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You are here: Home / Archives for nature

nature

LambMetrics – 5th September 2020

September 5, 2020 by Wendy Beer

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 0
Total Lambs Born: 113
Drysdale lambs (live total): 52
English Leicester lambs (live total): 38
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 14
Total Sets of Twins born: 36
Total Sets of Triplets born: 1
Total ewe lambs: 59
Total ram lambs: 54
Ewes lambed /77: 76  (98.7 %)
Lamb % : 137 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 10
Losses: 9 [lamb]; 0 [ewe]

Notable Midwifery tales:

*insert holding pattern here*

Still waiting. *facepalm*ย  One ewe left and she looks the side of a house but she’s just chewing her cud (and smirking).

Tagged and tailed some lambs today and then took a few hours off.ย  Hopefully no-one will tell the boss I took 2hrs off this month. It’s only been 6 weeks since the last time. ๐Ÿ˜›

As a result – forgot to take photos so here’s a selection of lambing highlights plus a pic of a harnessed sheep. Yeah, another with a partial prolapse but this one was pretty chill about the whole deal. And had twins. The neighbours have had dreadful trouble this year with prolapse, they said. I’m going to re-analyze my mineral supplement schedule to try and avoid such things again. That said – this was the best autumn/winter for grass growth in at least 40 years for us. Different seasons present different metabolic issues. LOLย  Nature…!

LambMetrics – 27th August 2020

August 27, 2020 by Wendy Beer

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 6
Total Lambs Born: 103
Drysdale lambs (live total): 49
English Leicester lambs (live total): 32
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 14
Total Sets of Twins born: 33
Total Sets of Triplets born: 1
Total ewe lambs: 56
Total ram lambs: 47
Ewes lambed /76: 68ย  (89.5 %)
Lamb % : 140 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 9
Losses: 8 [lamb]; 0 [ewe]

Notable Midwifery tales:

Another day, another LambMetrics.

Better strap yourselves in – this may be a wild ride!

Beautifully sunny but cold morning today. No new lambs born first thing and now we’re down to the last few ewes we are not moving the pregnant ewes out of their main paddock during the day. So, all in all everything was in order and chores were actually finished by 9am. Unheard of!

There were a number of ewes that looked “imminent” but with a lovely day ahead all is well.

Naturally, it seemed a sensible idea to then take the opportunity to pop into town to get an urgently required water pump.

When I get back from town I’m greeted with the news that there were two new black (ewe) lambs! This time out of an English Leicester X ewe. And that a Drysdale had lambed twins but one lamb appeared to have been born dead. Disappointing, but nothing I can do about it now.

Before long it’s time to feed the pet lambs again so off I go.

Now the newly lambed ewes had taken themselves into the area closest to the shed to lamb so that was handy for being able to work out who was new.

I spot the Drysdale under a tree. One lamb is standing and she is still standing guard over the dead lamb. I get closer and then find that the ewe in question is actually Paris*. Oh no. ๐Ÿ™

No time to linger too much though – the pet lambs are yelling for their bottles – so I will have to come back and commiserate with her in a short while.

Get to the garden gate, look over and see the two new little black lambs. Aaawwwww. But wait a minute, there’s a white English Leicester ewe hovering over them and the black ewe just walked away….. oh no.….

Argh. Thievery in progress!

It then computes that the white ewe is the same young one I had noticed earlier with a little bit of membranes showing. The membranes are still showing. Oh. Not good.

Meanwhile, the black ewe – who is a first time mum – is wandering off but then coming back. Poor thing is totally confused.

Right. Grab the lambs and head to the pens in the shed.

Getting the lambs there is the easy part. The ewe is so confused now she doesn’t easily follow them like normal. The Border Collies need to bring her and a few of the pregnant ewes in the right direction and then, with a bit of patience and lamb placement, manage to get her into a pen with her two lambs.

It’s slightly concerning she’s not overly “mothering” them but no time to worry about that – she’s locked safely away with them, no distractions – so now I have to get that white ewe looked at fast.

And the lambs still need feeding.

This young ewe is not going to just stand there and let me help. No way. So again the Border Collies and the patient other pregnant ewes are used to help gather up the one needing attention – it can be very hard work and very stressful to try move one sheep by itself – and bring them into the yards. I need to have this ewe in a more confined area so I can easily handle her without stressing her out.

Into the yards we go, and manage to get the white ewe in trouble into a small yard.

The lambs are still yelling for lunch but I’ve not time so the urgent text message goes to the Assistant Midwife.

Got problems here. Need help.

The ewe is carefully tipped over onto her side (she isn’t going to let me do the examination with her standing! Not this ewe.) The full arm length gloves come out of the back pocket (doesn’t everyone keep arm length obstetric gloves in their back pocket?!)

It takes less than 30 seconds to realise that the head is slightly abnormally placed and there is no way that lamb is coming out by itself and I’m going to need to use both hands. This means letting her back on her feet as I go get the rest of the toolkit (and more gloves). The Assistant Midwife will need to feed the lambs before she can come assist me.

There’s a really nifty device called a gambrel. Just a shaped piece of plastic that sits over the ewe’s neck and has two hooks to put her front legs in. Sheep can’t stand up very well from that position so it’s a wonderful, safe restraint when you’re by yourself.

I haven’t needed to use one this year so far (I’ve had the Assistant Midwife to assist…) but it sits in the Lamb Bag ready for service.

Gambrel in place, gloves on, it’s time to try and extricate these lambs (because I’ve also double-checked the ewe’s tag number and her records say she’s having twins… she doesn’t look big enough!!)

The lamb’s head has its chin tucked in below the cervix and it’s meant that the poor ewe has been trying to push but only the lambs forehead has been aiming for the exit. Not a good way to get out…

I’m figuring this lamb is dead already. It hasn’t positioned itself properly and it’s not responding to my manipulations. The ewe’s vagina and cervix are a bit too tight – probably because she’s been trying a while and pressure hasn’t been applied in the right places by the outgoing lamb. I need to try get this lamb out before my fingers go numb from the pressure.

It takes a while but eventually I managed to get the lamb’s muzzle in the right place and I can feel one foot. But the other?? It sort of feels like the I’m feeling the second lambs jaw as well and besides not being good that two heads are trying to exit at the same time it makes me nervous of pulling on legs when it could be the legs of the second lamb.

But eventually I get the head out and clear. Then one front leg. I can’t feel the other foot at all and with rotation and careful hand movement I think that the other leg isn’t in position and that it’s actually the point of the shoulder I can feel and it’s jamming against the rim of the cervix, preventing the lamb coming forward.

Twist the lamb, lift the lamb, twist again and then it’s out.

Poor thing is definitely dead and has been for hours.

I go fishing for the second lamb I know is there – it will be dead but I just want to relieve this poor ewe and get her on her feet to recover.

A foot, a nose. Two feet.

The first glimpse of tippy toes and they’re black. I want to weep. No! Not a black one. ๐Ÿ™

This lamb is positioned correctly (a nose resting on two front feet) so is easier. The head pulls clear. I wipe its face and mouth. Stupidly useless, but a habit.

Pull the rest of the way and as its shoulders pull clear its head flops down and

it gasps.

It’s alive!!!!

In shock I quickly pull the lamb the rest of the way and then clear its mouth again as it lies there and shakes its head a little.

Oh my goodness.

Being careful not to break the umbilical cord too fast (don’t want to have that blood go to waste) the lamb is pulled clear and carefully placed in front of the ewe’s nose she can lick it.

Joy.

More rubbing of the lamb’s chest. The meconium staining – proof of a stressed lamb – is evident despite the fact the lamb is black.

And it’s a ewe lamb.

Gambrel is removed to allow the ewe to stand and bond properly with her lamb. Stressful births like this really can interfere with the bonding so the ewe and lamb are left to themselves while the tool kit is packed up.

Tonight, all three ewes are in the shed. Paris is in to help provide the Mothering Mentorship to the young black crossbred ewe who is still slightly vague about her lambs after the near-theft experience. And then the assisted ewe is also in a pen with her lamb – to aid recovery.

Meanwhile…… some pet lamb spam……

Lil’ Dude (L) and Tina (R) – always in motion LOL
Bibbi – growing like a weed

Postscript: when putting all the newborns into the database I realised that the mother of the ewe that needed assistance was Hermione. Which means that the young ewe is Grand Duchess Kimmy’s granddaughter. That’s some serious Lamb Thievery bloodlines right there. BUT That’s not all! This ewe doesn’t/shouldn’t have black in her bloodlines…. she should have had only white lambs. Who did she get her black gene from??? That’s my current mystery!!

* Paris – Show Queen, sister of Minty and Gilbert

LambMetrics – 14th August 2020

August 14, 2020 by Wendy Beer

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 4
Total Lambs Born: 50
Drysdale lambs (live total): 25
English Leicester lambs (live total): 16
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 5
Total Sets of Twins born: 15
Total Sets of Triplets born: 1
Total ewe lambs: 27
Total ram lambs: 23
Ewes lambed /76: 33  (43.4 %)
Lamb % : 136 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 5
Losses: 4 [lamb]; 0 [ewe]

Notable Midwifery tales:

Today was pretty straightforward. Yay!

First off was the “close encounter” with the wildlife on the morning rounds. We have heaps of Eastern Grey Kangaroos (no shortage here…….) but usually don’t get so close.

The wildlife stopped for a chat while on paddock rounds this morning.

Then we bring Anne/ “Tankerina” in for milking. Her lamb is stuffed full of milk and still only drinking off one side so we easily get 500-600ml each day (2 milkings) from the “unused” side of her udder. We’re impressed…!! LOL
Twin lambs will often stick to “their side” of the udder when there is plenty.

Udderly great.

Went looking for Hermione and her triplets at one stage….. the English Leicesters are pretty in love with going into the tractor shed when it rains and Hermione reckons she’s half EL so that totally counts. The wretches have made an absolute mess down the back behind the horse float – and now the lambs are being found regularly fast asleep on a “bed of wool” !! Great for when the weather is bad! The rotters. LOL

Hermione – making herself at home.

The morning was quite mild and the bees were absolutely loving the Philotheca sp. bush growing in the garden. Must be Spring. ๐Ÿ™‚

Here’s a newborn Drysdale lamb this evening – all wet and gooey still.

One of the older lambs (about 10 days old) came for a photo session this evening…. *mwah*

At the end of the day, when the ewes are back in their Night Paddock, it’s really nice to just walk through them and enjoy the calm.

LambMetrics – 13th August 2020

August 13, 2020 by Wendy Beer

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 1
Total Lambs Born: 46
Drysdale lambs (live total): 23
English Leicester lambs (live total): 14
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 5
Total Sets of Twins born: 14
Total Sets of Triplets born: 1
Total ewe lambs: 25
Total ram lambs: 21
Ewes lambed /76: 30  (39.4 %)
Lamb % : 140 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 5
Losses: 4 [lamb]; 0 [ewe]

Notable Midwifery tales:

Quiet day today with only one lamb born late in the afternoon – so I forgot to take a photo as I was rushing about with evening chores.

Good news: the ewe we’ve now named “Aunty P” who had the prolapse managed to get the insert out last night but all her bits are staying in so that was a welcome sight. If there’s no change then I will be able to let her out with the mumma ewes tomorrow. Phew.

Had my first dystocia in the Merino flock this morning – a maiden ewe who had her lamb die in utero and didn’t go into labour properly. Lamb was going rotten and took a bit to get out but it was done and she’ll be feeling much much better tonight.

A bit of wildlife noticed on my walk this morning

We’re still milking the “Tankerella” English Leicester ewe (her real name is Anne LOL). Twice today and her milk is going to Bibbi.

The black and white twins born yesterday are doing very well and are now in the main mumma’s paddock.

Fleece of day-old English Leicester lamb

And we’re a bit “photo-lite” today so here’s a pick of the black/white twin’s dad, Stirling.

Hopefully, more pics tomorrow!

LambMetrics – 2nd August 2020

August 2, 2020 by Wendy Beer

#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 1
Total Lambs Born: 5
Drysdale lambs (live total): 3
English Leicester lambs (live total): 2
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 0
Total Sets of Twins born: 2
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 3
Total ram lambs: 2
Ewes lambed /76: 3ย  (3.9 %)
Lamb % : 166 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 0
Losses: 0

Notable Midwifery tales:

Just the one Drysdale lamb born this evening. A sturdy young lad to a first time mum.

The Merino ewes have decided to also get going. And prove me wrong in the process. Usually twin-bearing ewes have a slightly shorter gestation so I was expecting the twinners to start first. Nope.ย  Three or four in the “Singles” mob.

Phone camera on max zoom…. not getting too close to these ones!

While I was doing evening rounds I noticed a few white “clumps” on the ground. Hmmm…. Not wool? Nope….

Down feathers?! So, I look up – in time to see a pair of Galahs whizz past – and then I see —

Someone has been cleaning house

… and saw feather-festooned bark around a hollow in a dead Red Stringybark.

Hopefully some baby Galahs soon!

LambMetrics – August 25th 2019

August 25, 2019 by Wendy Beer

No lambs born today!

Beautiful sunny day and all the girls had their legs crossed…!

But that didn’t stop me having a bit of a walk and finding other things to look at.

First up: A hard-working, termite-eating echidna

And then one of the natural springs was inspected. Really pleased to see them overflowing!

A lot of marshy-type area around them so that means some different plant species. Flowering at the moment are some Sundews. ๐Ÿ™‚

Hopefully, the ewes will not all wait until the expected rain on Wednesday!
Lamb pictures tomorrow??

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