10 MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH : RICH SALISBURY

NAME: Rich Salisbury

LIVES IN: Llanelidan, North Wales

JOB DESCRIPTION: Farm Manager

HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED IN NORTH WALES? 'Yes I was born here and have always lived within 20 miles of this area'

HOW MANY EWES DO YOU LOOK AFTER DURING THE LAMBING SEASON? 'We have 1330 pregnant ewes with just 35 Rams! We hope to get around 1950 Lambs once the season has finished'

2 Day Old Lambs... 

IS IT TRUE YOU START LAMBING AS EARLY AS DECEMBER? 'Yes, this season we had lambs as early as 11th December. We are able to do this now as the lambs are born in a shed so can therefore survive the cold. At this time we could sell the lambs for £104 versus more like £60 now'.

HOW LONG DO THE LAMBS GET IN THE FIELDS? 'No less that 12 weeks I'd say. These are then milk fed lambs... But I prefer my lamb a bit older. More like 4 or 5 months'

HOW MANY FEMALES DO YOU HOLD BACK FOR LAMBING NEXT YEAR? 'No more than 300'

TALK ME THROUGH 'ADOPTION' WHEN IT COMES TO LAMBING? If a Ewe gives birth to more than two lambs, any more than this are adopted by another Ewe as the mother can only feed 2 of her offspring at a time. These adopted Lambs go to other Ewes who have only had 1 lamb of their own. This is most often done by placing the adopted Lamb underneath her when she gives birth so that the smell of her own lamb covers the adopted lamb and she therefore embraces it as her own. This is called wet adoption'

A 'Nant' Ewe...

WHAT BREED OF SHEEP DO YO HAVE HERE? 'The 'Nant' Breed... Bred by myself!'

ANY FAVOURITE RECIPES? 'You can't beat oven Roasted Lamb Chops. Put all the Veg in the pan with the Chops and add Rosemary or Mint. Simple but unbeatable'

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF KATE MIDDLETON? 'Oh she's a good thing I'd say. Pretty as well. I'll definitely be watching it on Friday!'

About to give birth... 

Just as I was leaving the interview, Rich ran over to a heavily pregnant Ewe and helped her give birth... I wish I had had a little warning so could have pulled it myself. I had never seen a lamb born and all i an say is it was more than exciting. Its my turn next.