0:00:28 > 0:00:30Farming's made our landscape what it is.
0:00:30 > 0:00:35From the crops we grow, to the animals that graze our fields.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39It's shaped my life too, and at the heart of it all,
0:00:39 > 0:00:41for me, are our rare breeds.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Countryfile's been following me here in the Cotswolds week in, week out.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53But today, I'm leaving the farm behind.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59I'm heading to one of the most remote islands in the UK
0:00:59 > 0:01:02where my passion for rare breeds all began.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04North Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10And I'm taking Dad, too.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Last time we were there together, I was a young lad
0:01:13 > 0:01:18and Dad was just setting out to save some of our rarest sheep and cattle.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23On this visit, we'll find out how things have changed
0:01:23 > 0:01:25and we'll be taking a look back at some of the highlights.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27- Ready, Dad?- I'm delighted!- Yeah.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32From the highs of life on my farm...
0:01:32 > 0:01:34We're going to be mates, me and you.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42..to the lows, and the loss of some of my precious stock.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44We've lost our stock bull.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46- It's hopeless, isn't it?- It is.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50To happier times and the downright delightful.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52She now loves it and it's suckling with all
0:01:52 > 0:01:54it's little brothers and sisters.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01This is the Countryfile Rare Breeds Special.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Back in the '60s and '70s, the UK's domestic farm animals
0:02:19 > 0:02:23were in a state of disarray and Dad decided to do something about it.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27He helped start up the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in 1973.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30A couple of years after that, he brought me here,
0:02:30 > 0:02:35North Ronaldsay, to pick up some extraordinary seaweed-eating sheep.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37A big moment in my life.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40What was the idea behind the project then?
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Well, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust had just been launched
0:02:43 > 0:02:44and I was founder-chairman.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47The whole of the breed of North Ronaldsay sheep
0:02:47 > 0:02:49was on this one Island.
0:02:49 > 0:02:54So a foot and mouth disease outbreak or an oil slick wiping out
0:02:54 > 0:02:58the seaweed on which they live would have been the end of a breed.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01So, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust decided that we ought to have
0:03:01 > 0:03:05another island to create an alternative breeding sanctuary.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07They sent me up to buy an island.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11I had six to choose from and I chose the island of Linga Holm,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14just off Stronsay, and then the following year
0:03:14 > 0:03:18I came up to buy the sheep and brought you with me.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22- It must have been a right pain having an 8-year-old with you. - It was great.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24I really enjoyed having you with me actually
0:03:24 > 0:03:29and of course, I had Dad's 16 mm camera as you know and so I
0:03:29 > 0:03:37used to film you and then you used to film me and it worked extremely well.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40It was great fun getting all those sheep on to the steamer
0:03:40 > 0:03:42and getting them to Linga Holm
0:03:42 > 0:03:47and we brought 100 back to the Cotswolds to found 10 other flocks.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49And never lost a sheep.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51It's brilliant, isn't it?
0:03:51 > 0:03:53I remember being on the steamer,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56getting the sheep out and putting them on to the barge.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00- A health and safety nightmare. You couldn't do it now.- Doing this!
0:04:00 > 0:04:01- Crazy, isn't it?- Yes.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04I mean, what a success story! What's it like being back?
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Oh, it's so lovely.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10It's particularly lovely for me being back with you.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12The two of us here, you know?
0:04:12 > 0:04:14- It's a lovely trip down memory lane. - It really is.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20A few months back, I went on a mercy mission of my own
0:04:20 > 0:04:23to help someone with a flock of sheep from another island
0:04:23 > 0:04:24off the west coast of Scotland.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36The Boreray is the most endangered breed of British sheep
0:04:36 > 0:04:39they're classed as critically rare on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42So I've jumped at the chance to come and see a small flock
0:04:42 > 0:04:45and hopefully I'll be able to offer a bit of advice.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51Andrea Hale keeps four Boreray on her smallholding near Chelmsford
0:04:51 > 0:04:56but when you consider there are 300 worldwide, every one is important.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57- How are you? - Lovely to meet you.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00- Really nice to meet you. - Thanks for inviting me.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02It's a real pleasure for you to come and see them.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05I'm always excited to see other people's farms,
0:05:05 > 0:05:07- particularly rare breeds. - Yeah.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- You've lovely Hebrideans. - They're great.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12They're a real mixed bag as well.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Where are the Borerays?
0:05:14 > 0:05:16The Borerays are over there.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18They're separate. We can go and see those if you'd like.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Great, let's do that.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28They'll come running.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Whoa, whoa, whoa, here we go. Look at them go! Goodness me!
0:05:32 > 0:05:34You see, they're survivors.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37We should definitely get races going and bet on them, I think.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40They are very lively. Why did you decide Borerays?
0:05:40 > 0:05:42At the time when we were thinking Boreray,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44one, because they are similar to Hebridean.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46They come from the same islands.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50And I love working with Hebbies, they're easy to work with. Friendly.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53And they actually come up to you which is quite nice.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57But thinking they would be the same, we've found out since,
0:05:57 > 0:05:59they're really not. They are so flighty.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01It's actually quite a problem at lambing time
0:06:01 > 0:06:04and obviously while they are pregnant.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08My advice would be to let them lamb and make that bond,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11- the strong bond with the lamb and let them get on with it.- Really?
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Outside? Not inside?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Outside. I would, if I were you.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Yeah, probably if you bring them in now, while they are like this,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23they'll just fret and stress and won't want to be in here.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- So, do you reckon we'd be able to get hold of one?- We'll try.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33Doesn't look like these sheep will play ball. Time for Plan B.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Right, well, the idea is that we're going to run these sheep
0:06:40 > 0:06:44into this makeshift pen so that we can get a closer look at them.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46But they are very lively so fingers crossed.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Come on, girls.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Come on, off you go.
0:06:51 > 0:06:52Come on. Go on then.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Nice and calm. Good guys.
0:06:55 > 0:06:56In you go, in you go.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Good girls.
0:06:58 > 0:06:59Fabulous.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Lost two.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08That's all right, we got three.
0:07:08 > 0:07:09Mind your knees!
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Goodness me!
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Wow. Are you OK?
0:07:14 > 0:07:17We got one!
0:07:17 > 0:07:23Unbelievable! Well, there we are, they are some lively sheep.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27But amazingly, once you get hold of them, they're really quite calm.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- Yeah. Yeah.- It's incredible.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32I'll just tip her up and have a look at her feet.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34How do you manage this bit?
0:07:34 > 0:07:36This is where my confidence goes actually
0:07:36 > 0:07:40because it's just knowing how much to cut off and, you know, how deep to go.
0:07:40 > 0:07:41I don't want to do too much.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45I've seen you do it you just go straight in there and know what you're doing.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48it's quite nice to show me, then I'll know for future.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53Sure. Well, I might, I used to, in the old days, used to trim my sheep routinely every year.
0:07:53 > 0:07:54Yeah?
0:07:54 > 0:07:58But I've been told more recently that they need that edge
0:07:58 > 0:08:01along the side of their foot so don't cut that off.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03And just trim very, very gently.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06You really don't want to be drawing blood.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09And I would hardly intervene. I'll let her go.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12- Thank you for letting me look at them.- Thank you.- Any regrets?
0:08:12 > 0:08:16No, well, after seeing them flying over my shoulder,
0:08:16 > 0:08:18it's really exciting, I'm really looking forward
0:08:18 > 0:08:22to bringing them on and lambing time as well now I've got some advice.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24It's a little bit more confident, so, yeah.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26I think you're doing everything you could.
0:08:26 > 0:08:27You've got it all right
0:08:27 > 0:08:31and it's great having people like you looking after these rare breeds
0:08:31 > 0:08:33because, that's the only way they'll survive.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36If you need more tips, I'm on the end of the phone.
0:08:36 > 0:08:37Really good to know. Thank you.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48When Dad and I came up to North Ronaldsay back in 1975
0:08:48 > 0:08:51to safeguard the future of the island's sheep,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54we were put up by Tommy and Christine Muir.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56I must admit, I don't remember much about it!
0:08:56 > 0:09:01So we stayed here then, it's very distant memories for me.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04It's 36 years ago and the house was full of children
0:09:04 > 0:09:06so you were just another little red-headed lad.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- Among five.- Is that why I had to share a bed with him?
0:09:09 > 0:09:11It was. There weren't enough beds for everyone.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13I do remember ending up on the bedroom floor
0:09:13 > 0:09:16because he kept pushing me away because I kept kicking him.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20That's what the thump was then?
0:09:20 > 0:09:23A mad Englishman coming to buy sheep. Did you think, "Here we go"?
0:09:26 > 0:09:28It was good fun and it all went well.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32We knew that they wanted to keep the old breed of sheep going
0:09:32 > 0:09:37and we had no trouble getting the number that was required.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41And I still have the list of all the men that I bought sheep from.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45My goodness, after 36 years?
0:09:45 > 0:09:47All the crofters.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50It was important because it was dangerous for the sheep.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53It's a bit faded I'm afraid but can you read it?
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Oh yes. Hugh James.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58- He's no longer here. - John Cutt's not.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00No longer here.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01George has left for Stromness.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Are there any of them left on the island?
0:10:04 > 0:10:08- Well, Jenny's still here. She's 90, it's an historical document now. - Yes. It is.
0:10:08 > 0:10:13- Yes. - We've got the living descendants of those sheep which is incredible
0:10:13 > 0:10:15and they're bright little animals.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16A wild lot.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Put a big Cotswold in a field
0:10:18 > 0:10:21and leave the gate open it will take it a week to realise but stick
0:10:21 > 0:10:23a North Ronaldsay in, first it will go round
0:10:23 > 0:10:26the perimeter looking for holes, looking for gaps to escape from.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29And you have to watch for fences because they can jump so high.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32Oh, yeah, they're lively little animals.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35They don't jump so much but if they can find a way out, they will.
0:10:35 > 0:10:36They will get out.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39They're very bright. They're quick to outwit me. No problem.
0:10:39 > 0:10:40They're so ancient, aren't they?
0:10:40 > 0:10:43You can tell the way they stare at you. They own the place, not people.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46While I leave my dad to catch up properly with Tommy
0:10:46 > 0:10:50and Christine, I'm going to go and explore the island.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54But first... Back in February I was on another mission
0:10:54 > 0:10:56but this time it was to find a big bad bull!
0:11:03 > 0:11:07If you need to buy a new bull, often you can't just pop down the road.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10You have to scour the country high and low to buy very good quality
0:11:10 > 0:11:15and where I'm going now, they should be top notch.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24Oban. People travel far and wide to experience not just the beautiful
0:11:24 > 0:11:28surroundings here but the annual spring Highland Cattle Sale.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37I've set myself a budget of £1,500
0:11:37 > 0:11:41and I'm hoping to take a really cracking bull home for that money.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44I'm meeting Angus MacDonald.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48- Angus. How are you?- How are you?
0:11:48 > 0:11:51He's got one of the best herds with the most sought-after animals in the UK.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Our very own Ellie Harrison met Angus last year.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Where's the farm boy Henson when you need him?
0:11:58 > 0:11:59He'd be loving this.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02She helped him move his Highlands over to their winter pasture
0:12:02 > 0:12:04on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08I was envious. I wish I'd been with you. Beautiful.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11You missed out on a good day that. It's not always like that, mind you.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14I don't know whether you've had a chance to see my cattle on
0:12:14 > 0:12:16the television, what do you reckon to them?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19I've seen your bull and I don't really think much of your bull
0:12:19 > 0:12:22but I've only seen your cattle in the crush
0:12:22 > 0:12:25when you've been TB testing but I'm quite sure they can be improved
0:12:25 > 0:12:28by bringing a bull from Scotland down to your place,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30especially from the north-west corner here.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34- I need your advice, the bull is half your genetics, isn't it?- Yes.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36It's in all your calves and your farm for a while.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39And generations onwards. It's important to buy the right bull.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42What was wrong with my bull? I thought he was nice.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44I think that your bull, what I saw, he wasn't nice.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47His horns were far too low, his head was too low.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50I don't like a bull that's got an incorrect head.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52And his head was going down with the horns
0:12:52 > 0:12:54and I find that produces heifers with low horns.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57I'm not looking to pay mega money for the big prize winners.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59What I want is a good standard working bull.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02You want to spend about £10,000, do you?
0:13:02 > 0:13:03Somewhere in the region of £1,500.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06I'm a poor southerner. Not a rich Scotsman.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10You southerners have to dig a little bit deeper though, you know?
0:13:10 > 0:13:12So can you give me a few top tips?
0:13:12 > 0:13:15I certainly can. I'll show you a few bulls.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18It may seem more like a beauty parlour than a livestock auction
0:13:18 > 0:13:20but there is method to the madness.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24Presentation is key and you can see the guy here,
0:13:24 > 0:13:25he's combing the bull.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28A nice centre parting down his back line.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Then blow-drying them having washed them this morning.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35There's a lot of competition here so you want your bull to stand out.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38A huge amount of attention to detail.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- I've seen you looking at him. You're obviously fond of this. - I like this one.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44That yearling bull is an exceptional yearling.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48He's going to do something in life, whether it's with you or somebody else,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50he's going to do very well.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54He's only a year old and I've got some quite big cows. Will he manage?
0:13:54 > 0:13:56He'll manage.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58He'll certainly reach your cows, if he doesn't,
0:13:58 > 0:13:59I'll go down and lift him up myself!
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Now, as soon as I walked in, he caught my eye.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08He caught your eye? If you can buy it for £1,500 or not.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Somebody has to see that later on in the day.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13I doubt it.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15The horns should be coming straight out and then up?
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Straight out, level with the top of the head and slightly upwards.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23And a warm welcome to
0:14:23 > 0:14:27the 120th Show and Sale of Pedigree Highland Cattle here.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Well, I've seen some really lovely bulls.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33It's the first half a dozen through the catalogue that I'll be looking for.
0:14:33 > 0:14:34Time to do some serious bidding.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38With just 1,500 quid to spend, I'm going to have my work cut out.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41At 700, 700, 700, 700, 700.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45700. At 700, 700, 700, 700.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48There's something really exciting about coming to a cattle auction.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Maybe I'm just a bit sad, but I love it.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55Right in the middle there. Lot number?
0:14:55 > 0:15:00Plenty of animals are getting sold. And for good money too.
0:15:00 > 0:15:041,800. 1,800.
0:15:04 > 0:15:072,600. 2,600.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10At 3,000!
0:15:10 > 0:15:12The centre, there, 3,000.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15This is the one I'm really after. Number three.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Just shy of 1,000 kilos of pure muscle.
0:15:18 > 0:15:201,200. 1,200.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24Four, six, eight! 2,000.
0:15:24 > 0:15:25What am I doing?!
0:15:25 > 0:15:292,000, 2,000, 2,000. 2,200.
0:15:29 > 0:15:322,400.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34At 2,400.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Adam Henson, 2,400.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40APPLAUSE
0:15:40 > 0:15:43It's mine. A little bit more than I hoped to spend,
0:15:43 > 0:15:45but, I reckon he's the best bull here.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48You always get buyer's remorse, you feel guilty.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51- Oh, what have I done?!- I know.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Nothing like getting excited in the sale ring. God!
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Not as excited as some, though. This one goes for six grand.
0:15:58 > 0:16:016,000! At £6,000!
0:16:01 > 0:16:04You've got it for 6,000, sir.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08Makes me feel a little bit better about what I've just spent.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Here he is. This is my new bull.
0:16:11 > 0:16:12Hello, fella.
0:16:12 > 0:16:18You're all mine. His name is Ehrlich, which is a Gaelic name. I think, I'll just call him Eric.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22£2,400, and he was second in his class.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26And the bull that beat him sold for £6,000.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30I'm really pleased with him. Absolutely magnificent animal.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32He'll do me proud.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Oh, you've got a long journey home, mate, I'll see you in the Cotswolds.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43A long way away from Eric and the Cotswolds is where I am today.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Orkney.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50I'm lucky enough to be helping the locals in an old island tradition.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Because these sheep are so wild, the only way to gather them
0:16:59 > 0:17:01is to use lots of people.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05And they walk along the beach like a line to stop the sheep running back at us.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07They'll go through down to that end of the beach
0:17:07 > 0:17:10and back again had into the pund, which is the pen.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12And this is called punding.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15And today, we're punding for shearing.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24We've gathered this end of the beach, we've trapped them now, by putting up these hurdles.
0:17:24 > 0:17:29And we're going to try and get them to turn right angles and run up into the pen.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32There are some people hiding behind the wall. Once they're in the pen,
0:17:32 > 0:17:36they'll shut the gate a bit quick before they come out again.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Here they come. Look.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52These guys have picked up stones to chuck into the water
0:17:52 > 0:17:54to chase them up hill. It's working.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56They're all running into the pen now.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05OK! Shut the gate!
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Is that it?!
0:18:07 > 0:18:12Fantastic! We lost a few, but that's the majority of them! What a great job!
0:18:20 > 0:18:21Come on!
0:18:21 > 0:18:22Little devil!
0:18:25 > 0:18:28They're pretty slippery characters, these North Ronaldsay sheep,
0:18:28 > 0:18:30but I've got some other animals on my farm
0:18:30 > 0:18:34that are equally as hard to get hold of, my Exmoor ponies.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38And a couple of winters ago, I brought in some help to give me a hand with them.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49Because my Exmoors are so difficult to handle,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51I'm getting some advice from Kelly Marks.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54It's a bit chilly up here. Nice to see you.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57She's a former champion jockey, but now trains temperamental
0:18:57 > 0:19:01and wild horses, using a technique sometimes called horse whispering.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04- They're quite nervous, these young foals.- Yes, but they're gorgeous.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07- What a lovely group. - I've got these ones out on the field,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10but I've also got a young filly foal in the loose box,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13and I didn't think you'd want to work with them out here.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17No, much better to be in a safe, enclosed area so they can't come to any harm.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Horse whispering, is that what this is about, or not?
0:19:20 > 0:19:21It's just safe,
0:19:21 > 0:19:26gentle ways of working with horses in a non-violent way. It's brilliant.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Well, these Exmoors run with their mothers all summer
0:19:29 > 0:19:32out at grazing, and we then wean them,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35but really, their first experience of being handled
0:19:35 > 0:19:37- is when we grabbed them and branded them.- Yeah.
0:19:37 > 0:19:43- Not ideal!- No. Not ideal, that could be why Exmoors
0:19:43 > 0:19:46often get a reputation as being very difficult,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49because of their first experience being so traumatic
0:19:49 > 0:19:52- that some never forget it. - I'd like to see how you get on.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54I'm looking forward to it. It'll be good fun.
0:19:55 > 0:19:56Let's meet Venus.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00VENUS NEIGHS She's not too happy.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05I want to see if Kelly can calm Venus down
0:20:05 > 0:20:07so I can get close enough to handle her.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11Venus here looks a real challenge.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15She's beautiful, isn't she? But she's pretty stressed.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- When was she weaned? - Four or five days ago.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19She's still missing her mum.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23Yeah. So I'll just make some approaches to her.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27I want her to know that I'm not going to hurt her,
0:20:27 > 0:20:31but they start to appreciate that you're less dangerous
0:20:31 > 0:20:37if you come slightly close, and then she looks at me and I move away.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39And then... Can you see her looking at me now?
0:20:39 > 0:20:44And this is just a start, because what I'd like to do, is just work like this.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48And gradually, be able to get that little bit closer.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52I'm at an angle, so I'm less threatening again.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55I move away. And what I'd like to see her do, as well,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58is just lick and chew on cue.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01And that's the adrenaline coming down.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04She's looking at me in a slightly new light.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08As somebody before that she thought was really threatening.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12What I'll do is gradually gets closer and closer.
0:21:12 > 0:21:18- Give me some time in here and come back, and I'll show you how far I've got.- OK.- Excellent.- Good luck.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23So, while Kelly works with Venus, it gives me a chance
0:21:23 > 0:21:27to give my herd of Exmoors some extra hay.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30They graze some of the roughest pasture on the farm
0:21:30 > 0:21:32and really help to keep the gorse down.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38In the stable, Kelly is making actual contact with Venus,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41using a stick with a length of pipe lagging.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Good girl.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46What you do is you work your way up,
0:21:46 > 0:21:53so she barely notices when it's not the pole any more.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56And it's you. Good girl.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14I've been gone about an hour now,
0:22:14 > 0:22:18and I'm intrigued to see how Kelly is getting on with this little foal.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25- Ooh.- Oh, hi. - This is just extraordinary.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29Cos this morning, this horse was climbing up the walls here,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32and was shaking and whinnying and terrified.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Now, Kelly's got it calm, got a rope on its neck
0:22:35 > 0:22:40- and is about to put a head collar on it.- There we go.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43All in a few hours. She will let me?
0:22:43 > 0:22:47In fact, Kelly thought I should have a go at putting the head collar on.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50- Look at that.- Brilliant. You're a horse whisperer.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52I'm now officially a horse whisperer.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Whatever that means!
0:22:55 > 0:22:59Yeah, I must say, yeah, I feel made up that this is happening,
0:22:59 > 0:23:03and I can do this so quickly. It's really fantastic.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05I think we're going to be mates, me and you.
0:23:05 > 0:23:06THEY LAUGH
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Coming up on Countryfile,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18I'm meeting North Ronaldsay's only vegetarian sheep farmer...
0:23:18 > 0:23:23You wouldn't think with so many sheep, you could love them all, but I do.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27..a look back at some of the special moments from my farming year...
0:23:27 > 0:23:31You're going to be a bit of a mixed up kid, having a chicken as a mother.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33..and will the weather be special this week?
0:23:33 > 0:23:37We've the all-important Countryfile forecast.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49- All right, Billy, which one shall I grab?- Pick a good one.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51- That one looks good.- This one?
0:23:51 > 0:23:55- Yeah, that's a good one. - What about you?- I'll go for that one.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00'Today, I'm looking at the all-important role of preserving Britain's rare breeds,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03'and meeting some of the characters of North Ronaldsay.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06'I've been fortunate enough to help out in the annual pund,
0:24:06 > 0:24:08'where they round up all their sheep.' Sit down.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10'Now, it's time to shear them.'
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Take a comfortable seat.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Head under the leg.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17OK. Right, then, Mrs.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20And then start along?
0:24:20 > 0:24:22Start along the back leg.
0:24:22 > 0:24:27- If you fold that over.- Away you go. - Work your way along.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30This is a first for me.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34We use hand shears at home for just clipping out the dirty bits
0:24:34 > 0:24:40- around their bottom, maybe. But not for shearing the whole sheep.- No.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45Lots of sand in them, so we tend to use this one,
0:24:45 > 0:24:49- cos the electric ones get blunt very, very quickly.- Yeah.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51What's this? A boy or a girl?
0:24:51 > 0:24:52That's a boy, I'm afraid.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- Be a bit careful then, around his bits and pieces.- Indeed.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59How long have you been shearing sheep like this for?
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Probably about 50 years. Half a century.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Amazing. That's why you've got forearms like Popeye!
0:25:06 > 0:25:10- Probably! - You're as tough as the sheep.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11Not quite.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13THEY LAUGH
0:25:13 > 0:25:17They've been around for 5,000 years, I haven't!
0:25:17 > 0:25:19THEY LAUGH
0:25:20 > 0:25:23These sheep are truly remarkable
0:25:23 > 0:25:26and are as happy living off the mineral-rich seaweed
0:25:26 > 0:25:27as they are grazing the grass.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33So when you shut them out on behind the seawall,
0:25:33 > 0:25:37do they ever try to get back to fresh grass inland?
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Not in the winter, but in the springtime,
0:25:40 > 0:25:42when they smell the grass growing,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45they're very keen to get into the grass in the fields,
0:25:45 > 0:25:50and sometimes, they find a piece of Dyke that's lower than...
0:25:50 > 0:25:54it ought to be, and they've been known to stand there
0:25:54 > 0:25:57and the next one will come and jump over its back to get in there.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02They're very smart animals, I assure you.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04- They are, aren't they? A bit like leapfrog.- Indeed.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08- Yeah, there's no size in them. - Let's have a look at her.
0:26:08 > 0:26:09See what do you think.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Looks good to me anyway.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15- Pretty good, yes.- Not bad? - Very good.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32From one of the rarest breeds of sheep, to a rare breed of cow.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35And one of the most visually stunning animals in my herd.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40White Parks may be off the danger list,
0:26:40 > 0:26:42but they're still a minority breed.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46At one time, they got down to only 60 breeding cows in the country,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49but thankfully, they're back up to around 500 now.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51But last winter, we had a TB test
0:26:51 > 0:26:54and I lost virtually half my White Park herd,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56and I was absolutely devastated.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01The TB test was going well. Then, suddenly...
0:27:01 > 0:27:03- It's a reactor?- Yes.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Oh, I can't believe it.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08One after the other, our White Parks were condemned.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12- Yeah, I'm afraid this was a positive as well.- OK.
0:27:12 > 0:27:13Dad was very upset.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16We've lost our stock bull.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Hopeless, isn't it?
0:27:21 > 0:27:24All we've got left now are three cows, this one,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27who I think is barren, and we've got one there that's calved
0:27:27 > 0:27:31and another one that's due to calve, but it's hardly a herd.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33But things are looking up.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37We're clear of TB now, and at last, we can rebuild our herd.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42So I'm off down to Devon with Mike, my stock man. We're going shopping.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47This farm near Tiverton specialises in White Park cattle,
0:27:47 > 0:27:52they have one of the biggest herds in Britain, and I'm hoping to take a few off their hands.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Coming down the drive, I've never seen so many White Parks in one herd.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57No, we've got a fairly large herd.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00- We've over 100 here now.- Crikey.
0:28:00 > 0:28:06- We've spent 15 years building it up and it's proving reasonably successful.- Mmm.- Reasonably.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09And why White Parks out of all the British breeds?
0:28:09 > 0:28:15Very small numbers and also, it's an economic breed. I think you can make money out of it.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19That's because some of John's animals go to top restaurants in London.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Their meat has a marbled appearance and great flavour.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27The ones we've come to see are on the other side of the valley.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30This is the kind of shopping I like best.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32I just hope I don't spend too much.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38- Just up in the field, we walk up the lane and look over the fence.- OK.
0:28:38 > 0:28:43'These cattle could cost me nearly ten grand.'
0:28:43 > 0:28:46They look lovely sitting in the sunshine, don't they?
0:28:46 > 0:28:49Quiet and relaxed. They're quiet, you know. They're good.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52- I think the secret is to handle them a lot.- Yes.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56No use turning them out in a big field and leaving them for winter.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58You need to get them in, feed them and look after them.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01How many breeding cows are on the farm?
0:29:01 > 0:29:04- At the moment, we have 30. - And how many have you got to sale?
0:29:04 > 0:29:08- You've spoken to Mike on the phone. Half a dozen or so? - There's eight here for sale.
0:29:08 > 0:29:09They're all in calf.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13We've pregnancy tested them and they will calve from July onwards.
0:29:13 > 0:29:18- Let's get in and take a closer look, shall we?- OK. Let's go back to the gate and we'll walk in.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22'These cattle have been clear of TB for nearly three years
0:29:22 > 0:29:25'and their general health is good, too.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27'We can pick up to eight from this group.'
0:29:29 > 0:29:32'Mike and I need to get in amongst them to choose the ones we want.'
0:29:37 > 0:29:40I really like...Kylie.
0:29:44 > 0:29:49OK, so we'll tick Kirsh and Kelly.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52That's Kate.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54She's a no.
0:29:54 > 0:29:59- What's that bottom one there then? - That's Kit Kat.- Kit Kat. Right.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05Katerina, Karat, Kiora and Kirsty we need to find.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09- Lovely head on that bull. - He looks good, doesn't he?
0:30:09 > 0:30:12- He does, yeah. - He's come on nicely.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Kiora going round the back.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20'We still need to choose our favourites from the final few.'
0:30:20 > 0:30:22And what's that one over there?
0:30:24 > 0:30:26Kirsty.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30So, out of those four, then, which would you leave behind?
0:30:30 > 0:30:34The one down there, I think, is my least favourite of the four.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36Kiora. Better get this right.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40- Do you agree with that? - I would, yeah. Absolutely bang on.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44So, money-wise, then?
0:30:44 > 0:30:49We were talking about 950, but if they calve, 1,150 I thought.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51OK.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55But we've got six weeks or so to move them.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58- Yeah.- So it's up to you, really.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00TB testing, how soon can you do that?
0:31:00 > 0:31:02- We'd do that next week.- Yes.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04So we'd get a result by the end of next week.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07- So we could move them straight away?- Yes.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14'I'm now the owner of a beautiful herd of ten White Parks.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16'And they're all thriving.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20'Just as the sheep are, here on the island of North Ronaldsay.'
0:31:29 > 0:31:32These are all the fleeces drying on the wall.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34Farming on an island like this
0:31:34 > 0:31:36is a world away from my set-up in the Cotswolds.
0:31:36 > 0:31:42And there's all one woman on North Ronaldsay who keeps sheep in a rather unconventional way.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48'Dr June Morris has a large flock of Ronaldsays
0:31:48 > 0:31:50'but she doesn't sell them for meat.'
0:31:50 > 0:31:51Come on, girls.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53Come on, girls. Come on.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55Helga!
0:31:55 > 0:31:59- They recognise your voice. - Oh, they do. Come on.
0:31:59 > 0:32:00Come on, girls.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02They're all just so friendly.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07- And you treat them as pets. You don't eat them?- Oh, yes.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11Oh, no, I've been a vegetarian for well over 30 years. I wouldn't dream of eating them!
0:32:11 > 0:32:13And I wouldn't sell them either.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16So they just all stay here as a happy little group.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19Most of these are rescue sheep.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21They've all come in because they were in trouble.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25And why North Ronaldsays? Why have you got that passion for the breed, then?
0:32:25 > 0:32:29I think they are so different to any other sheep. They're bright and lively.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33You can make an association with them like this.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35They learn very fast.
0:32:35 > 0:32:40And there's this fascination about their
0:32:40 > 0:32:43being possibly the purest of the ancient breeds
0:32:43 > 0:32:46and they seem, to me, to be like living history.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50They were described by a scientist who did some work
0:32:50 > 0:32:52as a genetic treasure.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55And I think that about sums them up.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57- A genetic treasure. - Everyone is different.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Look, little Dinks is coming. She was the one on the shore.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03She'd be dead by now if I hadn't taken her in.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05And her mum is this one.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07Amazing.
0:33:07 > 0:33:08They are just so tame.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10They're very friendly, my sheep.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13I mean, they are such little survivors, then.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16So different to the ones on the shore.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19When you're trying to pund them, they run around like maniacs.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21But they do tame up very quickly.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23This is all part of their brightness.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26- You just absolutely love them, it seems.- Absolutely, yes.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28I mean, I just...
0:33:28 > 0:33:33You wouldn't think with so many sheep you'd love them all, but I do really.
0:33:38 > 0:33:43'A breed of sheep very close to my heart is the white-faced Dartmoor.
0:33:43 > 0:33:48'It was back in October 2009 that I bought my first flock.'
0:33:58 > 0:34:02'Colin Pearce has been keeping white-faced Dartmoors for 60 years
0:34:02 > 0:34:06'but now, as he reaches the autumn of his working life,
0:34:06 > 0:34:08'he's scaling down his operation.
0:34:09 > 0:34:15'The plan is to walk Colin's Dartmoors a couple of miles back down to the farm to load them up.'
0:34:15 > 0:34:18They look lovely, Colin.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22Well, you know, it's a privilege to have these sheep.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26It's important, too, that they are taken on to other farms.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29We now only have something like 1,700.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33- 1,700 white-faced Dartmoors left in the world.- That's right.
0:34:35 > 0:34:41In the early 1800s, there was as many as 100-110,000 recorded, so that is a worrying statistic.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45- Incredible.- Especially when you have a passion for something like I do
0:34:45 > 0:34:46to sustain it.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52'Colin's son, Paul, is giving us a hand to round up the sheep.'
0:34:55 > 0:34:59They've not altered much over time because father has told son,
0:34:59 > 0:35:03if he listens, what he should keep
0:35:03 > 0:35:06and that's probably the saddest point on Dartmoor,
0:35:06 > 0:35:09now that information is not being passed on
0:35:09 > 0:35:11because the farmers are moving away.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17- We should get them down to the yard, shouldn't we?- Yeah, we've got a little journey to make.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23- They find their way down the road OK? - They know their way down.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26They like going up. They like coming down.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28Come on then.
0:35:29 > 0:35:30Across the fields now.
0:35:30 > 0:35:35Across the fields. Nearly halfway down, a different piece of Dartmoor.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55'As Colin has had a couple of hip replacements recently,
0:35:55 > 0:35:59'we need to take it easy and it's a good time for me to pick his brains.'
0:35:59 > 0:36:03For you, they're in your bones, in your blood, in your family.
0:36:03 > 0:36:04They are, yeah. Too much so, really.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07I get a bit emotional about it, I suppose.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10When there's a forecast about snow on the hills or something,
0:36:10 > 0:36:14I'm really pulled around to think, "What about my animals, are they OK?
0:36:14 > 0:36:17"Will we get to them? Is there enough food?"
0:36:17 > 0:36:19And I feel it's really important, Colin,
0:36:19 > 0:36:22to take some of these sheep away off the moor to a safe haven,
0:36:22 > 0:36:27because if any disease hit this place the breed would be wiped out, wouldn't it?
0:36:27 > 0:36:30It would be. It's a brave decision what you're doing.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33- Giving them a lifeline maybe. - I hope so.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36You are scaling down a bit, Colin. Why is that?
0:36:36 > 0:36:39I can't walk so fast and time is moving on for me
0:36:39 > 0:36:42and time for a bit of space for myself.
0:36:42 > 0:36:47And continue with my other passions, writing poetry and photography.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50- You're a poet, as well? - Well, I try to be a poet.
0:36:50 > 0:36:55You can't help but be a poet really as you see what surrounds you.
0:36:55 > 0:37:00Not like the great poets for sure, but enough to satisfy my emotions.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05'I feel I'm touching winter again.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07'It must be the darkness and the rain.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11'Brief is the sunset light and daytime bright.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13'The moor's all washed, it's not surprised
0:37:13 > 0:37:16'as it puts on its overcoat disguise.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19'Water pumping over granite rock.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21'Confining the wandering flock.
0:37:21 > 0:37:26'Old walls of stone weaved and shaped unseat,
0:37:26 > 0:37:30'fall and slip, sinking into sodden peat.
0:37:30 > 0:37:35'A gap spotted by an indigenous sheep leads into another
0:37:35 > 0:37:39'piece of barren waste too damp upon to sleep.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43'Where the stepping stones of a bygone race
0:37:43 > 0:37:44'are eroded and displaced.'
0:37:46 > 0:37:50When I've got these sheep back home on the top of the Cotswold Hills,
0:37:50 > 0:37:52I'll have that in the back of my mind.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56'So now is the time to have a closer look at the sheep.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59'They've got great wool, are very hardy and make wonderful mothers.'
0:37:59 > 0:38:01I'll do udders. You do teeth.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09They are lovely sheep. We've got 15 here.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12They are all sound in their teeth and their udder
0:38:12 > 0:38:16and Colin has picked out a nice broad section across the breed
0:38:16 > 0:38:19and I think they'll do us well on top of the Cotswolds.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22Right, let's load them up.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30'This is an historic moment.
0:38:30 > 0:38:36'The first flock of white-faced Dartmoors to leave their home in hundreds and hundreds of years.'
0:38:36 > 0:38:39- I promise you we'll look after them. - I'm sure you will.
0:38:39 > 0:38:40'It's the end of an era for Colin
0:38:40 > 0:38:43'but the start of a new one for the sheep.'
0:38:48 > 0:38:51Still to come on Countryfile,
0:38:51 > 0:38:53Dad and I catch up with an old friend
0:38:53 > 0:38:55on North Ronaldsay after nearly 40 years.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59- You remember my wee boy? - Yes, I do remember him well.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02I become Guernsey's newest milkmaid.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04- Look at that. That's not bad, is it? - Not bad.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06And, from Orkney to Orpington,
0:39:06 > 0:39:09you'll want to know the forecast for the week ahead.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22'I've been involved in rare breed conservation for a long time
0:39:22 > 0:39:26'but I'm now meeting the conservationists of the future.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29'Under the watchful eye of Dr June Morris,
0:39:29 > 0:39:35'these students from Manchester Metropolitan University are studying the behaviour of Ronaldsay sheep.'
0:39:35 > 0:39:39The second day that we were here, one of them untied my shoelaces.
0:39:39 > 0:39:44It was a double knot and it's trying its best and it looked like it was not going to succeed but it did.
0:39:44 > 0:39:49It untied my shoelaces. Just that kind of intelligence, I suppose.
0:39:49 > 0:39:54- And, for you guys, an extraordinary place to come and study.- Definitely.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57It's a brilliant opportunity to be able to come up here.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59We wouldn't have got this anywhere else.
0:39:59 > 0:40:06We wouldn't be able to study such a wonderful breed that's very unique.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09There's no commercial breeds that show the same behaviours
0:40:09 > 0:40:12or live the same sort of lifestyle as these do.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14You see them on the rocks at high tide.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17It's really impressive, the way they move across these rocks.
0:40:17 > 0:40:22It's more like goats that you see in the Himalayas than normal sheep you see on an island.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25So what is it specifically that you are studying?
0:40:25 > 0:40:28Our main focus is to map the sheep on the south side of the island
0:40:28 > 0:40:33so that any population that comes at risk of disease, you know where they are,
0:40:33 > 0:40:37if there are natural boundaries to stop disease transmission between the population.
0:40:37 > 0:40:42That's amazing really because when my dad came here all those years ago, about 35 years ago,
0:40:42 > 0:40:49he bought up sheep on the island to take them back to mainland Britain really to spread the population,
0:40:49 > 0:40:52to stop disease, just like you are studying now, really.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55They're showing your passion. Keep studying. There's one.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08But it's not all just about sheep.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12There are plenty of other animals that I look after.
0:41:12 > 0:41:17The chickens we've got on the farm include one of the oldest known breeds, the Light Sussex.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21We've also got Buff Orpingtons from Kent.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26And Pekin bantams, known for their feathery feet.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33One of my favourite breeds is the Welsummer,
0:41:33 > 0:41:35which comes from Holland.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39The thing that I really like about these Welsummers are their eggs.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41Take a look at these.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44A lovely, rich, brown colour.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51Six chickens, six eggs. And they're delicious to eat.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54I can incubate these to hatch out some chicks.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58With some of the other breeds, I'm getting low on numbers and I need to get in some fresh blood lines,
0:41:58 > 0:42:01so I'm off shopping to go to another breeder.
0:42:02 > 0:42:09'I'm on my way to a smallholding near Pershore, in Worcestershire, where Sharon Gould breeds poultry.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13'Just a few months ago, Sharon was given planning permission to live on the land with her family.'
0:42:13 > 0:42:19I suppose being on site is a bit of an advantage with lots of animals.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22It's so much easier to just be here and keep an eye on the stock.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26I don't have to chase up and down the road, wasting fuel.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29How many different types of animals have you got?
0:42:29 > 0:42:31About 15 different types altogether.
0:42:31 > 0:42:38There's ducks, geese, couple of breeds of chicken, goats, bees!
0:42:38 > 0:42:43I'm interested in the Jubilee game. What's their history?
0:42:43 > 0:42:47Well, they come from Cornwall. They're actually Cornish game, that's their proper name.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50I've had people come from Cornwall, and down from Scotland,
0:42:50 > 0:42:53to get them, because they're getting so rare.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55Amazing. And what are they worth?
0:42:55 > 0:42:59The cocks are about £50 apiece, the hens, 35.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01COCK CROWS
0:43:01 > 0:43:02Good pair of lungs!
0:43:02 > 0:43:06'The Jubilee variety of these Cornish game aren't for sale,
0:43:06 > 0:43:09'but there are others that I'm interested in buying.'
0:43:09 > 0:43:11Come on, guys. Yep, there's one.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14- And there's the other one. - Chickens galore!
0:43:14 > 0:43:19'Amongst this group are a couple of hens from a different variety of the Cornish game family.'
0:43:19 > 0:43:24So, the difference between these and Jubilee is, what?
0:43:24 > 0:43:28The Jubilee, where these have got the dark brown there,
0:43:28 > 0:43:31they're pale cream.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34- So, this is just a darker version? - Darker version, yes.
0:43:34 > 0:43:37- Very nice. There's some weight about them, isn't there? - Weight, yeah.
0:43:37 > 0:43:40Incredible. The breast on them.
0:43:40 > 0:43:42- That's why they use them, for the meat.- Yes.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44How old are these?
0:43:44 > 0:43:46These are what you term point-of-lay.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48She's just starting to lay her first eggs.
0:43:48 > 0:43:51- How do you know that? What are you feeling for?- Pelvic bones.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54- Just in there. Can you feel them?- Oh, yeah.
0:43:54 > 0:43:58Can you feel, there's quite a gap there? You can get sort of three fingers in the gap.
0:43:58 > 0:44:01It shows they're just starting to lay their first eggs.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04OK. There you go. You learn something every day.
0:44:04 > 0:44:06I think these will do me well. Thank you very much. I'll take these.
0:44:09 > 0:44:11Sharon also has young chicks for sale.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15They're cute, but I'm looking for hens, ready to lay their own eggs.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19In particular, I'd like some different varieties of Pekin bantams.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22What colour do you call these ones?
0:44:22 > 0:44:25- These are silver partridge.- OK.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28- There you go.- They're lovely, aren't they? How old are these ones?
0:44:28 > 0:44:31They're just starting to lay. They're about 26 weeks.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34Right. It was particularly lavender ones I was after.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37I've got one of those left down the bottom.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40Oh, yeah, well, let's see her, then.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42There she is.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45She's lovely, isn't she?
0:44:45 > 0:44:48- I might take them all, if that's all right.- That's fine.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51I'm terrible when I go shopping!
0:44:54 > 0:44:58It's great to see Sharon making a success of her smallholding venture.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13Back on the island of North Ronaldsay, Dad's organised
0:45:13 > 0:45:16for us to meet someone that took me out on his fishing boat
0:45:16 > 0:45:18all those years ago - Ian Dalziel.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21It's been a long time, it's been a long time.
0:45:21 > 0:45:23Hello, Adam, nice to meet you.
0:45:23 > 0:45:25Do you remember my wee boy?
0:45:25 > 0:45:28Yes, I do remember him well, I do remember him well.
0:45:28 > 0:45:33- Grown a wee bit since then! - 36 years.- That's a long time.
0:45:33 > 0:45:35It doesn't seem that long, does it? It sure doesn't
0:45:35 > 0:45:38And, do you remember going out in the boat?
0:45:38 > 0:45:39We started quite early that morning
0:45:39 > 0:45:42and you were very bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!
0:45:42 > 0:45:45Raring to go!
0:45:45 > 0:45:49I remember it being really exciting. And holding a big lobster.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52I remember that well. You were told, if you lost that lobster
0:45:52 > 0:45:57you were going back in the water to take him back!
0:45:57 > 0:45:59Are you still fishing?
0:45:59 > 0:46:02No, I retired from the fishing a couple of year now.
0:46:02 > 0:46:06Other commitments. I don't have the time. Age is catching up a wee bit.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09You islanders are pretty tough beasts, aren't you?
0:46:09 > 0:46:10As hard as the sheep.
0:46:10 > 0:46:14Oh, man, if you say so, I'll believe you!
0:46:14 > 0:46:17- It's great to be back here, isn't it?- Lovely. Special.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20You'll maybe take a liking and come back to see us often.
0:46:20 > 0:46:21I hope we do.
0:46:21 > 0:46:26I hope you do, as well, I hope you do. Nice to meet you, Adam.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44Here on the Orkney Islands, the weather can change very rapidly.
0:46:44 > 0:46:46But, wherever you are in the country,
0:46:46 > 0:46:48if you're a farmer in the middle of harvest,
0:46:48 > 0:46:51you'll want to know what Mother Nature has up her sleeve.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54So here's the Countryfile forecast for the week ahead.
0:49:50 > 0:49:57.
0:50:08 > 0:50:12Today, we're looking at the contribution rare breed animals have made to my farm,
0:50:12 > 0:50:18and exploring the island of North Ronaldsay, where my passion for rare breeds really began.
0:50:20 > 0:50:24This place hold special memories for my dad and for me.
0:50:24 > 0:50:26Because it was here, nearly 40 years ago,
0:50:26 > 0:50:30that we came to buy some very special sheep indeed.
0:50:34 > 0:50:38But it was another island, far from here, that I went to find out more
0:50:38 > 0:50:42about one of the rarest breeds of animals on my farm - the Golden Guernsey goat.
0:50:50 > 0:50:53And, where better to start than at Peter Girard's Farm?
0:50:53 > 0:50:57He has one of the largest herds of Golden Guernsey goats on the island.
0:50:57 > 0:50:59Peter, hi.
0:50:59 > 0:51:01Hello there, how are you? Lovely to see you.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04I'm so excited to be here, for my discovery of the Guernsey goat.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06What's this one called?
0:51:06 > 0:51:08She's Primrose. She's a good goat.
0:51:08 > 0:51:12She's won competitions for us, so we're pleased with her.
0:51:12 > 0:51:13One of the elder ones in the breed.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15How many have you got?
0:51:15 > 0:51:17We got 18, I think, altogether, with kids at the moment.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21More kids on the way, so we'll have 20 by the middle of the year.
0:51:21 > 0:51:23- You're just about to start milking? - About to start milking, yes.
0:51:23 > 0:51:27We've milked all the others. She's the last one we've got to milk,
0:51:27 > 0:51:29so you've turned up just at the right time!
0:51:29 > 0:51:31Have you milked a goat before?
0:51:31 > 0:51:35Yes, but we don't milk ours at home. We let the kids suckle the milk.
0:51:35 > 0:51:37I'm no expert, so give me some tips.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40OK. It's slightly different from a cow. Slightly finer udder.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43We don't actually pull at any time, just squeezing, really.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46And what we're doing is closing the forefinger and the thumb
0:51:46 > 0:51:51- round the top and just squeezing, and release.- OK.
0:51:51 > 0:51:52MILK RATTLES INSIDE OF PAIL
0:51:55 > 0:51:56How much milk are they giving?
0:51:56 > 0:52:01Well, this one will give about four litres in the morning
0:52:01 > 0:52:05and about three in the evening, so about, in total, 6-7 litres, this particular one.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08Golden Guernsey milk's supposed to be a lot richer, isn't it?
0:52:08 > 0:52:12Yes, that's right, it is. It's full-cream milk. It's really nice.
0:52:12 > 0:52:15Put it in a jug in the fridge, and you'll see cream on top.
0:52:15 > 0:52:18The next morning, you can pour it on your cornflakes.
0:52:18 > 0:52:19What do you do with all the milk?
0:52:19 > 0:52:21We sell milk as raw milk. We make yoghurts,
0:52:21 > 0:52:25we make cheese with it, soft cheese.
0:52:25 > 0:52:27And we're experimenting, making hard cheeses, too.
0:52:27 > 0:52:32- Quite a little business, really. - Yes, it just about supports the feed and the upkeep of the herd.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35It's a rare breed, so we really want to keep it alive.
0:52:35 > 0:52:38There was a Golden Guernsey donkey, at one stage. That's extinct.
0:52:38 > 0:52:43I don't want to tell my great-grandchildren there used to be a Golden Guernsey goat.
0:52:43 > 0:52:45Yeah, sure, absolutely. I'm with you on that.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48So, let's keep this thing going. It's such a beautiful, docile goat.
0:52:48 > 0:52:51You've experienced that already, from the milking.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54- So quiet, isn't she?- Lovely. - And that's not bad, is it?
0:52:54 > 0:52:55Not bad. That's pretty good.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01Milking done, I'm keen to see the rest of Peter's herd.
0:53:11 > 0:53:12There's your mates, look!
0:53:12 > 0:53:15Just let them go again, then, Peter?
0:53:15 > 0:53:16That's fine, yeah.
0:53:16 > 0:53:18I mean, look at this, up this rock.
0:53:18 > 0:53:22They love going up there, climbing. That's one of the things with goats.
0:53:22 > 0:53:24They like the heat being reflected off the granite.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27We've had Golden Guernseys at home for years,
0:53:27 > 0:53:30and our numbers are quite depleted, so I'm looking to get some more.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32So I know the basics of the Golden Guernsey,
0:53:32 > 0:53:35but what are the finer points? What should I be looking for?
0:53:35 > 0:53:38Make sure the goat's registered, from the original herd,
0:53:38 > 0:53:42and you can follow the pedigree to be sure it's a pure Golden Guernsey.
0:53:42 > 0:53:46After that, you're looking at the breed points, as we call them.
0:53:46 > 0:53:49It should be either a straight line up from the nose towards the horn,
0:53:49 > 0:53:53or slightly dished, but never actually a kind of Roman nose.
0:53:53 > 0:53:54How hairy should they be?
0:53:54 > 0:53:57They vary from being kind of short-haired, to quite long.
0:53:57 > 0:54:00Most of ours are kind of long-haired ones.
0:54:00 > 0:54:03And they've got these skirts or trousers down the back.
0:54:03 > 0:54:06That really gleams when you've got them all groomed in summer,
0:54:06 > 0:54:09and, yeah, lovely goats - ideal. They just love human company.
0:54:09 > 0:54:13People talk about their dogs and their cats, but these animals are just as affectionate.
0:54:15 > 0:54:19There are less than 1,000 of the breed left in the UK.
0:54:19 > 0:54:2270 years ago, it could have been a different story.
0:54:22 > 0:54:26German occupation of the island during the Second World War
0:54:26 > 0:54:28put pressure on food supplies.
0:54:28 > 0:54:32The Golden Guernsey goat became an attractive proposition.
0:54:32 > 0:54:34Fearing the breed would be wiped out,
0:54:34 > 0:54:37one woman went to extraordinary lengths to protect them.
0:54:37 > 0:54:40Miriam Milbourne.
0:54:41 > 0:54:46She died in 1972, but Carolyn Drewett remembers helping her as a child,
0:54:46 > 0:54:48and hearing stories of those dark days.
0:54:48 > 0:54:52Very interesting. You know, it was a very hard time.
0:54:52 > 0:54:55It was very difficult.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58My dad tells me the story that she used to have to hide them
0:54:58 > 0:55:01in caves or in cellars, so they didn't get eaten.
0:55:01 > 0:55:03What she did, at night time,
0:55:03 > 0:55:05everybody who had animals at the time,
0:55:05 > 0:55:10they had to barricade them in, to make sure they were safe overnight
0:55:10 > 0:55:15from the population in general, because everybody was starving,
0:55:15 > 0:55:17especially towards the end of the occupation.
0:55:17 > 0:55:21- And would there have been any Golden Guernseys on mainland UK, then?- No.
0:55:21 > 0:55:25Miss Milbourne exported in 1965, to the mainland,
0:55:25 > 0:55:28and those would have been the first to go.
0:55:28 > 0:55:33So, she really was responsible for saving the breed from extinction?
0:55:33 > 0:55:37Yeah, she really was a pioneer of the goats.
0:56:00 > 0:56:03That, for me, was one of the highlights of the last few years.
0:56:03 > 0:56:07Finding out about an animal in its homeland gives you a real insight into its history.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10There have been plenty of other special moments,
0:56:10 > 0:56:11and here are just a few of them,
0:56:11 > 0:56:15starting with my local breed of cow, the Gloucester.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22When the cows are relaxed, the calves are relaxed,
0:56:22 > 0:56:25they just learn that temperament from their mother,
0:56:25 > 0:56:28so she's stood there, now, and the calves have settled down.
0:56:35 > 0:56:37This lamb's only an hour or so old,
0:56:37 > 0:56:40and it's already up on its feet and running around.
0:56:40 > 0:56:42LAMB BAAS
0:56:42 > 0:56:44Very ancient, primitive breed.
0:56:44 > 0:56:46Very, very hardy, aren't you?
0:56:46 > 0:56:47LAMB BAAS
0:56:47 > 0:56:49That noise...
0:56:49 > 0:56:52Sit, Sit. Sit! Look at that!
0:56:52 > 0:56:53Circus pig!
0:56:56 > 0:56:57Come here.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04You're going to be a bit of a mixed-up kid,
0:57:04 > 0:57:06having a chicken as a mother.
0:57:09 > 0:57:14All right, all right, all right! They are just so vicious!
0:57:18 > 0:57:22A farmer, a spinner, a weaver and a tailor, walking sheep through
0:57:22 > 0:57:24Stow-on-the-Wold, to champion British wool.
0:57:39 > 0:57:40That's it from the Orkney Islands.
0:57:40 > 0:57:43Next week, we're in the North Pennines.
0:57:43 > 0:57:44Matt will be heading to the fells
0:57:44 > 0:57:48and Clare will discover why more women are taking to grouse shooting.
0:57:48 > 0:57:49Hope you can join us then.
0:58:10 > 0:58:13Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:13 > 0:58:16E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk