Mrs Down's Diary

Mules are a cross between a Swaledale ewe and Blue Leicester tup. That produces a good mother with plenty of milk who, when running with our Texel and Suffolk tups, gives us a good crop of lambs.

John was delighted at the prices he paid, but recognised that this meant a poorer return for the breeders. Several pens of gimmers and shearlings were withdrawn when the prices did not reach the expected premiums.

At one stage, we felt quite panicky that the pens we had our eyes on would not get to go through the ring, but eventually they did. Nonetheless, several other pens that John was interested in went back home.

So much effort goes into the presentation of these sheep. Some owners dip their sheep prior to the sale in a coloured dip to brighten them for the sale.

Others wash their sheep's heads and trim the wool round their necks for a cosmetic make over. If any tups are for sale, the owners trim and 'square' them so that the backs appear flattened to give an illusion of breadth in the animal.

Once home with the flock, the new sheep tend to stick together for a few weeks. When you go round the sheep in the morning, the newcomers stand in a group as if still uncertain of the others. It will change.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette October 15