Wednesday 19 January 2011

Scanning results

One of the problems of having an 8 month pregnant wife is that she has to stay away from the sheep and can't chase after them in the usual manner.  this afternoon we had to get the sheep indoors to get scanned.  We managed to get most in but I had to man handle the last 5 across the courtyard.  Just getting them in as the guys arrived scanner in tow.

Remember we sponged the ewes and the tups were only in for a week so we were expecting some to be barren.

the results were:

11 Singles
18 Twins
6 Triplets
12 Barren

Probably more barren than we would have hoped for but it looks as if one of the jacob shearlings wasn't working (all 3 of his were not in lamb).

Not sure what the breakdown is between the 3 flocks; (Jacob; cheviot & allsorts) as I was too busy pushing them towards the scanner!  So will run them through the race at the weekend and check and seperate them ready for the different feeding regimes.

Of course I need to decide what to do with those not in lamb but I suspect most will stay in the flock.

Sunday 16 January 2011

Caithness Craft Collective

Having just listened to myself being 'interviewed' by our friend Louise for her caithness craft collective blog I thought I better write something!!


Well, a lot of weather has happened since my last post.  Along with the rest of the country we have had to cope with weeks on end of stubborn snow.  It took its toll on the flock as well. We have lost 3 sheep!

First was a two horn tup that we bred 3 years ago and look after for friends who have owned it for the last two years.  I have learned over the last few years that by the time you have spotted something  is obviously wrong the cause will be fairly advanced.  The tup really was just hanging back from the others and not coming readily to the trough.  the day before he died I was checking him as I was concerned and he had enough energy to keep out of reach other than whe nhe charged me and the torch!!  our friends had an autopsy conducted and a virus on the lung had gone to the heart.

The next was the thinnest of our ewes.  we had been feeding the four thinnest ewes daily but after a month or so she just gave up.

Lastly one of our lambs. We didn't sell all of our lambs sept - oct which means we still have 20 or so left.  The lamb we lost probably died with a mineral deficiency.  Again with the snow not clearing although the lambs had access to hay and water  it became obvious that one in particular was struggling with a number having very dirty back ends.  We immediately brought them indoors with the lamb in question too weak to walk needing to be carried in.   They were all fed hay and creep but after 2 days the lamb that gave us concern gave up.  Very sad and disappointing.  The lambs were kept in for another two days and with the weather breaking we put the lambs and the three 'thin' ewes in the paddock with newly sown grass and of course hay.  They are all getting extra rations and having decided to sell tem as 'store' in early february sale at Quoybrae I got them all in this weekend and checked them over.  nothing world breaking but they are all alot healthier; and the 'thin' ewes are all body score 3.5; some sort of success.  Have spoken to our local scanning contractor so just waiting for a date for the scanning now.

Next update likely to be following scanning date.  Lambing due to start on 25th March.  not long now!