The only silver lining in this was that I would miss the shearing, and the shearers could bring their own food this year - much easier but costs a lot extra. BUT NOOOOOOO - the weather didn't oblige and I got to do the shearing when I got home. We had fortunately hired a guy to help which made a huge difference, so I didn't have to muster and draft (well theoretically), and he was here to do all the calf marking, and jet all the lambs against fly strike which will last until weaning. But as he had worked quite a few weekends in the lead up to Christmas (job sharing with the neighbour) he had Christmas Eve off, so I cooked and helped in the yards with the sheep. And as they didn't finish, cooked and helped in the yards for the day that was left in between Christmas and New Year. Best laid plans of mice and men!!
No 2 could only sit and read books and play on the computer, but since going back to NP she has gone into a moon boot and back to work, thankfully.
 |
| Waiting (the story of December) to muster the cows and calves off the Spur, as you can see zero visibility |
 |
| Why didn't it look like this yesterday? And very obligingly this is quite a mob of cows and calves |
 |
| Calves waiting their turn to be earmarked and vaccinated Heifers, and castrated as well for the Bulls |
 |
| Just about to go into the crush |
 |
| The castrator - man and tool - a very thick strong ring is placed around the testicles to cut off the blood circulation. Keeps the Boss in line when I threaten him with it too! |
 |
| Vaccination being given |
 |
| Pushing the calf into the head bail |
 |
| Ewes and lambs after the ewes have been shorn. After shearing the lambs tend to really have a growth spurt, as the ewes are not so hot so they spend more time grazing and make more milk |
 |
| Cruise keeping the mob from coming back to the gate, so that the lambs find and stay with their mothers |
No comments:
Post a Comment