I am starting to see more lambs in the fields, which is a pleasant reminder of the coming spring.

Many ewes at farms in the Lakes will lamb between March and into April. It is a period of frantic activity for the farmer and of great risk for both ewes and lambs.

As with many tasks, good planning can help enormously and the key things needed for assisted lambings include lubricant (lots of it), ropes and snares and arm’s length gloves.

Medicine wise, discuss this with your vet, but include antibiotics, pain relief, calcium and glucose, iodine and plenty of syringes and needles.

For feeding weak lambs, lamb feeders and tubes are key, plus Milton sterilising fluid, dried milk, spare colostrum and heat lamps.

To this I would add a head torch, dry towels and hand cream. Hands dry easily during lambing and the cracks are not only painful, but carry infection.vet