Journalist and part-time shepard Tim Metcalfe on an interesting scheme

Farmers are always being encouraged to diversify in order to make a living but a farmer working a Scottish Lowland hill farm at Lochdhu, on the west coast of Scotland, has come up with an innovative plan to boost his income.

Farmer Bob has set up a website (adoptafarm.com) which allows people to adopt a lamb, give it a name, and then follow its progress through a year on his farm with regular reports on its progress.

Visitors to Farmer Bob’s website sheep.com can browse a selection of lambs up for adoption and purchase an adopt a lamb kit – which includes stickers, the chance to play the online SwapLamb game, a virtual farm tour CD, special video clips and sheep sounds and more.

Become a member and you can read about and see photographs of the lambs and calves – from birth through the sheep dipping and the shearing during the summer and into winter when life in the fields becomes a little harder. The website also features Nodding Sheep, the wisest sheep on the web. I could tell you more about him, but you really ought to check it out yourself! As a scheme to help boost the finances and cover the feed bills, I think Farmer Bob’s adopt-a-sheep idea a real winner. n Vets are asking dog owners to keep their dogs on leads when walking near sheep as the annual lambing season gets underway. Ewes are particularly vulnerable at this time of year, as they prepare to give birth, and sheep worrying can have tragic consequences.

It is good practice for owners to keep dogs on leads at all times when walking near livestock, but it is particularly important during the spring. Vets have seen a rise in the numbers of attacks, the results of which may often lead to lambs being lost and sheep being killed and injured.

British Veterinary Association (BVA) President and vet Robin Hargreaves said: “Even dogs who are usually calm and good natured can become very excitable and difficult to control when faced with livestock. Tragically this can lead to chasing, attacks and fatalities for sheep and other animals. Over the coming months ewes in the field are likely to be heavily pregnant or to have recently given birth. Chasing and worrying can have severe consequences at this time, leading to serious injuries, early labour and fatalities. “Later in the season the arrival of lambs brings fresh temptation as their energy and activity can be irresistible to dogs,” Mr Hargreaves added.

“We are asking dog owners to keep their dogs on leads when walking near livestock. They should also consider taking alternative routes during the lambing season to avoid causing distress.”

Fiona Lovatt, President of the Sheep Veterinary Society, said: “I have treated sheep which have been practically shredded by dogs and you often have no choice but to put them down.”

For more information visit the BVA website at www.bva.co.uk/news