Our first tragedy

We lost our first lamb today.

Well not the first lamb or the second, but the latest expected lamb.
The mum had been waddling about for the last few days so we were expecting the birth any day now.

This morning when I was feeding the sheep (some lucerne chaff as a supplement) I noticed the count was down one ewe and so went looking for her.

I found her on her side and her lamb still half way out.

Mum was still alive but her lamb was already dead.

So I pulled the lamb and the afterbirth out, and rolled mum onto her feet and she got up and staggered down to the feed trough to join the others.

So maybe, if I'd got up on the hour through the night I might have found and helped them both (Lindas suggestion) we'd have them both.
But in my defence we've been expecting this birth for the last few days, so I would have had to miss lots of sleep.

And maybe it was a difficult birth because it was late. The lamb appears to be bigger already than the last lamb we had.

Who knows.

At least we didn't lose mother and daughter.  ¶ 8:38 AM

  Sometimes you've just got to do it
As much as I'm enjoying myself here on the farm, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.
Lady and Patch were dehorned by the sellers after they'd been with us a few months and now it was Brownies turn.

At first I tried to squib out and rang the vet about it, but he claimed he didn't have any dehorning equipment and suggested I get back in touch when I did.

So I ordered a gadget and then thinking about it, decided I didn't need to pay an $80 flagfall for the vet to do my dirty work.

So this morning I got Linda up early (8AM on a Saturday) and we went in and harnessed Brownie up with a rope halter (which we'd originally got with Lady and Patch) and once she was sort of limited in her escape moves, clipped her horn buds off.

Unfortunately this also involves takes a scoop out of her head and was a bit bloody which is why you'll see no photos of her for a while. Her poor ol' face is lacquered this afternoon with blood which will stay with her until the next day in the rain.

I had actually been putting it off for a dry weekend as there's less chance of infection if it can stay dry and clot properly, so it was definitely the time to do it.



One possible problem is that one side might not have been completely removed , so we're hoping we don't end up with a cow with one horn. If we had to remove that we'd have to have her confined in a cattle crush as she just be bigger and heavier.

Also the previous night the calves decided they wanted to stay out with the big cows and had a night outside. Wouldn't come for their night feed.

This afternoon was a challenge getting them separated from the big cows as they don't trust me for some reason ;), but we eventually did get them isolated from Lady and Patch and could give them a feed.

Lady and Patch have forgiven me, and I dare say Brownie will too one day, but it won't be soon.

P.S. The reasons for dehorning is so they don't hurt each other or we humans.
Sandy and Star are polled (no horns by genetics) and so it isn't an issue for them.

Poll Herefords == Hereford cattle with no horns.
Poll Dorset == hornless Dorset sheep.
Poor Brownie == Poor Brownie.  ¶ 5:42 PM

  TK struggles through Winter
Here he is trying to keep warm in front of the fire.
  ¶ 2:21 PM

  Lamb photos

Here are some more photos of our lambs.


Mother and lamb


March born lamb (ram) and latest lamb and her mum.  ¶ 6:45 PM

  1.5mm rain, NO eggs and a new lamb

The lambing must have only recently happened (this morning) as the afterbirth is still hanging out the back of mum.



P.S. It's a girl.  ¶ 7:44 AM

  July Morning
A layer of frost this morning and when I went down to the gate to let the calves and cows to get together there was a lovely mist rising.

  ¶ 7:17 PM