Tupping Time

Meet two of our local thugs.  Well, they look pretty thuggish to me, anyway.  (Actually, I call them Tweedledum and Tweedledee, which kind of diminishes their thuggishness.)

They’re tups (rams).  And this is the start of tupping time - when the boys get to run amok in fields full of lady sheep.

As you can see, they’re are all strapped up for the job.  If you’re unfamiliar with this protocol, the strapping is holding in place bright blocks of dye.  See them?  Slung under their bellies?  Green on the left tup, red on the right.

When one of the gents graces a particular lady with his favour, some of the dye rubs off on her back….and the farmer can tell which of his ewes has been tupped and which are still waiting their turn.

Nifty, huh?

Comments

[Tracy]

This is very interesting. We've been watching the series Victorian Farm, and learned about this... fascinating! Happy Day, Helen :o) ((HUGS))

[Chesteraud]

Never too late to learn

[Bethany Culpepper]

Funny! I love it. I just looked at all the pictures from the last few weeks - gorgeous! It looks like a beautiful time of year. Congratulations on your second year of blogging!