Discover Dorset Down sheep on Volis Farm, Kingston St Mary, as part of the Quantock Landscape Partnership Project
Lambs’ Tale – Volis Farm of Kingston St Mary
Sheep have long been kept on Volis Farm at Kingston St Mary, since the Hawkins’ in the early 1800s, the Birds from the 1820s to 1880s (who continued in the sheep business after migrating to Australia), Mr Blackmore in the 1890s and then Mr Roger Mead who came to Volis Farm in 1911.
Dorset Down Sheep
Besides Dairy Shorthorns cattle, Dorset Down sheep were Mr Mead’s main interest. He was very successful with them and had as many as 300 ewes and rams in the 1930s. He won many prices for ram lambs, including at the Bath and West Show and the Royal. He also became a well-respected judge at both, and many other local shows such as the Dunster Show and North Somerset Show.
Lambing on the Farm
Lambing generally began in early December on Volis Farm. When the lambs were 4 to 6 weeks old their tails were cut off using a red-hot iron. Removal of lambs’ tails (known as tail docking) is a general agricultural practice even today. It is carried out to avoid soiling of the fleece around the lamb’s rear, which could result in infection if left. The tails were then sold as a bonus income to the shepherd or savoured on Volis Farn in traditional recipes for stews and cold pies.
In 1947 there was an outbreak of pulpy kidneys in the lambs. After that, all young lambs had to be vaccinated each year.
Ram Lambs
Showing of ram lambs began at the Bath and West Show at the end of May, and continued throughout the summer. Ram lambs were not shorn, and they were always given special treatment as most of them were sold for breeding. After weaning, ram lambs had extra creep feeding of cakes, sliced mangolds, vetches and grass, and they were kept separately from the rest of the flock. Before a show, they were trimmed neatly and coloured by applying a dusting of yellow ochre from a hessian bag to enhance their overall appearance, a practice which has now died out. They would be taken in a cart to events as far as Bampton in Oxfordshire for showing by the shepherd, while Mr Mead would go by train. A lorry was bought by 1931 with a capacity to carry 6 to 8 lambs, meaning the journeys became easier.
The sale of lambs began each year around mid-July at fairs and sheep markets. With his ram lambs winning many prizes, Mr Mead was able to successfully sell 100 ram lambs for breeding purposes every season. This continued until 1960 when Mr Mead retired and sold all of the sheep.
Information taken from DD/X/MDA/13/1 and DD/X/MDA/13/4.