Ee by 'eck we're proper raddled!

In the Autumn a sheep's thoughts turn to romance and it is at then that the rams are released to do their duty. The shepherd is of course interested to know which of his/her ewes have been mated. The information that they need is acquired by fitting the ram with a chest harness that holds a special, greasy, coloured crayon (or raddle, sometimes spelled reddle). Ewes that have been mounted are as a result clearly marked, as is the case with these two ladies in Malhamdale.