Dykes Family Share Lambing Experience via QMS LambCam

The farming family which hosted BBC Lambing Live last year shared their lambing experience with over 100,000 people last week, as part of a QMS LambCam project.

Hamish and Susie Dykes and family, who run South Slipperfield Farm, West Linton, agreed to install a “LambCam” camera in the roof space of their lambing shed which streamed live action to the world. They also shared the highs and lows of lambing their 950 ewes in a series of daily lambing video diaries. The ground-breaking QMS initiative allowed people to experience lambing during one of the busiest times of year for sheep farmers around the country.

The aim of the QMS LambCam project was to encourage members of the public to learn more about the hard work, dedication and care which goes into rearing top quality livestock.

The “LambCam” camera, installed by Dundee-based Farmer’s Eye, streamed live action and sound from the lambing shed via a dedicated page on the QMS website www.qmscotland.co.uk/lambcam  between 24-27 March.

“Lambing Live last year was an incredible experience to be part of which our whole family enjoyed. It was also a really self-reflective process and made us really appreciate what we have,” said Hamish Dykes. “We were delighted to get involved with the QMSlambcam project this year, and have been amazed just how popular the video diaries and live streams have been.”

Carol McLaren, Head of Communication with Quality Meat Scotland said: “We are very much indebted to Hamish and Susie and team for their being willing to get involved in the project at such a busy time of year. They were brilliant hosts and explained the work that livestock farmers undertake and the importance of good welfare and quality assurance in a way that everyone could understand and enjoy hearing about.

“The feedback we have had from the public has been brilliant and made the logistical challenge of getting a widely accessible live stream from a lambing shed for the first time in Scotland all very much worthwhile.”

You can view the five daily lambing diaries here.