#LAMBMETRICS for the day
Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks
Born today: 5
Total Lambs Born: 91
Drysdale lambs (live total): 47
English Leicester lambs (live total): 24
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 11
Total Sets of Twins born: 31
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 45
Total ram lambs: 45
Ewes lambed /70: 57 (81.4 %)
Lamb % : 144 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 8
Losses: 8 [lamb]; 0 [ewe]
Castledale & Merino Flocks
Born today: 7
Total Lambs Born: 67
MerinoX lambs (live total): 10
Castledale lambs (live total): 51
Total Sets of Twins born: 28
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Ewes lambed /62: 41 (66.1 %)
Lamb % : 149% [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 2
Losses: 6 [lamb]; 0 [ewe]
NOTABLE MIDWIFERY TALES:
One of the issues this year has been finding time to actually write about the Daily Adventures! This is the first year we’ve had to do multiple Night Rounds and we’re exhausted most of the time. There had already been a decision to change some of the intensity of the workload due to sheep numbers and paddock availability but the Fox Situation threw a huge spanner in that and has, at least, doubled the workload. We don’t really have the infrastructure to have been more time efficient. Hopefully next year!
No matter what the system there are always pro/cons. This year has been Live and Learn! (Well, actually farming tends to be like that all the time. hahaha)
Over the years it has been frustrating to lose lambs from unknown reasons and this year has provided the opportunity to work out perhaps where the system has been going wrong. One thing is certain: the Drysdales and English Leicesters have a much better mothering instinct. They won’t run away from their lamb if the shepherdess checks things out and will follow their lamb being carried to a much greater extent. Plus, they KNOW which lamb/s are THEIRS.
Overnight happenings included: a fox sighting (Maggie sent it packing), rescuing a lamb from a perilous situation, and giving a quick hand to a Drysdale ewe that I didn’t want to listen to carrying on for hours…!
Ended up being a lovely spring day today and the lambs were loving it. Am finally “risking all”, due to the feed situation, and have shifted the ewes and older lambs into a much bigger paddock. Lots of foxy hiding places so a bit worried!
And if you’re up for a Good News Story:
This morning I discovered a Castledale ewe with a stillborn lamb. A shame but thought maybe the mother could take care of one of the “spares” currently on the bottle. Didn’t have time for fancy stuff so tried the old “sheepskin on the new lamb” trick. The ewe wasn’t fooled. But it was out in the paddock which was less than ideal. Left the poor, sad lad out there with his “jacket” on while I did some other chores.
Came back to find a Drysdale ewe had just lambed and unfortunately, one of her twins seemed to have been stillborn. (have nothing for weeks and then 2 in one day?!) But that didn’t seem to worry her – she had the little ewe lamb to clean up as well as the rather odd-looking lanky lamb…… Yep, she’d just adopted that young Castledale lad without batting an eyelash! He didn’t quite believe it – wasn’t trying to drink (“that’s rude”) despite her licking him all over.
I took his “jacket” off to help him feel less miserable and a short while later both lambs were drinking.
Miracles do happen. 🙂
