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LambMetrics – September 6th, 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 4
Total Lambs Born: 55
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 31
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: 30
Ewes lambed /68: 43 (63.2 %)
Lamb % : 125 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 7
Losses: 1

Notable Midwifery tales:

Remember Hermione the Lambnapper who was taking after her mother yesterday?

Just after the blog posted last night she had her lamb. 🙂

Hermione and her strapping young lad

Today was supposed to be easy….. yeah, right.

This year we’re really trying to make sure the lambs are getting enough milk so we pretty much have them under a microscope – and analysing each move they make (or don’t). The downside is several more getting “top-up” bottles during the day.

Today saw a few heavy showers come through and about lunchtime (bottle time) the lambs were fed but one English Leicester lamb was missing. After 15-20 minutes of looking behind sheds, under the tractor in the shed (favourite spot!) in the nettles patches, under fences, behind woodpiles it was looking increasingly like it had vanished into thin air. Maybe it was taken by an eagle was one thought.

Then, the thought that maybe it had squeezed through the gate into the feed shed while it was raining. Walk in… no….. then turn around and…

Smart lamb, staying dry and making his mother/s freak out

The mother was very pleased to see him. He needs a top-up bottle though (one reason why he was feeling a bit frail and hid himself away).

Meanwhile, while the searching was going on it was noticed that the neighbour’s young cattle had got through the fence and were in our paddock! Once the lambs had been sorted out it was up the hill to move sheep out of the way so the cattle could be collected. (The sheep were a little bemused – “we just moved in here yesterday!”)  The cattle thought this was a wonderful idea and ran around exploring. I left the neighbour to do the cattle wrangling – and I headed home for a late lunch!

After a quick dash to town to post some orders it was time to clean pens and check on a pet ewe that had looked like she was “ready”.

Chores were done, English Leicesters were rearranged but there was still no lambs from “Miss Piggy”. A few alarm bells were ringing as she was watched walking around the paddock. She wasn’t going to be easy to get into the shed so she was caught in the paddock and with the 2nd shepherdess holding the mother’s “hand” a quick exam determined that Miss Piggy was indeed “ready” but the lamb at the door was trying to be born breech (hocks first in this case) and the placenta was already trying to come with it (that’s not good). Thankfully, no-one takes photos while the shepherdess has arm-length obstetric gloves on with her hand inserted to manipulate a lamb!

The lamb’s legs were moved so that the toes would come first and then it was pulled pretty easily. It was alive! It was placed in front of Miss Piggy and she immediately started to lick it which is a very important instinctive behaviour for lamb-mother bonding and for the external stimulation of the lamb.

Miss Piggy has had twins previously and our standard procedure when doing an intervention is to always check for a twin. There was a twin.

This twin was in correct birthing position and a bit further “back” in the uterus. Normally it would be fine to leave the ewe to deliver the second lamb but with darkness approaching and being unsure how long everything else had taken it was decided to extract the second. That turned out to be a good decision as the second lamb was showing signs of stress – it had done a poo whilst in utero. Being jammed up behind your brother is common across the species…. 😉

Both lambs were a good size and Miss Piggy is a great mum. 🙂 (She’s not a Drysdale or a English Leicester, she’s actually a Composite (a crossbred with lots of breeds in it!)).

LambMetrics – September 5th, 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 6
Total Lambs Born: 51
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 27
English Leicester lambs (live total): 23
Total Sets of Twins born: 11
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 23
Total ram lambs: 28
Ewes lambed /68: 40 (58.8 %)
Lamb % : 125 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 6
Losses: 1

Notable Midwifery tales:

May as well get the bad news out of the way – the sick English Leicester lamb passed away overnight. 🙁 When we went over for the late feed there was improvement and we went to bed more hopeful but, as so often happens, it was the final “rally” before the end. His mum is upset but she’s moved on from standing over him so she’s doing okay (Have had Drysdale ewes want to stand over the lamb for days.)

But! It wasn’t all bad. The good news was that the other lambs that were worrying us last night are all okay! Lambs are being fed and the lamb with the odd shoulder and “ad hoc bandage” is able to get itself up and about and feeding well.

After the bottle-feeding and the initial checks of a newborn lamb it was on to check the rest of the lambs. Bedlam!

The Nursery

Then it was a quick walk across the paddock to the flock of Merino and Castledale ewes to shift them into a new paddock. Only had to call once and they came running.

Waiting at the gate.

There was a fair bit of skipping and jumping when they went through the gate. They are relishing not having “grown-up responsibilities” this year!

By lunchtime there were three more ewes that had lambed – two sets of twins and a single. All English Leicester.

This evening though was when the fun started. The first thing noticed upon arrival for evening feed and chores was that the young, black, English Leicester ewe (pictured above) had “lost” her lamb….. It had been lambnapped!

When her “Imperial Highness” Kimmy passed away at the start of the year (at the Grand age of 14) we thought the serious lambnapping days were over.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Hermione* has now decided to take up the mantle that was laid down by her mother, Kimmy. (Family tradition – Kimmy’s mother was a thief too!)

Separating the desperate mother-to-be, Hermione, from the timid, bewildered first-time mother was tricky. The young ewe wouldn’t follow her lamb well enough but Hermione would. So, it ended up that the first course of action was to use the lamb to get Hermione up and out of the paddock.

“Noooooooooo…. my babeeeeeeeee” Not.

Once the lambnapper was removed from the scene the lamb was returned to its mother who was a bit unsure about the whole drama. Unfortunately, Hermione had been licking the lamb (and letting it drink!) which puts her scent on the lamb and which puts the actual mother off believing it’s hers!

The young ewe was left to re-bond with her lamb and the next procedure was to stop Hermione stealing the other newborn from the morning! And she was determined! Again, we had to use that newborn to tempt Hermione into the pens in the shed as well as get the actual mother in as well. That ewe, a maiden Drysdale, was also a bit confused but she was more strongly bonded than the black ewe so it was easier. They were tucked into a pen at one end of the shed and Hermione was firmly placed into a pen at the other end. If she’s anything like her mother she will have a lamb tonight or tomorrow.

Hermione looking wistfully at lambs that Could Be Hers.

Getting the young, black ewe up to the shed for penning overnight was a test of patience. She isn’t as quiet as the rest of the girls and they normally follow you quite well if you’re carrying the lamb. Not this one. Took strategic person-placement and judicious use of shed-friendly ewes (ie. one of the ones whose lambs are being bottle-fed) to get her into the shed for some quiet bonding time.

The night-time check is about happen so stay tuned for tomorrow’s episode! 😉

* Hermione is English Leicester X Drysdale, along with her twin brother – Harry. She has had 2 previous pregnancies.

LambMetrics – September 4th, 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 3
Total Lambs Born: 45
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 26
English Leicester lambs (live total): 19
Total Sets of Twins born: 9
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 20
Total ram lambs: 25
Ewes lambed /68: 36 (52.9 %)
Lamb % : 125 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 6
Losses: 0

Notable Midwifery tales:

A teeny tiny

Only three lambs born today but it’s been a little rough – as opposed to plain sailing.

In good news – one of the sets of twins that started on the bottle yesterday because their mum was “deficient” in the colostrum department seem to now be getting enough and her milk seem to be coming through. Yay!

And the other lambs taking the bottle are very sweet – as you’d expect.

“Feeeeeed me. Again.”

The not-so-good aspect of the day involve a first-time mother that seems to have had a lamb which is perhaps a bit prem/dopey/NotQuiteRight and it won’t accept assistance from me and I’m not sure the mum is doing her thing properly. That may not end well. Nature sucks sometimes.

Then there was a lamb born this morning and seemed all okay but this evening has presented with possibly a damaged shoulder. ?! Argh. An attempt has been made to try and strap it but it’s all a bit shonky. Fingers crossed on that one.

But the worst thing was finding a week-old English Leicester lamb (male) who is sick. Seemed fine last night but it’s very sick and has a poor prognosis despite antibiotics. Nature sucks sometimes. 🙁  7-14 days old seems to be a fraught time – one reason I try watch them very carefully. Unfortunately, prey animals like sheep hide illness very well and lambs can be very fragile. (Sometimes they are as tough as nails too… it’s a weird thing.)

Hoping tomorrow brings some slightly better scenes!

Anyone for milk?

LambMetrics – September 3rd, 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born 30/8 – today: 8
Total Lambs Born: 42
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 23
English Leicester lambs (live total): 19
Total Sets of Twins born: 9
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 18
Total ram lambs: 24
Ewes lambed /68: 33 (48.5 %)
Lamb % : 127 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 5
Losses: 0

Notable Midwifery tales:

Latest evening addition

Just about halfway now and they’re starting to come in a bit of a rush again!

The Drysdale ewes are quietly just popping them out (mostly single-births). The odd one has needed just a little assistance to get the lamb out (thankfully, all the positions have been right) but all have mothered up with no issues and are milking well.

I won’t name names but some of the English Leicesters are letting the side down. A bunch of older ewes (that weren’t bred here) and all have lovely big udders that are NOT brimming full of milk. Alas. Those girls all had twins too….! As of tonight we’re now supplementing FOUR sets of twins on the bottle. A tiny bit Less Than Impressed!!


The good news is that the rest of them are doing their job admirably and have bouncy, growing lambs to show for it.  Including, our only black superfine merino ewe who had a lovely little ram lamb yesterday, sired by the English Leicester stud ram. Hanging around the English Leicesters has at least paid off for her in terms of temperament – she followed her lamb into the shed for the night and was able to enjoy all the associated Room Service amenities. Good girl, Panda!

Panda and son

LambMetrics – September 1st, 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born 30/8 – today: 8
Total Lambs Born: 34
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 20
English Leicester lambs (live total): 14
Total Sets of Twins born: 7
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 16
Total ram lambs: 18
Ewes lambed /68: 27 (39.7 %)
Lamb % : 126 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 4
Losses: 0

Notable Midwifery tales:

Lamb-wise, things calmed for a couple of days but back to four ewes lambing today. Glad to be getting them whittled down.

Currently, there are two sets of twins (English Leicester) on the bottle due to their mums having insufficient milk. That’s making a bit of work (and taking up time) but they’ve responded well at this stage. This issue is one reason why we tend to pen overnight the new mums to make sure the lambs are getting sufficient milk. It also helps make them all very calm and relaxed about such behaviour.
One of the ewes is older than we realised, the other is the “wide load” ewe who featured on Instagram a few weeks ago. Will try get photos of those lambs tomorrow – forgot this afternoon as we raced to get new lambs in the shed as a thunderstorm hit! (The shed is a little full!)

One of the “newbies” this morning. This lamb shows the classic “half ‘n’ half” wool type when the Drysdale is crossed with a different wool type!
Another newborn White Suffolk X Drysdale lamb

Slightly sombre note: there was a newborn English Leicester lamb this afternoon as we rushed to get them in the shed. There’s something Not Quite Right with him, we fear. Have a horrible feeling his mother may have stood on him and damaged him internally.  🙁  If that has happened then there won’t be anything we can do. At least he is sheltered and he’s been given a dose of Lamboost, which is a special supplement to help newborn lambs.
Will be checking on him very shortly when the bottle-bubs get their late night feed. Fingers crossed?? Hopefully the stats above won’t have any “Losses” added tomorrow. We’ve done really well so far to have not lost anything. (There are always some losses but doesn’t make us feel any better to know that. Would prefer zero!)

LambMetrics – August 29, 2019

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#LAMBMETRICS for the day

Drysdale & English Leicester Flocks

Born today: 6
Total Lambs Born: 26
Drysdale lambs (live total): [no purebreds in 2019]
DrysdaleX lambs (total): 16
English Leicester lambs (live total): 10
Total Sets of Twins born: 6
Total Sets of Triplets born: 0
Total ewe lambs: 12
Total ram lambs: 14
Ewes lambed /68: 20 (29.4 %)
Lamb % : 130 % [live]
Assisted/Dystocias: 3
Losses: 0

Notable Midwifery tales:

Ex-bottle babies, Cindy and NotSquishy come for a chat and cuddle.

It’s starting to get to the Critical Mass stage now. (Also called “Chasing Your Tail”) Where the number of new lambs starts to blur slightly when you still have ewe/lambs in the shed due to issues that mean you want to keep an eye on them. The Shepherdess’s state of mind suffers slightly too when it’s realised a tag number has been recorded incorrectly or a ewe’s tag and so the subsequent tags are affected! Argh!

“Ewe lookin’ at my lamb??!”
“Use your brother as a show jump”
Camouflage twins

One of the set of twins that was born yesterday (pictured above) is being supplemented due to their mum not appearing to have quite enough milk at this stage. Hopefully her milk will come in over the next few days!

“Ready to go outdoors, Mum!”

Other dramas including an English Leicester ewe who decided to turn on her lamb when the Shepherdess put a coat on it because it was shivering a bit! Unfortunately, the ewe head butted the lamb then fell on it in her haste to try and knock it over. Fingers crossed the lamb will be okay. Poor thing was a wee bit miserable after that (and yes, the coat was taken off and the pair put back in the shed.) Have never had a problem really before with the ewes not accepting the lambs wearing coats but this year have now had two ewes turn on their lambs. A real nuisance!

One maiden Drysdale ewe needed a little bit of a hand this afternoon. Being new to the midwifery unit she didn’t realise she was supposed to stay still while the lamb is assisted. This meant that a restraint needed to be employed to relieve her of the “obstruction”. Usually something more commonly used with the Merino ewes rather than the Drysdales. (Merino ewes being notoriously bad mothers)
Once the lamb had been delivered safely it was placed in front of the ewe so she could start the bonding process by licking it. It didn’t happen instantly – not uncommon with assisted births – so the restraints are important to stop the ewe running away and abandoning the lamb. As can be seen below, she loves her lamb now!