There are signals that spring may not be that easy this year so if you aren’t feeling very confident – get professional advice. Talk to your stock agent, your local farm supplies depot and your vet. Rather than looking foolish, you will be proving you want to be learn and that your priorities are exactly where they should be. Remember that apart from all else you do have responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act, and the last thing you want is to be facing an SPCA inspection and a court hearing.

Hay is the best feed for cold conditions as it takes more digesting, which in turn generates internal heat, but as we all know the cost of hay, like petrol, is reaching scary heights – so you will  need to ration and prioritise.

Young cattle – like young children – should take priority as the long term effects of poor nutrition can be quite dramatic and costly.

If you suspect a parasite problem in your stock – contact your vet before you tackle it – drench resistance is a very real problem that you don’t want to be faced with. 

If you aren’t prepared for calving and lambing and have not yet been caught by surprise – count yourself lucky and stop tempting fate. Lambs and calves love nothing more than to put in an appearance at midnight in the cold and the wet.  It’s a good idea to save some colostrum from the first cow to calve and put it in small self-seal plastic bags in the freezer for any calf (or lamb) that may need a booster later in spring.

The most important medicines you‘ll need are for milk fever (calcium deficiency), grass staggers (magnesium deficiency) and ketosis (glucose deficiency).

If you are going to rear calves, make sure everything is ready for the new season. If this is your first time rearing calves then talk to an experienced calf rearer and start with only a few and build your confidence for next year.

Check the health and condition of all sheep. Sheep coming up to lambing are likely to be thin after the drought, and there are predictions of a shortage of lambs next season so every one will be worth saving. Any late-lambing ewes should be put on short feed, and the best feed kept for ewes and lambs as soon as they have lambed.

Meal is very expensive but it’s the only way to get some high energy into lambing ewes, so feed only limited amounts in troughs to avoid waste. Close to lambing, an ewe’s appetite always drops and she may be prone to sleepy sickness if the weather turns rough.

A ewe with a prolapse or “bearing” is not the best way to start the season, so consult your vet quickly on how to treat it.

Single lambs are usually pretty sturdy and problems are more likely to occur with multiples. Twins and triplets often have lower birth weight making survival in winter conditions more difficult. Have an old electric blanket handy to warm up starved lambs.

Do your best to avoid pugging pastures as the damage will last longer than the bad weather.

While you’re waiting for the next round of lambs and calves to put in an appearance keep warm by making sure your farm accounts are up to date – or even better make sure you have the best spot by the fire with some hot soup and the latest issue of Rural Living.