Pregnancy Scanning the Ewes

 The first of the ewes back out on the grass after going past the scanner.  Only 3 1/2 hours until they were all finished and about 4 hours later they are all out on grass again, so not too traumatic for the girls.  Why do we scan?  We identify - the dry ewes (non pregnant) to sell so we don't waste grass feeding them;  Ewes with single lambs (1) that don't need quite so much to eat - if you grow their lambs too big they can have problems at birth; and the twin bearing ewes that we give as much feed as we can too, so they grow their lambs as much as possible to increase the lambs' chances of survival at birth.  They twinners also get the priority with shelter too, for the reason that they are smaller and Mum doesn't always clean up the first lamb before she has the second so they are exposed for longer, although the ewes don't always choose to lamb in that shelter!!

 The scanner - Daniel Wheeler - of Daniel Wheeler Ltd in action.  Daniel can scan for far more than we get him to do.  We don't worry about identifying the triplets as we do not get many sets.  But the lambs can also be aged in utero so you could put ewes in mobs to lamb at approximately the same time.

The ewes come up the race until they are stopped in the crate beside the operator,  he's lucky nowadays as we have the covered yards.  It used to be a little black tent, and not pleasant  in bad weather!

               Then the non-invasive procedure takes place, at least this ewe isn't daggy, but there is a reason for the glove.  Who fancies this job day after day??

 This handpiece is the scanner, and it just rubbed under the belly on the skin, so does not hurt the sheep at all.  Just like us humans having our Ultra sounds.

                                 The singles taking off through the gate and heading for the new paddock of grass

 You just have to stand at the gate to ensure not too many try to get through at once, as they will pile up on top of each other if you are not careful - no dog required on this mob, much to Cruise's disgust - he's had no work for months.

Out on the break, and a happy Cruise as he did have to do a bit.  And we were SO LUCKY WE HAD A FINE SUNSHINEY  DAY!!