An Lot – Na h-Uain (Lambing)

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BBC ALBA

An Lot/The Croft

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Documentary following Donald MacSween as he tries to make it as a full-time crofter.

An Lot

BBC ALBA HD

Donald MacSween

Ross Macleod

Ann Morrison

Marion Maclean

An Lot/The Croft: Series 6: Na h-Uain (Lambing)

Na h-Uain (Lambing)

Series 6

BBC ALBA - An Lot/The Croft, Series 6, Na h-Uain (Lambing)

Tha sinn a’ leantainn 'Sweeny' aig àm breith nan uan. Following 'Sweeny' during lambing.

We return to An Lot to experience lambing with Donald Macsween on his croft at the northerly tip of the Isle of Lewis.

Tha sinn air ais air An Lot ann am fìor cheann a Tuath Eilean Leòdhais gus Dòmhnall MacSuain no “Sweeny” a leantainn tro àm breith nan uan is sinn a’ faighinn sealladh air beatha agus bàs. Airson a’ chiad uair, tha na camarathan a’ fuireach còmhla ri Sweeny là agus oidhche airson ceala-deug aig aon de na h-amannan as trainge. 

An dèidh geamhradh fliuch agus prìsean biadh nam beathaichean a’ dol suas, tha e riatanach gum bi àm breith nan uan soirbheachail do gach croitear sna h-eileanan. Tha caoraich “Sweeny” air a bhith air tìr mòr airson geamhrachadh agus gheibh e a-mach bho bhith sganadh an robh cùisean soirbheachail leis an reithe. Coltach ris a’ mhòr chuid de chroitearan, tha “Sweeny” a’ sganadh nan caorach le bhith a’ dèanamh ‘ultrasound’ gus am bi beachd aige co mheud uan a bhios air am breith. Tha e a’ ciallachadh gun urrainn dha dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil an fheadhainn aig am bi càraidean agus triùirean air an toirt a-steach gus am faigh iad gu leòr biadh. 

Tha cunnartan an-còmhnaidh a’ nochdadh mun àm seo le iolairean a’ faighinn greim air na h-uain
agus tha “Sweeny” air cùmhnant trì bliadhna fhaighinn gus fiosrachadh a thoirt do Sgeama Riaghlaidh nan Iolairean Mara, le bhith a’ cumail sùil gheur air na h-eòin is a’ clàradh na tha e a’ faicinn dhiubh. Tha e airson a bhith mar phàirt de chòmhradh far an urrainn dhaibh fuasgladh a lorg
airson an t-suidheachaidh.

An uair a tha iad air ais air an eilean, tha na caoraich air an ullachadh airson àm breith, ach tha tòrr uallaichean ann mun àm seo. Am tig aimsir nas fheàrr leis an t-Earrach, an e cunnart a bhios anns na h-iolairean mara do na h-uain air am breith air a’ mhòintich agus croitean nas fhaide air falbh? Tha na camarathan airson na h-uain a’ cumail “Sweeny” a’ dol is e deiseil airson dèiligeadh ri amannan èiginneach sam bith. ’S e àm sàrachail a th’ ann, leis nach eil e furasta mòran cadail fhaighinn, is a’ mhòr chuid de na h-uain a’ nochdadh mus èirich a’ ghrian.

We return to An Lot to experience the life-and-death drama of lambing with Donald Macsween, or ‘Sweeny’ as he is best known, on his croft at the northerly tip of the Isle of Lewis. For the first time the cameras stay with Sweeny day and night, over a two-week lambing period. 

Following a cold, wet winter and rising feed prices, a good lambing season has never been so vital for all island crofters. Sweeny’s sheep have been wintered on good hill pasture on the mainland and scanning will tell him if tupping has been a success. Like most crofters, Sweeny scans his sheep with ultrasound to know exactly how many lambs they’re expecting. It means he can make sure those expecting twins or triplets are taken inside to lamb and get enough to eat.

There are always dangers of eagles taking lambs at this time of year and Sweeny has secured a three-year contract to supply data to the Sea Eagle Management Scheme, monitoring them and collating sightings. He wants to be part of a conversation to find a solution for the situation. 

Once home on the island, the sheep are made ready to lamb but there are many issues for concern during this fraught time. Will Spring bring better weather, will the sea eagles be a threat to lambs born out on the moor and outlying pastures? In at the lambing shed, the lamb-cams keep Sweeny on his toes, ready to deal with any emergencies. It is an exhausting time, sleep is rare and sporadic with most lambs born just before dawn.

In Gaelic with English subtitles.

An Lot/The Croft: Series 6

Sweeny reflects on the hard winter months.

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