Off to Market we Go

Each year we take a trip to market to top up the number of ewes we have. A few more are needed to replace ones that have died or have become unsuitable for breeding from. The trip to market to buy and sell stock has been part of a farmer's life for many a year. The cattle market was central to a lot of towns and village. Our village had its own market until about 15 years ago. It was part of the whole community particularly when it was situated in the centre of the village right next to the primary school. Market day was a busy, chaotic noisy day and was central to many farmers social life.

 Nowadays most of the markets are big and impersonal serving much larger areas. We usually go to Sedgemoor Market on the edge of Bridgewater. It is located next to the motorway for easy access (except on summer holiday Saturdays and is a vast building with everything happening under one roof. It can be incredibly noisy with vehicles backing in, various animal noises from cow to sheep to hens to ducks, people chatting and then the microphones of several auctions happening at the same time! I won't go into the various odours! Needless to say it is a pretty male dominated environment as well.

This trip has normally been a bit of a family outing with cousins and friends coming along. Today only Kate was free to go and I went along to keep her company. Choosing the right sheep, bidding for them, paying for them and loading them is no mean feat when you are not even 21 but she did brilliantly.

There was quite a choice....Perhaps a few Jacobs.

Or maybe a mature ewe.

Definitely not some ducks

No. She was looking for some Suffolk Cross "two tooths". These are young ewes ready to lamb next season who are about two years old and have two adult teeth. Hence the name although to hear many a farmer you would think it was two tuff.

So buying done and after a little socialising it was time to head home. The new ewes (31 in all) were pleased to be back in a field and soon settled in. 

Kate remained apprehensive until she had her father's opinion on her purchase. He soon gave his seal of approval!