The annual TB test takes place next week. It's possibly my least favourite week of the year. It's a stressful time mentally as the future of your herd is out of your control for a few days.

Traditionally, the test would take place in late April but we've pulled it back a little. This will allow a bit less labour input into the event.

In 2012, I was able to round up all the animals and put them through the two wintering yards on my own, except for six cows that were on an out farm and required three of us to get them in.

When I was away for the test last year, my father and brother didn't send any stock to the out farm until the test was completed. Hopefully the replacement heifers can be sent off there once the test is done.

Most groups should be straightforward to bring in, but as ever when moving calves, you have to give yourself extra time. One will always stay behind or go through a wire, especially early in the year. As it stands, the cows will be finishing up grazing the paddocks they are in, so that's plenty incentive to move.

Spring rotation planner

A spring rotation planner is beneficial to getting the most out of grass. But it has to be tweaked to suit the individual. I aim to graze the last proportion of grass on the home block the week after the test, completing the first grazing rotation.

Meanwhile, on the out farm, the first one won't have begun. That land is 10 miles from me and north-facing. It gets water logged at times and we don't have the luxury of having a shed or silage there to fall back on. There's no point sticking to a plan for the sake of it or creating unnecessary work for the sake of being busy.

The early-calving cows and replacement heifers have been showing signs of bulling in the last few days, so hopefully this augers well for the upcoming breeding season. The stock bulls seem to have put on a little extra condition over the winter.

They would normally winter in a paddock near the shed, but this year they were put in some rough ground covered in furze bushes. It seems to have done them little harm and breeding will commence within the next month.