The next six weeks will see lambing move from the mule types to the hill breeds. With anything in farming, careful planning can mean huge rewards both in terms of lamb numbers and in that most precious of commodities - time.

Cleanliness and Gentleness are two words that neatly sum up lambing and being prepared helps ensure them. I’ve been a convert to gloves for all lambings for some time now – full length gloves at that. I’d agree that the grip isn’t as good between plastic and wet lambs but given that a gentle approach is better, this is no real handicap (although I have to admit to putting ropes on any heads or legs that are already out).

With plenty of lubricant and gloves, most tangles of heads and legs can be sorted out easily and there should be less of a need for any antibiotics. Some years ago, a good stocksman asked me if I’d be using the injection that helped the ewes mother up. It took a while before I realised that he was referring to the painkiller that we now regularly use after a difficult lambing. It can make the difference between the ewe feeling well enough to stand and let her lambs feed and lying on them because of the pain.

Gentleness also extends to walking calmly through the ewes so as not to upset them too much. The birth process is a complex one involving many different hormones, all of which can be affected by stress. The result can often be ringwomb, an undilated cervix, which can be a real problem to spot and to treat. Good ewe feeding is essential for good colostrum for the lambs and there is still time to blood test the ewes in case their diets need changing.