Comments on: lambing - extreme multi-tasking

By: eyegillian

eyegillian — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:32:15 +0000

Thanks for the information, Paula — I will definitely see if I can find grass-raised lamb!

By: paula

paula — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:58:29 +0000

Enjoy your Easter lamb Gillian and appreciate every mouthful!

I hope you don’t mind me using your comment to illustrate a widely believed misconception about traditional Easter lamb.

‘New Season’ lamb at Easter is born in November/December and therefore will more than probably have been barn raised (indoors) on cereals and not grass fed - grass doesn’t grow during the winter months in northern countries – though it can be slightly different in Mediterranean-type climates. Grass raised lamb would be older - last years lamb (hogget) - which winter outside on what available grass there is, conserved forage and maybe root crops or kale. These are generally slow maturing native breeds where the flavour improves with time. They are delicious and preferable in many ways.

Ask about your lamb before you buy it and if you can try to avoid the so called early ‘new season’ lamb (real new season lamb will be ready by the end of July or August from sustainable farming systems).

By: paula

paula — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:28:54 +0000

Yes a wee bit weary - but will not doubt have recouped before the house bulges for Easter, which is far too early.

I may well hold you to your very generous offer Jane…fantastic!

By: paula

paula — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:26:25 +0000

Sheep can get listeriosis which can cause inflammation of the brain, or gid, which is a tapeworm cyst, that happens to settle in the brain. Of course there is also brain tumour. If listeriosis is caught very early it can be treated with antibiotics though this is not always successful. Brain tumours and gid cannot be treated.

This may be obvious - but sheep can easily get stuck on their backs with the weight of wool preventing them from righting themselves. Could it have been that possibly?

By: paula

paula — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:09:41 +0000

Thanks mootia…looking forward to turn out i must say - only six weeks or so to go!

By: eyegillian

eyegillian — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:13:31 +0000

Wow, what fascinating wretchedly bone-weary work — I really appreciate your detailed explanation! I’m planning to buy some local lamb for Easter; now that I have some idea of the work that’s gone into raising it, I will chew veeery slowly and thankfully!

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:36:15 +0000

You must be nacked! Thanks for all the info above… I’ve often wondered about lambing when I drive past fields of bouncy lambs at this time of year. I’m such a heathen! Lots of things I didn’t know. If you ever need that CCTV just let me know and I’ll come and fix it up for you

By: Liz Jamieson

Liz Jamieson — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:27:56 +0000

There are usually 40 or 50 sheep in the field next to my garden (or actually in my garden - the farmer next door doesn’t have fences). Today there was only one. It was lying on its side, and kicking its legs wildly, then lying still, then kicking again. Its head was shaking from side to side and it was clearly in distress.

I called the farmer an hour ago, who owns the sheep. He said he’d come to ‘take it away’ and that it probably had meningitis.

By: Mootia

Mootia — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:45:58 +0000

Well done - nearly over; and then you can sleep for England safe in the knowledge that you have helped your girls (ewes and cows) to the best of your ability….and you’ll have all those lambs and calves out in the fields (soon) to look on with pride - what an achievement! Congrats. for the twin heifers, btw….