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Post by benjiesmum on Feb 26, 2007 9:13:59 GMT 1
tail-docking of lambs is a necessary evil anyway, for welfare purposes. It's a rare sheep that doesn't develop "loose bowels" at some time in its life, and sheep don't do toilet paper........oh, sorry, I didn't realise you were having supper! Quite so, Bonna. They have to be docked otherwise they do get the most terriblly dirty back ends sometimes and yes, it then becomes a welfare issue - fly strike can be horrific, I believe. Also, for welfare reasons they have so much wool that it becomes easily matted and although I hate the job most lambs seem to not even notice I've done it.
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Post by benjiesmum on Feb 26, 2007 9:16:47 GMT 1
By the way benji - what is the breed of your sheep? I know you did say but I've forgotten and hubby, myself and a forum reader <you know who you are! ;D> were discussing your sheep in Chris Hodge's shop in Lerwick today! They are Greyface Dartmoors from Devon, Fiona. I thought my ears were burning yesterday!
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Post by Admin Mal on Feb 26, 2007 12:22:23 GMT 1
Thanks benji. Yes, I understand the need for docking. It was more working dogs they were talking about on Landward - and also the fact that some breeds traditionally were docked whilst others weren't. They said that less vets were wanting to do it nowadays and they spoke to one who didn't think it was necessary. <but I fast-forwarded and haven't watched the whole piece> But some people were for it. From the Landward website - www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/tv/home/lifestyle/landward/index.shtml - "TAIL DOCKING Gundogs and terriers spend much of their working life on rough terrain, pushing through the undergrowth or squeezing into tight holes. Traditionally they have had part of their tail removed to prevent injuries. Soon that practice will be banned and it has generated a predictably heated debate. Euan McIlwraith reports."
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Post by benjiesmum on Feb 26, 2007 12:54:25 GMT 1
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Post by MG on Feb 26, 2007 13:19:48 GMT 1
;D ;D ;D
Hi, When benjie docked me I felt it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by benjiesmum on Feb 27, 2007 12:33:47 GMT 1
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Post by benjiesmum on Mar 6, 2007 7:18:05 GMT 1
Lambies - Part 3'Twas a wild and woolly night outside, but in the lambing shed things were settled for the night. Good, I thought. No more getting up tonight and settled into bed smuggly! But oh, no!!! At midnight my shearling started to strain. She was making quite a meal of it and I was a little concerned at 2.30 when she seemed to have made little progress. Half an hour later I called the vet and she eventually turned up to pull the lamb out. The shearling was exhausted and just flopped in the corner. The lamb was the last thing on her mind even though I put it under her nose and encouraged her to lick it. She just kept turning away and was frightened to death! Gave her some twin lamb supplement to boost her energy levels and got the lamb on the teat easily cos she was lying down still being a drama queen. Then began the "I'm going to try and persuade you that this lambie is really yours. And, furthermore, you will love it to bits routine!" Hmm!!!! A day later and I was still tying up the ewe and trying to encourage the lamb to suckle but she kept kicking it away. Sunday night I left them to it and went to bed and in the middle of the night had a wee peek on the CCTV and there she was loving it to bits and letting it suckle. Brilliant!! ;D Let them out yesterday for a short spell before the rain came and she was quite happy for her milk bar to be open to all comers!!! Phew! And it's another ewe lambie! Brilliant!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by bonna on Mar 7, 2007 2:27:35 GMT 1
Good for you (again). I've never failed to persuade a ewe of the loveliness of her offspring yet, but sometimes it's taken a lot longer!
The youngsters do tend to be less hard-headed in that respect than the oldies, though.
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Post by benjiesmum on Mar 11, 2007 15:42:57 GMT 1
Latest piccies from the field taken this afternoon............ One of the twin ewe lambs born first...............face full of grease and dirt from mum's wool. Lovely and broad in the body and a pretty face. The single born last Saturday night..................keeps herself to herself and has the woolliest ears I've ever seen! She's managed to keep spotless...... The twin ewe lamb and ram lamb having a rest. They are all doing well and are on creep feed now. No glaring faults - like black wool on the knees etc.
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Post by maree on Mar 11, 2007 22:39:32 GMT 1
What a cutie "ooie lugs" (woolly ears) is The lamb in the first pic has a face that only a mother could love I think! ;D PS.......do you never sleep benjies?......
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Post by benjiesmum on Mar 11, 2007 22:45:27 GMT 1
What a cutie "ooie lugs" (woolly ears) is The lamb in the first pic has a face that only a mother could love I think! ;D PS.......do you never sleep benjies?...... Bless her - she'll scrub up well later this year when I get the face flannel out. Oh yes, mhay I sleep soundly at night - but I never stay in bed after 5.30 a.m. I'm a morning person! (Up with the lark and away with the birdies!!!!) ;D ;D ;D ;D...................why d'you ask!
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Post by maree on Mar 11, 2007 22:51:27 GMT 1
Oh yes, mhay I sleep soundly at night - but I never stay in bed after 5.30 a.m. I'm a morning person! (Up with the lark and away with the birdies!!!!) ;D ;D ;D ;D...................why d'you ask! I noticed that your posts start early.....even on a Sunday!........you're up during the night to look at the cctv and still posting quite late in the evenings considering your early start. So I just wondered when and if you fitted any sleep in ;D ;D
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Post by benjiesmum on Mar 11, 2007 23:09:15 GMT 1
Usually in bed by now and will pay for it tomorrow. Usually I post in the early morning before I go to work. Sometimes if I can't sleep I get up and have a wee sneaky look at the forum. ;D ;D Funny though, when the lambs are due, I wake up like clockwork and then go straight back to sleep as long as the dog hasn't taken my place!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D
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Post by mally on Mar 13, 2007 1:37:11 GMT 1
Usually in bed by now and will pay for it tomorrow. Usually I post in the early morning before I go to work. Sometimes if I can't sleep I get up and have a wee sneaky look at the forum. ;D ;D Funny though, when the lambs are due, I wake up like clockwork and then go straight back to sleep as long as the dog hasn't taken my place!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D "I wake up like clockwork and then go straight back to sleep as long as the dog hasn't taken my place!!!!!!! ". Noo noo BJM, thats no way tae talk aboot da hubby ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by benjiesmum on Mar 13, 2007 21:03:00 GMT 1
Noo noo BJM, thats no way tae talk aboot da hubby ;D ;D ;D ;D Mally, da hubby will never know - he doesn't read the crofting section! ;D ;D ;D Hehehehehe!!!!!!
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