We have a really nice breeding pair available. The family that had them on reserve took on a couple of foster kids and just had to much going on. So if you called and were told we didn't have any lambs avaiable this year give us a call back @ 801-836-8506.

Night three Thursday. Cubby's lamb now our bottle baby had a rough night. She trembled no matter how warm I got her. She is still taking her bottle really well. Suspected she was constipated. We gave her a enema but she still didn't have a bowel movement. We gave her some asprin bundled her up and took her to bed with me. She quite trembling after about an hour and we both got some sleep until she woke baaaing for her bottle. The next morning she stil had not had a bowell movement. We gave her another eenema. this time with soapy water and didn't quite until she past a had stool. We gave her a shot of CD & T antitoxin. She is doing great. We are all going to sleep better todnight.
Great website tells how to give an enema: http://goat-link.com/content/view/92/74/

Cubby's lambs are here. It was Cubby's 2nd lambing. Last year she gave us one of the cutest ram lambs ever. So we were hoping for another "Tucker cute lamb". That's what we got times 2 and they are ewe lambs!!! One for Cubby and one for me. One of the twins umbilical cord had started to die. She had not been getting as much nutrition as she needed. Spent the night, all night with her and Cubby in the barn in hopes of getting her on her feet so Cubby could raise her. Two days later she is still not on her feet, she has shown some improvement. She holds up her head, pees, poos, and is taking a bottle great. I don't need to set my alarm at night. She lets me know when she is hungry. She let us down this morning she was 15 minutes late with wake up call. Johnnie was doing double time to get out of here before the morning traffic rush. this is one of those challenges that almost certainly will end in heartbreak. As long as she is finghting for life I will give it my All!
Things I learned from this adventure: It is really hard to determine when it is time to help a ewe deliver. We let Cubby go an hour and a half that we know of with goop on her butt. Thinking she was progressing. When infact she needed help. Her first lamb was blocking the birth cannel. By the time we helped her 2nd lamb. It was covered with orange amoniotic fluid. Caused by pooing while still in the bag. Sure sign delivery took to long.
When the lamb couldn't get on her feet. I wondered if she had white muscle diseas. So I called the vet. He said white muscle disease doesn't show up until they are a couple of weeks old. That the Bos-E injection should not be given until they are a couple of weeks old. He also reccomended giving all of our lambs BOS-E to prevent white muscle Disease. So we are going to give them the injection when they are 3 weeks old.

While doing chores I notice Matilda our silkie hen was off her eggs. I had been counting the days until they were to hatch. Sure thing something was wrong. I lifted the lid of the coop to see two beady black eyes, that did not belong to a chicken. Niether did the fluffy black and white tail aiming at my face.....I was skunked! PhewWWW what a suffocating stentch. I locked him in and returned with the calvary, Johnny, Gary and pistol. The skunk lost the gun fight but made us pay. Who would have thought he would stink worst dead than alive.

With freezing temperatures in our forecast last week we decided Instead of shearing our ewes naked to crop shear. Crop shearing is cutting away wool on the back end and under the ewes belly) Johnnie did a great job. The lambs now have a clear shot to moms teats. There are no more dirty "tags" (Tags are wool that gets matted with dirt and lanolin) dangling around her udder that lambs mistake for the real thing. One benifit we didn't think about is how much easier it is to keep an eye on the development of the ewes udder's and vulva. Both give indications of how close the ewe is to lambing. While we had them on the shearing stand we gave them CD & T vacination. So they will build up their immunity to Clostridium Perfringens type C & D and Tetanus and pass it to their suckling lambs. Lamb checks began the first of March. I've been visiting the barn throughout the day just before we turn in for the night, 2:00pm and at 5:00am. no lambs yet....

Does Q Stand for Quality?

By JOHN BARE
Reprinted with Permission from the Katahdin Hairald

(June 1, 2007) As a veterinary medical officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), one of the most challenging and least desirable parts of my job is removing scrapie-susceptible sheep (usually QQ sheep) from scrapie-infected flocks. Although it is incredible that we are able to remove scrapie from a flock in as little as two or three weeks while leaving the majority of sheep (QR and RR sheep) in place, it can be an especially stressful situation for the owners.

More than once, when going over the genotype results for their flock, infected flock owners have lamented that some of their best sheep came up QQ. While good ewes are certainly present in the RR and QR genotypes owners will retain, it is easy to focus on the QQ ewes that are potentially infected. Although the genetic-based scrapie flock plans are a far better alterative to the old days (before my time) when entire flocks were removed, having to part with scrapie-infected or potentially infected susceptible sheep is a situation I would never wish on anyone.

Even though the USDA pays compensation quite well for scrapie exposed QQ sheep (far better than most QQ breeding stock currently sells for), to lose such a chunk of valuable genetic potential in one fell swoop is mind boggling, but what is more mind boggling are the people who are wasting the exact same genetic potential not because they have to but because they choose to.

While removing susceptible sheep from scrapie-infected flocks may not be an enjoyable part of my USDA job, as a four-plus generation sheep producer (my other job) getting out and just “talking sheep” with other producers is by far the best part. Many of my visits involve tracing scrapie-exposed sheep and generally end well, with the traced animal found not to be a scrapie-transmission risk to the producers flock. In fact, nothing warms my heart more than finding out the sheep in question is resistant to the scrapie type being traced, as it makes everything more pleasant for everyone.

Unfortunately, during these visits and others, I have started to notice something that does anything but warm my heart. With the availability of private genotyping of sheep, many producers have implemented their own Q gene extermination plans. As a result, I have been seeing a number of RR sheep being retained that are not as high quality as the QQ and even QR sheep being culled. Many of these RR sheep are excellent, but more are just okay, and a few look like an orangutan swam a couple laps in their gene pool. At the same time, some producers are noticing remaining QQ and QR sheep are beginning to appear superior to RR sheep. Does Q stand for quality? What the heck is going on here?

What is “going on here” is an observable decrease in the quality of overall characteristics due to incredibly intensive selection for a single characteristic. Other species and breeds have fallen into this trap many times before. Perhaps the best example can be found in many of the dairy cattle breeds. Prior to widespread use of artificial insemination (AI), cow improvement occurred relatively slowly, creating an animal that was more balanced regarding other important characteristics such as conformation, reproduction and longevity.

When AI became available, rather than use a wide base of balanced bulls, producers used a small handful of bulls selected almost exclusively for pounds of milk produced per cow. The result was a near disaster; as the gene pool dramatically shrank, milk production did increase, but it became contingent on if her legs didn’t go out, if you could get her bred and rebred and if you could keep her alive. In a couple of breeds, rare life-threatening genetic disorders even became common.

Things have changed since then and broader selection criteria are used, but a great deal of damage has been done to the point where some crossbreeding plans are being used in many herds, and some breeds have even opened their herd books to crossbreds. The blind pursuit of one characteristic led to the near complete loss of other characteristics vital to the end goal.

It doesn’t matter if your goals are selecting your sheep for milk, meat, wool, hair coat, hoof color, coat color, eye color or singing voice; over- selection for one characteristic, such as scrapie resistance, will at best delay your other goals and at worst make them unachievable.

This brings us back to the title of the article, “Does Q stand for Quality?” Thus far I have not seen any compelling research that would indicate sheep being QR or QQ at codon 171 have any advantage or disadvantage regarding productivity. It appears to only be involved with scrapie resistance.

So why does it seem like many QQ and QR sheep are superior to RR sheep? It is because QQ and QR sheep are being selected by a stricter set of criteria than RR sheep. For an example, say a producer decides to make their flock resistant to scrapie, so he or she starts genotyping. The producer finds their ewe flock and lamb crop are about 25 percent RR, 50 percent QR and 25 percent QQ. Some producers at this point may sell all their QQ sheep, and a few might even sell all their QR sheep. If they sell all their QQ sheep, they would eliminate 25 percent of their genetic base, and if they sell their QR sheep, they would eliminate 75 percent.

Talk about a shrinking gene pool! Since they need to replace the culled QQ and QR sheep, nearly all RR sheep are retained regardless of quality. Naturally, they want to use an RR ram so they go to a flock that has done the same thing and pick up a ram that is also potentially of decreased quality. As a result, the average quality of the flock is significantly decreased in just one year.

Expand this trend to the entire breed and we are quickly heading down the path of dairy cattle. Now, not everyone would be so drastic, but would still move in the same direction. Many, instead, would retain most of their RR sheep, including some sheep they normally may have culled and retain QR and QQ sheep of the highest quality, culling some sheep they normally would have kept. Thus, you can see how QR and QQ sheep would start to appear as superior in such a flock (or breed) since only the very best of their kind are being retained. The Q becomes an inadvertent marker of increased quality even though it directly causes no benefit.

The key to avoiding the over- selection trap is to go slowly and select your sheep on a set of balanced criteria of which scrapie resistance is one. I AM IN NO WAY SUGGESTING PRODUCERS BREED FOR QQ SHEEP! The exact same over-selection problem will happen if one breeds for QQ, except the flock will be more susceptible to scrapie (Nor am I suggesting that producers who believe their flock may be infected with or at high risk for scrapie shouldn’t move toward a QR and RR flock).

A better strategy is to minimize the number of scrapie susceptible sheep in your flock with careful breeding to keep your QQ percentage below 25 percent. A person can think of many ways to accomplish this. Have some great QQ ewes? Don’t cull them just breed them to the best RR ram you can find. Have a lot of RR ewes? Breed them to an exceptional (and probably very affordable) QQ ram.

Both of these scenarios will result in 100 percent QR offspring so you don’t have to shell out one dime in genotyping money. Using a QR ram on RR and QR ewes will produce a majority of RR and QR offspring with a smaller number of QQ sheep. This will keep your scrapie susceptibility low, but you may need to do some genotyping. When selecting from your lamb crop, select the sheep you intend to keep or sell as breeding stock, then genotype only those individuals to determine how they need to be mated to minimize scrapie susceptibility. The ungenotyped animals can be sent to slaughter (no matter what anyone tells you, not all of the sheep produced in your flock will be breeding stock quality, regardless of genotype).

This does carry the risk that if scrapie is traced into or out of your flock, you may have to cull your QQ sheep to be clear of infection, but it gives you years to spread their other valuable genetic material across the flock through QR offspring that will stay. Don’t forget that culling QQ and QR sheep is what a lot of people have been doing already, even though they don’t have to. It is a bit like peeling off your skin to eliminate the risk of skin cancer; it works, but there are a some complications with the strategy.

Producers also need to keep in mind that the National Scrapie Eradication Program is working, and each year, fewer new scrapie-infected flocks are found. About 40-percent fewer infected flocks were found in 2006 than in 2005, and this trend is expected to continue until scrapie is eradicated from the United States. This means that with each passing year, the risk of your flock contracting scrapie is less, and one day, when scrapie is eradicated, genotyping will be irrelevant. When that day comes, will we long for some of the sheep culled in the past because they were QQ?

Every year since about 8,000 B.C., when it is believed sheep were domesticated, shepherds have worked tirelessly to improve the productivity of their flocks, many times at risk of life and limb. Under conditions we can hardly imagine in modern times, they developed the art of selective breeding. We have inherited the fruits of these countless labors and now, as stewards of the flock, we also inherit the associated responsibility.

As we pursue a temporary genotype premium of a few hundred dollars per head, are we inadvertently throwing away something priceless? The science of genetic testing and selection is possibly the most powerful tool ever handed to humanity. Are we using our science as wisely as our ancestors used their art?

I've been going to Goat and Sheep Day for Years. They have all been excellent.

$30.00 Announcing 2011 Sheep and Goat Education Day
West Jordan, UT 84088 - Jan 11, 2011
If you own one goat or a thousand, dairy goats, meat goats, pack goats or even pygmie goats, you can't afford to miss the 2011 Sheep and Goat Education Day February 25 and 26, 2011 a the Wasatch County Events Complex in Heber City, Utah. Topics include: Essentials of Successful Ag Enterprises, Market Wether Goat selection and showing, Animal Health with Current Vet Tips and Practices and Funding Options for those which Expansion in mind. Don't miss working sheep dogs and a lamb BBQ. For details, additional information and registration materials respond to this ad. Sponsored by Utah State University Extension, Utah Woolgrowers Association and Mountain States Meat Goat Association.


Steve Home Phone:
801-566-4757
Work Phone:
801-647-4849

Elmo the stout little ram we bought to breed to some of our ewes has completed his task and is joining the vineyard maintenance crew at Mesawinds farms. I borrowed a page from their blog telling about training the BabyDolls:
Soil fertility and weed control by sheep
July 5th, 2010 July 2, 2010. Yesterday was a milestone for Mesa Winds Farm. Our diligent and hard-working “Young Farmers” Becky, Lindsay, and Trevor, completed the first-pass pruning of our vineyards. This is the first year that we didn’t have to resort to contract workers to get the job done. They proved, “Yes, we can”. We celebrated their hard work with a mostly-local, all-organic barbeque of ribs, potatoes au gratin, baked beans, salad, and rhubarb cherry crisp.

On the web site, Max has introduced you to our Babydoll Southdown sheep. In addition to cute, and their traditional roles as wool and meat providers, they will also play an important role in maintaining soil fertility and controlling weeds and cover crops in our vineyards. But why won’t they eat the grape leaves, we ask? So, while our young farmers sweated-out the last rows in the Pinot Gris, Max and I have been working with our CSU Extension Agent, Robbie Baird Levalley, to train the sheep what NOT to eat.

The protocol for this training was developed by Dr Fred Provenza of Utah State University and has been applied in vineyards on the West coast. Robbie has successfully applied it to a flock of Babydolls on a vineyard in Palisade, CO. So we are not exactly pioneers in this: We hold the ewes off feed overnight and then present them with fresh grape leaves, which they are happy to eat. We then give them a pill of lithium chloride that gives them a stomachache – which they associate with having eaten the grape leaves. On the second morning of this regime, most of them declined the grape leaves; those who ate were treated again. Later we turned them out into a vineyard. Those who ate grapes were removed for further conditioning; it is important that they not teach the others that its OK to eat leaves.

Yesterday we had remarkable success: only the ram, Louie, continued to eat leaves in the corral. He was left behind when we turned the others out to the vineyard. Most of the sheep ate grass and weeds around the grape plants without bothering the leaves; a few tested the grapes but went back to the grasses. Only two ewes and a lamb required further conditioning. Today we’ll do it again.

A “heritage breed”, Babydoll Southdowns are the breed of choice for this work because of their diminutive size which allows them to move about between rows and under the trellis wires. They seem intelligent enough to readily grasp this training and, in addition, they are known for their excellent quality fleece, comparable to Merino, and for delicious meat. We are very excited by this addition to our agro-ecology.

Tracks in the snow on the seldom traveled side of the house. Tell a tale I wish I had been there to see. Fox size tracks being persued by some very big paws that could only belong to Ruger....
Part of the mystery is solved. It was obvious where Ruger went over the fence. His tracks follow the smaller tracks to the Angora goat's field. The small tracks go through the field fencing. Ruger's tracks go around the house. Are lost on the cleared driveway then show up again at the sheeps field in front of the catch pen where we found him locked in.
Wow! What an awesome dog!
We are looking forward to the day he has run of the place. Got to get our chainlink fencing up....

Also got to get a sign up indicating we have a livestock dog on duty. Have read of overzealous people shooting dogs seen in with sheep in other farmers field's.

We started the new year with a mystery....
All was well when we left to bring in the new year at friends. It was 10 degrees outside when we were returning home. We stopped in front of the pasture to make sure all the critters were under cover. All looked wel. I woke up to Rugger our livestock guard dog barking like crazy. I thought to myself that's a boy Rugger you tell those foxes to get out of here. When he started up again 20 minutes later I headed out to investigate. WOW! Was I surprised to find Rugger's dog run empty. Incredible where did he go so fast? I had just slipped my insulated coveralls over my PJ's and put on my boots that were sitting by the door. Ruger joined us just a month ago. I was really concerned he might be trying one of those incredible journeys you hear about. dogs going hundreds of miles to find home. Oh, I felt bad we love him and had tried hard to make him happy. That was replaced with "JOY". Minutes later when I found him in the back catch pen. A pen he couldn't have gotten in and latched himself. A neighbor must have put him there. I looked for foot prints in the fresh snow for clues of who it was. There were no prints except Ruger's. Johnnie had gotten dressed and joined me before I disturbed the snow. We both shook our heads and wondered what had gone on here. We started our first day of the New Year 010111 at 3:00a.m. in below 10 degrees figuring our how to contain Ruger until we could put a roof on his run the next day.
If you are the good samaritian THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

WOW! I am learning so much from our Great Pyrenees guard dog Ruger. He has made a difference from the first day here on the farm. We had anticipated that until he got use to what belongs here and what doesn't. There would be a lot of barking for nothing. Especially with 4 cats running around at night. Sure enough Ruger started sounding off minutes after we went to bed. When I opened the door to go out and settle him down. I could smell skunk! Later in the night there was quite the commotion coming from his run. Johnnie when out. One of our niggy bucks had made his way into the 5 foot barrier zone and our two bucks where pounding heads through the fence. It wouldn't have been long before they had taken the fence out and then who know what....We are working on learning Ruger's language. He has a couple of different sounding barks. If something is going on we know it by the intensity of his bark. He does chores with me on a leash. I love how he keeps himself between me and What ever...Johnnie, cars, cats. Another thing I've noticed is that after repeating a task a couple of times he's got it. As I pulled into Charlie and Karen's driveway to pick him up Sunday. I could see him running around playing with their 2 G Pyr's. He knew he was going in the little red truck like he had the other 3 times it pulled in. He stood at the gate waiting for me. Atta Boy Ruger!

We went back for Ruger a couple of days ago. So glad we did! He is wonderful and fitting in perfectly.
After going through all the pros and cons many times. We decided that even though Ruger would have to live within the boundaries of a invisible fence system, installed on our 4 foot fencing to keep him in. We will do every step of the 14 day training to be certain that he understands and does not become one of the dogs we have read about that are scared to death of anything that beeps.
note to self: Remeber when Ruger gets the inevitable zap from the training collar. That it is a better option than having him get into the road and hit by a car. Remeber he was hours away from going to the pound and possibly the end of his life.

Realization That our 16 year old dog no longer had the endurance to be enough presence to keep predators out. Didn't hit until long after the masacre of our chicken and duck flock. We have been tempted through the years by many of the great Pyrenees dogs our friends at Benjamin Farms Charlie & Karen have recued and placed. When they mentioned they had a rescue available. I wondered if it might be the one for us. They invited us over to talk about it and met him over sour dough blueberry pancakes. The pancakes were delicious and Ruger was awesome, huge and beautiful! When Ruger decided to go check out the other 2 great pyrenees on the other side of the fence. I was in tow at the end of his leash. My first hands on experience of how powerful he is. Anxiety ran high as he stood nose to nose with the dog I had heard about him having a vicious fight with. Charlie coached me back into control of him. Then sent us home with a book to read about guard dogs. The book made it perfectly clear guard dogs are not for every household. Under guidance of a dominate owner quard dogs are phenomenal. I surfed the net to learn more. I read stories of Great Pyrenees onwers going out to find their barn full of sheep burnt down to the ground. All was lost. Or so they thought until a couple of days later their cinged pyrenees showed up with the flock he had saved. My eyes welled with tears as I read of a flock that got left behind in the exit roundup. The flock became snowbound. It wasn't possible to get to them. The villagers packed in as far as they could make it and left dog food and hay. Hoping some of them might make it that far. None of the sheep made it to the hay. The guard dog did. He ate his food and took the hay back to the sheep! These are tasks a independent thinking dog is capable of. We brought Ruger over for a visit. He was great with the goats. Since that had been his job we were impressed but not surprised. He causuly walked past our hissing cats. He did pull at the leash and want to take off after the chickens. He's going to need some work on living with chickens. Not a deal breaker. It was a no brainer we wanted Ruger to be with us! He would need to go back to Charlie and Karens while we prepared his new home. We picked him up the next day. We had so much fun working and playing with him. When we left him on duty in the field. He would brilliantly figure a way out. He was very proud of himself. Wagging his tail that is as long as his body. Obviously he thought this was a game of hide and seek. We put him in the garage for the night and planned to work with him the next day. It wasn't long until Ruger's happy I found you face was peering in our front window. Yep, he opened a locked door. Since we didn't have a place we could keep him safe in. He spent the night at Charlie and Karen's while we regrouped. The book Charlie lent us says electric fencing is a effective way of teaching them their boundries. When I ask for input from the Yahoo groups I had joined. We got some heartbreaking stories of dogs that had been turned over to recue groups and were sent into panic by anything that beeped. Rescuers suspected invisilbe fencing as the cause. VERY bad news for us. Electic fencing was the only other options short of replacing thousands of feet of 4 foot fencing with 6 foot. Someone else would be able to provide Ruger a better home. Called and told Charlie and Karen our bad news and cried.

Thanksgiving day is only 2 storms away. If the current weather pattern holds we will be celebrating at my nephews. If history repeats the blizzard of a couple of years back. We'll be celebrating the day of thanks here at my favorite place our Holy Grail. The day will come and go just like every other for the animals. They will adapt to whatever conditions the moment brings. No worries about what happened yesterday or what troubles tomorrow will bring. Lucky me to have perfect examples of being in the moment all around me. Me not so much...But I am working on it.
I have some really extra ordinary people friends I am learning from too. My how to brighten someones's day friend. She always comes up with special little somethings for the holidays. She doesn't limit herself to official holidays. It's those absolutely no occasion at all "I found these sheep slippers, I just had to get them for you! " kind of surprises that leaves me speechless. She and her mother are both skilled at making you smile and touching your heart. Her mother makes the most spectacular breath taking flower bouquets ever!!! Put the two of them together and you've got the surprise of your life.
My helping friend and mentor. She is the first to welcome new neighbors. She is always on the look out for what she can do to help someone out.
My got it all together friend. In between raising 5 kids she has mastered so many skills. She makes amazing sweaters, throws on her knitting machine. Often from wool from her wool she has processed from her sheep. If there isn't a pattern for it she'll make her own. She makes a variety of cheeses from their goats milk. She loves to learn and shares her experiences on her blog.
my always there to support you friend. She is the one that introduced me to fiber animals. I fell in love with her farm. I was in awe at the cool things she made with the wool she had processed into yarn. She gave me the confidence to give it a try.
My husbands best buddy...We moved to West Mountain about 8 years ago. Mom had heart disease and we were to far to give her the help she needed. Unfortunatly before we got our house built and ready to move her in she took a turn for the worst and we lost her. So here we were in West Mountain. Two city folks and my 2 horses. We were audited and learned my two horses would not cover our green belt requirements. We needed to raise and sell agriculture or livestock...Long story short. We learned way to much the hard way trail and error. These days we are thankful for Johnnies' best buddy . He's done this cowboy farming stuff his whole live and gives us sage advise.

Hope I haven't pist off Santa again....
He loaded up a couple of big dog kennels in the back of his sled. Made a pre-Christmas eve flight to the other side of the valley. Followed by hours of cleaning. Not an easy undertaking pressure washing a "poopie" sliegh in the north pole. I'm excited to have my Christmas gift in our pasture. Three miniature Silky fainting goats. By Christmas Eve Fabio should be old enough to get over his shyness and take care of business. Silky kids should arrive this spring!
I LOVE the holidays.
Johnnie always has a big smile on his face. Because when he ask what I want for the holiday. It won't be found at a fancy department store. He won't have to experience the hussle and bussel of the silly season. He won't have to sweat it out trying to figure what size shoe or clothes. Or if I will like it. It's guarenteed....He's heard the same answer for 7 years. Hay of course. The gift that keeps on giving. You feed it then you clean it up. The bonous is the joy I get from our farm pets everyday of the year.

Johnnie and I work hard at getting ready for winter. So we can peacefully sleep through the winter storms. Knowing that our flock has a dry place out of the wind. We hadn't planned on adding Silky fainter's to our flock. It took some last minute schuffling. We got "R" done. Johnnie completed three metal shelter's and put rain gutter on the lean to and hay barn. There are 3 less skunks and one less fox to feast on our critters. Our runner ducks are still at our friends for safe keeping. Since they refuse to sleep in a coop. Can't keep them safe. Too many places in our fences that predators can get through.
Our next priority is to learn more about silky fainting goats. So we can responsibibly contribute to preserving and developing this new American breed.

The silkie fainter I dreamed of was available in Hyrum. Never heard of much less been there until yesterday. Hyrum is 138.22 miles from our place. A five plus hour round trip. I had almost let the thought of having to navigate through the dangerous construction zone that runs almost non stop through Utah county end my "solo" adventure before it started. Once I survived the construction I enjoyed driving through Brigham City and the drive through the canyon was beautiful. Mountain Crest Miniatures rest on 40 acres. They raise miniatures. Miniature horses, donkeys, burros, and goats. My favorite was the many breeds of tiny goats. Amazingly everyone of their 100's of pets were friendly. No doubt raised with lots of love and attention. Had a great time meeting and petting them. Mountain Crest's Fabio the silkie that is ours now is fabulous! He has the beginnings of bangs and a beard. Only time will tell how long his coat will get. We are excited to watch him grow. They now have their own webpage. Where you can meet our silkie flock and watch them grow with us.

Yesterday's got to be right up there with my most amazing experiences. Image looking our your window and watching a baby camel running around. My friend that has done "Pony Parties" and "nativities" for years. Wanted a camel, and I'm not talking about the kind you smoke. After coming up with the kind of bucks it takes to purchase one of these nobel creatures. She and her husband drove back east and brought one home. A full grown huge camel, in a trailer, on an event filled trip across the country. Including being involved in a fender bender taking out one of the dual tires on the trailer. They managed to limp the rest of the way home. Well, after that a bottle baby camel must have been a piece of cake. Cosmos is coming on a year old. He is the coolest!
He obediently followed on a lead line and laid down in a cush. He introduced himself with a growl, and batted his spectacular eyes. He is "adorable" in a huge kind a way. From his camel coat to his padded feet. He is one unique fellow.
Sherry and Steve, Kudos to you for having the guts to go for it!
THANK YOU for one outrageouly wonderful day on your farm.

BTW YOu can See Cosmos in nativities around the valley.

Ran into this information on KSL. I have lined up a LaMancha to bred MOJO to. I'm rethinking it. Just might go with a "Nigie"



Efficacy of the Miniature LaMancha
Ogden, UT 84403 - Nov 2, 2010
The ability to convert browse into milk is one of the reasons I decided to get into Miniature LaManchas. My mentor almost exclusively grazes her MM's feeding a little alfalfa/grass hay and a handful of grain on the milk stand. She has been working the last 10 years to perfect her line of MM's focusing on 75% LaMancha and 25% Nigerian strain. Her goats are very hardy, they convert browse and their grass graze into milk, her goats have great will to milk, and the hybridization brings about a low somatic cell count, and the milk tastes the best.

Taste
Taste was important for me and I visited many farms to determine the best tasting milk. Everyone seems to prefer one goats milk to another, however many are biased because they started with one breed and have grown accustomed to this type of milk therefore any other than the milk they started with tastes ‘different'.

I approached it never having tasted goat milk having no biases as an uninformed consumer would, I sampled different goat milk and did some blind tasting with family and friends, the consensus was Mini-Mancha milk tasted the best!

Feed to Milk Conversion
Back to allowing goats to browse. My mentor believes the hybrid vigor overcomes some of the challenges associated with the inbreeding of any highly domesticated animal thus making the MM's more efficient at converting feed and browse to milk. Many of the challenges faced in the commercial dairy cow industry today, comes as a result of the overly inbred Holstein dairy cows. Many of the problems due to the cows health, longevity and lactation are being fixed by out-breeding a Holstein with a Hereford, researchers find the hybrid vigor increases vitality, disease resistance, and significantly increase effective production life. This is true with the Hybridization of the Nigerian Dwarf and LaMancha goats.

As the economy continues to struggle, I believe the cost factor will become more and more important and that more people will begin to look at the hardiness and the efficiency at which the MM's are able to convert what some may consider 'scrounge' into good milk! Using the 75% LaMancha strain of the MM insures more of the dairy characteristics of the full sized goats, the great personality and quiet nature of the LaManchas, the ease of hand milking, resultant from teat size, higher capacity from less feed, the higher butter fat and protein levels that come from the Nigerian Dwarfs, and once again great tasting milk.

Conclusion
The Miniature LaMancha breed 'scrounges' well, even though I have only 2 acres (less than one used for goats), the browse I can produce will significantly support, during my growing season, my small herd. Of course I will supplement with high quality alfalfa, free choice minerals (right now onyx) and some grain on the stand, but I hope to be successful in allowing my goats to browse for a significant portion of their diet.

It was beautiful! Striking red fur from the tip of his long plume tail to his pointed black nose. His lips curled when he snarled exposing a mouthful of the lethal weapons he had used to rip the guts out of our defenseless hens and crushed and ate the heads of our ducks. He didn't stop when he had plenty to eat. He killed or wounded our whole flock in one night. It was a ruthless killing machine. Skills a fox needs to survive in the wild. Turned loose in a hen house it was a slaughter. Our goal was to catch and relocate it. This little beast was so furocious it made it impossible to release it without getting bitten. Revenge was not sweet...It felt terrible to have to end the life of an animal that was doing what it's instict's drove him to do. Instincts that would keep it alive in the wild. It was only 20 miles from where it would have contributed a valuable balance to the ecco system. Hope to be able to figure out how to release from the live trap without getting bitten before we catch the next member of the pack.

We are having a hard time out smarting the fox or more likely "foxes". They have not been interested in the free meal in the traps. Yesterday we added the call of a distressed rabbit to entice him into range of a bullet with his name on it. No more live and let live he has crossed the line. Johnnie spotted him creeping through the field behind our place from his position on the roof. He was coming for the rabbit. Then Mr. Fox turns tails and is gone. I didn't get a glimpse of him, suspect he saw me or maybe smelled me. oH, Oh no am I going to have to use some of that "urine" stuff hunters use to mask their scent. Sounds disgusting. I checked on the flock at 2:00am. Gees, my flashlight exposed a lot of eyes in the field. It was impossible to tell if they belonged to cats, skunks, racoons or cattle. Our flock was sleeping peacefully. Something I can't do until the fox stops dining at our place. Me and a shotgun will be checking again at day break. There is a interesting ad in Sheep Magazine "NITE.GUARD Protest your goats, sheep and their babies! Solar powered LED light that starts to flash at dusk and stops at full daylight." It claims the most primitive fear night animals have is that of being watched. Their specially engineered flash of NiteGuard recreates this fear. "ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED TO WORK! Gonna get one of those on order today.

Our first and only trick or treaters arrived under sunny skies. Within minutes lighting was cracking and the sky poured rain that turned into punishing hail. We spent the night with no power. Snuggled under blankets eating way to much candy.
Live traps have been baited with chicken legs one of Mr. foxes favorite foods based on his selection of our chicken and duck flock. He has not taken us up on our offer for a free meal and reloaction. We have spotted the varmint prowlin around several times. The only meal he'll find here now is in the trap.
The ram lamb we added to our flock last week still has diarrhea. Results of the $27.00 fecal test showed he has worms but not coccidiosis. Worry, worry, worry...He is not responding to Penicillin, pepto, probotics or being wormed! He is still eating and acting like he feel okay.
Joy's ram lamb is going to his new petting zoo home. His debut will be in their living nativity which stars their camel.
Our mineral dispensers have been a great success. Proof was when we put out the mineral barrel licks as we do every year at this time. Our flock showed very little interest. Years past they swarmed it for days.

First delima of the day...What to do with a tom cat caught in a trap meant for the culprit killing our ducks and chickens. It complicated things when no one claimed him. Couldn't just set him free to continue to beat up on our colony of fixed barn cats. Couldn't drop him off to harass someone else's barn cats...Couldn't take him into be fixed in our live catch trap. It's wreeks of skunk. So that leaves taking him to the pound to die. I couldn't do that. He is a perfectly healthy beautiful cat. That must be a hell of a mouser to have been able to survive on his own. My conscience wins. I will reschedule my day and take him into get fixed. If they turn me away cuz the trap smells I'll dealt with it then.

Delima #2 Is that a bone sticking out?
While doing morning chores just as fast as I can, so I could get the tom cat into get neutered. My friend taking care of our ducks called to say they were all doing well except one. It is alive but is not up and joining the others. At that very moment I rounded the corner of the back barn and was greeted by the unaccounted for quacker! I didn't need to tell Lisa what was going on she could hear the quacking. This is the white duck that had diligently sat on eggs most of the summer. Proof we don't have a drake. She had sustained losts of injuries. At first look we thought she had a bone sticking out by her wing. We looked at it closely and both agreed it looks more like a scab. We doctored her up the best we could and turned her into join the flock. She waddled with a limp straight over to the duck off on it's own. They had a quacking happy reunion and then joined the flock.
Delima #3 The ram lamb we picked up a couple of days ago with diarrhea isn't responding to the meds. I need to take a fecal sample into be tested. The vet clinic is 20 miles in the opposite direction of the spay and neuter clinic. How can I fit this all in????
Yes I did and got home in time to feed before dark.

At first light I was checking out the damage the 60 mph wind gust had done during the night. Mother nature was not the only one creating mayhem. Our coop had been broken into. Remains of our chickens and ducks were scattered in the same field they ran and played just hours ago. Cold tears ran down my checks as I thought about how much I was going to miss them. Not a day past they didn't make me LOL.
Today there will be no laughing.
No splashing in their pool.
Or running around in the rain while all the other critters are under shelter.
When I yell "Hey Quackwers!" Their isn't going to be 14 paddle feet going full out for food.
It was such a cold morning I decided to feed early. After finding a little bloody but very much alive duck it turned into search and rescue. Four clever ducks had managed to escape the jaws of death. They all had suffered injuries, but don't look to be mortally wounded. Also found 4 hens with our 2 roosters dualing over them. I repaired the coop and put the chickens in lock down. Since the ducks were wounded I couldn't lock them up with the chickens. The chicken would go for the blood and tear them apart. So they are visiting a friend until they have their own coop. I drug out the live trap and set it up behind the crime scene. It still wreeked of skunk. It was very doubtful it would give us revenge. I finished my last chore of the day just as the sun was setting. It was raining again I caught a glimpse of our little red goat Pumkin out in the field. In the rain? No way goats hate rain. As my eyes focused I realized the culprit was back! It is a huge fox. When I returned minutes later with Johnnie and his gun. Peanut and Moonbeam were chasing it out of the field. Really cool to see them in action protecting the flock, but Johnnie wouldn't be able to get a clear shot. It will be back. What we need is a really big live trap. That will be my quest tomorrow. I'll be up and at it before Amadeus crows.












setting.

The plan was to get up and on our way to the Ty Titmus Farm. Ty had called and arranged to exchange a ram and ewe lamb. We liked the idea of adding new a bloodline to our flock. After months of trying to catch the culpruit that has been stealing our eggs. Today a most unopportune time would be the day it walked into the "unbaited" trap. While Johnnie was dealing with a very smelly delima. There was a knock on the door. A friend looking for a halter and lead line to catch a horse running down our road. The horse was easy to catch the hard part was figuring out where it belonged. Repairing fence and feeding it so it would stay put. It's people were hunting. So instead of getting to Ty's by noon we hit the road shortly after. Turns out Ty is 12 years old. It's no wonder Ty knows the how to's of breeding sheep. He is born and raised on there spread just outside of Erda. They own a world of their own. A huge ranch where they raise sheep, beef, goats, geese. Turns out Henry is the father of the lambs we brought home. Henry is a full brother to Lucky. Our beautiful ribbon winning ewe. Last I had heard Henry was to much for his owners in Idaho. Not a surprise they had no other sheep. Henry was kept with a couple of goats from the time he was 6 months old. He was sold to a family owning a orchard in Bountiful. Then pretty much rescued by Ty along with a black ewe they had aquired from the Standish Farm in Montana. The lambs we brought home are good looking with the stout block bodies their damn was renoun for. I left behind a piece of my heart with Brick. Yep the best looking ram we have produced is now Ty's. One of the rare decisions I have made with my mind not my heart. As perfect as Brick's confirmation is. He is related to many of our ewes. From what I understand inbreeding may produce beautiful off spring but they are not as healthy as genetically diverse breeding produces. So my heart took a hit for the flock.
Ty please take care of Brick he is my pride and joy.

Friends, family and nieghbors
When you drive by and see our red flock. Please do not call PETA or the humane society. I really don't need to be hauled off by the guys in the nice white coats. Just put to much oil in the marking chalk. Believe me you weren't any more shocked than I was when I rounded the corner to feed and had fuzzy red faces staring me down.
It actually took my breath away for a brief moment until I was able to gather my thoughts and put together that It was marking chalk.

Made me think of this old goodie I found on U tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzHtm1jhL4

They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa


from: Dr. Demento's Delights
Warner Bros. 1975 BS 2855 0698
Remember when you ran away and I got on my knees and begged you not to
leave because I'd go berserk?? Well...
You left me anyhow and then the days got worse and worse and now you see
I've gone completely out of my mind.. And..
They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa
To the funny farm. Where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be
happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they're
coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!!!! You thought it was a joke and so you laughed, you laughed when I had said
that loosing you would make me flip my lid.. RIGHT???
I know you laughed, I heard you laugh, you laughed you laughed and
laughed and then you left, but now you know I'm utterly mad... And..

They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa,
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa.
To the happy home. With trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket
weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes and they're
coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!!
I cooked your food, I cleaned your house, and this is how you pay me back
for all my kind unselfish loving deeds.. Huh??
Well you just wait, they'll find you yet and when they do they'll put you
in the ASPCA, you mangy mutt!!! And...
They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa.
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa.
To the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be happy
to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they're coming
to take me away, ha-haaa!!!
To the happy home, with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket
weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes and they're
coming to take me away, ha-haa!!!
To the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time... (fade out)
Hey, buddy!
Yes officer..
You a head?
No, but I'm catching up, ha ha ha....
original recording by Napoleon XIV

We are enjoying the wonderful fall weather here on the H. Grail. The crisp nights make for great sleeping for us people and critters. Yogi and Ebenizer have each marked one of their ewes. The goats on the other hand aren't suppose to be up to bat until November 15. For April kids. They are protesting. After dragging "Ace" away from the does gate a couple of times and not being able to figure out how he was escaping we had to confine him in lock down. Ringo our Fainting buck was taking runt way to serious. Two of his pasture mates were banged up. Since he was the likely coulprit he is also in solitare confinement. Can't blame them the does are such teases. They strut up and down the fence line wagging their tails and calling to them to come on over.
We were't able to catch the culprit that has been raiding the ducks nest before they hatched. Fortunately our little silkie chicken has hatched her chick. Our live traps remains baited and empty. We know "it" has been here from the smell in the air.

Our rams are sporting bright green chest and have been turned in with their harem. What happy boys they are. Their was lots of lip lickin' and sniffin' as they ran from one ewe to another reintroducing themselves. When nature's call is answered the ewe will have a matching green spot on her hinny (rear end). It's my job to mark our farm calendar that they were bred. If the ewe isn't settled (pregnant) she will cycle again in 17-21 days. In 15 days I'll change the color of marker on the rams so it will be obvious if they re-mark. If they don't remark countdown is on from the first mark. It's magic lambs will arrive in 5 months or within a week or two.

Four days of waking to the sun rise flooding bright rays through the pines and setting the autumn leaves ablaze with brilliant colors. I scanned the mountainside with binoculars until I was dizzy. In quest of catching a glimpse of something wild. Tree camera's had captured pictures of bear, deer, elk and wolves. Yeah wolves that supposedly don't exist in these parts. We weren't lucky enough to see them for ourselves. We did see elk and deer every morning. Binoculars are my friend. They took me into a clearing where 2 bull elk were fighting. Our goats take rut rituals pretty serious. For elk it can be a matter of life and death....As the mornings warmed the elk would vanish into the pines. Our stomachs coaxed us back to camp for "sheepherders breakfast". Then we were off on the Honds 90 to see the sights. Cattlemen were busy rounding up the 5,000 head of cattle. Scattered all over the mountain. The cold usually drives them to lower ground. Warm fall temperatures we are enjoying. Have made it necessary for the cowboys to work extra hard. The sheep that range on the otherside of the mountain divided by miles of farm fence. Had already been taken back to the ranches. One ewe on the wrong side of the fence had been left behind. She laid mangled on the side of the road with her lamb at her side. I so wanted to rescue it. A good deed that has gotten many a do gooder arrested for rustling. The best we could do was make a call and tell them where the lamb was patiently waiting to be rescued. Hopefully before it became a meal. Smoke from the controlled burn on the range south of camp turned the afternoon sun into a glowing red reminder of how much pollution saturated the air. We stretched our days into the night around the camp fire. Where I realized my life has been pretty mondane. Punching the clock and catching up with domestic duties on the weekends. Our friends shared their adventures in horse racing, hunting, and ranching. I'm playing catchup now. Gonna squeeze some adventure in my life.

My family made a gallant attempt to get together. Not a easy thing for 16 people with work and have family responsiblities. Families wanted to be able to bring their horses and ATV to ride. There are just not many place you can go on a weekender where you can do both....
You can in the desert. Yuck, the desert didn't sound like much fun to me. Plans to make it Friday fell through. We claimed the last campsite Saturday about 11:00. Johnnie and I shared it with the lizards until about three when my sister and brother both arrived. The kids straggle in until dust. The desert bloomed! Horses were saddled up and Atv's took off hoping to find something more than sagebrush, cedar trees and lizard's. That they did, old mines, one of them being the Nutty Putty now a monument and burial plot of the man that got trapped and died. Can't believe men went down those deep dark holes and mined. We stood in amazement at one that has been covered with bars. Rocks disappeared into the dark and we never heard them hit the bottom. The old train tunnel must be a favorite place to stay. What a shame piggy people don't haul off their trash. We had a great time around the camp fire Saturday night. We learned the kids in Chances band are really good guys. Not as outragous and they come across on stage. We gathered for morning coffee. We all laughed hysterically when my sister told of waking up in her tent with her dogs butt inches from her face and his drooling head in her daughters face. Turns out her daughter got the worst of it. She got something in her eye and spent the rest of the day trying to get it out. We learned to leave the kite flying to the kids. After braking it trying to get it to take flight in a light breeze. There were tears when a tiny lizard being chased down by a almost 3 year old got squashed. We played so hard we hurt all over, some worst than others but I think even the walking wounded would tell you it was worth it.
Thanks to everyone for making for such a great time!
Candi I hope your eye is doing better.
Beck you are a trooper and not a bad mechanic! Sorry you had trouble and had to stop and repair the trailer lights.
Mindee hope your tailer is not scared for life by the 2 pans of hot hash browns that took flight.
Braylon thanks for helping me spit out all those candles.
Clay thanks for coming even though you knew your allergies would make you pay the price.
Lisa and Nick thanks for the bouquest of balloons that greeted us when we got home.
Papa John thanks for the use of the Honda 90. It got us where we wanted to go.
Greg thanks for being the coolest bro that ever had 2 crazy sisters.
Trav Karen and girls we missed you! Pick a few days you can make it in the spring and we'll plan a trip around it.
Mom you came through again! BTW, Beck is right the person that should get the gifts is the one that gave the gift of live.
Love you all!
Debi

Our four days in the mountains went by so fast. The maiden voyage of our 5th wheeler was great fun. We had roughed it on our last camping trip over 8 years ago. After sleepless nights on the ground in a tent. We weren't anxious to go back. Certainly different now having a bed to sleep in. We are looking forward to our next adventure. It is going to be hard to top this one. Friends invited us to share camp with them on their quest to get a trophy elk and that they did. A huge 7x7 elk. Johnnie and I are not hunters. We would much rather see majestic elk roaming in the pines than hanging on a wall. It was interesting to hear Johnie and his buddy debating just who is benefiting animals welfare more hunters or farmers. I am surprised to say I have a new respect for hunters. I also learned that Utah has some really good regulations in place to protect and maintain healthy herd numbers. Little did I know to get a tag you need to win it in a lottery. You pay in and hope to get drawn out. If you don't you accumulate points that help your odds of being drawn next go round. We met hunters from North Dakota, Kansas, California. Conversation with them always got around to sharing how many points they had accumlated. We and our hunting friends were disgusted by one group of bow hunters that told of how they had shot 3 elk with bows and couldn't retrieve any of them. Which according to the game warden from California in our group is illegal. According to her once a hunter draws blood with his arrow his tag is used wether he finds the wounded animal or not.
Hunting is hard work! Our hunting friends had done years of leg work. Learning the area and knowing not only where to find their trophy elk but and area where it would be possible to get it out in condition to eat. Even though it is an old tough buck they will have it made into hamburger and jerky and expensive meat it is. It is ridiculous; Cost of winning the lottery tag. Butchering and Cost of mounting the trophy rack. I don't know how you would even come up with the cost of hours spent preparing for the hunt. So thanks to the hunters that contribute to the fund to maintain and keep our herds healthy and follow the rules. I hope justice catches up with those that brake the rules causing animals to suffer.








animals or not.

Fall is in the air. At our place the crisp cool air carries the distinct essence of rut. Our billies are getting into their mating ritual of making their scent known to the girls. As stinky as it is the girls like it. Our does line up along the fence and wave to the boys with their tails. The billie's try to oblige and have come up with some really cunning antics to get to them, under, over, through. There have been times they have just mysterious appeared in with he girls with no sign of entry. Hope not this year. We like to be match makers. Our breeding plan doesn't include January kids. First up are the rams. We will be pairing them up the end of September for lambing to begin in February. We have wormed both flocks and are flushing (Generously feeding) them to have them in top condition. Our goats will be put in their assigned breeding pens the end of October for kidding to begin in March. Can't believe how fast the summer flew by. We hope to have some nice fall weather to enjoy horse back riding in the mountains before the snow keeps us out.

Shortly after my mom passed away. I heard from just about everyone close to her. That mom had done it. Mom had vowed to give us a sign there is life after death. Now their were coins showing up in some very percarious places. My sister found a dime embedded in a 2x4 in her basement ceiling. Wether or not mom was leaving us a sign. Everytime I find a coin I think of her. So when Johnnie picked up a "lucky penny" in the parking lot we were expecting good luck.
"Find a penny pick it up.
The rest of the day you'll have good luck."
Not so much....
While leading Reno out to the trailer to go riding it was obvious her feet were sore from shoeing a couple of days earlier. There would be no riding her today. I convinced Johnnie to go with out me. I put Reno up and headed back to the house to find Gary and Johnnie waiting for me. Donna had decided one of us would ride her horse. She had made up her mind and she was on her way walking home. Gees, we were off to a rough start to do my favorite thing. Nobody was smiling until we past Donna's husband racing to give her a ride the rest of the way home. This is a guy who's top speed is 30 miles an hour Which has become known as "Blaine's Speed around here." Gary, Donna's son called and warned her to be on the watch for dad "He's coming for you and he's coming fast." Oh, did I mention Donna and Blaine have been together over 50 years. How sweet is that. After dodging cars that were taking more than their share of the road. We arrived. My ride Harley has had unloading issues at home when he is anxious to get out. He's never been to anxious about getting out in the mountains and has unloaded about perfectly. Not today. Harley stepped on Gary's ankle. That's when Gary told us the rest of the story....
"Find a penny pick it up the rest of the day you'll have good luck. Unless you find it facing tails up.

Dafney has a special place in our hearts. She was our first bottle kid. It was pretty amazing we were able to save her. She had almost froze before we got to her. This spring we came close to loosing her again while kidding. It took eight hands to pry her kid out. We called him "JJ" after Judy and Jayden who came to his rescue when Johnnie and I couldn't get him out. Dafney can't be having any more kids. Something we can't guarentee our our farm. Rather than risk her life. Our Dafney & JJ need a new family. Just hours after shededing tears while I posted them on KSL. I answered a call from a enthusastic young voice. He was setting up a petting zoo. He and his mother were scrolling through the 192 adds for goats. When they came to Dafney and JJ. Micheal said his mom stopped and said that's the cutest goat I've ever seen. Dafney & JJ would be perfect for a petting zoo. They would love all the attention. I had concerns they would shut down the petting zoo in the fall and get rid of them. I offered to hold them until he could make it out and met them. I was looking forward to metting this talkative kid. Little did either of us know we had already met. Last year he came out with friends to pick out a couple of niggies. Or that it would be a reunion with my cousin, his father. I hadn't seen since we were kids. Oh wow. Visiting with him brought back fond memories of loved ones we shared and lost but will never forget. It is not going to be the same doing chores without JJ following me around while Dafney impatiently waits for her hay.
I know they will not end up in a pot.

As Johnnie reached into pull out a jug of water he was delivering to his dad. He heard Hissing. Thinking it was coming from the jug of water he reached back in and loosen the cap to relase the pressure he assumed was creating the hissing. This time there was growling and snarling. He followed the sound and saw an angry bat clinging to the hinge inside the truck door. When he tried to force it out with a stick he got a really good look at it's sharp fangs which bite onto the stick and refused to let go, even when blasted with the hose. Johnnie's dad handed him a can of hornet spray and coached from behind the truck "Don't let the little bastard bite you". The dousing of hornet spray made for a angrier bat but it did release it's bite on the stick. Johnnie was able to pry his grasping claws from the hinge and sho him out of the truck. It was a big bat with a wing span of about 18". It is still a mystery how it got inside the door of the truck...

Our neighbors advertised their pet goat and her kid "free to a good home." They had many calls on them but got concerned when the callers weren't asking the questions that someone looking for a pet would ask. They called us and ask if we could take them. We coudln't but were able to put them in touch with s family that was looking for pet goats. Before they got there to pick them up another family arrived. They told them they were going to keep them as pets. Our neighbors were shocked when they tied them up put them in the trunk of their car and left the free shelter behind.
Worldwide goat is the most consumed meat.
kid goats just off their mom are in high demand.
To many of us eating our pet goat would be same difference as eating the family dog.
When finding new homes for your pets. Be aware that there are lots of people that aren't above lying to get a free goat for their freezer.

Got am impromptu call from a friend yesterday at 3:00ish. There was a time not long ago. I would have missed out. There were lots of good reasons I shouldn't go for a spur of the moment ride. Dinner to fix,chores to do....
Hair use to be at the top of my obstacles. I wouldn't leave the house without my "Do" and mascara. These days I'm out the door in the time it takes to put in an elastic band.
To see my friend ride is an inspiration to not be afraid to participate in life in your 70's. She still; sits pretty on her horse. However neither of our mounting technics is a picture of grace. She climbs aboard from the fender of the trailer. Me and Harley, my horse find a really big rock.
We rode silently. Enjoying the wildlife and eavesdropping on the conversations of nature. I can't get enough of the air. The canned stuff isn't even close. I love how it carries the fragrance of the landscape. If you ride by a stream you smell it. As you ride through the spectacular pines you experience their essence. Harleys favorite is the sweet wildflower meadows. He drops his head and sneaks a taste every few steps.
I'm ready for my next ride.

Hey Tara
Sorry it has taken so long to get this picture up for you.
Ewe bearing retainer, Prolapse loop
Use 1/16 inch (1.02) wire
2. cover only the loop part with soft rubber tubing as a cushion.
3. Slip the rubber tubing onto the wire before making the final bends.
4. Bend as shown
5. Disinfect the loop before use.

Loop end maximum width 3"
From eye to eye approximately 5"
Length from end to end 5" on small ewe
6" on an average ewe
7"-9" on large ewes

You can buy ewe spoons they are plastic and not very expensive. My friend hasn't had much luck with them. She has had a couple break. She prefers to stitch them up.

After spending most of yesterday mowing down weeds that got out of control in the horse pasture. Johnnie and I are motivated to put up chain link fence the rest of the way around our pastures. A job we have put off for years. You know how it goes. What would you rather do on a beautiful summers day go horseback riding or put up fencing....
The pastures where the sheep and goats graze need no toxic weed spray or mowing. They are beautiful! Once we get the fencing up we will be able to rotate the sheep and goats through each field. No more toxic spray-and having to keep the horses locked up off it for 16 days. No more days spent mowing down 3 foot high weeds.
Won't be starting it today. Got to go to SLC and get a girth for my aussie saddle so we can go riding tomorrow....
I said we are motivated.....
Still not going to give up a beautiful day riding in the mountains. When fencing can be a rainy day project.
This is the Year again-anyone taking bets?

As far as I am concerned their is not a horse more fun to ride than Roxy Our English Shire. Well except in the mountains. The trails aren't tall enough for her to clear. She is a very big girl 1700# and 18 hands tall (That is 6 feet at her shoulder). All that muscle and strength was put to good use in the old days. Now that every farm doesn't need a draft horse to pull the implements. Their numbers are dwindling.
Last Tuesday while working with Harley in the round pen I saw Roxy suffer a kick to the knee from Reno her best buddy. I held my breath until Roxy walked away without a limp. I cleaned and opened up the 1/4" wound on the inside of her knee. Felt so fortunate that she had no swelling for the next two days. Took off riding at day break and got home at dusk on the third day. Morning feeding of the forth day noticeable swelling. The rest of my day was Ice, then heat followed by epson Salt wrap. Inspite of my efforts the swelling was moving up her leg and she was lame. Dr. Cory said to keep up the treatments and bring her in tomorrow. Now Roxy is gentle and sweet. Roxie lives and plays on our farm.. She doesn't know the world out there. You just can't drag 1700# where they are scared to go. I had ten long hours to worry about it. Good ole Roxy she walked into the trailer right behind me, then she followed me right back out. After 4 tries we got her tied in. She unloaded at the vets perfectly. Walked through the parking lot and into the clinic didn't even spook when they closed the overhead door. Dr. Cory checked her knee and was concerned the infection might be in the joint so he sedated her. Oh, boy 1700# trying to balance on 3 legs wobbling to and fro. Putting more and more weight on Dr. Cory who was giving it his all holding up her bent knee with the 3" needle inserted into the joint. If he let her leg go the needle would break off. Fortunately a couple of other guys noticed and helped stabilize her. The good news was the fluid he injected into her knee joint did not come out the wound. Her joint was not infected. Seven days of 40cc (almost a 1/4 cup) of penicillan injections and bute twice a day. She should be just fine!
Can't thank our friend Gary enough. Since Johnnie had to work he got Roxy and I to the vet and is giving her those huge injections.

Billy
doe
tons of hay
grain
salt
alarm clock
flash light
Kidding kit
barn

Purchase Billy-and doe with great confirmation, gentle personality, and lots of color genes.

When the Buck is ripe, also know as "in rut" you will know by the smell he emits around September.
Mix up colored chalk and apply to his chest. When the colored chalk transfers from his chest to her backside. Start your timer for 5 months. Keep warm and well feed. Excess feed will make the doe rise to much. Which will create a bottle neck and make for difficultly removing.
In 4 months 2 weeks add a C D & T shot.
Check every 4 hours; using winter coat, Boots, flashlight
When goop appears on the does move into the kidding jug. Add hay and mollases water.
patiently wait.
When doeling and or buckling pop out. Carefully dry off and return to mom to be fed and taught the way of the goat for 8 short weeks.
Then separate be prepared for 2 days of very unhappy kids and does.
Treats of grain and lots of attention will make them feel secure.
Share with Friends that have lots of love to give.

Well lets see. In this lambing season with all our trials and tribulations what really awful thing didn't go wrong yet. That would be a vaginal prolapse. Walco stocks the Bearing Retainer, often called a Ewe spoon. That we needed.Problem was Walco closes it's doors at noon on Saturday, that was a couple of hours ago. So I pulled out the Book a friend lent me a few weeks ago. It has instruction to make one! Johhnie had one made up in nothing flat. We inserted it and secured it in place with a harness made out of yarn. Jubaalee is doing fine. She gave us another BLACk ewe lamb.

Horse, dog and a rope= 5 hours at the emergency room.
Murphy and I were out mending the hot wire fence Roxie our HUGE English Shire had destroyed. Nothing goes on in her pasture with out her supervising it. When she poked her nose into see what was going on. Murphy lunged at her. I grabbed his lead line which was moving fast enough to fillet my finger. Darn it this was not something a dab of super glue would fix. I needed a professional. Off to the emergency room we went not to be seen for 5 hours. This was the 2nd day in a row we spent time at a hospital. Yesterday we visited a friend at the gigantic IHC hospital in Murry. At only 50 years old he had suffered a heart attack. Minutes before we arrived the patient in the next room past away...
Saturday while waiting for my turn to get stitched up. We overheard them ushering out the grandkids and asking grandpa if he stops breathing if he wanted to be recessitated.
There was also darling 2 year old girl. Who's mom found her playing with a empty pill capsule. They didn't know if she had eaten it or not. They were waiting it out before pumping her stomach. A soccer goaly in full game attire and pain she couldn't hide was taken directly to X-ray. Follow this up by watching the movie "My Sister's Keeper" for a very humbling experience.

The braying wasn't the neighbors jack-ass. Just Malone our Angora goat being a dumb-ass. He had threaded his 24" horns and head clear up to his chest through the 10" spacing of the fence. Why is it they think the weeds on the other side of the fence are better than the ones right in front of them? He was reacting like an animal of prey, pushing into the pressure so hard he couldn't breath well. He was terrified and making sounds I've never head a goat make. Had to use the bolt cutters to get him out. After all that he calmly walked off. Leaving me standing there red in the face with an adrenaline rush. Which I put to use walking to the back of the field and bringing Lottie and her 2 day old lamb in to shade up for a while. Last year we lost Jubaalee's lamb to heat stroke. Not gong to chance that happening to this beautiful black ewe lamb. She brings our tally to 3 ram lambs and 3 ewe lambs. Four black and two white. Still have 2 ewes left to lamb. For their sake I hope soon. They look miserable in this heat.

As kids Dad had taken us to the zoo often. It had been years since dad had been. We made plans to celebrate Father's Day at the Zoo on Saturday. We hit a snafu when my bothers family didn't make it. Zuri the baby elephant kept us entertained while we waited a couple of hurs for my sisters family to arrive.The keeper's filled the hay bag. Freshened up Zuri's mud hole and filled her wading pool. The huge door opened and Zuri plunged into the pool at a full throttle. Then slopped around in her mud hole. She is a cute HUGE baby. Imagine taking care of an elephant! Part of me hates that they are caged. With species vanishing daily. Like the Asure leopards we saw napping in their habitat. There are only 30 left in the wild. Classifying them as "genetically extinct."Lets hope their efforts can save them from vanishing. Got to go see whats going on. Sounds like a donkey is braying in the back.

Johnnie and I were all smiles at the sight of Quizzies ophan kid goat walking down our lane. In his harness with his owner in tow, At 3 months old he has gone many a mile a the the end of a lead. His family loves to go camping. No worries for him he doesn't get left behind. He loves playing on the rocks almost as much as jumping around on the trampoline. When he's home he earns his keep by mowing weeds. He and his buddy are both named after the lawn mowers they replaced "Newton" and "Toro".
It's wonderful to see and hear about our kids.

It's been a week of hard work on the flower and garden beds here on our little farm. Leaving no time for blogging. I was awakened by howling at 4:00am this morning. Not the typical commotion of the neighborhood dogs sounding off that the paper has been delivered. Don't know what predator it came from but it certainly concerned me. I flipped on all the outdoor lights and headed out. First check was on our 3 sitting ducks. Dumb broody ducks have laid their eggs in a dog house in the goat field. Gave up trying to convince them every night to go into their coop where they can be safely locked up. I expected the worst. What I found made me laugh out loud. Challice our Angora goat was bedded in with the ducks. I'm thinking she probably never gave up her little dog house. I suspect the ducks just joined her. They laid their eggs down one side leaving barely room for her to sleep on the other. So relieved the head count was right on. For our flock anyway. The porch is covered in broken flower pots and the remains of the hanging baskets. The biggest culprit had been the howling wind. Or so I thought then I saw the frost on the Bugs windshield. Been told it doesn't freeze here after June 16th, WRONG. Have worked so hard on our garden. Won't know until it warms up how great our losses are. Darn! Really want tomato's to bottle. Refuse to use canned tomato's now that they line the cans with poisonous plastic stuff. Oh well, the sun is rising the sheep are cautiously walking out into the field. Looking like they are enjoying this crisp cool morning!

Hey if you live in Orem and you want to have a small goat in your back yard NOW is the time to call your city council and let them know. They are going to be voting on it soon! Last vote was tied 3 to 3. Your call could make a difference.

I found we were missing a kid goat on my 5:00am lamb check. One of Fawn's little line backer's was no where to be found. I checked all the places he could be hiding. Then I checked all the places I might find him dead, the road, swampy end of the field. Relieved that there was no body. Went in to recruit help from Johnnie. Still couldn't find him. We know their are fox around our place and have been concerned they might get brave enough to approach our barn. Had it happened? We headed for the front field to see if any other kids were missing. It wasn't even daybreak and they were out playing round. So we had to count moving targets three times before we were certain our head count was up by one. He was found. This little kid is such a mama's boy I don't understand how he ended up in the front filed, but really glad to find him safe. It's going to be a wonderful day. I've got a garden to plant today and only a few errands to run.

With lambing and kidding going on I've been on a short leash since February. I have been looking so forward to my annual outing to the Parade of homes. It has become a tradition for my friend and I. Yesterday was the day. Johnnie did the afternoon chores. I was even able to talk him into harvesting for me on Farmville. Yeah the silly computer game he teases me daily for playing. Can't believe I was able to convince him to do it! He must have realized how much I needed to have a afternoon off.....
I was driving and my friend was navagating us to the first home. When the red and blues pulled me over. I was clueless why. I was going with the flow. I was certainly surprised when the officer told me the huge road surrounded by commercial buildings was a residential area and the speed limit was 25 mph. I received my first ticket ever for going 35 in a 25 mph zone. Sorry, I am not one to speed. I will be paying my penace of $90.00. We toured 4 homes in the Orem area and a castle in Alpine. Got lots of fun decorating ideas to add to the want to do list I've accumulated through the years.
Our next stop was to In and Out Burger. When we got out of the bug we were redirected by the aroma coming from ZUmo's. Johnnie and I seldom eat out. So about any place who choose would have been a new experience for me. My $12.00 salad and sandwich, they called pantini was delicious. I'm going to try to recreate it at home for Johnnie. It was a fun time. I was really glad to pull into our driveway. My biggest "AW" of the day was the millions of orange barricades that lined the freeway and it really confused the hell out of me when they create diversions with them going every which way. As I am typing my husband is on his way into the big City (SLC), where he works. I have a new appreciation and a whole bunch of fear and anxiety. Over his 50 mile trek he makes so that we can have our little farm. God Bless him and keep him safe. I LOVE YOU Johnnie!

Still no lambs....moms to be are being uncomfortable. If I would have kept the marking chalk fresh I would known the day they would lamb within a 2 week window. I won't make this mistake again, I hope. Snurffy and her twin Smurffy are settling in. How amazing is it that Snuffy the little ewe that we have given all the injections is much friendlier than her sister. I would have thought it would be just the opposite. Their are both eating treats out of our hands. This is their first experience with frequent out breaks of "kids gone wild" They are from a nice peaceful farm without pesky kid goats surfing on their backs, using them for trampolines and a launching pad for their acrobatic tricks.
The kids are suppose to stay in their field with their moms. They are getting more independent and like venturing off. They don't come running like they use to when mom yells. Except for Fawn's our tiniest ND doeling. Her triplets are only a couple of weeks old with hearty appetites They are constantly swarming her trying to sneak a sip. She has found refuge on top of her house. When she jumps down she is greeted by her trio of line backers they tackle her and literally push her back 9 yards. We are going to have to referee this game closer.

Looks to me like the treatments Dr. Scott of Pipestone prescribed are working. Snuffy is getting around better. He had us give her a steroid shot today. Poor little thing has had a lot of injections.
It is just fun and games out in the goat kids field. Now the neighbor kids are out of school they are getting a lot of attention.
Two of our BabyDolls ewes are making bags. Surprisingly the fattest one hasn't. We have our fingers crossed they lamb by July 13, they will be "Yogi's" offspring. Only time will tell...

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine,

I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge

and skills for the benefit of society

through the protection of animal health,

the relief of animal suffering,

the conservation of livestock resources,

the promotion of public health

and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity

and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.

I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement

of my professional knowledge and competence.

Snuffy the 3 month old ewe lamb we brought on board along with her twin. A few weeks ago to grow our flock. Is putting us through a new learning experience. Snuffy and Smurfy are adorable you just want to hug them. They weren't ready to be friends with the human species when we brought them home. They were terrified when I would put gain in their bowl and sit down to watch them eat it. If I even flintched they would try to run through the panel. I noticed Snuffy wasn't balancing well on her hind end. She has a very syncopated run. She just bounces off her hind legs barely bending at the knee joint. This one was over our heads. We took her into the vet in Hephi. The vet took her temperature which was high 104.2 (over 103 is high). His concern is that she had an infection in either her spin or brain causing the problem in her back end. He gave her an injection of LA200 for infection and an SOR-B injection, treatment for white muscle disease. The next day her temperature was gone but still had the wobbles in her back end. The vet didn't know what to do next.....I called Pipestone. The vet I spoke to had me give her a shot of penicillin and Nuflour ouch this stuff is expensive. Wait a day and then another injection of each. He also prescribed Vitamin E300 for 3 days along with vitamin B complex. After the first days injections she is still wobbly. I am encouraged that she still is eating really well and on her feet. Once they go off food and won't get up it is hard to save them. Our bad run of luck continues....

Time out on the Farm for Holiday Barbecue.
These are DELICIOUS!
2# ground lamb
1/4 chopped fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano
2 tablespoons garlic chopped
2 teaspoons sherry
2 teaspoons white whine vinegar
2 teaspoons molasses
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 pita rounds or buns
1/2 pound feta cheese crumbled
Preheat the grill for medium heat.
Place the lamb in a large bowl and mix with the mint, cilantro, oregano, garlic, sherry, vinegar, and molasses. Season with cumin, allspice, red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper, and mix well. Shape into patties.
Brush grill grate with oil. Grill burgers 5 minutes on each side. or until well done. Heat the pita pocket briefly on the grill. Serve burgers wrapped in pita with feta cheese.
Or can serve on a bun.

It's been over a week since I've blogged. Just been to busy fending of "Murphy" who has been working overtime finding any little glitch and turning it into a tradegy. Like finding a baby kid goat drown in a 5 gallon water bucket. Couldn't imagine how such a awful thing could happen. After thinking about it and realizing the bucket looked just like the logs they play on. I couldn't believe how dumb it was to use them for water.....No more water buckets around here that are taller than a baby kid goat can jump out of.
Murphy's next victim was MoJo" our LaMancha goat. I rushed to her coral thinking she was kidding when she didn't pop her head over the fence and yell at me to hurry up with her food. What I found was her leg cut from the top to the bottom. This was the first time I have used the first aide items for cuts in our emergency kit. She is doing fine now! We are anxiously awaiting her kids. They are going to be mini's. Last time we bred her to Jax she gave us one of each color brown, white and black.
I know we are very lucky in all the years we have had horses. Have never had one get sick or colicy. On the way out the door to meet family at the cemetery I noticed Reno just didn't look right. She was colicing! We canceled our plans and called three vets before finding one that could come out in 3-4 hours. We walked her 10 minutes and would rest her for 5 for close to 3 hours. Good news is that during this time she pooped. Stopped pawing/biting at her belly and trying to lay down. She had improved enough there was no need for the typical colic dousing of oil. Vet said she did need a interveineous injection of banamine. Can't even spell interveineous much less gave her the injection. Thanks to Johnnie's buddies Gary & Blaine for doing it for us.
It is said bad luck runs in three's. Hope our turn is over. Keep you doors shut don't let him in! We are wounded but still standing. As gut wrenching as these experiences were we have learned not to use deep water buckets. If colic is treated in early stages they can survive. A dusty first aide kit is pricless when you need it and so worth storing all those years.

Okay I get it. I need to take minerals for our sheep and goats more serious. I have always had free offer trace minerals available for both our sheep and goats. Problem is they either dump it over or dirty it up. To put it bluntly poo in it. Yesterday we put together some dispenser's that were really easy and inexpensive. Made them out of Plastic rain gutter components. One 10 foot length made three dispenser's. Cost less than $20.00. We are using one for a duck feeder. We moved some of our runner ducks to our front field to get the bugs. Need to feed them where the goats couldn't eat their food. So we hung one of the dispenser's inside our tree guard. It is tall enough it can be filled from the outside.
They are working great for sheep, goats and our ducks.
I've posted a picture.
It is so simple. We used a 10 foot length of plastic rain gutter- two 45 degree elbows and a funnel to dump the food into. Put it together and secured it with screws.

Without fail after each loss I wonder if I want to continue putting myself in a situation where loss is inevitable. Heard this one yesterday "If you have livestock you have deadstock". I am not one that deals with it well. Yesterday I was debating with myself what to do. I can't do this well with out a vet interested in healing sheep and goats....On the other hand when things go right there is nothing I enjoy more than raising the best healthiest sheep and goats I can. It's a thrill to watch them take their first breath of life. I find it amazing to watch first time moms. How do they know how and what to do when her precious newborn appears covered in goo. How does she know to bite the cord and maticously lick it until it drys up. Or to paw at them to get up and nuzzle them back to the cafeteria. How does she even know that it is there? Some of our moms are micro managers others not so much. The biggest thrill is when their families come pick them up. We have met some really special people. Why wouldn't it be so. Seems to me people that love livestock are the most compassionate of compassionate people. They just plain respect LIFE. One of them called me yesterday. She shared an experience they had up north a few years back with selenium deficiency. She and a cattle rancher that uses hundreds of goats to clean up range weeds his cattle leave behind. Suffered huge losses and abortions. They drew blood and had it tested. From that they knew the minerals they needed to supplement. They have it made up and free offer it. They have not had a re-occurrence. I may not have a vet I can count on. I do have lifelines that know things the vets weren't taught in school. Johnnie and I appreciate our friends that are so willing to share knowledge and information with us. As our quest goes on to preserve rare & endangered breeds.

Old Websters definition of Triage, The sorting out of patience, as in battle, to determine priority for treatment.
Around here Life happens around our best laid out plans. I sure appreciate my die hard friends that just keep Inviting me to join in. When time after time my plans change in a heart beat or lack of one. We never know what each day will bring. We are up before the crack of dawn. If we have any care that requires four hands Johnnie helps before he is off to work at 6:00 am. From there I work my way through our flock attending to who ever needs food or care most next. I love it. Don't choose to spend my life any where else.
I often run into heartbreak when I need the expertise or even just the sign off of a Veterinarian. The fact that the triage of veterinarians and there list of importance is much different than ours is rightly so. That doesn't change the frustration and heart break of burying a 4 legged kid because the vet does not have time to pick up my 10:00am message and return my call until 5:30pm to tell me he won't be able to fill a syringe for me to pick up until the next morning. This has cost the life of our Teny Tiny.

It is a circus with 23 kids and lambs. Wow when they come three at a time makes for a lot of kids/lambs fast. They are like wind up toys they run and play then all pile into one of the igloos have a nap and it's out playing again. Itsie had twins Saturday one was 3# the other just barely a pound. The little one couldn't get herself up to get a drink for two days. Johnnie kept her going by tube feeding her. She is still really wolby on her feet. Can't keep up with mom and her bother. So we hand deliver her to mom and wait for her to get her fill. Concerned that her problem might be something more than being just so tiny, Did some research online. Her symptoms sound similar to white muscle disease. Often cured with just one injection of BOS_E. Problem was I needed a vet to either call in the script or sell me a dose of it. The first clinic said they would get back to me about 5:00 when they finished up appointments. It was 10:00 sounded like forever away. I am short on patience. I called another clinic and got an answer. He said white muscle disease is rare in goats. He has only treated one case in all the years he has practiced. I was relieved. Then confusion set in when the other vet returned my call at 5:30. He said it's common he would sell us an injection of "E", "A" and "C". He didn't have the Bos-E which has selenium. So I'll pick it up tomorrow. The vet said it will do her no harm. I'm all for anything that will help her out. I am so grateful a friend sent me information about how and where you can have hay evaluated. When we buy our hay this year we are going to have it evaluated. If we know the protein and mineral content. We won't have to guess at what and how much to supplement them.

Woke up to a perfect day to spray weeds. Well that is if you don't care about wasting your time and money. I finished up to the sounds of thunder followed by a down pour. Johnnie's luck wasn't any better. He got halfway through weed wacking when the weed eater broke. Pretty sure we jinks it when we bragged it up to our neighbor who is looking to buy one. I retreated into the house where there was plenty of cleaning to get done. Of course shortly after it stopped raining.
Teri and Haley stopped by to get to know the little 2 week old niggie wethers they bought. We love when families will take time to come over and bond with them when they are young. It was a LUCKY thing they came today when they did. Apithanie had just had triplets! One of them was barely hangin in there. Thanks to there being so observant and helping out. All three are doing just fine!

THANKS TO OUR NEW FRIENDS FOR SAVING APITHANIE'S TINEY DOELING!

We are missing the smiley faces of the lamb we called Dexter, Quizzie's orphan-Bongo, and our trio of wether's....
But we know where there are four kids with big smiles.
Our BabyDoll trio of wethers Joshin, Grimmace and Woolbur are NOT missing us this morning. They woke up in sheep paradise. Their own luscious green pasture. They have Mike and Selina and lots of grandkids to spoil and love them. Doesn't get any better than that!
We brought home 2 beautiful BabyDoll Ewe lambs. That aren't very happy this morning. They and our 5 lambs are separated from their moms udders. We are all going through the dreaded weaning process. I think you can guess who's missing the most sleep. Not so easy to fall asleep counting loudly complaining sheep. BlAaaa BLAAAA blaaaaa!

Teddy our one and only Shetland sheep. Was the first lamb born on our Holy Grail Farm. She is a precocious individual. So we shouldn't have been surprised when she stared us down. A couple of days after her twins left for their new home. Once she caught our attention it was so obvious she needed to be milked out. Who Says sheep are dumb?!?
Teddy had never been milked. Our past experiences starting milking goats has not been so easy. Teddy stood, no squirming, no kicking not even 1 foot in the bucket. I kid you not every evening since she waits at the gate. Walks onto the milking stand and gives over a quart of creamy milk. Teddy is 4 years old. Has lambed 4 times and dried up each time on her own. What a happy coincidence that this year when we needed milk for Quizzy's orphan she giving us all we need.

Saturday May 8th. This is wonderful it is actually shaping up to be a spring like day. Johnnie and I got right on shearing. We no more than got Grimmace on the shear stand when we heard a goat calling out for help. Johnnie ran out to check on Missy. The doe we figured would be next to kid. All was peaceful in the front field. The screaming didn't stop. We were fooled again. It was Dafney in the back field. She was in a predicament. Her kid was in correct position. Ready to dive out. All that could fit through the escape hatch was it's legs. Now What? Lucky for us Judy came over. When Dafney pushed she had Johnnie pull legs, she put her fingers behind it's head and pulled side to side, while I lifted the vulva up and over it. Took 4 of us to get him here. A big buckling white with crystal blue eyes. We finished up shearing about 3:00. Just needed to throw out evening feed and we could call it a early day. Johnnie went for pizza. Then I heard a familar voice yelling "BABIES, BABIES BABIES! Judy's 12 year old granddaughter took hay into Missy to find she was kidding. Judy has taught her well. She was off at a dead run for towels and the kidding bucket. She was back in time to see Kid number three coming through in his bubble bass ackwards, with number 4 diving out right behind him. Didn't need to say a word. Jayden worked right along side me. She cleared Missy's teats, Put iodine on navels and cleaned off goop. She was amazing help. Me I would have been clueless at 12. Jayden has the potential to do and be anything she puts her mind & heart to. If things here in the U.S. continue on this course. She is going to have some big obstacles that our generation is creating to deal with. Shame on us!

Jax our nigerian buck is getting up there in years. Two years ago we kept his son. He is beautiful white, with black moon spots. Last year he was young and didn't get the job done so most of the does had the year off. This fall I went out to feed and there was Jax in with the does. We still don't know how he managed to get out of the buck pen. The old man has proven he's still got it! Two of our does gave us quads. The kids are beautifully marked and there is lots of fun color. No two are alike. Not what we had planned, but it couldn't have worked out better. We are so happy with his beautiful kids! Four does weren't in on the day he escaped. So we will be getting some kids out of ACE too. Have to say Jax came up with the better plan.

One of our goals has been to close our flock. It is the best way I know to keep a healthy flock healthy. We are adding 3 ewe lambs. Each one from a unrelated bloodline. This should give us the diversity we want to breed healthy beautiful lambs. From here on out. We will raise our own replacement lambs. Our flock won't go any where and they won't have any sheep or goats visiting.
As with everything their is a downside. We will not be offering our bucks/rams for stud.

Our girls have shown us this year using marker on the buck/ram during breeding definitely isn't fail proof. We have 3 ewes and 5 does all with marked rear ends and a calendar date to lamb/kid that has come and gone. There are going to be a lot more night checks needed than if we had a date to shot for. One good thing there is no doubt the does are all PG. They are waddling around like balloons ready to pop. The ewes are are just beginning to bag. Their lambs are going to have to bake 3-4 more weeks.
We have started a new ritual. Tara has shared some tips with us. Each day she gives her milking does a slice of banana with a multiple vitamin in it. Along with a copper drench her husband made. We have separate pastures for our sheep and goats. I still was not comfortable offering free source copper. If our sheep were to somehow get to it. It could be fatal for them. Our goats were not showing any signs of copper deficiency yet. Much rather avoid it affecting their health.

We said good-bye to Teddy's lambs. They are joining the petting zoo in Scippio. Just in time for the Grand opening this weekend. Wish we could be there for it. Dan and Ada have done some really creative stuff kids are going to love it!
We can take a name off the "Kid watch list" Bethanie gave us twins. Beautiful red doelings. Sorry Lauren, I told the girls you wanted a white one. Don't give up yet we have 2 left to kid. We were drying off the kids when the breeze changed direction and turned into 40 mph chilly blow. I checked often through the night and was relieved not to be fighting the wind as we welcomed 4-legged kids into the world.
I'm off to go see what today brings.

We got a reprieve from the forecast rain yesterday. Daisy Blue eyes. Delivered 2 handsome bucklings under the warm rays of the sun we have so missed.
Quizzie's orphan is doing great. He is the funniest kid we have ever had around.
We cleared the flock out of the feed area and turned out Calamity Jane and her two bucklings. She still is walking with a limp. Seems to be improving with each day. Her bucklings look much healthier two.
Muchie and her triplets got run of the feed area the 2nd half of the day. The tiny doeling Johnnie blew life back into has to run to keep up with them. We are working on downsizing. It wasn't in the plan to keep any kids this year. Of all of them to keep it doesn't make any sense to keep one that is going to be to small to breed. Johnnie and I have grown so attached to her. I don't think she will be leaving. Yep, here we go again making decisions with our hearts not our heads. No way to run a business. Probably why we are always in the red.
Today it's kid checks on: Bethanie, Babel, Itsy. The sun is out again this morning. It would be great if they would all kid today. I am Determine not to loose any more lives. Not getting much sleep. Much rather loose sleep than the alternative.

2:00 a.m. kid check found our expecting does resting with no signs of delivery. The wind is howling. After my exhilarating walkabout I am wide a wake. Good chance to document what is going on with Calamity Jane our angora goat. Our lack of good luck has been much like the weather we have had this spring "When it rains it pours". Calamity Jane kidded one week ago Sunday. She and her kids were just not thriving. She is really thin and her kids belly's don't look full. I have offered them bottles that they continue to refuse. She has no fever which should rule out infection. I was not able to find the placenta to verify she expelled the whole thing. We decided to give her a dose of penicillin. Johnnie gave her the injection on her left should subutaneously. Her leg collapsed under her as she walked away. She got up and fell to her knee again and again. I had watched him pull back to verify he didn't inject into a artery. I came in to look up the symptoms to find my computer had crashed. Called the vet to learn he doesn't have an emergency number or back up. My books had nothing. Called Tara for help. She pulled out her book and went through the diseases of the goat section. With her help we ruled out many diseases, milk fever, ketosis & polio to name a few. She helped me come up with a plan to stabilize her until I could get her to a vet Monday. We gave her a Ivermectin injection, NutriDrench that had vit A, E, D,& Selenium, Probiotic that I crushed a baby asprin in and a multiple vitamin. We splinted her leg. Two hours later the panic look was gone from her eyes she was resting comfortably. Monday morning I took off the splint. Her leg was not hot or swollen. It is still not right but much better than Yesterday. We have had two friends stop by to give us their opinion. Neither of them think her leg is broken. One wonder if it was a reaction to the shot the other if it could be nerve damage. This morning she has improved even more walking with a limp. It is over whelming how many things can go wrong. It is so wonderful to have friends you can turn to for help!
THANKS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS for your help and support.

Need to back up to Saturday morning 5:00 kidding check. The mystery of if anyone had kidded ended the minute I opened the back door. I could hear a newborn. Quizzie's pencil muscles had thinned out yesterday. I had put her in a calf hutch. Sure enough she had a darling little buckling by her side. The next two hours would be the only he would be with his mom. Lost due to kidding complications. We have never had an orphan to care for. The bottle babies we have raised have never suckled on their mother. We learned this makes a big difference. From this experience seems that once they have had the real thing they don't want to settle for anything else. The bond between doeling and kid was incredably stong even in just a few hours. After trying every type of nipple, and all the flavors we could come up with, frozen colostrum, powdered colostrum, milk replacer. It looked like he would die before taking any of it. Johnnie tubed him twice to keep him going. It wasn't until Johnie cover the kids eye's with his hand that we had success. It was like pushing a button attach to his mouth. Cover his eyes and he would aggressively bump his nose around in search for something to eat. He never was happy with the milk replacer. He would take a couple of sips and back off. Thanks to Tara we were able to put him on goats milk. He's two days old and doing great! We still have to cover his eyes to get him to take it.

Sitting here having coffee hoping for a good day. Don't need to win the lottery. Don't need our ship to come in, although any good news would always be welcome. I'm talking about just a boring normal day. With 4 nigerian does due any time. It's not reasonalbe to expect boring. We have had an unusual lambing/kidding year. Perhaps we are due for normal deliveries here on out. Haven't blogged for days. Have been heart sick over losing Quizzy in a kidding gone bad. We have never lost a ewe or doe due to complications of pregnancy. WE had two ewe's this year that we also had to go in and turn the lambs head. After Quizzie was gone Johnnie and I both agreed we needed to know why we couldn't get the kids head turned to deliver. I can't begin to explain the awful feeling when your best isn't enough. As gross as an option as it was. Doing an autopsy should make us better able to do what is needed if there is a next time. Oh I hope, to never have to go through anything like that again....
It was really different than looking at pictures on the computer or in a book. Definitivly a valuable learning experience.

Residence of West Mountain beware "Amadeus" alias "Bruiser" is on the loose. He is a handsome white leghorn with an attitude. He had free room and board at the H. Grail farm. Where he valiantly kept watch over his flock. Really good watch. We learned not to gather eggs when he was around. After suffering kicks from him hard enough to cause bruises. We tried to give him an attitude adjustment for the last year. It turned into a game for him. He would stock us. We learned to listen for the patter of his feet. If you turned around before the attack he would strut away. We couldn't let him get away with that. We would have to beat him at a chicken fight. We were willing to put up with this bad ass rooster since he took such good care of his girls. Until he pulled a sneak attack at the back door and ended up in the house. It was not a good thing. A friend volunteered to take him home and put him in her cool chicken yard. He pulled a houdini and was gone the next morning. If you hear the patter of feet running you down give Amadeus Bruiser a kick from me.

Johnnie and I went to the Utah State 4H Livestock Show today. Over 200 lambs lookin' good all nicely groomed. The grooming part is a feat itself. Kudos to all the parents and grandparents that work so hard behind the scene. We all know there is no way a eight year old kid. Can pull off such a feat themselves. Not that these kids don't do what they can. They were in there really giving it their all. We saw a couple of them leave the ring today with hoof prints down the back of their white shirts. Where the lambs had pulled a quick one and run over top of them as they escaped. How that judge ever chooses One lamb that is better than all the rest is amazing to me.

This is not the kind of weather I had hoped for when we planned for May kidding. It has snowed here most of the morning. We have heat lamps set up in the barn for the newborn kids. It is still cold for little guys. We weighed the quads born yesterday 2 of them are just over 2#. The little doeling that Johnnie recessitated yesterday weighed in at under 1.5#. The smallest born on our place. She is eating well as far as we can tell she is doing fine. Sure hope the other does can wait until this cold spell is over!

There wasn't much chance that her mom Muchie would accept her. Not only had we had her away from her for hours. Muchie had probably already given her up for dead. Within seconds Muchie was nuzzling her back to suckle. Her siblings are double her size. So we are going to have to make sure she gets her share.
Thanks to who ever it was that wrote the article. Had I not read it. This darling little goat would have been given up for dead.

It is just after 2:00 a.m. I have just come in from checking on our latest arrivals. Muchie our nigerian dwarf had quads today. Between my kidding checks at 2:00pm and 5:00pm. I could see she had kidded before I even got through the gate. What I couldn't see was the two lifeless kids behind her. Oh it was just heart breaking. I had read somewhere to warm up kids & lambs even if they appeared dead. Took them into the house. I worked on drying them off with the hair dryer in between Johnnie trying to blow life into them. After 10 minutes there was still no sign of life in there limp bodies. There eyes were dull. We hung on the glimer of hope that the one little girls nose was quivering as she was trying to breath. It was 30 minutes before we say any sign of life. When she called out for maaa.It took 2 hours to get her body up to 100. The minimum needed before we could get colostrum down her. It was miraculous to see her standing wagging her tail as if to say I'm ready feed me. We tried giving her a bottle. The nipple was to big for her to get a hold of. So Johnnie tried to tube her. That is when we realized how tiny she was. The tube was to big to go down her throat. We used the body of a syringe to get 4 cc down her.

Calamity Jane our angora goat surprised us with twins last night. She kidded two days before the date I had her down for. Our Angora have never twined before. They are both little bucklings. They are tiny little guys about 2# each. They are doing great they didn't need any encouragement to get after a drink. One is apricot with a black dorsal strip and black nose. His brother is darker and has a pink nose.
If I got it right on our breeding calendar it's going to be a busy week for our does. Sure hope the weather cooperates! Off I go to get feeding done before my walking partner gets here.

Today was the Benjamin 4-H Show. Over 100 kids brought their lambs, pigs and steers. The judge awarded a champion and reserve champion for each species. So there were 6 really happy kids. I doubt the winners worked any harder than most of the other participants. The recipe is pretty much the same: aquire sheep/pig/steer add food, water and exercise. That is why I enjoyed the peewee's most. Three year old BrennaLee was all smiles in her little red cowboy hat and boots complete with spurs. While the other kids were lined up waiting for their turn to talk to the judge she proudly lead her lamb back and forth in front of the crowd. Every kid in the group was awarded a trophy as they exited the arena. BrennaLee didn't leave until she marched around with her trophy held high in the air so all her fans could see it. I so wish I had seen this kind of joy on all the competitors faces. They were all winners they just didn't know it!

First thing on my to do's is taking a bottle out to Tenacious our six week old lamb. When he refused it and I didn't recognize what was wrong. I called to make an appointment with Dr. Bott. Was so disappointed when they told me he doesn't work at Nebo any more. Called Rocky mountain and got the same reply as the last couple of times I tried them "Our schedule is so full we can schedule you an appointment in a couple of days. If you have lambs you know a couple of days is usually to late. As a last resort I called Pipestone Vets. Didn't think they could do much for me over the phone. Since they are located in Minasota a office call wasn't going to happen. Their vets know sheep! What a wonderful service they offer. Dr. Goelz determined Tenacious had a intestinal infection and instructed me how to treat him. He saved our lamb!
Here's what I learned from Dr.Goelz.
Lambs should not get formula after 4 weeks of age. It is very risky to subsidize lambs that are in a flock when they are a couple of weeks old. It is impossible to know how much milk they have bummed. Formula doesn't flow through their rumen like moms milk or goats milk. Giving time for bacteria to grow. He had us take the lamb off the bottle. Give it one oral dose of penicillin and injections of it for 3 days. Stop the pepto I was giving for his diarrhea. In this case we want him to clean out.

Debi is collecting wool on her farm. Anyone clicking a button on farmville and job done. Just isn't getting the same satisfaction as hands on shearing. There is no doubt sending a newly shorn mom out to her anxiously awaiting lambs who don't recognize her will put a smile on anyone's face. Sometimes they take off running away from the stranger that is running out to them. They do some really funny antics in their confusion. It takes a whole lot of sniffing before they are convinced this really is mom and it's safe to go in for a drink.
However I wasn't laughing when I felt the warm sensation running down my back. While comfortably sitting behind the ewe trimming her feet. That is some thank you for the pedicure. I could hear Johnnie and his buddy Gary laughing over it as I ran for the shower.
We are halfway through shearing. A job a pro would have finished up in just a couple of hours. We choose to shear our own flock for a couple of reasons. When weather permits we like to shear before they lamb. Most important to us we don't risk bringing unwanted diseases onto our farm.

I've got to line up some hay today. We had bought some last week. When I broke it open it was moldy. I hated having to call the guy and take it back....I hated even more having to tell Johnnie. He sees our neighbors feed moldy hay all the time. After a call from a friend yesterday. On her way home from a $250.00 vet visit. I hope he understands that I am not just a bitch. There are consequences for not feeding properly. Her horse had coliced. She was beating herself up. Wishing for a do over. She had run our of grass hay and picked up a alfalfa grass mix to get her through until she could make it out to pick up more grass hay. Like she said it could have been worse. If her mare had needed an IV tack on an additional $1,500.00, surgery $3,000.00-$4,000.00. Or the worst senerio a dead horse priceless to replace expensive to bury..

The alarm going off at 4:45 was not a welcome sound this morning. The wind had blown violently all night. Johnnie is on his way into work in SLC. WOW! How lucky an I. I don't have to punch a time clock this morning. There is no place I would rather be sipping on my 2nd cup of coffe with Reggie laying at my feet. I've got a long list of to do's for today. Starting with giving Reggie her new Glucosaplex. A mineral spray developed by a friend. It has 280mg of Glusamine in a special chelating matrix delivery system. Don't know how long until she feels the benefits from it. Me, I felt better the moment I sprayed it on her food.

Well there won't be any more cute pictures of our neighbor kids walking their lambs together.
One of the families dad told the kids "it's not a good idea to walk with the competition."
What a shame!

I do think the fact that the dad making the statement sells club lambs. Is the driving force of his attitude.
This is not in the spirit of the 4-H goals I read.
What a shame!

Johnnie's Son called from Scippio where he had stopped to gas up. To tell us they had a guanaco just like George. Yep, it was George. Jason said he looked well. He was in a nice pasture with another llama to keep him company.
So if you are ever headed down south stop at Scippo for gas while you are visiting their petting zoo say "HI' to George for us!

My little blunder we called fopaz has a home. I didn't get her mother Bambi separated from our B.D. ram soon enough back in '09. So instead of getting a lamb for our freezer as we had planned. She gave us a darling BabyDoll cross. Fopaz was reserved along with a BabyDoll ram lamb last fall. To a guy in Idaho. Every time he would schedule time off work and arrange to come for them it would storm. Infact he called so often trying to work around the stormy fall weather. I got a call from his wife asking why her husband was calling this number. Fopaz and the ram lamb never made the trip to Idaho. Wednesday their new family from Spanish Fork picked them up. Fopaz has a darling three year old girl to help bottle feed her lamb. It is a wonderful thing to place our babies in good homes. Just one of the reasons we work so hard at our hobby 365 days a year. Instead of doing needle point or some lovely relaxing hobby. Well, that and the fact they require skill and talent I don't have yet. They are on the list of things to learn to do.

Just another winter day on the 6th of April. Our crocus are under snow. Not a big deal but I do miss seeing their lovely blossoms. Mother nature is not treating the farmers around here nicely. I'm hearing the apricot's are in danger of freezing. I've not ventured out to check on ours.
The flock is going to be testy this morning. I've got them in lock down. Usually leave one of the barn door open so they can come and go and they please. While feeding during the hail storm yesterday evening. I decided they weren't going to get their choice to go sleep in the snow. More for me than them. I wish I had bred our goats for February kids. Weather was a lot better for kidding than it is now. I hope it settles down some before the end of the month. We are expecting 3 ewes and all of our goats to be kidding about then. Faupa and her ram lamb are going to their new home on Wednesday. She may be going in her wool coat. To cold to shear her now. Not a big deal it will all work out. Off I go I've got bottle babies to feed.

Happy Easter!
Woke up to 4 inches of fresh new snow, relief and sadness. I am not going to see George patrolling his pasture. Can scratch ordering a sign warning unsuspecting visitors to stay out of the Green spit zone off my list of to do's. George was our guanaco/llama cross. He had been with us for the last four years. Brought him to the Holy Grail when he was just a few hours old. I can't wrap my head around what went wrong. I just know that after we had to separate him from Peanut his female llama buddy and get him fixed. He woke up with a real spitty attitude towards me. Yeah, just me. When we were expecting company I would get out there and warn them to stand behind the logy zone. Time after time when people would drop by I would find them petting him and they weren't covered in his signature green logy. I finally got it..... I love George. So when I had the opportunity to send him to much bigger greener pastures I owed it to him. The memories aren't going with him. Those are mine to keep. I've got four years of his antics that will make me smile every time I think of him.
What a coincidence that George's new life began Easter morning. I'm sure his new family is going to enjoy him.

After many inquires our fainter doeling twins have a great home. Mercy is just cute as can be. She was born with a back leg just didn't work right for her. She kept up with her sister Harmony no problem at all. She needed a special home. We got a lot of calls for them but as soon as I told them about her leg they either ask if they could just buy her twin or weren't interested. Then Dan called his reply was golden "Aww, not a problem she will fit right in with us". What lucky goats they have four 2 legged kids and Big hearted Dan and Ada looking out for them.

Happy April Fools Day!
Woke up to mother natures prank 3" of snow. Sure glad I bred for early lambs this year. Past years I have bred for April lambs thinking the weather would be better. Sure wasn't the case this year.
Our lambs being from 3 to 6 weeks old had only seen a skiff of snow. They all bravely ventured out into the unknown white stuff. There wasn't the typical running and jumping. They would take a step then sniff at the cold white stuff then another step then a taste. When it didn't bite back game was on jumping,running, and of course an occasional game of leap frog. Sweet little lambs without a care in the world. Little do they know what is in store for them today. All but Teddy's young lambs are getting there CD & T shot.

Got my druthers woke up to snow instead of howling wind. It is great for the pastures and garden beds. Which we haven't done a thing with yet. Our neighbors have peas coming up and lettuce in their green house. If I don't get busy sowing there won't be any reaping. I must say I was pleasantly surprised our long driveway was swept clean. I stand corrected the wind is an excellent huge air blower.
It was cold enough I had to dig out my gloves. I was hoping I could get by with out them. I've never been a playtex living glove kinda girl. My hands are proof of that. Winter gloves are even worse you certainly can't pick up a dime, or open a latch in them. Not a big deal got the flock fed and bedded. We are ready for whatever season we get tomorrow....

My best dog Reggie is coming on 16 years old. Yesterday we had visitors. They gave her a pathetic look and ask me what was wrong with her. What? That is my best friend they were talking about. She has been with me through thick and thin for 16 years. She leads the way out the door everyday to do chores, she prances like a puppy out to the pasture and waits patiently at each gate while I go into feed. When the rooster comes after me she will put him in his place. She will round up any excapee sheep or goat without ruffling it's wool. She does sleeps much sounder that she use to. A few visitors get to the door unannounced. That didn't happen on her watch in her younger years. Granted her coat isn't luxious as it once was. She doesn't see or hear so well. She limps on her front leg and she has a tumor on her belly. She is beautiful to me and I am so proud of how she is still up and going at 116 human years old. So when you see my Reggie she looks a little rough. Don't think for a minute she is not loved and cared for. I will not give her up as long as she is not suffering!
The words to this song my mom sang to us as kids would bring us to tears. The thought of living it terrifies me.

When I was a lad
And old Shep was a pup
Over hills and meadows we'd stray
Just a boy and his dog
We were both full of fun
We grew up together that way

I remember the time at the old swimmin' hole
When I would have drowned beyond doubt
But old Shep was right there
To the rescue he came
He jumped in and then pulled me out

As the years fast did roll
Old Shep he grew old
His eyes were fast growing dim
And one day the doctor looked at me and said
I can do no more for him Jim
With hands that were trembling
I picked up my gun
And aimed it at Shep's faithful head
I just couldn't do it
I wanted to run
I wish they would shoot me instead
He came to my side
And looked up at me
and laid his old head on my knee
I had struck the best friend that a man ever had
I cried so I scarcely could see
Old Shep he has gone
Where the good doggies go
And no more with old Shep will I roam
But if dogs have a heaven
There's one thing I know
Old Shep has a wonderful home

Winter is suppose to be done. According to the calendar it is officially spring. Time for spring showers to green up our fields and coax up the daffodils. I find myself wishing away the wind. You know the saying April showers bring May flowers. What good stuff does the wind bring?
I am a believer in dancing in the rain.
Not so good at dancing with the wind in my face. I would rather have snow in my face than eat hay as I throw it over the fence to feed. Even more irritating is hay in my brassiere'. It is beyond me how it gets through my coat zipped up to my neck, carharts and my sweatshirt to embed under the elastic band of my bra. Creating a red weld 10x the size of the blade of hay. You would think sailors would love to put this kind of wind to use. Not so much. We had a sail boat in our younger days. Along with big wind comes big waves. On the Great Salt lake where we did our sailing. Waves crashing over the bow makes for some major discomfort. When your pants eventually dry out they are so crusty from the salt they can stand up by themselves. Goggles are required or your eyes will get burned out.
Perhaps if we had a wind turbine out there spinning away selling electricity back to the power company we would have big smiles on our faces when March blows in like a LION and out like a Lion.
Windy or not it's time to feed our lambs and it will make me smile to see they really don't care when the wind blows 100 mph. They will come running licking their lips. Just like they do in the rain, snow, or 100 degrees.
SELF.
The lesson I need to learn well from these guys is to live in the moment! It is what it is! Be glad to get it there is not always tomorrow......
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but do buy a bra that fastens in the front.

How did this happen...When a ewe has twins I offer a bottle. In past years I haven't had any takers after the first couple of weeks. This year we have 3 little lambs stampeding for the bottle. I am trying, operative on trying to use this opportunity to "clicker" train them. Difficulty has been I don't have enough hands to hold the bottle, the clicker, and maintain fair play in the sumo wrestling match going on between two of them with the other is nibbling on my fingers trying to figure out where all the milk went already....
Got to figure out a plan "B". Some way to hang the clicker around my neck.

Yeah right it is snowing as i type. The field is a brilliant spring green. It is as if the skiff of snow yesterday painted the dingy brown blades of grass. Made my project for the day obvious. The over eaten areas need to be reseeded. Might as well make use of this wet spell. The cold wet weather isn't stopping the horses from grazing on the scat pickings that there are. I love when they have pasture and are not standing under the hay barn waiting to be served breakfast. The bad news is there is more cold white stuff on Payson mountain. It's going to be a while until I can take my "Harley" up for a ride. I'm not talking about Johnnie's cycle. Although I have had many a great outing with him on it. My "Harley is the 1 horse power version. Harley takes me to the mountain tops. Without disturbing the sights and sounds of nature. One of my favorite things.

Four days of a full nights sleep. Lambs frolicking in the field. While their mothers eat non stop. After giving birth they are at the peak of their nutritional needs. We are feeding them twice a day. We feed them in the lambing jugs late afternoon to be sure they are each getting their fair share. While their moms are distracted eating. I put the lambs in the breeze way with their feed. I have been trying to get them to eat out of my hand while clicking the clicker. They are not getting the idea yet. Can't believe how much sheep pee. Been cleaning the barn daily. Johnnie thinks I'm crazy. I don't want any problems with pneumonia caused by the amonia in their pee.

Got a wake up call from "Teddy", on the baby monitor Sunday morning at 4:45am. Unbelievable! Had to glove up again. Went in to find her lambs were tangled up. Found a pair of front legs and a pair of hind legs just behind them... The guy with the front legs had to come first. Got it out and a single back leg poked out. Yikes...breech. Fortunately they are both doing fine.
In all the years we have had goats and sheep-close to seven. We have never had to go in on a seek and find mission. This year we have gone in 3 times to find;
One lamb with it's head turned back
Another with it's leg bent back
Today tangled twins.
Have we made the Gods angry or what.....
On the other hand our ewes have given us 8 out of 10 black lambs. A good thing.
The Gods must not be to angry.
Perhaps the culprit is "mother nature". Who ruined most of the hay crops last year. All three of the farmers we get our grass hay from. Did a good job of dodging the rain on their downed hay. For some reason even though our grass hay wasn't rained on before bailing. We have had a lot of mold. We bought some alfalfa to get us through the winter. Our sheep have loved it! We have been careful no to get them over conditioned (FAT). Their lambs have been much larger than previous years. I'm thinking not a good thing. I am going to ask Dr. McNiel if he thinks this could be what has caused our ewes to have TrOuBlE this year. I won't be surprised if he thinks "murphy" has just been up to no good again................
Perhaps it was the grace of God to give us 7 years to get ready for the challenges. We are grateful for our 10 beautiful lambs and that their moms are healthy and well.

Had to take off running this morning. Johnnie's brother brought his grandkids for their annual visit to see the lambs. Their ETA was 10:00am. Since we spent yesterday cleaning up the yard and hauling junk to the dump. Which probably wouldn't have taken us all day. If we hadn't had to go to Spanish Fork and Payson Dumps. Gees, there are a lot of Dump rules. Spanish has a whole list of things they can't take. Anyway just got the basics done in the house yesterday. It was in no shape for company. Got "R cleaned up" and had a great time! Then I put on my carharts and headed out to do chores. It was raining when I started. Three hours later when I finished it was snowing. I enjoyed every minute of it. Give me my choice a vacuum or a pitch fork mucking stalls. I'll take the pitch fork. Perhaps I'd get more satisfaction out of changing sheets if Johnnie would snuggle up in them the way the little lambs do freshly thrown straw. Or stampede for the dinner table to find the same "entry" that was served yesterday with the same whole grain for desert. I'm not complaining just sayin'. There are chores and then there are chores. These pictures say it all. I rest my case.....

It was a wonderful uneventful day. From my perspective anyway. As uncomfortable as Teddy looks I'm pretty sure she would like to get the lambing over with. Tenacious is doing really well. He is a trooper. He holds the records for first around here. Including being the first ( & last) lamb pushed in a shopping cart through Cal Ranch. Not something I'm proud of. Just one of my plans gone wrong. On the way home from the vet after his near death incident. I needed Probio to give him with the penicillin the vet prescribed. Well, if I took him home and came back to town it would have taken over an hour that I didn't have. It was a cool day the truck wouldn't get hot. When I pulled into the store he was sound a sleep in the carrier. As I opened the store door I could see him looking out the window. He had gotten out. Not a good thing. The lady gathering carts got to the truck before I did and was talking to him through the window. Next thing I know we have him loaded in the cart. The Baahs of a lamb did not go unnoticed. It was like I was pushing a Blue light special cart. We were swarmed. Everyone either laughed, had a comment or story to tell about the lambs they had raised. So happy Tenacious is alive and well.

I found the following aticle so intresting. Probably due to having experienced much of what it is about....
Petplace.com
The Irreverent Vet Speaks Out – What Veterinarians Don’t Want You to Know
By: Irreverent Vet

Irreverent Vet

This is a touchy topic. I hope we don't get tons of hate mail from vets.

PetPlace asked me to write an article about this difficult and controversial topic. In this article, I'd like to address this issue of what veterinarians may not want you the pet owner to know. I'm the Irreverent Veterinarian. I give you my opinion and speak the truth regardless of if pet owners or other veterinarians like it or not. The question that I'll address today is...What do veterinarians not want you to know?

So...what is it that veterinarians don't want clients to know? This does not apply to all vets but here are some things that come to mind....

1. A Veterinary Hospital is a Small Business – Most vets don't want to talk about this – but a vet hospital or clinic is a small business. It is like any other business that requires money for services rendered. It is sometimes hard because vets love animals but they also have bills to pay. They can't give away services and still be able to pay all the bills and employees.

2. There is a High Profit Margin on Vaccines – Veterinarians don't want to say but there is a very good profit margin on vaccines. However the margin on treating a sick pet is much lower and the vaccines help to balance that part of the practice. Also, the overhead on a veterinary practice is higher than most people would realize. Another important point is that veterinarians are very careful on where they get their vaccines, how they are shipped, stored and given. Some pet owners and breeders turn to less expensive feed store vaccines which can be associated with vaccine "failures". These vaccine "failures" are attributed to poor quality products, products given improperly, and/or inadequate storage (refrigeration requirements).

3.They Want to Sell You Preventative Medications – There is also a good profit margin on some of the preventative medications (flea control/heartworm prevention, etc). They would prefer that you buy them from them as opposed to over-the-counter or mail order services. They generally feel that the quality of their products are superior.

4. Vaccines Can be Dangerous – There are some reactions to vaccines that can be life threatening. They are reactively uncommon but when present can be significant. Some pets will have mild allergic reactions and other can have an immune mediate response or develop a tumor (cats). In general, most veterinarians believe that vaccines do way more good than harm and they often don't emphasize the uncommon reactions as they should. I think they don't want to scare people away from something that has clear benefits.

5. There is No One in Our Hospital Monitoring Pets at Night – Some hospitals have 24-hour care but most do not. Every hospital has a slightly different situation. Some have staff that live above the clinic and do nighttime treatments and walks/monitoring. Others have no one but have an early shift that walks pets early. If your pet really needs 24-hour care – ask what they offer. Most areas have a local emergency clinic that does offer 24-hour care.

6. Vaccine Recommendations Have Changed – Most veterinarians are up-to-date and have changed with the times. Fifteen years ago – the recommendations for vaccines was yearly updates for both dogs and cats. Some vets still practice this recommendation. However, recent research has indicated that most vaccines last longer than 1-year and most recommendations are to give vaccines every 3 years. Titers (a blood test to determine if a vaccine is needed) are a good option to yearly vaccines.

7. Vets Often Don't Agree with Breeders – There are often very different opinions about certain issues between veterinarians and breeders. The differences are especially true regarding nutrition.

8. There are Some Things Some Vets are Better At then Others – For example, some practices don't do many ear cropping and have a lot of complications from a procedure they don't do that often. Ask the technicians and vet how often they do a particular surgery or procedure if you have any question.

9. You Have Referral Options – Some vets are very eager to refer a complicated medical or surgical case and others are not. If your pet is not improving or you have any question – ask about referral options to seek an opinion from a specialist.

10. I'm not that Familiar or Fond of Alternative Medicine – Most veterinarians are very educated in traditional medicine. Most alternative natural solutions are not proven and some have been harmful to pets. There are some veterinarians that have educated themselves in natural therapies but the majority doesn't believe in it.

11. Most Vets in General Practice are "GP's" – A GP is a general practitioner – a doctor with a general ability to treat just about anything. However, this is NOT the same thing as a specialist. A specialist ahs at least 3 years of advanced training after which they take an exam that identifies them as having the board certification. It is impossible to know everything about everything. If you have a critical or complicated cardiology case – it may be best for your pet to see a cardiologist.

12. Vets Have a Low Tolerance for Aggression - Most vets have seen enough nice dogs put to sleep that they have developed a low tolerance for aggression. They have also seen technicians and pet owner unnecessarily injured. Personally, I have no problem euthanizing a healthy aggressive dog.

13. Vets Get Attached – Vets may be professional and try to act as though certain things don't bother them but often they do. For example, when a patient they have been seeing for years dies – tears are shed. Often in silence or on their own. It is almost as though they have become their family too.

14. Vets Have Bad Days Too – Vets are human too. They can have bad days. I recall having an appointment for which I was running late because I took a friend for a chemotherapy appointment – she was doing poorly and I was upset. I was late. The client was upset. I did apologize but I didn't explain the situation to the client. I could tell they were mad the entire time. I had my mind elsewhere and probably didn't care as much as I should have. Vets have bad days too.

15. Cats May be Happier as Indoor/Outdoor Cats – Some cats may be happiest as indoor-outdoor cats. Their life span may be less and there are inherent risks of being outdoor cats. However, a balance of food, shelter at will with the stimulation of outdoor life and make for a very happy at. Based on the outdoor risks, most veterinarians recommend that cats be kept indoors.

Irreverent Vet

16. Your Dog Doesn't Need Vitamins – If you are feeding a good quality premium food, you don't need to give your dog vitamins. If you are feeding a supermarket brand of food or lower quality food – you should give your dog a vitamin.

17. Not all Foods Are Created Equal – Most vets don't want to debate with you about what food you are feeding. However, most vets believed in the premium proven food brands such as Iams, Hills Science diet, and Eukanuba to name a few.

18. All Drugs Have Side Effects – Often medications are prescribed without detailed discussion of side effects. All medications have side effects – which you know if you have ever gotten a prescription filled and received a handout on that medication from the pharmacist.

19. If Your Dog Acts Aggressive, We Muzzle – If your dog acts aggressive in any way – most veterinarians will muzzle your dog. They use a variety of muzzles but most common muzzles are soft nylon. This is for the protection of staff from bites.

20.Even if Your Dog is Really Bad – They May Minimize It – Veterinarians and their staff generally don't want to tell you that you have a bad dog, even if you do. I've seen vets deal with terrible dogs and later tell the other they were "pretty good".

21. No House Calls – Vets that have a practice generally don't want to do house calls (unless house calls are a part of their business). Pets often will act more aggressive at home, the lighting is often poor, and no competent support staff to "hold" the pet for procedures or evaluation. In general, house calls can be a big headache.

22.Many Pets Do Better When You Aren't Around – Some pets actually do better – are better behaved with its owners is not in site or in the room. I don't know if this is because they are trying to protect you or you the owner actually get in the road...but it's true.

23. We are Often People People – Most people think vets are just "about the pets". For some, this is true and they are better animal people and not so good at people socialization. However, it doesn't matter if the pets like us or not – what matters is the pet owners like us. It is the people that bring the pets to the veterinarian's office to make us successful at what we do.

24. Vets Hate Talking About Money – Veterinarians are trained to in medicine and surgery. Not business. That is a weakness in the veterinary curriculum. And most vets are happy to talk to you about what is best medically for "Fluffy" but hate to talk to you about what it is going to cost to help "Fluffy". They would rather just do what is best but are forced to talk about money in order to keep their doors open and bills paid. Most vets I now really dislike talking about the money part of their work.

25. Vets Aren't Always Right – Vets don't know everything. If you are not comfortable with a diagnosis or treatment – it is okay to disagree or see a second opinion.

26. Pets Can Change - Pets can change their symptoms and condition in a matter of hours. Just because they show one set of signs one day, they can look different the next day. Things can change frequently- so repeat testing is often helpful as a pets condition progresses.

27. Vets are Not Nutritionists – Most vets are not that familiar with all the minor dog food companies out there. They are familiar with what dogs need and generally recommend one of the big high quality premium foods.

My Final Thoughts – On What Veterinarians Don't Want You To Know

Most veterinarians want and try to do the right thing. They want to care for their patients and to provide a good quality successful service to clients. Most try to do the right thing. However, some veterinarians are more current on their medicine or more eager to refer to specialists than others. And...just like in any profession – there are bad eggs. However, out of the different professionals that I know – most vets are just darn right good people.

Find a vet that you believe in and have a good relationship with.
If there is any question or concern about your vet or what he is doing - ask. It is important that you are comfortable with the care that your pet receives.

What are your thoughts?

What do you think your vet doesn't want you to know about your dog? Or about your cat? Take our survey and fill out your comments at the end.


Disclaimer

The Irreverent Vet is a columnist that regularly contributes to PetPlace.com. The goal is to add a balanced and alternative view of some controversial pet issues. As happens with all of us, veterinarians can't say what they really think without offending some clients. This commentary allows vets to say what they think and give you, the pet owner, the opportunity to consider another view. All opinions are those of the Politically Incorrect Vet and not the views of PetPlace.com and are not endorsed by PetPlace.com.

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There is just no such thing as a "normal" day here on our place. At 6:00am we were off to a good start. All was well. At 8:00am I turned the ewes and their lambs out of the barn. Everyone made a mad dash for the sunlight. Except Tenacious. I could hear his mother Trinity getting after him as I watched the lambs frolicking about. Trinity was really getting upset so I went in to see what was going on. Tenacious had made it about 10 feet down the breezeway. He was shaking, could barely stand and was pivoting around his front legs. I gathered him up and headed for the house. His mouth was warm his temperature was 103. He wasn't gaunt. With in ten minutes he could not even hold his head up. He was going down hill fast. I gave him a treatment dosage of CD & T anti toxin. Have read when in doubt to give it. One minute later he was foaming at the mouth and gasping for his breath. Damn...he was having a reaction to the antitoxin. I gave him a shot of "eppy" and was sucking the foam out of his mouth as fast as I could. I was certain he was going to die in my arms any second. I have no idea of how much time past when he shook his head and took a deep breath. He survived the reaction but he was still limp. I called our vet. He works at 2 clinics both owned by the same guy. At first I was relieved he was at the clinic closest to us. Rather than having us come in. He said to met him at the other clinic at his lunch hour. He thought the lamb might have tetnus. He told me there is an antidote for it that is only $6.00 that he could call into the other clinic. I said okay and hung up. Though about it a minute and called back and told the receptionist it would be closer for me to pick it up from their location. When I got there the vet came out and told me it is more expensive here $20.00 instead of $6.00. I decided to wait the two hours and let the vet look him over before getting it. It was the right thing to do. By the time I got him to the vet Tenacious was standing and had even eaten. Unbelievable change. The vet could hear fluid in his lungs. He told me to give him some penicillin for 3 days. Tenacious is living up to his name. The tenacious little guy is eating and getting around just fine so far. Oh I hope he makes it......
12:56 Last barn check of the day "All Is well."

Went out the door for 6:00am lamb check and left my flash light behind. It was totally light. It was nice. Wonder how long I have to enjoy it until the "daylight saving time change". Head count remains the same. Teddy's is huge her udder is huge. No lamb yet.....Poor Teddy.
It was hysterical this morning when I turned out the moms with their lambs. The lambs scattered pushing the limits to see just what their new wheels can do. Pretty impressive how nibble and fast they can go. Moms had mixed reactions. Some could careless. Bambi who's lamb is the oldest. Was running behind her lamb cussing at her to fall in line behind her. None of the ewe's will allow any bummer sips. They knock any lamb that's not theirs away rather indignantly. The lambs really do seem surprised. I'm not sure if they are trying to taste another flavor or if all moms look alike. You know I'm thinking that as short as they are all moms do look alike. The can't see the forest for the tress senerio.
I'm off to drain water out of the pond today. An alge bloom has taken over.

Well it's 11:56 almost a new morning. I'm debating "To go to bed" or "not". As soon as I put on my PJ"s. I'll hear a shrill sound of a newborn lamb. Sounding off that he has taken his first breath. My cue to head out with the lambing bucket. I was going to wait it out in the barn. It's a beautiful dark night. I love sitting there watching the lambs play. On the way out tonight there were some unusual beady golden eyes prowling around. I couldn't make out what they were attached to. Only that it stood taller than the cats, skunks, and racoons that I usually see. One night as I went into the hay barn a coyote dodged me on his way out. I'm not worried about the wild one's they run off. It' that dog next door I worry about it has bitten me. So I am leaving guard duty up to Peanut and Moonbeam our llamas. I'm waiting it out in here with the trusty baby monitor.
Cubby, gave us a Black ram lamb early this morning. She did it all on her own! We just helped out with drying him. Tonight it's her mom Teddy that looks ready to lamb. Last year they lambed on the same day just hours apart. Teddy's black, she very well might give us another black lamb. Of our 8 lambs 6 have been black so far.
Lots of Black!
Lots of Ram lambs!
It's 2:00 those wiley sheep fooled me again....I'm going to bed for a few hours sleep before 6:00 lamb check.

Rewind to Tuesday. With all the happenings I haven't had a chance to post the pictures I took Tuesday of the neighbor kid's walking their lambs. One of the things I love about living out here! Wish I had had the opportunity to be in 4-H. These kids learn so much from raising their lambs. Jayden came over last September and showed me how to groom ours up for the fair. I had never bathed a sheep before. Check out the pictures. Those are her lambs. She had them bred and has worked with them since they were born. She knows what each one of them weight and adjust their diet accordingly. The other two kids are Russel and CoriAnn. They started showing really young. Their sheep out weight them by far. Their grandpa raised show lambs now their father a former 4-H president in high school carries on the tradition. I'm off to have my coffee and read the paper. Hoping to read that things are getting better in Iraq & Afganistan. That the lifesaving supplies are arriving to earthquake stricken Chili. That our elected officials have set politics aside and working together to come up with a medical plan that makes sense.

Woke up to a couple of inches of snow this morning. Definitely setting back my case of spring fever. Our friend Judy spread our composted manure pile on the pasture yesterday. She used her antique macanical manure spreader. What a cool old machine. It is all belt and gear driven. Her timing was perfect. The snow will take nutrients into the soil as it melts. Today I hope to spread pasture seed. I have read that it works well to reseed on top of March snow.
Trinity lambed Wednesday night. Had to pull out our gloves and go in and find out why she couldn't push it out on her own. Turned out the lambs leg was back. Once we got it in diving position he plunged into the world with a big splash! He's the largest lamb so far. This is Trinity's 2nd lambing. Last year as a first timer. I went out on lamb check and there she she was nursing her new ram lamb. They usually don't need any help. Don't know why this year we've needed to help a couple of our ewes. Anyway we got him cleaned up and dry. Didn't have to show him where the cafeteria was. He found it on his own. Latched on and slurped that thick yellow colostrum like it was nectar of the gods. I gathered up everything I had scattered around out of the lambing bucket. She was still expelling the placenta. I Sat down and enjoyed watching the lambs jumping on their moms and running around. It was after midnight I'm thinking the ewes didn't appreciate all the commotion in their barn. After a half hour I decided to take a load up to the house. As I walked through the gate. I saw her placenta plop to the ground. Went back for it. It was another lamb!!!! So glad I was there. I don't think Trinity was expecting it either. She just walked away. Leaving it in the bag. I had left my lambing bucket by the gate. I dried off his nose and mouth with my sweat shirt. Picked the lamb up by his slippery back legs and took him with me upside down to get the supplies. He is tiny on the outside. What a tenacious lamb. I am going to have to watch and make sure his big brother get his share to eat.

t's not going to be chores as usual today. Lucky's lamb is not wanting to suckle. Pulled out my go to books. They are showing a lot of wear and tear. To many trips to the barn. Where I've tried to read while my goat & sheep helpers try to take a taste of them. Prognosis doesn't sound good. Inhalation of excessive volumes of fetal fluids results in mechanical pneumonia. It says there is no cure. I'm not giving up yet. There are some wise shepherds I can call that might know of something not in the books. Got hold of Dr. Rood a Vet in the agriculture department at Utah state. Told me treatment might help. He suggested I call his class mate at XXXXX XXXXXXXX XXX. Johnnie and I decided to go for it but not with unlimited funds. Last time I called the vet for one of our ewes that had lambed then bloated. We were told it would be a minimum of $500.00 for him to come out after hours. Our budget just won't cover that. I called XXXXX XXXXXXX XXX. At least we need to confirm there is fluid in his lungs and that it wasn't something else that might be treatable. They don't have anything available until Wednesday. I pleaded for mercy, explained to her I didn't think this little lamb would hang on until then. As she put it "if it is that sick we won't be able to help it anyway....". I'm not surprised. Been up against this since the vets that had been working with me retired. Fact is they invest big time and money to go to school. Their facilities are a huge overhead each being a little hospital within itself. They need to make a living. They can't do that treating sheep. An average lamb is worth about $20.00, a mutton sells for about $40.00. Hence saying like: "All you need to raise sheep is LA200 and a shovel". "A sheep is either alive or dead". "Sheep just lay down and die" "A down sheep is a dead sheep". There are a million snipets.
Realistically how much money does it make sense to invest in the risky gamble to save sheep. I'm obviously short on sense. Both kinds the monetary and decisions made with your head not your heart. I took the lamb to see Dr Bott at Nebo Animal clinic. They were great when I called said to bring it right over. He confirmed the lamb has a lot of fluid in his lungs. Dr. Bott gave him a shot that will work along with the Nuflor and vit B I gave him earlier. I held him in my arms until he took his last breath about 4:00 p.m.. As wonderful as it is to experience their first breath of life. I don't have the words to express the sadness I feel. Tears will flow. I will question my every decision. My mind will be made up while holding the beautiful ewe lamb we successfully repositioned and helped to deliver. We will do the best we can.....

Lucky lambed on the very day we had marked her due on our breeding calendar. When we went to bed there were no signs of labor. We moved her into the lambing jug as we have been doing for days just in case. At close to midnight I was half a sleep when I heard what sounded like the shrill call of a newborn lamb on the baby monitor. This little inexpensive unit is our lifeline to the barn when we aren't in it. Would be nice to actually have a camera. For now this makes us aware of activity in the barn and even surrounding areas. I rushed out. WOW!! ! Was i surprisd to find a lamb on the wrong side of the lambing jug. It was laying in a puddle of fluid still soaking wet. I was happy to see steam rising off it. A sign it hadn't been there long.
Go figure....we are better prepared this year than ever. Johnnie build us new lambing jugs, we have heat lamps, power to plug in the hair dryer to dry off the lambs. The rails on the lambing juges are to small for a lamb to crawl through. All we can figure is the mom had her butt up against it and with a push launched it through the rails or was licking it clean and pushed it under. Either senerio Lucky was very unlucky! She had given us just what we had hoped for. Something that doesn't happen around here often. This ram lamb is extremely handsome. You don't know what you've got until they get older. His confirmation looks great. A lot like his first place ribbon wining mother. He's "supersized" and a "double order" to boot! Yep, twins one is black and the other white. He had a rough start. I decided to wake Johnnie up to tube feed him. That way we know he gets plenty of colostrum. The little guy is breathing hard his ears are down. We gave him an enemia. This is the 2nd lamb this year we felt needed one. Interesting, we had only give a couple of enemias over the past 5 years we have had lambing going on around here. Lambs like humane babies have a black tary substance in there intestine. If it is not expelled they can become dehydrated. The lamb seems more comfortable and was suckling from his mom a half hour later. That is all we know to do. The alarm will be going off in a couple of hours. Johnnie will be off to work. I hope the lamb doesn't need to be tubed again. I'm terrified of doing it. If you get the tube in the lungs instead of the stomach you have killed it.........

Emmy's twins are doing well. The little white girl we are calling "Today". Gave us a scare yesterday. She wasn't up eating, hers ears were droopy. We tubed her a couple of times. She still wasn't getting better. We gave her an enema. She was blocked up. I'm guessing due to being dehydrated. Her poo was in semi hard balls rather than being really gooy as it should be at a couple of days old. Made a hug difference she was back with mom and eating with in a half hour.
We are still supplementing Phaupa's ram lamb that is 5 days old. I wonder if her milk would have come in if we had given her the oxititin. I need to get a bottle of it to have on hand. Sure miss Dr Porter and the vets that ran Nebo Animal clinic. They retired last summer. Sold out to the vet that owns West Mountain Vet clinic. They are known to be really expensive. When I called and ask them about buying the oxititin. They wanted $10.00 a shot, it can take up to 4 shots to get the milk to come in and might not even do the trick. Frustrating a bottle of 100 shots cost $6.00 at Walco, but you need a vets script to get it. I totally understand the investment a vet has to make in his education and operating expenses. Dr Porter and the vets at Nebo understood the need to purchase a bottle with a reasonble mark up rather than making $1,000.00 selling each shot individually. We decided to supplement her lamb and thought her milk would come in eventually. Have read it can take up to 3 days. Still hoping-if not Tyke Tyson will count on us to bottle feed him.

So grateful and happy to say Emmy and her twins are doing great!
Since Emmy has lost one of her twins for the last couple of years. Inspite of our doing our best to save it. We have been watching her extra close. Putting her in a lambing jug at night and checking on her every 3-4 hours so we could help her get both twins here alive this year. Our rule of thumb is not to interfer unless necessary. Baby Dolls usually do not need help with lambing. With the rest of our ewes we are just the clean up crew. We sit next to the mom and help her dry them off really well with the hair dryer. Iodine and trim the umbilical cord. Then sit back and watch for the placenta to be expelled. Little Emmy is not as sweet as she looks when she is PG. So it is very difficult to help her with any of it. Including just using the dryer on her lambs. As far as she is concerned nobody is to touch her lambs and she back it up by bunting at the dry with her head and stomping her foot. We stayed out of sight hoping she would deliver on her own. She worked really hard to get her 1st lamb here and cleaned up. One leg of the twin was poking out. She was bearing down hard with out any progress. From her previous deliveries we felt we would have to try to help her. WE were able to get the 2nd leg unbent and out. When the head still did not appear even when we pulled. It was obvious we had a complication like we had only dreaded about. But...what was wrong? We didn't know. Sure didn't want to do the wrong thing and make it worse. So we made a midnight call to Judy. She is amazing. Out of a dead sleep. It only took her one question to determine if the lamb was breech. Which way are the hooves facing? Once we know it wasn't breech. The lamb needed to be puched back in.Then we needed to go in follow it's leg down to it's back find it's head. Sure enough it's head was turned back against it's body. We were able to point it's nose outward and one leg poked out again. The last thing we wanted to do was to push it back in after finally getting the head forward. Didn't have a choice. We pushed it back in and unbent the other leg. It Worked! Thanks to Judy coaching us over the phone We have success! All 6 living beings made it. Including 2 distressed shepherds, one tired Judy, one white ewe born on the 24th and one black ewe born on the 25th. We are calling them "Today" and "Tomorrow".
NOTHING LIKE THE MIRACLE OF LIFE. SEEING THOSE FIRST BREATHS IS PRICELESS.
Proof postive that it not only takes a village to raise a kid it helps with lambs as well.

It's been raining all day off and on. The area where our BabyDoll sheep spend most of their is a mess! Never thought I would prefer snow over rain. The mud is awful! I'm glad they all have cover and dry barn they can go under. Pretty sure Emmy is going to have her lamb today. According to when she marked she was due 10 days ago...Poor thing looks pretty ripe. Emmy is really cute she is very small. SWhe carries two lambs just fine. When it comes to delivering them the last two years she gets the first one here alive and well. The second has always been born dead. Last year we did all we could to help her out and still lost one. Well it's 11:30 I'm off to give Tyke his bottle and check on Emmy.
2:53 Been in the barn since 11:30. The good news is Emmy gave us 2 darling lambs! A little white lamb was born yesterday and a darling black lamb born today. Off to bed. Details tomorrow.

We've been doing lambs checks for over a week now. By lamb checks I mean, Checking every few hours during the day and 10:00pm, 3;00 am and 6:00 am. is our night shift. With 3 ewes past due now. We don't want to go out in the morning to find frozen lambs. Unfortunately we have lost a couple of lambs and goat kids in years back. It is the memory of those sad mornings that gets me out of bed for the late night checks. This is the first year we had bred for February lambs. We just weren't set up for it until now.
After a 2 week window of really nice weather. Our first lamb arrived yesterday in the dark of night and snow. Good thing we are checking. Bambi gave us a darling little ewe lamb. It's a big girl and she's Black. The spunky little lamb refused to sit still long enoug to get dried with with hair dryer. So We did it in between her suckling.
I love black sheep! They are rare on our farm. Ebenizer one of our rams is black. Even at that our girls have only given us one black lamb a year. I hope this is an omen that there are more black lambs to come this year. The truth is we'll be glad for any color just want them to arrive healthy and well!

Our catch pen is my new favorite thing. Johnnie built it for us a few months back. With our ewes in late pregnancy I'm feeding twice a day and appreciate the catch pen twice as much!
The trouble started with "Fawn" our tiny Nigerian Dwarf goat. She was so tiny she could squeeze through the field fence until this year when she turned 2. She would come and go as she pleased. What could we do? We were really glad this year when she got to big to squeeze out. Our peace was short lived. Didn't take her long to figure out that when me and the hay wagon were coming in to feed. She could easily run out. Pretty soon our whole darn flock was right behind her. Why would they settle for a bale of hay when there was a whole barn full of it around the corner. Not only that the chickens get the good stuff. They would stop and clean out there feeder on the way. It took a lot of chasing, dragging cussing and man handling to get them back to in their pasture. Now we have a gated area that I pull the hay wagon into. Close the outside gate, and open the gate into the field. It is WONDERFUL! It is really handy to trim their feet & give shots in it too.

More things I need to remember from Sheep & Goat Day....
Dr Brett Taylor taught about nutrition. His specialty is "Applied Small Animal Nutrition". At the Sheep research center they have studied and charted nutrient requirements of sheep. The charts made it easy to see that the nutritional needs vary with season, breed, age, pregnancy, location. The requirements of a large ewe went from general maintenance requiring 3000 up to 8000 in late pregnancy and early lactation. Infact 30 days after lambing the ewe can not take in enough calories to prevent weight loss.
(This is the part that is going to help me make life better for my ewes during pg.) "During late pregnancy the fetus is taking so much room in the ewe's abdomen The ewe can not consume sufficient feed to support both her and the fetus. When the ewe is taking in less energy than is required to sustain herself and the lamb. She begins to use stored body fat. Keytones are the by-product of fat metabolism. If they build up faster than her body can excrete them They can reach toxic levels "Pregnancy toxemia". Ketosis often occurs in ewes that are on a high fiber low energy, no grain diet.

Increased density feed is needed in late pregnancy. He told us that even the highest quality alfalfa will not keep her healthy and can infact cause ketosis. He suggested checking into by product feed sources. Such as distiller grains, sugar beet pulp with the sucrose removed provides a rapidly digested energy source. Whole corn is often a better choice than steamed rolled, or crushed. Crunch the numbers even though barley cost less per pound corn has more nutritional value.
Disease in sheep occurs when their nutritional needs haven't been met.

To everything there is a season. Lambing and Kidding season around here means it's time to shear and vaccinate. So far the weather has been great. Our goal is to shear 2 a day(angora goats or BD sheep) Dr. Tumen Wuliji did a presentation at the Sheep and Goat day about Bioclip. The day is coming that instead of shears. All we'll need is a shot of "EFG" a short chain protein and netting. Todays cost is $1.00 for the EGF and $3.00 for the netting. The netting can be reused. It is needed to hold the fleece in place for about 17 days. While the fleece grows about 1 to 1-1/2 centimeters. Otherwise the sheep would be totally bald.
"EGF" is widley used in Austrailia and in New Zealand. With great results. It totally eliminates 2nd cuts, spread of diseases, injuries and improves the quality of the fleece. The end of the fiber is rounded off not straight cut.
EGF is injected into the sheep subtaneously. It is genetically engineered so it is breed specific. It turns off the wool production gene for 15 minutes. This creates a break in the fiber. There has been no adverse effect or side effects when used properly. It is out of their system in 30 hours, 7 days are required before slaughter.
Can be used on rams and wethers anytime, on ewes pre-breeding or early pregnancy
If your sheep are related to Rrambouillet or Merino this produce is available. The rest of us still have to wait until it is designed to work on the genetics of our breed of sheep. Hope it is soon.

Dr Kerry Rood got us all thinking with his hysterical, provocative presentation about animal welfare. The times they are a changing with only 2%-3% of the American population involved in agriculture. He stressed that it is important for everyone of us to be good stewards. Participate, Respond to articles.
Be open to new and better ways.
Remember "The sting of criticism may be from the truth within".
He showed some of the California Happy cow ads, and then ask if any of us really believed that is how the dairy business is run in California...Then he showed a video of a dairy cutting off a cows tail, with out any pain killer...
I've attached a couple of my favorite videos he showed.

The life is back in Lucky's eyes. She is chewing her cud and even ventured out into the field with the flock. Quite a feat considering the extra load she is packing around. The snow had melted and they all poked around looking for some fresh greens to eat. I'm glad to see the snow melt too. Not to happy about how hard it has been to drag my hay cart through the mud. We did finally got a reading on the urine test strips. Everything is at normal levels. Since I treated her for a couple of days before we got the strips positioned just right for the pee stream to hit. Can't be sure if her ketones were elevated and the glycol treatment corrected it or not.
I am such a procrastinator. Typically not ready when the first lamb arrives. Not this year! We have already set up the lambing jugs. I have the lambing kit. flashlight, towels, hair dryer and coat by the door. I am concerned I don't have any "colostrum" in the freezer. I know I should milk out colostrum and freeze it. It is so hard to determine that the lamb has gotten enough in it's first 16 hours of life. I haven't dared to milk out the moms. It is scary to think that lambs get no antibody protection transferred to them while in the uterus. They are completely dependent on colostrum to protect them against germs. To make it scarier the lamb only has a 16 hour window to absorb the antibodies in the colostrum. That is why my mentor Judy calls colostrum "Liquid Gold".

I'm hoping that lambing is not off to a premature start....
Lucky was showing signs of discomfort yesterday. With 1 week to go until she is due. I'm am concerned about pregnancy toxemia. It usually occurs in the last week or so of pregnancy. It is highly fatal if not treated. It can be reliably diagnosed by urine tests for ketones and acetones. You can buy the test strips from a pharmacy or vet. We buy ours at Walco they are bout .10 a strip. At Rite-aide they were $1.00 per strip. Our sheep care bible says you can usually recognized it without testing strips. Lists the sympotms as: Sleepy looking sheep, dopey-acting, dull-eyed ewes, weak in the legs, with sweet acetonic-smelling breath (it smells like model airplane glue!) They will probably refuse to eat, then become unable to rise, and will grind their teeth and breathe rapidly. If treatment is delayed to long, recovery is doubtful.
She is up on her feet and has her typical big appetite.
I am not going to take any chances. I called the vet and confirmed that I should start treatments with propylene glycol (which you can also get at Walco or your vet). I checked on her 3 times during the night she seems to be doing better. I am going to give her the treatment for the 4 days as the books says to do even if the ewe appears to have recovered. I am on my way out to tape test strips to her butt again. This is my third attempt to get her to pee on the test strips and get to them before they fall off and get walked on. I very much would like to see if and what level of trouble she is having.