The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: kaz on February 18, 2009, 03:54:38 pm

Title: Sheep good or bad.
Post by: kaz on February 18, 2009, 03:54:38 pm
Well yesterday was definitely Bad. I spend the earlier part of the day at the vets having one of my lambs lower eye lid's stitched (other vet staples them) as she had the eye lashes growing back into the eye causing an ulcer on her eye. Sometimes you can roll it out but not this one.
Then to cap it all one of my two year old first time lambers due end of March lost her twin ewe lambs after being chased around by a dog the day before. Now I have owned and have dogs, but I just wish people would be more responsible for their dogs  at this time of year especially when it's half term and more of them are out and about, as this was most upsetting not only for the ewe, but for us also. If hubby had been here he would have shot the dog, because at the end of the day the onus is on the dog owner to control the dog and keep it out of the fields , not on us to make sure they can't get in. It makes me so mad as it is such a waste.
Title: Re: Sheep good or bad.
Post by: VSS on February 18, 2009, 04:03:23 pm
entropion (turned in eye lids) is hereditary so don't breed from that line if you can avoid it.
Title: Re: Sheep good or bad.
Post by: HappyHippy on February 18, 2009, 04:12:44 pm
Kaz,
I'm sorry to hear about your sheep.
I totally understand where you're coming from on the dog front. We have (& have always had) dogs on the farm, although they are let out unattended at times they NEVER dare go near neighboring farms sheep (serious training and shouting at as youngsters) for the sole reason that I know they would be shot - it's the farmers livelilhood and they have the right to shoot them. But I am amazed at the number of people who don't realise this, or perhaps they just think themselves immune  ???

Title: Re: Sheep good or bad.
Post by: kaz on February 18, 2009, 05:41:43 pm
I know the condition is hereditary, first time in coloured flock and only twice in white.
Title: Re: Sheep good or bad.
Post by: BadgerFace on February 18, 2009, 08:47:15 pm
Hi Kaz

So sorry for the loss of your lambs. The same happened to one of my best ewes last spring, chased and pulled down by a dog, when I found her she was covered in mud where the dog had dragged her down -  she lost her twins  >:( Makes me so angry. I would have no problem shooting if I caught a dog in the 'act'. Hopefully she will lamb this years twins without incident.

Fingers crossed lambing goes without further problems for all of us  :sheep: