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Dr Clive Dalton Amp: Unit of current. Watts divided by voltage. Current: It is current and the duration and rat of its low which causes a shock. Increasing voltage increases current. Current decreases as resistance increases. Capacitance: Ability to store a charge of electricity. Capacitor: Stores electrical chares and ule as energy which builds up in the capacitor and is released by … Read more
By Donald Clegg Sheep sheltersAll over the moors and fells of the North of England and southern Scotland, there are strange dry-stone structures, now abandoned , moss-covered and ruinous in the most part, which have intrigued visitors to this Border region for decades as they explore its magic landscape. Some of these structures are simply … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Docking lambs’ tailsRemoving lambs’ tails has been a standard part of sheep husbandry from early times, mainly to prevent the formation of soiled wool or ‘dags’ sticking to the wool of sheep eating lush pasture. Removing soiled wool or dagging has always been one of the least popular jobs on a … Read more
An old book of Tyneside songs By Clive Dalton My mother was born in 1899 at Clara Vale, in County Durham and after leaving school at age 14 went into “Domestic Service” for the Clayton family at Chesters near Humshaugh. They were Tyneside industrialists. She rose to the to dizzy rank of “Head Housemaid” and … Read more
Sheep, husbandry, breeding, records, official recording schemes, Sheep Improvement Ltd (SIL), explanation of indexes, sub indexes, breeding values, goal traits, predictor traits, using records to select rams By Dr Clive Dalton Flock recording in New ZealandIn New Zealand the national performance recording services is now called Sheep Improvement Ltd, (SIL) which is run from within … Read more
The “Border” & the “North Tyne” foxhound packs When I was a teenager in Redesdale, over sixty years ago now, the “Border Hunt” was the main means of controlling foxes, which were the scourge of the many sheep farms in the upper reaches of the valley. In the North Tyne, the “North Tyne Hunt” performed the same service. In … Read more
Northumberland farming history. A village childhood remembered. By Clive Dalton Some of us Noble Street kids were wealthy enough to own a hoop or ‘gird’ – pronounce ‘gurd’. They came with a thick wire hook to direct it. They must have been made by Burnie the blacksmith. There wasn’t a great knowhow needed to get … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Dalton involvement In 1972, I was a scientist at the MAF Whatawhata Hill Country Research Station, having started work there after arrival from UK in 1968. Because of my involvement with sheep, and with the permission of my Station Director Dr D.R. Lang and MAF Research Director Dr L.R Wallace, I … Read more
Sheep, farming, husbandry, disease, animal health, worms, internal parasites, breeding, breeding for resistance By Dr Clive Dalton Breeding – the only solution Question: How come in the same flock, some sheepare always clean and others always dirty? Increasing numbers of farmers are starting to accept that breeding sheep, that are genetically resistant to internal parasites … Read more
Chorus:Hark away, hark away, oor the bonny hills o’ KielderHark away. Hark, hark I hear Lang Will’s clear voice sound through the Kielder glenWhere the Raven flaps her glossy wings and the fell fox has his den.There the shepherds they are gathering up wi many a guid yauld crewAn wiry terrier game and keen and … Read more
January 2, 2009 Sheep Farm Husbandry – Injection Techniques Animal health, disease prevention, injections, methods, techniques, hygiene, safety. By Dr Clive Dalton & Dr Marjorie Orr General – hygiene Subcutaneous injection (under the skin) Intramuscular injection (into the muscle) Intravenous injection (into the vein) Intramammary injection (into the udder) Filling a syringe Disclaimer This material … Read more
Health, diseases, signs, treatment, prevention, when to seek advice, poisons, poisonous plants By Dr Clive Dalton & Dr Marjorie Orr NoteThis is not a veterinary text book and the listed diseases are very selective. They are in the order which you’ll be most likely to meet them (if they occur) on most farms. This information … Read more
Sheep, farming, husbandry, disease, animal health, worms, internal parasites, rams, exploiting genetic gain By Dr Clive Dalton Wasting a ram’s potential Remember the 3 parts to genetic gainThey go together like this: Genetic gain = (heritability x selection differential) / generation interval Mating options for a Worm Resistant ramHere are some options from lowest priority to … Read more
RABBIT BEHAVIOUR PART 4 Fibre harvesting: GroomingBy Dr Clive Dalton Fibre harvesting Grooming
CATTLE BEHAVIOUR BASICS: PART 4 Calf rearing: Fostering: Housing: Bobby calf; Premature calvesBy Dr Clive Dalton The young calf The large gastric stomach (abomasum) of a milk-fed calf. Note the very small rumen on the left of the picture. When do calves become ruminants?Calves start to chew hay and straw if provided in their pen … Read more
Daft Laddies. Farming Tales of North Tyne and Rede 50 years on. By Clive Dalton and Donald Clegg An extract from the book – Daft Laddies. Farming Tales of North Tyne and Rede 50 years on (2003) By Clive Dalton and Donald Clegg. If you would like a copy, contact donaldclegg@btopenworld.com It was hard for … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Too many Ag Grads I arrived at the Whatawhata Hill Country Research Station, near Hamilton, New Zealand from Leeds University in 1968, after the UK government in its wisdom, in the hands of PM Harold Wilson and Sir John Wolfendon of the University Grants Committee (UGC), decided that we were turning … Read more
RABBIT BEHAVIOUR PART 3 Weaning: Feeding: Housing: Health & welfareBy Dr Clive Dalton Weaning Feeding Coprophagia(eating faeces) Housing Minimal floor areas needed for caged rabbits. The main problem in buildings is environmental control to deal with the cold in winter, high temperatures and humidity in summer. Cold in New Zealand is a minor problem except for … Read more
Dr Clive Dalton Approach: Action of a dog when it comes up to sheep. Backing: Action of a dog when it jumps up and walks along the back of sheep to encourage them to move. Bark: To bark on command to frighten stock and make them move. Beardie: Breed or type of Huntaway dog with … Read more
By Clive Dalton My first decent horn-head stick I was lucky enough to be given my first decent stick with a horn handle at age 13 by a noted Border Shepherd, Michael Anderson (see picture at left, courtesy of Bellingham Heritage Centre collection painted by Miss Kingston-Walker), when I plucked up enough courage to ask him how … Read more