Progress

Ganache (the CVM/Romeldale ewe) and her twin lambs were released from their jug (small pen) after one week as we needed to make sure we has the best opportunity to treat her mastitis and to get the lambs reliable on coming for a bottle. Her mastitis seems cleared up on one side so she has one good teat to support her lambs and we will continue to supplement them with a bottle until 6 weeks old.

The big relief, though, is that she is being a good, attentive mother outside her pen now. Inside the pen she seemed to be depressed, not standing much for the lambs and not talking to them at all. Now that she is out she always has her watchful eye keeping track of them. And the lambs, equally find her for comfort. Here is a clip when we first released the family:

When new lambs get introduced into the flock the more curious sheep come over for a ‘meet & greet’ but sometimes it’s overwhelming for the lambs and they get separated from their mom for a moment. In this video you can see Louie, the herding dog, in the background fixated on the newest lambs.

Then in the late afternoon on this beautiful day 3 more ewes lambed. Two of which were mother and daughter and they now are side-by-side in their lambing jugs, happily tending to their lambs and enjoying the lush hay.

The last ewe to lamb was another of our Dorsets named 2026 (nicknamed Crazy Daisy by our campers). She gave birth to twin ewe lambs but the first one born seems to have ‘contracted tendons’ and was walking on her rear knuckles at birth. We also noticed she had meconium on her and typically that suggests it was a difficult birth. The second lamb born is perfectly fine. So, we suspect the physical issues on that first lamb are either genetic or just how she was folded up in the womb.

So this little ewe lamb got an upgrade this morning! We carefully wrapped her rear legs in foam pipe insulation between her ankle and knee and also added a piece of plywood to the stall to give her a firm, stable surface to walk on as well. We will remove the splints once per day and check the circulation to the leg is fine and that there are no other issues occurring. And hopefully in a few days we see an improvement. Any suggestions on a name for this one?