The new year return! And we started off the day in the lab! Today we were going to carry out a simple nutrient test for NPK - Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium (but actually only completed the test for N & P) using a pH NPK soil test kit. Using a soil sample provided we put 1ml into our sample bottle along with N1 solution to the 2.5ml mark. With a fitted washer band and filter paper disc we placed the plunger in the top of the bottle to shake the solution. the plunger was then depressed to compress as much of the solution as possible leaving a fluid that we could pour in to a test tube. Here we added a level spoon of N2 powder, gave it a shake and left for 5 minutes before taking a reading against the chart card provided - this read Low 0ml/l - So using the soil index we could determine this was a 0. Finding these results enables farmers to calculate how much fertiliser to add to the field according to what nutrients are / are not already available!
Next, and for our machinery theory we started off with a quiz, followed by a welding refresher! we were split in to groups and used heading and description cards in a matching game and then discussed our pairs as a group. For our next session, we were again split in to groups (different ones) and given a task ready for our field trip to LAMMA - the UK's largest agricultural machinery show. Our topic to research and report back to the class on is GPS/Steering Systems where at the show we will need to visit various stands and get as much information about these products as possible... tbc.
For this afternoons practical session we were given the opportunity to see the ewes scanned for pregnancy and first we had to herd the two groups of sheep to home farm. once penned in we built a penning system that attached to the crush where Ian would use his ultra sound scanning equipment to determine the number of lambs in each sheep. Scanning is typically carried out at 80 days after tupping (when the male served the lady) and advantages of scanning include identification of barren ewes - those which are empty and those carrying singles and multiples. These were identified using a spray marker on the sheep as it was released; dot on head = barren, dot on shoulder = 1, dot on hips = 3 and those left without a mark were carrying two lambs. These sheep can then be grouped accordingly and fed a diet accordingly ensuring that none is wasted.
Scanning also helps to prevent disorders such as pregnancy toxaemia - which usually results in a dead lamb being born as well as simplifying tasks such as fostering spare lambs onto single mothers. Cull ewes (those identified as barren) can be sold immediately, taking advantage of winter prices.
A sector scanner is used which gives a better view of the ewe's uterus, making a correct diagnosis easier. This was interesting to watch!
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