the first 2010 set of twins
SBS, discombobulating knee or whatever…the show goes on. Nature waits for nothing; certainly no woman!
the first of twins born on Saturday
So in the cycle of things that are total certainties we began lambing on Saturday with calving hot on its heels. To say that I was dreadfully unsure as to how I’d manage this vital part of the farming calendar is an understatement – I’ve taken myself rather for granted over the years. But the human brain and body is nothing if not inventive. So with the stoic and long-suffering help of Olly and Robert there’s a new order emerging!
Lambing is not such a problem and can be approached sitting on the ground in a pair of thick waterproof trousers using a variety of interestingly contorted ‘yogic’ positions. Once the ewe and her brood are penned the same technique can be used for popping lambs onto the teat if the need arises – though Olly is proving a dab hand at this. Tagging, tailing and castrating? No probs – perch on the side of the pen/ask an Olly. Feet? An indispensible Olly is needed here as he is for post lambing drenching.
oh so sweet....
Calving is altogether a different kettle of fish, with absolutely no contorting-ground-sitting substitute sanctioned.
Last night our first calf was born – from a young first-calving heifer. Luckily there was no particular problem, she was just taking her time, so, I decided, she was an ideal candidate for ‘the boys’ to learn on. Trying to explain how to attach calving ropes while standing outside the calving pen is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. It took every ounce of self-control not to vault the gates, get in there and show them!
You should have seen us! Me, with my face, hands and arms involuntarily mimicking vastly exaggerated actions of my explanations….‘That’s it, that’s it. Put your hand in…no, no right in, right in!’ (my arm snakes out) Yes that’s it…and feel, feel. Eyes shut, eyes shut! You can feel better.’ (my eyes squeeze tightly shut as my hand and fingers turn and feel the imaginary legs and head) ‘The second joint…you want to get the rope well over the second joint.’ (I slip the imaginary rope over the hoof and position it) ‘Don’t forget to check the head’s still lined up! (I twist my arm to feel over my holographic (I wish) head and second leg) Yup, pull, gentle, gently’ and so on and so on.
Then there’s one rather shocked bloke trying to grab the now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t-foot staring at me with bug-eyed concentration whilst the other bloke, equally mesmerised, holds desperately onto the heifer’s tail crooning, soothing and smoothing. It was quite the stuff of slapstick!
The heifer was extremely patient and tolerant with her learners seeing that this was the first time for her too, and in due course a beautiful heifer calf was born – bright, lusty and healthy.
first female calf born to heifer Lapis
We all went to bed happy and contented.
ahhhh.....
Locks Park Farm 
18 comments
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February 24, 2010 at 9:03 pm
colouritgreen
we’ve had our first lambs too – only with ok knees on our part 🙂
hope you get through this season ok. Sounds like an Olly is a must on any smallholding 🙂
February 25, 2010 at 10:31 am
paula
hey nick – good to catch up with you. Love the new colour of lambs you’re turning out!
Yeah, knee is a bit of a bind, but I’m hoping for miracles and back to climbing mountains by the summer…
Take care and god lambing!
February 25, 2010 at 8:01 am
Lindsay
Lovely photos – be careful of that knee!
February 25, 2010 at 10:36 am
paula
I’m trying, trying soooo hard to respect it – but it’s difficult. Back to hospital today for x-rays, surgeon look-see etc; physio begins tomorrow….running (or even driving) maybe an achievable goal sometime in the not too distant future!!!!!
February 25, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Michelle in NZ
Mama ewe and her babies look beyond cute – what is the sheep breed? And little heifer is very huggable. I know they wiil all be some where safe and cosy at your farm.
Well done to your blokes. Please go easy on that knee so it can heal gently and heal well. Oh – replace the term SBS with “Brain Fade”, happens to many of us (like me putting the toaster away, with the freshly made toast still in the slots)
Take care and enjoy every sign of Spring that appears for you,
Michelle and Zebbycat in an NZ late Summer, xxx and purrrrrumbles
February 27, 2010 at 8:24 pm
paula
They do have the ‘ahhh’ factor don’t they. They’re Whiteface Dartmoors, indigenous to Dartmoor and one of the oldest domesticated breeds.
Yes the assistant midwives are doing well and progressing in leaps and bounds…though I believe they’ll be very happy when I’m back in full working order!
Take care there in NZ. My family in Napier have all just come down with flu, poor things.
Thanks for all your thoughts.
February 25, 2010 at 12:16 pm
LittleFfarm Dairy
Hi Paula –
lovely lambs…exquisite heifer calf, what an absolute beauty! You must be so proud (& not only of the calf – of her mum & of the ‘L’ Plate ‘Midwives’…!)
Our first lamb was born a week last Saturday & is a lovely, robust little chap. Just as I was about to head off to Aberystwyth yesterday for a packed itinerary of workshops, meetings etc one of the first-time ewes went into labour…fortunately the birth was straightforward & the single ram lamb was soon up on his feet & had got the hang of the Milk Bar. Mind you he must’ve been one of the ugliest lambs I’ve ever seen: small, neat head but with huge floppy ears & eyebrows bigger than those on a Spitting Image puppet of Ted Heath (poor wee chap).
After lambing outside with 100% success last year we decided to follow suit this year, so long as the weather remained mild & not too wet; we’ve found the resultant lambs seem to grow so much better & are far more robust than their indoor counterparts.
I hurried home yesterday evening, arriving in the last remains of dusk to find that the new mum & her baby were doing very well; he was capering about & feeding regularly whilst sticking close to the ewe; & she was extremely attentive & dedicated. Check again, two hours later; all fine & quiet with the flock settled for the night.
Venturing out a couple of hours later (‘Lambwatch’ deeming checks every two hours throughout night & day where possible) I was immediately aware that all was not well….
Distressed bleats echoed down the valley. Cursing quietly I gathered up stout gloves, powerful lamp & lightweight neck crook; suspecting that the ‘usual suspect’ hogget had got his thick fleece & greedy face wedged in the hedge again (there’s always one).
But I was wrong.
It was the ewe, calling in distress for her lamb – who (in spite of those massive eyebrows) had made it clear from the moment he was born that he had a fine set of working lungs complete with a Welsh tenor’s vocal chords to match. She cried out…
The empty air felt like a vaccuum without his responding baby’s warble; I could feel my heart tightening in my chest.
I scoured the field; the flock, & especially the distressed ewe, hot on my heels. There was no sign of the poor little chap, not even so much as a wisp of one of his tiny woolly curls.
And I’d underestimated the anxiety of the collective flock. We have two sturdy rams running amongst this bunch; trusty old MacDougal, our pure Greyface Dartmoor; & a more feisty, younger tup; Cranberry. As I trudged down the hill toward the gate I was suddenly bashed from behind; my legs, literally rammed from under me. I ended up slipping & sitting smartly on the floor, at which I bellowed & flicked the torch in the sheeps’ faces to disorientate them in case whichever ram had thought to take advantage, was considering another attack. I was lucky; they all held back.
It taught me a valuable lesson; one which I thought I already knew – but one which a few years of unscathed shepherding had evidently caused me to conveniently (& foolishly) forget: NEVER, EVER, turn your back on entire male animals; no matter what time of year it is.
Thankfully this time I’d emerged unscathed; but I am forever cautioning people, NEVER to underestimate a stud male animal no matter how benign & trustworthy he might seem to be; shame I didn’t heed my own advice (the classic “do as I say but not as I do” scenario).
After all, look at what happened to poor Steve Irwin – & now the experienced Killer Whale trainer in Florida. You just never know….
But I don’t blame the sheep. The collective flock was unsettled, nervous, tonight; & however docile those boys might normally be, because one of the ewes had evidently been threatened & a lamb taken, I should have been much more careful & aware, rather than wrapped up with the ewe’s anxiety to find her lamb.
Tony suggested I should’ve taken the dog with me & the thought had crossed my mind – however as he (the dog that is!) is still learning, very exciteable & fast, & the majority of the ewes are still heavily pregnant I did not want to upset them any more than had already occurred.
On reflection I should have at least taken my rifle; so if I had spotted the foxy culprit I could have shot it & put an end to the problem. But it might just as well have been a badger; a protected species which in spite of the forthcoming Welsh badger culls I’d still by law, have had to leave alone (to carry on killing my lambs).
Not to mention that some genuinely worried neighbours have reported ‘big cat’ sightings locally (plus we lost lambs a couple of years ago in suspicious circumstances; when a ewe was attacked & cast while several lambs were taken from the flock – lambs which had been born & raised indoors; & were already 1-2 weeks’ old…). I might be cynical about such things; but whilst on a military exercise on Dartmoor a few years ago I did see – something – Put it this way I never dared venture out of the camp to use the ‘loo’ in the middle of the night, again….& I don’t scare easily not to mention being comfortably familiar with all the UK’s resident ‘official’ flora & fauna.
Thus I now have a dilemma about how to continue our lambing programme; but unless a ewe is in serious trouble from now on, I will not venture out in pitch darkness at risk to myself & the rest of my charges here on the farm – it’s not worth it.
And any advice regading managing a ewe who now has no lamb to feed would be gratefully received; needless to say, I will be keeping a watchful eye that she doesn’t develop mastitis. Hopefully as it was just the one lamb who was lost quickly, her milk will naturally & swiftly dry up. I already have plenty of ‘standby’ colostrum in the freezer so will not add to her stress by bothering her for that.
BTW if you want to post this up for other readers of your Blog to learn from my mistakes, I have no probs with that, Paula; many will be lambing right now – possibly for first time – & anything which highlights the dangers of working with ANY animal could prove useful. After all, even a newly-lambed ewe (not to mention also a freshly-calved cow!) can be similarly dangerous; gorgeous though the newborns might be, their mums still require a watchful, wary eye…& getting between a mum & a new baby can often be fatal.
A reminder of advice for dog walkers might also be helpful (i.e. if you are carefully walking your OBEDIENT, WELL-TRAINED dog, quietly on a lead through a field of grazing cattle who then take umbrage & attack…LET THE DOG OFF THE LEAD & MAKE YOUR ESCAPE. You can’t protect the dog against a half-tonne of angry, lumbering steer; the dog is far more capable of running to safety & taking the heat off the walker who can hopefully escape.
As ever; where there’s livestock there’s also dead stock…as farmers we also have to literally take stock: weighing up the risks to ourselves, & making sure we take care at all times – all the better that we can care, for our charges. J xx
February 26, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Sian
Good advice about being wary of rams and sheep – I know a number of town folk who will be wary of cattle but think sheep are “harmless” – um a very cross ewe stomping towards you as you are between her and her precious lamb is very scary! Your poor ewe. Horrible when that sort of thing happens.
February 28, 2010 at 12:15 pm
LittleFfarm Dairy
My “in training” Border Collie can be more a hindrance than a help, most often; he will happily herd the sheep as a flock / split flock but if threatened by a stompy ewe or ram, inevitably hides behind me – which isn’t exactly safe…!
When you consider that a pair of sparring rams can literally ‘fight to the death’ by breaking one anothers’ sturdy necks it makes you truly appreciate how ridiculously fragile we are, by comparison.
As you so rightly point out some blithe suburbanites simply have no idea when it comes to Nature being “red in tooth (hoof) & claw”; they just assume cattle & sheep are stupid, dopey lumbering creatures; & basically oversized ‘pets’.
How very, very, profoundly wrong, they are….
Meanwhile, thankfully the ewe in question is absolutely fine; has reintegrated with the flock & completely forgotten she ever even birthed a lamb (again this reiterates that the ewe’s maternal instinct is exactly that – INSTINCT – she has not gone into a prolonged state of mourning – again; Nature’s way).
However when our most trusty-&-experienced ewe, Jelly, gave birth to a single little shivery ram lamb on an unpleasantly wet & cold day, I wasn’t prepared to take any chances; she & babe will be indoors until the next warm-&-sunny day not to mention when he’s a sufficiently big, strong chap who can outrun any danger, with his brilliant mum.
February 28, 2010 at 9:45 pm
paula
My comment got swept away last night Jo…it’s floating around in the virtual ether somewhere I guess!
Thanks for your amazing comment and the offer to put it up on the front page – which I’ll take you up if I may.
I am sorry about your lamb being taken. I punish myself with just about every ‘what-ifs’ there are, never does any good though does it!
…and rams! I think often even more dangerous than bulls. I’ve known several big burly farmers who’ve have had thighs, legs and ribs broken by a ram – and they can be so fast ( the rams!). Male animals…you’re right never trust them!
I’m glad your ewe had got over her loss. I’m sure you must have a local lamb bank so you could if you wanted to foster a lamb onto her. Can work brilliantly.
Glad the next lambing went ok. Sensible decision to keep them in for a few days. Are you kidding too? The cows are popping them out with alarming speed….good though!
Take care Jo xx
February 26, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Sian
OOoh Paula – do take care of your knee! You need to make a full recovery! But it sounds like “the boys done good” as one Football Manager used to say….. Loved the descriptions. A neighbour is teaching his 10 year old grandson the art of lambing and calving. It’s a joy to watch the skill being passed onto the next generation. I keep a safe distance and watch! And you are already lambing and calving in Devon!! Not due to start here for another month on the calving front and not till April on the lambing front (unless farmers choose to lamb indoors). Brrr too chilly for them at the moment.
February 28, 2010 at 9:54 pm
paula
I’m trying to be as restrained as possible and thank you for your concern too. I promise I’m not taking risks. Yesterday I did too much and I knew all about it – frustrating at times, though I know it’s not for ever.
Yup, the ‘boys definitely done good’ though they are VERY happy to hand the reigns back!!!!
How lovely – watching the art being handed down to the next generation or so. Yup it’s all go around here and the cows are popping out a calf a day at the moment. My new ‘toy-boy’ bull certainly hit the mark with them!
Take care and keep warm and cosy….
February 28, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Andii
Ah, look at those beautiful little babies!
Andii.
February 28, 2010 at 9:57 pm
paula
Hey Andii, good to meet you. I see you’ve just landed in Ireland from America. That must be quite a change – love your descriptions of silence…nothingness.
Do pop by again won’t you.
March 3, 2010 at 12:24 pm
LittleFfarm Dairy
Feel free to use it, Paula; I may have made a daft mistake but if it prevents someone else from similar then it’s worth the discussion. Jelly is now out with her lamb; his excitement at being out in the Big Wide World for the first time was a joy to behold. Althaea has taken Jelly’s place in the Lambing Shed, with her two lovely little ewe lambs. I was beginning to despair of getting any girls at all, this year…! Let’s hope we have better luck with the goats!!
March 4, 2010 at 5:04 pm
heidi
So cute…! Glad your helpers were there, and such good hands at it.
February 8, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Ever Evolving
I came across these photos while in search of pictures for a school project. I don’t understand the word used to describe the calves. “Beef cattle”? So… you take pictures of these adorable and innocent babies… watch them grow (or not grow), then kill them… then eat them? … or sell them to the same awaiting fate? I don’t understand, as humans have evolved into having grazing teeth and long intestines as opposed to the intestines and teeth of carnivores. Not only does this affect our bodies (for the worse) but the nature of the planet itself. You should watch the documentary “EARTHLINGS”. It is quite fascinating… how we defend murder over some beings but not others, all the while unnecessarily so.
You know, one doesn’t need to have the genius of Einstein, Darwin, Da vinci, Plato, Newton, Lennon or even George Bernard Shaw in order to be a vegetarian… though they were indeed.
Life belongs to those who were born to live it.
February 18, 2012 at 11:21 am
PaulS
We find with our herd of Red Rubies that we almost never have to use any sort of calving aid – no ropes, not even pulling by hand. Most of the time we give the cow the time to push and have a completely natural birth. After all one of the many advantages of this breed is the ease of calving.
Here is Joey, our latest addition: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1798282546