We stocked 116 ewe lambs at a stocking density of an acre/day (0.4ha/day), which ate the top growth down nicely, while trampling in the older leaves. Mildew and low levels of septoria are present, with a few older leaves yellowing off, perfect for another split-field grazing trial. Our wheat was drilled on the 9/10 October and has grown well this winter – too well in most fields. The visual results and general gut feeling are enough, just like they were for my grandparent’s generation. We built a wooden frame for two of the hurdles to slot into with cross timbers positioned to hold a large robust plastic tray bought from Amazon and sold for seed propagation.In 2022, we often feel the need for statistical data to justify any decision we make, and I’m as guilty as the next person of wanting something concrete.Īlthough I have been trying to quantify “The Golden Hoof” with split-field trials over the last two years, I’m beginning to get the gut feeling that in this instance, I do not need the statistical data to realise the benefits of overwinter cereal grazing. Our home-made system is very simple, based as it is on our 4ft galvanised hurdles that we already have for handling and making lambing pens. The problem, at least for a small flock like us, is that these systems are very expensive (typically over a thousand pounds).

In practice sheep, as you can probably imagine, are less than keen on standing in a footbath for the requisite minimum of two minutes without putting them through a purpose designed handling system which removes choice. Zinc Sulphate, to quote the advertising copy, is lethal to footrot bacteria and is a healing agent which promotes the growth of new healthy tissue. We opted for Zinc Sulphate, specifically Golden Hoof, which is simple to use and avoids some of the potential toxicity issues that have been linked to formalin use. There are several options for bathing sheep feet, the most common being formalin or Zinc Sulphate based.

That said we are constantly looking for issues and have adopted a preventative programme based on regular foot bathing when we have the sheep penned for other treatments (worming for example).

We have been fairly lucky in that the problems we've had have been treatable and relatively short lived. Anyone who keeps sheep and claims to never have foot problems is either exceptionally lucky or being somewhat conservative with the truth.

Golden hoof farm