Today was a big day for us.
We had all the pregnant ewes scanned today via Ultrasound for fetal counts and estimates of gestation days. We’re expecting between 49 and 52 lambs, including up to four sets of triplets. We had two open ewes, and I’m struggling with what to do with them. We think it may have been a failure of the rams, as these ewes are some of my best.
Normally, these two ewes would be on the butcher trailer next week, so I’m having to calculate whether we can afford the hay to keep them through another season. Life or death decisions are always and painful, no matter the outcome or reasons.
We don’t like triplets here – sheep only have two teats, after all – because triplets often mean house sheep or, at best, bottle babies. On the other hand, we need lambs, especially from our older and Canadian-imported sheep. We’ll deal with the extra lambs if they come.
In the best news, we have had a “skinny sheep” pen of five ewes that we felt needed extra care. Four of the five will graduate to the regular sheep pen soon, and only one still needs special attention. She is an elderly ewe and is expecting twins. She’s also a special sheep – she was a bottle baby, is very friendly, and comes when we call her. I’m thrilled that she’s able to provide us with more lambs. She’s still got all her teeth, so she may even manage another year. Here’s to Desert Weyr Barley!
Tomorrow, we’re back at our normal farm stuff. We’ll be praying for snow, plus dealing with keeping the flock fed, watered, stocked with minerals, healthy, and happy. Their care takes precedence over ours.
Below you’ll see a few of the ewes waiting for their ultrasounds.
