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45We didn't want to go until we were sure that the mist had cleared.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47But the snow could lend a helping hand.
0:32:49 > 0:32:50They call it the great white dog
0:32:50 > 0:32:53because the sheep will generally drop below the snow line.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55So hopefully, that's the case today,
0:32:55 > 0:32:58that the sheep will have dropped down to a lower level.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09They start at the far side of David's hills
0:33:09 > 0:33:14and will walk back towards the farm, driving the sheep onwards.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16- Here, dogs, here!- All 160 of them.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20It will be a long day.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25We're heading over there, just to that skyline.
0:33:25 > 0:33:26I'll go to that knoll.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30Kenny and Robert will go round the face and then they'll start to drop,
0:33:30 > 0:33:33drop down, and hopefully lift the sheep with them.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37The plan is a pincer movement.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43David's team will go up to the top of the hills and spread out as they
0:33:43 > 0:33:46walk back, pushing the sheep downwards.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51The other team will be lower, sweeping the sheep towards the farm.
0:33:55 > 0:34:00David needs to comb the snowy ridge to be sure no sheep get left behind.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07He plans to command proceedings from his high vantage point.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11He has a clever dog...
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Modern communications.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15..and a smartphone.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20Hi, Robert.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27- SHOUTS:- Are you there, Robert?
0:34:32 > 0:34:36This is the Vodafone voicemail service for 0755...
0:34:36 > 0:34:40If I hear that message one more time I know where the phone is going!
0:34:42 > 0:34:44- SHOUTS:- Are you there, Robert?
0:34:46 > 0:34:50We're the line now that Robert should come up to.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52PHONE RINGS
0:34:52 > 0:34:54- Hi, Robert.- Hi.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56Will you come up to my line, Robert?
0:34:56 > 0:34:59Have you got sheep ahead of you?
0:34:59 > 0:35:02We're heading back.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04Right, if you come up just to the kind of snow line
0:35:04 > 0:35:06where there's a level path along here
0:35:06 > 0:35:09and I'll go up a wee bit higher, OK, mate? Right.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18Gathers like this have taken place for centuries.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20They happen through the year,
0:35:20 > 0:35:24but always in summer for shearing and autumn for tupping.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27Jimmy's been making noises higher up.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29Kenny is working his dogs below.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32So they're all just happy moving in a line.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38Hi, Jimmy. How are you getting on now?
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Can you see what David and that are doing and the boys?
0:35:43 > 0:35:46David's family have worked these hills for the last 100 years.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51There's not many views like that.
0:35:51 > 0:35:56You've got looking towards Mull down Loch Linnhe to Lismore to Oban.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59It's absolutely stunning.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01Hey, guys.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10So I think it's enough of me enjoying the view
0:36:10 > 0:36:13and getting down and see what's happening down here.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21After five hours and five miles of walking,
0:36:21 > 0:36:24the team have successfully rounded up a large section
0:36:24 > 0:36:27and are moving them onwards.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33This is where, you know, my good planning has just worked perfect.
0:36:35 > 0:36:40More luck than anything else, actually, to be fair.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43A lot of the sheep were below the snow line,
0:36:43 > 0:36:45but we still had to cover the ground.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49The weather didn't deteriorate any worse than it was, so...
0:36:49 > 0:36:53So I'll just get to the gate and when the gate's open and it's clear,
0:36:53 > 0:36:55then we will take them down into the yard
0:36:55 > 0:36:57and into the shed for the night.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03Lie down!
0:37:06 > 0:37:10These ewes are coming into season in the next few days and will soon be
0:37:10 > 0:37:12introduced to the new tups.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15Well done, guys. Well done.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24Thank goodness for that!
0:37:24 > 0:37:27Now time for the refreshment.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32LAUGHTER
0:37:34 > 0:37:37It's not even that worse off up the hill.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41Yes, it's nice to see them back
0:37:41 > 0:37:43and happy that nobody has fallen out with anybody
0:37:43 > 0:37:46and everybody is still speaking.
0:37:46 > 0:37:51As long as they have got food and dram, they're pretty happy.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05In Carlisle, it's the Limousin bull competition rounds.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08A great opportunity to catch a buyer's eye
0:38:08 > 0:38:10before the auction tomorrow.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17After last year's poor profits, Martin really needs a good sale
0:38:17 > 0:38:22and his hopes are riding on 18-month-old Loki.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24He's a cocky little bugger, really.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26He likes to square up and fight with everybody
0:38:26 > 0:38:28and show himself he's the man.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31So he'll go in the ring and he will pose.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35The worry is that, amongst other bulls, Loki can be unpredictable.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39Once I get in there, I'll suss it out, but nothing I can do.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41What will be will be. Just to get on with it.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46A first or second place rosette
0:38:46 > 0:38:48could really help get a good price tomorrow.
0:38:50 > 0:38:51You always get nervous with showing.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54I think, if you didn't, it would be strange not to.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56I know I get nervous.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59It's exciting nerves, though.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03It's Loki's turn in the ring.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Martin needs to keep a tight hold.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09The judge is looking for a good breed character,
0:39:09 > 0:39:13so it is usually in a nice big bum, good walking.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16Size as well is quite important.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19A nice straight back and a full back, a wide back,
0:39:19 > 0:39:22that's where you get all your expensive cuts of meat.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28The judge is also assessing behaviour.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30Didn't really stand, just wants to walk.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33It's a bull. It just wants to show himself.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42If Loki doesn't start behaving, Martin won't get a rosette.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46Loki won't stand still!
0:39:46 > 0:39:49Stand still.
0:39:50 > 0:39:54Martin will get a bit frustrated cos I know I do when they don't do that.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56Stand.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59Stand still.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02The judge is just having another wee look.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06Martin is just making sure Loki's legs are all square.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08That's a good start.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13Looks good so far, but you just don't know.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16Thank you.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18It's a win.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22First in class rosette for Loki. A great start.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25A good result!
0:40:27 > 0:40:29As the winner of his class,
0:40:29 > 0:40:33he now gets put through to the overall senior champions round.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35Martin has never won this stage here.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Nervous. Excited.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42The competition is tough.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47He'd be my pick, but I'm biased, so...
0:40:48 > 0:40:52Stand, stand, stand.
0:40:52 > 0:40:53Stand.
0:40:59 > 0:41:00Yes!
0:41:00 > 0:41:02APPLAUSE
0:41:02 > 0:41:04It's another win for Loki.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06That's him got in senior champion, so...
0:41:08 > 0:41:10And Erin sleeps through it.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15Two red winner's rosettes for the collection.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23Absolutely delighted. First in class and then senior champion.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25We've always been reserve, never champion,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27so off to a really good start.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30The lucky charm is working. Good luck mascot, eh?
0:41:30 > 0:41:32Yes.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37And the day keeps getting better.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42Luke also wins first in class in the intermediates competition.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48It's amazing what a new stock bull can do to a herd
0:41:48 > 0:41:50and it's just taken us a way forward again
0:41:50 > 0:41:52and it's just where we want to be, up at the top end.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55That's where you want to be, at the top end, winning tickets.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02These two sons of Irish are performing strongly so far.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05But the much-needed boost for the farm's finances
0:42:05 > 0:42:07will ride on tomorrow's sale.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15Tomorrow could be a good day and we sell them for £5,000, £6,000 apiece,
0:42:15 > 0:42:19or it could be an amazing day where you get 10, 15, 20,000.
0:42:19 > 0:42:20You don't know.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23There's a lot of buyers out there looking for Limousins right now
0:42:23 > 0:42:27and this is what I have got in my pen, so I'm laughing.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30Tomorrow should be a good day.
0:42:39 > 0:42:4285 miles north, in Fife,
0:42:42 > 0:42:46one of Stevie's young bulls isn't doing so well.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52Stevie brought Asian water buffalo to Scotland 12 years ago,
0:42:52 > 0:42:55gambling his inheritance on this untried market.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00He's been impressed by their hardiness
0:43:00 > 0:43:03but now one of his younger bulls is very sick.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06Stevie doesn't know what's wrong.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10Hey, fella.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15Can we have a bucket here, Eddie?
0:43:15 > 0:43:17Try and get some water for it.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20Poor wee soul.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25He's been unwell for a few days now.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28The vet has prescribed antibiotics.
0:43:28 > 0:43:29But they don't seem to be helping.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33See how skinny it's gotten already?
0:43:33 > 0:43:35I mean, these guys in behind were actually...
0:43:35 > 0:43:39It was, you know, running a group exactly the same as them,
0:43:39 > 0:43:40only ten days ago, but...
0:43:42 > 0:43:46Whatever is bothering it is preventing it from eating.
0:43:46 > 0:43:47I watched it the other day
0:43:47 > 0:43:51and it was able to get the silage in its mouth and it wanted to eat
0:43:51 > 0:43:52but it wasn't swallowing it.
0:43:52 > 0:43:54It was just almost falling back out.
0:43:57 > 0:44:01When you see an animal that you are responsible for,
0:44:01 > 0:44:04you feel quite helpless to actually be able to do anything about it.
0:44:04 > 0:44:06It's horrible.
0:44:07 > 0:44:11Neither Stevie nor the vet is sure what is wrong.
0:44:12 > 0:44:16Buffalo husbandry is still new in the UK.
0:44:16 > 0:44:20If it's an infectious disease, it could spell disaster,
0:44:20 > 0:44:23as all of the young bulls in this shed could have been exposed.
0:44:25 > 0:44:29For now, with the young bull suffering, Stevie must act.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34Your responsibility is just kind of
0:44:34 > 0:44:37what's right for this wee fella, you know?
0:44:37 > 0:44:40He's gone downhill so quick that...
0:44:40 > 0:44:43..I think really all we can do is organise to get it put down.
0:44:43 > 0:44:46I don't like admitting defeat but...
0:44:47 > 0:44:49..you can see it just looks...
0:44:49 > 0:44:51It's as close to death as it could be.
0:44:54 > 0:44:57It's down in the bottom pen, Keith.
0:44:58 > 0:45:01To dispatch the sick animal quickly and humanely,
0:45:01 > 0:45:05Stevie calls in the local gamekeeper.
0:45:05 > 0:45:07It's just about dead.
0:45:18 > 0:45:20GUNFIRE
0:45:23 > 0:45:25Job done.
0:45:29 > 0:45:33From time to time we are going to have sick animals.
0:45:33 > 0:45:35My grandad's favourite saying was
0:45:35 > 0:45:38with livestock you'll get dead stock and I will always remember that,
0:45:38 > 0:45:41especially at moments like this, so, yeah.
0:45:44 > 0:45:47The carcass is sent off for an immediate postmortem.
0:45:49 > 0:45:51If the young buffalo was infectious,
0:45:51 > 0:45:55Stevie needs to know as the rest of his young bulls will be at risk.
0:46:09 > 0:46:11On the Isle of Mull,
0:46:11 > 0:46:15Janet and Alistair have woken to an unwelcome surprise.
0:46:19 > 0:46:21What are you doing?
0:46:21 > 0:46:24I'm sealing up the 17 silage bales
0:46:24 > 0:46:27that one of the horses opened this morning.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30- Whose horse opened it? - It may have been my horse.
0:46:30 > 0:46:32And how has she managed to get in with them?
0:46:32 > 0:46:35She broke through the electric fence
0:46:35 > 0:46:40and then proceeded to open 17 different bales of silage.
0:46:40 > 0:46:42So some look like this
0:46:42 > 0:46:44which is sealable.
0:46:44 > 0:46:46Some look like this
0:46:46 > 0:46:48which is not so sealable.
0:46:49 > 0:46:51These ones, we'll not be able to tape up.
0:46:51 > 0:46:53We are not actually feeding silage yet,
0:46:53 > 0:46:56so we're just wondering what to do with them
0:46:56 > 0:46:58because they will not last out like this.
0:46:58 > 0:47:00Very annoying. Very disappointing.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04Here's the culprit.
0:47:04 > 0:47:07The reason we could tell she was the culprit was when we came out this
0:47:07 > 0:47:10morning, she was still in with the silage bales.
0:47:10 > 0:47:12And my horse was miles away.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15She won't go near an electric fence whether it's on or not.
0:47:18 > 0:47:20Butter wouldn't melt.
0:47:20 > 0:47:22I think she's hoping for more.
0:47:26 > 0:47:28Janet's hoping another of their animals
0:47:28 > 0:47:31has also been up to mischief this morning.
0:47:31 > 0:47:36Virgin tup Owen has just spent his first night with his 65 ewes.
0:47:42 > 0:47:43I think Owen is doing quite well.
0:47:43 > 0:47:45I think there's a few green bums in the field now.
0:47:48 > 0:47:51We won't know until we get some lambs in the spring
0:47:51 > 0:47:53whether he's done the job well
0:47:53 > 0:47:56and whether he produces as nice lambs as he is.
0:47:59 > 0:48:03Owen seems to be getting the hang of things.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05Yeah, he's trying.
0:48:06 > 0:48:10But the ewes won't stand still until they're in heat.
0:48:10 > 0:48:12So, for now, it's just good practice.
0:48:18 > 0:48:21Fingers crossed he's right for us.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24Next year will be exciting.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27Lambing time. See what we've got.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41The gestation period of a sheep is five months.
0:48:43 > 0:48:45So tupping in early November
0:48:45 > 0:48:48means lambs born in early April,
0:48:48 > 0:48:51when the new spring grass has arrived
0:48:51 > 0:48:53and food is plentiful.
0:48:56 > 0:49:00This gives both mothers and their lambs the best chance of survival.
0:49:12 > 0:49:15Back on the mainland, along the coast in Appin,
0:49:15 > 0:49:18David is about to introduce his new tups
0:49:18 > 0:49:21to the ewes gathered off the hills.
0:49:23 > 0:49:27These are the sheep that we gathered last night.
0:49:27 > 0:49:29I think we got a good number in.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33Unlike Janet and Alistair,
0:49:33 > 0:49:37who have just four tups for their small flock,
0:49:37 > 0:49:40David has dozens for his 550 ewes.
0:49:43 > 0:49:45Watch your back.
0:49:47 > 0:49:53So much tup testosterone means David and his team have their hands full.
0:49:53 > 0:49:55How many is that, four?
0:49:59 > 0:50:00They know what's happening.
0:50:00 > 0:50:02The hormones are raging, and often at this time of year,
0:50:02 > 0:50:05they'll fight and they'll batter the hell out of each other because
0:50:05 > 0:50:08the stronger tup wants to nail that ewe.
0:50:11 > 0:50:13Each tup will lose 15% of his body weight
0:50:13 > 0:50:16during the hectic breeding season,
0:50:16 > 0:50:20impregnating 30 to 40 females each.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24DOG BARKS
0:50:24 > 0:50:26Stay there.
0:50:26 > 0:50:27Stay there!
0:50:27 > 0:50:30The first batch of ewes are ready and waiting.
0:50:30 > 0:50:32Here the tups come!
0:50:33 > 0:50:38This season's new tups are willing and hopefully able.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41The tup, when he first goes out, he's full of energy.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44He's been away from the ewes, you know, for 11 months.
0:50:44 > 0:50:46He's going to be running about
0:50:46 > 0:50:48thinking he's wanting to get his way.
0:50:52 > 0:50:57This first group, five tups to 170 ewes,
0:50:57 > 0:50:59go to the hill park near the farm.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04I'm just letting the sheep settle there to see what's going to happen.
0:51:07 > 0:51:10If a ewe is coming into heat, they'll go and stand with the tup.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15These were bargain tups,
0:51:15 > 0:51:17but it looks like they know what they're doing.
0:51:19 > 0:51:21Hopefully, if you picked right,
0:51:21 > 0:51:25and you've got the ones that are just going to do the business
0:51:25 > 0:51:28and get it done, pretty quickly, you hope.
0:51:30 > 0:51:32Right, Chance, come on!
0:51:42 > 0:51:45In Kirkcaldy, Stevie is hoping for some answers
0:51:45 > 0:51:48to the mystery of his sick young bull.
0:51:50 > 0:51:54If it had an infectious disease, it would spell disaster.
0:51:58 > 0:52:01Simon Ward, the local vet, has the postmortem results.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05Basically, the cause of death
0:52:05 > 0:52:08was the baby teeth were starting to loosen,
0:52:08 > 0:52:11but there were no permanent teeth pushing it through,
0:52:11 > 0:52:13so the food was packed around the teeth
0:52:13 > 0:52:14and that just obstructed the...
0:52:14 > 0:52:17..obstructed the throat and then it couldn't drink either.
0:52:17 > 0:52:21Would that...? The silage would be harder for it than grass,
0:52:21 > 0:52:23so maybe a combination...?
0:52:23 > 0:52:25It is probably more the age than anything,
0:52:25 > 0:52:29because that's the time when these teeth are starting to come out.
0:52:29 > 0:52:32- If you haven't seen in any other ones...- No, never.
0:52:32 > 0:52:33..you're hopefully just unlucky.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36But from what they're saying with animals on the Continent,
0:52:36 > 0:52:38it's not that uncommon a thing.
0:52:41 > 0:52:46The vet believes the problem was genetic and specific to that animal,
0:52:46 > 0:52:49because it couldn't chew the food caught in its throat.
0:52:50 > 0:52:54Most importantly, it wasn't infectious to the rest of the herd.
0:52:56 > 0:52:57The thing about buffalo,
0:52:57 > 0:52:59you never quite know what could be around the corner.
0:52:59 > 0:53:02But now that I've got over the initial sort of disappointment
0:53:02 > 0:53:05of losing that animal, I'm almost quite pleased and relieved
0:53:05 > 0:53:09to get that information today that it's not going to be something
0:53:09 > 0:53:12that's likely to affect any more.
0:53:12 > 0:53:13It's part of being a farmer.
0:53:13 > 0:53:17You see new things all the time and you've got to store that one in the
0:53:17 > 0:53:21memory bank and just got to take the positives out of it
0:53:21 > 0:53:24and be better equipped for the future.
0:53:28 > 0:53:33For all livestock farmers, careful breeding is important.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36For pedigree farmers, it's imperative.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47South of the border in Carlisle,
0:53:47 > 0:53:50potential buyers are checking out prime breeding bulls
0:53:50 > 0:53:52before today's auction.
0:53:53 > 0:53:57Martin hopes Loki and Luke will be the start of a financial turnaround
0:53:57 > 0:53:59for his family.
0:54:01 > 0:54:04He is 18 months, he's 17 months.
0:54:04 > 0:54:08Martin is doing his sales patter and anybody that comes in the ring
0:54:08 > 0:54:11can chat to you and they can ask any questions about the bulls.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14You know, this is our bread and butter today for the farm,
0:54:14 > 0:54:16so we need a good sale.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19Even though we had a really good day yesterday with the bulls,
0:54:19 > 0:54:21it doesn't guarantee a good sale.
0:54:21 > 0:54:23It has cost me around three grand to get there.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26That's our kind of number for costs. We need to be making profit.
0:54:26 > 0:54:27I think they are good bulls,
0:54:27 > 0:54:30so if I can average five for the pair, I'll be happy.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32If I get more, I'll be really happy.
0:54:36 > 0:54:40The Carlisle auction is a place for surprises.
0:54:40 > 0:54:46Last year, one bull fetched a world record-breaking 140,000 guineas.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50Each guinea being worth £1.05.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56It's Luke's turn in the ring.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59The arena is packed. A good sign.
0:55:03 > 0:55:07The bidding starts at 3,000.
0:55:07 > 0:55:08- AUCTIONEER:- 4,000 guineas.
0:55:08 > 0:55:104,500.
0:55:10 > 0:55:12All in, 4,500.
0:55:12 > 0:55:135,000.
0:55:13 > 0:55:145,500.
0:55:14 > 0:55:156,000.
0:55:15 > 0:55:186,500 now.
0:55:18 > 0:55:196,500.
0:55:21 > 0:55:22At 6,500.
0:55:22 > 0:55:246,500.
0:55:24 > 0:55:276,500 still in.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29At 6,500.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33All yours, 6,500.
0:55:33 > 0:55:35Thank you, Dean.
0:55:35 > 0:55:376,500.
0:55:37 > 0:55:40That's more than double his average last year.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47Much better, really much better.
0:55:47 > 0:55:49I was hoping to get at least five for Luke.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52He went for 6,500 to a good home.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55So real chuffed.
0:55:55 > 0:55:59Now it's the turn of overall senior champion, Loki.
0:56:00 > 0:56:04Looking as good as he can be, so there is nothing more we can do.
0:56:04 > 0:56:09- AUCTIONEER:- The first prize senior champion here.
0:56:09 > 0:56:12Martin wants a minimum of 5,000
0:56:12 > 0:56:16for what he believes to be one of his best bulls in years.
0:56:16 > 0:56:17He's the youngest in the section.
0:56:17 > 0:56:1918 months old.
0:56:19 > 0:56:225,000 bid.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25The bidding starts off at 5,000...
0:56:25 > 0:56:275,000 bid.
0:56:27 > 0:56:306,000 bid.
0:56:30 > 0:56:31..and climbs rapidly.
0:56:31 > 0:56:349,000.
0:56:34 > 0:56:3610,000.
0:56:36 > 0:56:3812,000.
0:56:41 > 0:56:43At 12,000.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47At 12,000, bid.
0:56:49 > 0:56:51Lots of power.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54At 12,000 guineas.
0:56:56 > 0:56:5812,000.
0:56:58 > 0:57:02It's the best sale Martin's had in six years.
0:57:04 > 0:57:06Pressure's off.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09Nothing worse than walking around with a bull not sold,
0:57:09 > 0:57:10but he's sold.
0:57:10 > 0:57:14We're making £12,000. Really happy. We can celebrate a bit now.
0:57:18 > 0:57:24Rearing pedigree bulls means Martin can make these substantial profits,
0:57:24 > 0:57:29far in excess of anything a standard beef animal would fetch.
0:57:29 > 0:57:32I've got another three or four years of this blood line coming through
0:57:32 > 0:57:34and if this is a taste of what it's going to be like,
0:57:34 > 0:57:37it's going to be enjoyable and more fun, more exciting,
0:57:37 > 0:57:39and, of course, profitable.
0:57:39 > 0:57:40Much better.
0:57:42 > 0:57:46Just going to get a photo with the bull. This will go into the paper.
0:57:46 > 0:57:49The new breeding programme has produced a winner.
0:57:50 > 0:57:53For Martin and his family,
0:57:53 > 0:57:56for now at least, the future is looking good.
0:57:57 > 0:58:00Thank you.
0:58:02 > 0:58:05Next time on This Farming Life...
0:58:05 > 0:58:06Good afternoon, Rowan's Dairy.
0:58:06 > 0:58:10..dairy farmers, the Rowans, take on the supermarkets
0:58:10 > 0:58:11with their doorstep delivery.
0:58:11 > 0:58:14The shops make more money out of that milk than we do,
0:58:14 > 0:58:16which is ridiculous.
0:58:17 > 0:58:21Stevie experiments with a new diet for his buffalo.
0:58:21 > 0:58:23Could be something that the buffalo really thrive on.
0:58:23 > 0:58:25Could be a complete disaster.
0:58:25 > 0:58:28And Robin and Penny's family join in the Christmas ceilidh.
0:58:28 > 0:58:30APPLAUSE
0:58:30 > 0:58:32There you go, you even get a kiss from your daughter.