Derrynock Poll Dorsets: Simon Beattie expects great lambing season

Sheep producer Simon Beattie expects a bumper lambing season, thanks to an early break, warm autumn and a giant shed.

When it comes to sheep farming, rain at the right time can make all the difference.

And for farmers such as Trentham’s Simon Beattie, an early break and warm, wet autumn conditions have set him up nicely ahead of the forecasted cold winter.

With some of the wettest years on record over the past two years, Mr Beattie is looking forward to a return to average conditions.

Simon Beattie from Derrynock Poll Dorsets, where they are expecting close to 1100 lambs over the next six weeks on their farm in Trentham East. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“We had a really good autumn, an early break, and it stayed warmer for longer,” Mr Beattie said.

“We’ve had about 160mm, and it’s only just starting to get wet underfoot now. All the experts are talking doom and gloom by the end of the year, so it’s good to get the rain now, it helps us with our planning heading into the spring.”

Along with his father, Mr Beattie runs about 600 Poll Dorset stud ewes under the Derrynock name, along with about 1400 commercial ewes.

The stud ewes will be spending their time in Mr Beattie’s shed, where they will be better protected from the elements ahead of their earlier lambing period.

And with scanning results showing the commercial ewes at 180 per cent average ahead of spring lambing, with triple rates under 10 per cent, Mr Beattie is feeling confident heading into winter.

“It’s nice to have a bit of feed in front of the ewes now, with good scanning results and plenty of lambs on board.”