Herbie's Blog 2006-07
Autumn Term 2006
Week commencing 18th September
So it begins, the first day of the course is finally here, and for the 15 students of Testbourne School this is their first taste of farming and education outside of the classroom. Having a group of 15 on the farm is a bit of a hand full, so Ben and myself, both lecturers from Sparsholt College, decided to split them up in to two groups. Ben took a group off to the dairy where some of the students helped in the milking parlour where the Jersey cows were being milked while the rest of them helped the stockman bring the cows and the Water Buffalo in from the fields to the milking parlour.
Group two had the task to make up a large pen for the Water Buffalo calves. They bedded up the pen, installed the water trough and brought in the feeders and the feed. Then followed the task of rounding up 35 Buffalo calves from the field, no mean task as the calves went where they wanted! Eventually we walked them to their new pen. At the end of the session the students took a look at the pen they had made up and the Buffalo enjoying themselves. Next week they're all looking forward to trying some of the Buffalo milk they helped milk from the Buffalo.
Week commencing 25th September
Here's the second instalment of the students diary, the course is proving very popular with them so far. As we all arrive at Laverstoke Park Dairy Unit you can see the excitement on the students faces; they can't wait to get working with the animals. As the same as last week, we split the students in to two groups. Half go off with the stockman to help bed up calf pens and care for the Water Buffalo and Jersey calves while I take a group in to the milking parlour to start milking the Jersey cows. No sooner had they finished milking the cows then some of the group brought the Buffalo in to the parlour to be milked. Handling Buffalo was certainly an experience for the student and one that they will not forget in a hurry. As a reward for all their hard work the Dairy Manager gave the students some fresh Jersey milk they had just produced, and they all loved its rich creamy taste.
Week commencing 2nd October
As the students arrived at Laverstoke Park they were expecting to be going apple picking. Due to the heavy rain at the weekend all the apples had been picked. This lead to us heading to the outdoor pig site to help Trevor the Pig stockman erect some electric fences making new pens for the pigs. This involved the students banging in big wooden fencing posts, and pacing out the electric fencing stakes. When that was done all the electric fence wire had to be put up and connected to
finish of the fences. While some were working others were shown around the pig site and explained how it all worked. They even got to pick up some of the 4 week old baby piglets to see how lively but delicate they are.
Next week the plan is to go and help with some of the sheep.
Week commencing 9th October
As it is with farming things never go as planned. So instead of sheep work, it was back up to the pig fields to assist Trevor in making more pig paddocks by erecting electric fences and laying water pipes. As the group did this last week they soon got all the equipment and materials they needed from the trailer and set to for the task ahead. It just so happened that they erected the last fence just as it was time to head home; and tomorrow the pigs will be heading to their new home, the paddocks the students had just created.
Next week brings a new challenge as we go of to work with some of the other Laverstoke Park livestock.
Week commencing 16th October
Today the group met at the dairy to carry out a variety of tasks. Three of the students ventured in to the milking parlour where they assisted the stockman in milking all the Jersey cows and some of the Water Buffalo. Five students had the task of rounding up and bringing in the Jersey cows and the Buffalo to be milked. The remainder of the group went out to the Buffalo fields to repair fences that the Buffalo had broken.
Next week is half term, so the students can reflect on what they have learnt so far.
Week commencing 30th October
Half term was over and the students from Testbourne School were in fine form for the task ahead. Today we were looking at the positive role farming plays in countryside and environmental management. With that in mind the students embarked into one of the Laverstoke Park woods to carry out some Hazel Coppicing. For those who don't know, this is where the students had to cut down young hazel tress allowing the stumps to re-grow over a number of years, with many new shoots re-growing rather than a single stem. All stems cut down by the students were left to be used by the estate, and the students went on to learn about woodland management.
Week commencing 6th November
It's up to the pig unit as today the students were helping Trevor move some of the growing pigs around the pig pens on to fresh grass. Firstly they had to set up 3 pens, then using the 'Radial' system the group quietly and confidently moved batches of pigs from various paddocks.
This included moving the Saddle Backs, Duroc and Middle White pigs.
Next week is a new challenge; they have the task of moving some Wild Boar from the boar pens.
Week commencing 13th November
With lambing fast approaching for the Laverstoke Park Dorset sheep, the group were handed the challenge of preparing the lambing barn for the expecting mums-to-be. The first job was to make up the individual lambing pens, where the ewes and newborn lambs will be kept. Secondly the main pen had to be bedded up, where the ewes will be housed before they give birth. With the amount of activity going on, you couldn't see anything but flying straw as the students got to grips with bedding up. Over the next two weeks the students will get to see the fruits of their labour as we check up on the ewes in their new pens.
Week commencing 20th November
Today the group learnt about biodynamics - a method of organic agriculture that creates a sustainable ecosystem on the farm. Firstly the students had to fill 400 cattle horns with cow manure! Although it doesn't sound nice, it was something they enjoyed. We then took the horns to a grass field on the estate where they had to dig a 2 meter square hole, 60 cm deep, in which to bury the horns. The group were shown how to bury the horns, the points of the horns facing upwards. When all the horns were placed in the pit they were buried under a large pile of earth. These horns will then be dug up in six months when the manure will have composted, and will be mixed with rain or spring water before being sprayed on to growing crops. So in six months time, the students know what they will be doing and can hopefully see the positive outcome.
Week commencing 27th November
The students found themselves in the pig fields again today, helping Trevor with a variety of tasks. Battling the wind and the rain, the students had to move some growing pigs through the radial and in to fresh paddocks. With this completed it was off to the farrowing paddocks to feed the sows and piglets. This was a new task for the group as not only were they feeding the sows but they also had to look in the huts to check the health of the piglets. This allowed the students to learn about signs of good and poor health in animals, and the importance of checking your animals daily.
Week commencing 5th December
With Christmas just around the corner the students had the task of getting the Christmas Turkeys ready. With the help of the farm staff the students were shown how to pluck the turkeys ready for sale through the Laverstoke Park butcher's shop. While some of the group had done this before, this was certainly a new experience for most of them. With that, it brings an end to the first term; one that has seen the students milking Buffalo, feeding pigs and looking after wild boar. Not your typical school lesson!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Herbie.