In a poignant moment on Fletcher's Family Farm, Kelvin Fletcher and his wife Liz faced an emotional setback as they discovered four of their ewes were barren during a scanning session. The couple, known for their ITV show, shared this sad farm update in an episode that aired recently, marking a first-time involvement of their three children in the process.
Family Gathering for Scanning Brings Unexpected News
During the latest installment of Fletcher's Family Farm, which broadcasts on Sundays, Kelvin and Liz decided to include their children in scanning the ewes to check for pregnancies. Typically, they avoid involving the kids to not waste the scanner's time, but this occasion was different. Kelvin expressed his hopes beforehand, stating to the camera, "It's a bit different this time. So we're all going to scan together, get the kids back from school, and we're going to scan as a full family." He added that assigning specific roles to the children would help manage any arguments over tasks.
Hopes for Twins and Challenges with Tuppings
Kelvin shared that farmers ideally aim for each ewe to have twins, describing it as "the sweet spot that every farmer is chasing." However, he admitted the tupping season had not been smooth, with issues like their ram Viper underperforming, necessitating a substitute for the Jacob flock. He noted, "We have not had the smoothest of tupping seasons," and observed that based on markings, their other ram Kelvin had performed better.
Scanning Process Reveals Disappointing Results
As the family gathered in the barn with vet James, Liz expressed her excitement, saying, "I know I say this about a lot of moments, but scanning is one of my favourites. It fills me with so much excitement." During the scan, Kelvin explained the process: James would scan each ewe, signal the result—such as barren, single, double, or triple—to their daughter Marnie, who would then mark it accordingly.
Unfortunately, the scanning brought bad news when four ewes were found to be barren. Liz reacted with surprise, commenting, "You always get the odd one that's not in lamb. I'm just surprised that the Jacobs." Kelvin reflected on the situation, stating, "Viper has definitely had an off year, which isn't good news," highlighting the ram's underperformance as a contributing factor.
Overall Outcome and Show Details
Despite this setback, Kelvin and Liz expressed satisfaction with the overall results, indicating that not all was lost. The episode captures the realities of farm life, blending family moments with agricultural challenges. Fletcher's Family Farm continues to air on Sundays at 11.30am on ITVX, offering viewers an intimate look into the Fletchers' farming journey.
