We started by adding a couple of 4-H lambs. My kids bought some Suffolk crosses from a local feedlot and we began fattening. A new experience when we have previously sold our animals as breeding stock or pets...
We also added a pig into the mix....
The pig was hopefully going to provide us with bacon babies but she ended up with a hernia... So scratch that and now she is destined for our freezer.
Which the kids aren't too sad about.... Pigs are not their favorite.
And then we started lambing and kidding....
We were off to a decent start and then our oldest ewe Stella was dry with twins.
After a Hail Mary and lots of prayers she got her milk in 2 days later.
Then it was a ram year.... Enough said.
And finally the ewe that always has a little trouble (too big of lambs) went into labor. And more labor and more labor. And finally her water broke and the lamb was stuck. A single that was way too big.
The vet got it out and it was dead and a ewe lamb.
That's the swelling we are still dealing with.... Breeding her May not be an option.
And then shearing we lost Stella. Broken femur.
That was a tough loss. 2 lambs left to bottle feed. Lead sheep. Always calm never lost her head babysitter. She was shown at the canadian classic and did well. I put her in with my first time lambert and she always made sure the lambs were cleaned off.
And then.... Abscess heaven. 4 ewes with face and midline abscesses and then pinkeye in 1 ewe who we got quarantined in what looks like the nick of time because no one else seems to have gotten it. And a large hematoma on a ewe.
Lots of lessons learned. Experience gained. Ready to move on to a less exciting summer!
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