#LAMBMETRICS for the day
Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks
Born today: 4
Total Lambs Born: 54
Drysdale lambs (live total): 27
English Leicester lambs (live total): 18
English Leicester X lambs (live total): 5
Total Sets of Twins born: 17
Total Sets of Triplets born: 1
Total ewe lambs: 28
Total ram lambs: 27
Ewes lambed /76: 35 (46.0 %)
Lamb % : 143 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 5
Losses: 4 [lamb]; 0 [ewe]
Notable Midwifery tales:
Today started off with drama as we discovered Aunty P (the ewe who had prolapsed last week) was lying flat and not in a good way. All other chores were dropped while we spent time getting her back on her feet.
This was followed by finding a merino ewe in a poorly condition after lambing twins. She couldn’t get up, the foxes killed her twins and she’s very sick and miserable. A trip on the little grey Fergie tractor and she safe in the shed but I’m not entirely sure what her malady is and as a result have just thrown “everything” at it and am hoping something works. She may not survive the night. š
Of course there was a trifecta…..
After dealing with those two dramas I got back to checking a set of twin English Leicesters born last night. And discovered two big, healthy looking lambs but the mother only wants the ewe lamb. So, into a pen with her with the lambs and employed a few tricks which seem to have helped a bit but she’s Jekyl/Hyde with the ram lamb.
I put Hermione in next to her as a demonstration of how to count past ONE. Not sure if it is working though! She’s not killing him (yet) but at least he’s had some colostrum. Will reassess in the morning.
Meanwhile: wildlife! (Our resident echidna that hangs about the hay and feed sheds)
Finally received the ear tags for the lambs so I spent a while this afternoon catching a few random lambs and tagging them. So at least I got to cuddle lambs in the sunshine which was a nice change from the morning!
Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures … so here’s a pic of Bibbi & Bobbi to tide you over until tomorrow. š
