The reality of farming
I’ve only had hands on experience with sheep for a brief time. Since beginning to lamb back in January, there have been many successful births and lambs now happily gambolling in the fields. But, there have also been many sad moments.
Herbert, the first lamb I delivered, succumbed after a few days. He seemed to have an issue with his stomach somewhere around his umbilical cord. He gradually declined.
Unfortunately, you never really know what the root cause was.
Then there was Dot Dot. Her story has a happy ending - she’s out in the field with her twin lambs. It was touch and go initially as one lamb, in particular, had issues. Some extra TLC and a couple of enemas seemed to help. Both lambs put on weight and started to thrive.
Dot Dot and I formed a bond. She was my pal, following me around the shed. I still miss her.
Here’s Blossom and her brother the day after they were born. The tup has grown well but Blossom struggled to put on weight. Phil thinks that the tup might have been getting most of the milk. Blossom had a difficult birth so it’s possible that there were underlying issues from the beginning.
Then we had Dolly who came back to the farm with a blood covered face and damaged eye. We think she was attacked by crows when she was vulnerable. I nursed her for several days, fed her by hand, held a bucket of water for her. She began to improve. While she’s still not out of the woods, she’s in the orchard enjoying the grass with her two lambs. The grass will do her good and, already, she’s trotting about.
I have shed tears at various points. Phil might think I wouldn’t be a great farmer but I’ve maintained from the beginning that love, compassion and lots of TLC win the day. Dolly might not have made it if I hadn’t tended to her. I appreciate that a farmer with hundreds of sheep doesn’t always have the time, and sometimes has to take a pragmatic approach and let nature take its course.
I’ve adopted the philosophy that I’ll do my best for as long as I can.
When everything goes to plan, the ewes and lambs are put out in a field. And then you don’t see them again for a while. The ones that need extra help, and ultimately might not make it, are the ones that remain on the farm for longer. You spend more time with them.
Along the way, you get attached. You fall in love with these animals. You root for them. When they don’t make it, you’re heart broken.