Crutching time
With sheep you need to 'crutch' them. This is to clean up their backsides so the wool isn't stained as badly when they're shorn. As I intend to shear them on the onset of spring (late August), then they need to be crutched a month or two beforehand.
I'd originally wanted to do it last weekend, but with the rain, put it off.
Yesterday (Saturday) we shifted the sheep into the paddock closer to the shed and then herded them into the shed. I also took the opportunity to ring the lamb to transform him into a wether (sheep equivalent of eunuch) and also ring his tail so it gets shorter. This basically a small rubber grommet which cuts the blood suppy off to the part to be removed and in a while the part with drop off.

So here I am 'in action' and a photo of some the girls with a cold bum.


  ¶ 9:37 AM

  The rain came
Over the last few days we've had around 55mm of rain. Most fell on the Monday and Tuesday nights so the soil had a chance to soak it up.
The shed tank is pretty full now and the front dam has two ponds now trying to reach each other.


Another major event over the long weekend was the demise of The Colonel.
He'd gotten into a habit of charging Linda and myself when we moved the sheep to new 'cells' and once they were loose with the cattle he took it upon himself to annoy them as well. I'm sure he was the reason they went walkabout last week. And his harem only produced one lamb. The farmer we bought Brownie from suggested he might have Brucellosis which is a genital virus which can lead to infertility. He suggested we get rid of him and let the ewes go through two cycles before introducing another ram. He also had some Corridale sheep which look like a better deal than the merinos. The wool is easier to spin apparently and they carry more meat.

We inquired with one of the local auctioneers about selling him but the paperwork and certificates we'd have to provide made it look like a very costly exercise. Especially considering he only cost us $30 to purchase originally.

So we got him separated from the other sheep with an offer of food and then I caught him, tied his feet together and laid him on his side before I cut his throat. You have to careful you only cut blood vessels rather than his windpipe as you don't him drowning in his own blood. This was more like slashing your wrists in the bath.
His breath just became more labored and a final spasm and he was gone. Honestly I didn't want him to suffer.

Then we took him up the hill and buried him. Deep enough to prevent his carcase being discovered by foxes.

So the Colonel is no more. At least we don't have to worry about being attacked anymore and Polo (the alpaca) doesn't get hassled as much either.  ¶ 7:17 PM

  Another cow
We have bought another cow. She is a full blood Jersey cow, who alongside with Lady, will supply our future milk, cream, butter, and cheese.

Her name is Brownie but if you can think of better one let me know.

The owner is going to get back to us with her exact date of birth, but you can see in the photos, she appears to be a similar age to our Murray Greys who were born early this Feburary.


Brownie outside.


Brownie inside the shed.


Sandy (or Curly), Star and Brownie (left to right).  ¶ 3:46 PM

  Archived Posts/Photos
In the past the archived pages didn't display the included photos properly because I'd used a relative address when referencing them. I've changed all the image references now to complete addresses and so all the photos appear OK whether it's a recent posting or an older archived one.

Enjoy.  ¶ 10:43 AM