2022 Waiting on Lambs Journal

[SA Farm]

2yr olds have issues, while yearlings tend not to. Funny, because most of the pet/hobby people are against yearling births, but they tend to do better than 2yr olds. How, why? Idk.

My theory is that yearlings are more flexible and even being a little smaller may be beneficial as it could prevent the lamb(s) from too many acrobatics.
I think pet/hobby people tend to put too many human emotions/hang ups on their animals.
In nature, they breed when they’re ready. Many animals can and will choose if they want to conceive or not and will absorb/abort/etc if something is wrong. Too much human interference with nature tends to make things harder on animals, not easier (IMO). Just look at all the ones that can’t reproduce (like BB turkeys) or give birth without a c-section (like Pugs) because they were made that way by humans

I’m not saying that interfering is wrong or that waiting until ewes are older to breed isn’t just fine if that’s what you want to do. Just that I, personally, prefer things as natural as possible as much as possible.

 

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Had to do electrical work first. By the time I could go back out to band, it was no longer safe/easy to separate testicles from intestines, so I double banded for a short scrotum ram & he'll be food next winter.
Such a shame.

 

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Long day, had field fires because of power poles.


The ram is pooping & should find a home that's willing to get him surgery to make him a healthy pet.




Patchie still holding out.

 

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Bit late, but they are tagged now. They'll go out with the others tomorrow!

 

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2nd group went out this morning.

I am awful at guessing lambing times this year...been wrong each time. Lol. Still waiting on Patchie.


Fossa eweling has a short tail & looks to have the elusive wide spaced, straight front legs! Pretty much impossible to tell conformation on lambs, so, will have to just wait n see.

 

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Looks like Patchie will be 9 this year. She's noticeably slowing this pregnancy, so, I'm thinking next year will be her last.
Thin this time, too. Opened the last 2 paddocks with a little grass. Everyone except her are going down there to graze most of the time, so she's getting feed all to herself. Has hay, but not mush room in there for bulky hay. Lol



Icarus' ramling.
Lots of head white, but none elsewhere. Spotted tongue, though. Dad is heavily spotted. Mom is out of a spot carrier ewe. Mom also has a head mark & obviously the gene.
Is he spotted though?

 

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