Would you say 'a lambing flock 325-strong' or...

[MinnieBar]

... 'a 325-strong lambing flock'?

I'm thinking the latter. Grateful for any input (or should I just change it to 'the farm still boasts a flock of 325 lambs'?!).

[whowherewhen]

I think a 325-strong lambing flock sounds good

[MinnieBar]

Cheers!

[MoreBeta]

MinnieBar - sorry but 'a 325-strong lambing flock' and '..... a flock of 325 lambs' are two entirely different things.

A '325-strong lambing flock' is 325 ewes that can potentially have lambs whereas 'a flock of 325 lambs' is just 325 lambs and says nothing about how many ewes produced them.

You need to say something like 'A flock of x hundred ewes, x hundred lambs and x rams'.

Are you selling a farm?

[MinnieBar]

Ha! No, just editing a book on... The Archers. (No, really.)

[MoreBeta]

Yes it's 325 ewes. I used to be a farmer.

[MinnieBar]

Really? I always imagined you to be a city-type (don't you work in the money markets or am I confusing you with someone else?!).

So, is 'a 325-strong lambing flock' better or 'a lambing flock 325-strong'?

BTW your explanation seems bloomin obvious with hindsight. Think I was a bit braindead yesterday ? it took me a while to realise Eddie Grundy and Ed Grundy are two different people

[MoreBeta]

I'd go with 'a 325-strong lambing flock'.

I used to be a farmer half a lifetime ago, left it to go to work in The City.

My last job on a farm was planting 40 acres of wheat. Just two weeks later I had swapped my tractor seat for a swivel chair at a trading desk in The City.

Never listened to the Archers so I know none of the characters.

[MinnieBar]

Ah, I thought listening to The Archers was a mandatory part of farming training .

Thanks for the info - might PM you if I come across any further confusing farming terms!

[MoreBeta]

Essential listening is Shipping Forecast at 5.20 am followed by Farming Today at 5.45 am. Farmers dont generally listen to The Archers. My Dad says thats for 'townies'.

Please feel free to PM me if you need any more.

[EggyAllenPoe]

i do listen to the Archers....

i would go with 'despite bidding farewell to the pigs, the farm still boasts a lambing flock some three hundred and twenty-five strong'.

this is my first post on pedants corner though, and usually exploring a new area of MN leads to correction from other posters.

The BBC's site has a detailed family tree and plot here as well as the discussion forum known as 'The Mustard Pages'.

[MinnieBar]

Thank you Eggy ? I've returned it all today (after much perusal if that site). My Archers knowledge is now extensive!