1. Nappy cream. For sunburnt lop ears (GOS pig occupational hazard!) and for applying to cuts and grazes that all pigs get. Very cheap, soothing and antiseptic and it sticks - so that a pig can't shake it off her ears. 2. Disposable gloves. For iodine-ing new born piglet navels without staining your hands orange. And for applying nappy cream (...

Year's end - a time for reflection, but also for all the usual daily farming jobs. Nothing stands still on a farm! The pig paddocks are holding up remarkably well for the time of year. This time last year it was a rather muddy quagmire with gale-force wind. Today it is still firm underfoot, which is good for both pigs and sheep and also for humans ...

Much activity in the farmyard this month with mucking-out barrows, pitchforks and straw. It's a good way to keep fit. The cattle barn has distinctive sections for where the cows eat and where they lie down. The area around the hay rack gets mucked out every two days, by hand. Very artisanal! The lying area has new straw added to it every few days. ...