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Lining it all up for busy, busy days
01-02-2010
We have just heaved a big sigh of relief ... the shearers have left our place and gone on to make the day of another farmer who is up to his or her neck in ewes, lambs, dags and wool.
Every year it is the same as weaning and all the associated tasks loom on the horizon; leave and social commitments for all family staff members go on hold as an attempt is made to line up the stars, the weather, the lamb drafter and the shearers to execute a successful operation in the appropriate order.
Non sheep farmers will insist on continually asking if you have been away yet, and dairy farmers cannot comprehend how you could work from daylight till dusk and beyond for several summer days on end and still have more work to do.
Sheep farmers are not usually known for such discipline and commitment but that is just how it is with weaning. I can't really complain as I haven't laid a hand on any of the lambs since we docked them back in October, so there has been plenty of time for extra curricular activities.
At this time of year there are also cattle to weigh and draft and market, and there is every chance you can have all the income streams operating on the same day.
These are busy days. Of course there is a huge satisfaction in gathering up a whole year's work over a week or so and having a measure of how well you have done as the laden stock truck inches away from the loading ramp.
It is a bit of a stress that we also have to cope with all the Christmas and end-of-year activities as we mastermind this work fest, but what I was thinking about the other day was how hard it would be without the help of our trusty four legged staff members who ask only for a decent meal and a dry place to sleep.
We would really know about stress if some of the dog team put in for leave over this busy time. Then there is the issue of the odd work-related injury or worn out feet, no sign of an ACC claim, usually just a helper wanting to come to work no matter what.
I have one dog that hides in the long grass by the motorbike hoping I will forget to put her away so she won't miss any chance to come to work. Has anyone ever heard of a human quite so keen to get on with the job?
I had one or two highlights with shearing this year; the new woolshed and yards were fully operational and worked like a dream, with some of the sheep running up into the shed before the dog had even made a sound. We got through 21⁄2 days of shearing non-stop even though we had 15mm of rain one night.
I know you are not supposed to complain about the rain over the summer but back in the days of the old woolshed it could make shearing a drawn-out affair.
The other highlight was the thought that I am making some progress with trying to breed sheep with no dags. Sure, some of them still do a good display of a disgusting rear end but well over half of them required no help to get on to the shearing board in a respectable state and that's with no worm treatment pre or post-lambing or any other time.
It was the end of a very busy time when the shearers left but there was plenty to be pleased about and I have a whole year to get over it and take one of those holidays that non-sheep farmers think we all have in January.
Sue Smart, Mairoa, King Country.