Bog Myrtle & Peat

Having done the sums and agonised over the calendar, I am really beginning to channel my enthusiasm for new calves. These will be my first, so I am operating at a fever pitch of anxiety and excitement.

Longer-term readers will remember the saga of my bulls last summer. I started with old Charlie, but injury and lameness soon put him out of the game. Charlie’s son Dominic was enlisted at short notice to cover any gaps, and I finally sold Dom to a breeder in Oxfordshire in October.

Doing the maths, I reckon that the earliest date calving could begin is 2nd May. Any calves born between this day and the 2nd of June will have been sired by Charlie. Calves which come after that date will be Dominic’s.

I am hoping that Charlie sired some calves, partly because I liked the old fellow but mainly because he was written off as useless and I can’t help backing the underdog. Some of the heifers look very heavily pregnant, so I have fingers crossed that the wily devil worked his magic despite a sore hip and stiff legs.

It’s unlikely that any of my calves will have riggit markings this year. Belted galloways are a different breed, and the offspring will be mongrelly galloways which some people call “beggit” (beltie x riggit). They’re still worthing having, but I cant deny that this was an error of judgement. To be honest, this is my first year of breeding and I’d just be happy with healthy calves irrespective of marking or colour.