New arrivals and familiar faces on the Wester Kittochside Farm ahead of our Spring into Easter weekend.

New calf arrival.

Two-day old Black Face sheep twins.

Sooty the resident farm cat.

Tamworth pig relaxing in the spring sunshine.

New arrivals and ewes in the lambing shed.

Our sheep have started lambing. Contact with sheep during lambing time can pose a health risk to pregnant women. If you are pregnant, or suspect you might be, please read the following NHS guidelines before visiting the Museum.

Our crocuses and snowdrops and daffodils are blooming up at the farmhouse garden. Its a short walk from the museum to the working farm.

Firstborn

The first of our calves arrived on Saturday 16 February and we are expecting many more. Visit her in the small byre up at the farmyard.

Tamworths playing pig Kerplunk

The first of our calves arrived on Saturday 16 February and we are expecting many more. Visit her in the small byre up at the farmyard.

Sheep scanning

We will be scanning our sheep to find out how many are pregnant and if they are carrying singles, twins or even triplets. This will happen up at the farm on Tuesday 15 January, from 10:00.

As its November our ewes are on the lookout for a for a handsome tup (ram). Our four tups are currently in the fields to mate with our 100+ ewes.

After the first week, the tups wear a keel marker on their chest which leaves a mark on the ewe when mated. The colour in the keel is different each week, the first week no colour, blue the second and third red and so on. This way we know which ewes have been mated and can be fairly accurate when are lambs are due.

The tups are in with the ewes for about four weeks,  but with that many ewes thereʼs not much romance involved - itʼs hard work for them! The tups are then taken out to have a well-earned rest for eleven months.

A ewe's gestation period is five months so the tupping is carefully planned for the new lambs to be born in the spring. In January we scan the pregnant ewes to see how many we can expect and alter feed requirements for those expecting multiple lambs to make sure they receive supplementary nutrition.

According to Chambers dictionary, silage is defined as:

Animal fodder made from forage crops such as grass, maize, etc which are compressed and then preserved by controlled fermentation, eg in a silo.

We’ve been busy cutting grass recently on the Wester Kittochside farm ahead of the coming season to feed our livestock. The grass is the cheapest source of food for livestock and is the best way to offer them the base of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals they require throughout the winter months.

Thank you for all the name suggestions in our #NameOurCoo prize draw. 

The top two names were voted for in poll by our social media followers and the winner is Myrtle. 

Myrtle has been painted in the characteristic red and white markings of our award-winning Ayrshire herd. Originating in south-west Scotland, the Ayrshire breed was first recorded on an official basis in the 1870s by the Ayrshire Cattle Society.

Ayrshire cattle fact file

• Red and white markings - the red can range from really dark to light shades
• Strong feet and legs, well suited to rough ground
• Ayrshire cows are known for their longevity - about ten years
• They have a really efficient digestive system which converts grass into milk
• Ayrshire milk is rich and easy to digest and makes a creamy cheese
• They are easy to milk with well-spaced teats and deep udders

Try out milking on our model Ayrshire cow next time you visit the National Museum of Rural Life and join us for our afternoon milking session at 3 pm from the viewing platform in the milking byre.