sadly

So far the sheep have gone into labour and  got on with it. 

But for one of them it clearly wasnt straightforward, and after watching a could of hours of restless, uncomfortable  wandering around the field , we had to have a look 

And a foot , so it was a breech (wrong way round ) presentation.

Here  are some diagrams . We've had a breech lamb deliver   byherself in the past , and its usually OK  as long as the lamb isnt too big. Labour takes a bit longer as the presenting part doesn't dilate things as effectively as a head . But  this had gone on for too long and the vet was summoned.

And the vet delivered a dead lamb.

Looking at it , it had been dead for  a while (couple of days perhaps) . Some of the fluid looked infected and the placenta wasnt really there any more.

The ewe was given a shot of antibiotics and remained in a pen in case we had to do something else.

Last year we had a couple of lambs die just  before or just after birth . The ewe , not really aware of what has happened, goes round looking for a bleating for her lamb as this ewe is doing this morning

And the lamb ?





If you are of sensitive disposition, dont scroll down










YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

To catch a sheep........

We've been given ( not quite, but close enough)  a 4 year old Shetland yow- Orcadian for ewe .
And after a couple of days in the field , we noticed she had a limp.
So the job was to catch aforesaid ewe, inspect feet, treat as necessary and then let go.

So you start with a large field with a solitary sheep in it

and a pen made of sheep hurdles, and you have to get one sheep into the pen.

Wily things, sheep. this one  will dash along the fence if people get too close , except when the way is blocked ( eg by people) and then they will wait until you think they are cornered and then dash *across* the field. Or vice versa. And  then go and and in the furthest corner of the field , wait for you to approach, and then decide to descend . And they will do this a few times . 

But in the end she was out-manoeuvred   and penned.

 
The easy bit is immobilising them - just turn them on their back

 Feet inspected, cleaned and treated with antibiotic