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Drysdales

LambMetrics – September 12th 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born 11-12/9/19: 4
Total Lambs Born: 69
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 37
English Leicester lambs (live total): 31
Total Sets of Twins born: 15
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 33
Total ram lambs: 36
Ewes lambed /68: 54 (79.4 %)
Lamb % : 125 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 8
Losses: 1

Notable Midwifery tales:

Evening drinkies

Just when you think the season is quietly just limping to a close…

Brought two lambs and their mothers in this morning as they had seemed a little “flat” and hollow. As of this evening they’re already showing a great deal of improvement after some antibiotics so we’re hoping the infections have been caught early enough. It’s always a knife-edge when it comes to timing – they have to look sick enough to justify the treatment but they go downhill very fast at this age so it doesn’t take much to be that fraction late.

A couple of very small lambs born yesterday and today. Maiden ewes with their first lambs – one hadn’t even really looked pregnant! As long as they grow fast it’s all good.

Although, one (from yesterday) has ended up in the shed tonight as it was looking a little peaky and I am concerned the mother may have early mastitis. (Odd for a Drysdale maiden ewe but never say never…) Fingers crossed because this little ‘un doesn’t have the body mass to sustain it for very long. (She refused a bottle too)

On a slightly different note…. the “has to be ONE SUPER WEIRD thing every year” note… One of the ewes that lambed today literally nearly choked to death on the lamb birth membranes. The lamb had been born and hadn’t rolled much so the thin covering was still in place. The ewe started to eat them off (as they usually do) she must have had too much of a mouthful and then – she choked. Right in front of me. She coughed and coughed and COUGHED and couldn’t shift it. Her tongue was turning blue. I desperately tried to pat her on the back/side/anywhere as well as an attempt at a Heimlich maneuver!!! Stroked up (the outside) of her throat. Just anything. I was feeling very helpless. Thankfully, she managed to get it to move somehow and then she was feeling quite shaky. (So was I) After that we both needed a Bex and a lie down!!

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The ewes and lambs have now been shifted to the bigger paddock and it’s pleasing to see the lambs growing well.

3 weeks old

LambMetrics – September 10, 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born 8-10/9/19: 9
Total Lambs Born: 65
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 34
English Leicester lambs (live total): 30
Total Sets of Twins born: 15
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 30
Total ram lambs: 35
Ewes lambed /68: 50 (73.5 %)
Lamb % : 128 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 8
Losses: 1

Notable Midwifery tales:

Beautiful spring day today.

Just the one set of twins to greet us this morning. Possibly another lamb “on the way” tonight too.

The older lambs and their mothers have been shifted to the Big Paddock from the small paddock they’ve been in. Keeping them in a smaller areas assists the Shepherdess in making sure everyone is getting enough milk and doing okay. (We learn from our mistakes, hopefully)

That paddock was getting a little crowded so the ewes and lambs willing to come running were drifted off yesterday and they are now enjoying a paddock with a View.

Lacey with her daughter, Charly, on their way to the Big Paddock.
NotSquishy loves coming over for a scratch.

Things are starting to quieten a little. Most of the “milking” problems have resolved and only 2-3 need a spare bottle top-up rather than the 12 that there was a week ago. Here’s hoping it lasts..!

LambMetrics – September 7th 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 1
Total Lambs Born: 56
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 32
English Leicester lambs (live total): 23
Total Sets of Twins born: 12
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 25
Total ram lambs: 31
Ewes lambed /68: 44 (64.7 %)
Lamb % : 125 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 8
Losses: 1

Notable Midwifery tales:

Only one lamb to add to the Metrics today.

When the (multitude of) lambs received their late night bottle last night a ewe was heard yelling. The comment at the time was:
“What’s the bet that’s a Leicester?”
“Not taking that one” was the reply.

Turns out we were both wrong. It was a Drysdale. And she’d taken the Shepherdess’s regular advice to heart: If you’re in trouble then YELL and the Shepherdess will come and fix it.

So, at 10pm there was a (vocal) ewe doing laps around the Shepherdess’s legs – the Shepherdess was doing her best lamb imitation – in the torchlight until the opportunity came to careful lie the ewe down.

The trusty torch revealed some yellow-stained tippy-toes sticking out of the vulva of Drysdale 543 (Grand-daughter of her Imperial Highness Kimmy, just by the way, no wonder she was has attitude) so time was of the essence as the lamb was now stressed.

The lamb was a bit large but extraction was relatively simple and straightforward – in less than five minutes a strapping lad was placed in front of an eager mother to lick.

Both the Shepherdess and the Deupty Shepherdess are hoping the remaining ewes are not over-cooking their lambs now because being over-cooked often means trouble in the delivery.

We won’t worry about that too much though – let’s just enjoy what we have.

Here’s a rainbow picture from in between showers and sunshine this afternoon. More fun tomorrow?

LambMetrics – August 24th, 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 1
Total Lambs Born: 8
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 7
English Leicester lambs (live total): 1
Total Sets of Twins born: 2
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 2
Total ram lambs: 6
Ewes lambed /68: 6  (8.8 %)
Lamb % : 133 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 1
Losses: 0

Notable Midwifery tales:

Beautifully sunny day today and the sheep looked very content. Only one ewe actually lambed though! No doubt the rest are waiting until the bad weather. (Which is actually a “thing”! Something to do with the drop in air pressure if I recall correctly.)

Pleased to report that the lamb with the swollen face yesterday is now looking like it has completely recovered from its squeezy entry into this world.

Chipmunk cheeks now gone!

Can only presume there may be a flurry of births tonight/tomorrow??

LambMetrics – August 23rd, 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 4
Total Lambs Born: 7
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 6
English Leicester lambs (live total): 1
Total Sets of Twins born: 2
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 2
Total ram lambs: 5
Ewes lambed /68: 5 (7.3 %)
Lamb % : 140 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 1
Losses: 0


Notable Midwifery tales:

The set of twins born this morning were beset by “interested parties” early on and so had to be relieved of the extra attention…! Hopefully it inspires those ewes to have their own!

The English Leicester ewe lamb, Charly, that was born yesterday is possibly getting slightly less milk than I’d like but her mum has always been quite good so I’m trying to give her the benefit of the doubt and a few days for her milk to come in more. Fingers crossed there! Bub is pooping like a champion though so that is always a good sign! Hahaha

Just after lunch we noticed a Drysdale ewe who seemed a bit more “uncomfortable” than usual. Closer inspection revealed that she had a perfectly presented lamb but he was a bit of a boofa and his shoulders got stuck, much to his mum’s discomfort.

A simple assistance and his mum was relieved but he was looking a bit worse for wear. When they get stuck for a while the head and tongue swell and he seemed a bit reluctant to breathe on his own to begin with.

Tough entry to this world but we’ve decided to live.

It took a fair effort of chest stimulation and periodic hanging upside down for nasal passage drainage for him to get breathing properly. (It always reminds me of the classic Monty Python scene in “The Meaning of Life” where the doctors in the hospital birth proclaim “aaaand the Rough Towels!”)  Bub’s mum was keen to get her licking in as well. She is also a complete poser when the camera came out. She probably felt like crap but seriously – the camera was pointed in her direction and she posed sweetly then went back to licking!  Hahaha

Once bub was holding his own we left them to bond for an hour or so.

When we returned the lamb was able to stand and was feeling quite perky. His mum though was having some issues getting back on her feet. (A few key ligaments are feeling a bit stretched and sore!)

A chariot was required to convey her to the hay shed for the night!

This ewe must have been a show ewe in a former life. She stepped delicately onto the tractor carry-all platform, sat down (with a little encouragement) and then regally sat there and didn’t move/flinch/or stress about the platform going UP and then the tractor ride to the shed. Upon arrival she calmly stood after the platform descended and then walked after her lamb into the shed…. 

The lamb probably isn’t “out of the woods” completely yet (am about to go check them) but things look hopeful. You never quite know the extent of internal damage or bruising in cases like this. The tongue swelling has gone down though and he has been drinking.  All going well the ewe will be back on her feet properly tomorrow.

LambMetrics – Drysdale & English Leicester lambing, Sept 4th

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It’s been a very quiet few days in regard to births! But, hopefully, we will be up-to-date now. 🙂 

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born last few days: 10
Total Lambs Born: 91
Drysdale lambs (live total): 53
DrysdaleX lambs (live total): 23
English Leicester lambs (live total): 10
Total Sets of Twins born: 30
Total Sets of Triplets born: 1
Total ewe lambs: 38
Total ram lambs: 50
Ewes lambed /72: 58 (80.5 %)
Lamb % : 148% [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 4
Losses: 1 ewe, 5 lambs

Notable Midwifery tales:

It’s all been twins pretty much since the last update. Even the maiden ewes are having twins. 🙂

Only one single, and that was stillborn unfortunately. 😥  The poor mother was very upset. Some ewes don’t seem to care and others care very much. I couldn’t even give this ewe a baby to care for as it turned out her milk hadn’t come in properly (and, I presume therefore, that hers was actually a little bit premature). 😥

The English Leicesters that lambed have also required a bit of attention. One had mismatched sized twins and the little one has been missing out at the “milk bar” so he has been supplemented. And there was another special little boy born (all the English Leicesters are boys this year, bar one!?) who must have been deprived of oxygen so he’s been a bit “special” for the last few days. Thankfully, he’s headed in the right direction now! He will end up silver in colour, like his grandmother.