[Bionic]

Polly has prolapsed several times and despite the vet stitching her and telling us we could leave it in for months, she prolapsed again this morning. Taking a closer look the stitch seems to have disappeared.
Anyway we managed to get the prolapse back in quite easily and have put a harness on her.
Her lamb is just over 8 weeks old. How old can he reasonably be before I can let mum go?
We did give mum a dose of pen & strep this morning so it will be at least another 31 days anyway.
This is a tough decision as she is my favourite and I always said I would keep her regardless even if we couldn't lamb from her but if she is going to continue to prolapse even when the pressure of lambing is gone then she needs to go for her own good.

[kelly58]

So sorry Bionic 

[Marches Farmer]

How old is she?  If she's fairly young things may settle down by the time the withdrawal period is up. 

[Bionic]

How old is she?  If she's fairly young things may settle down by the time the withdrawal period is up.

She was born in 2011

[Rosemary]

 

[ZaktheLad]

Sorry to hear this 

[fiestyredhead331]

how sad and so frustrating for you,
 even though I try not to I always have a favourite sheep, this year its Oprah because she's a strong, black, independant Shetland woman

[SallyintNorth]

  - it's always a tough call. 

The lamb will be fine if he's eating cake.  If he's not eating cake then personally I wouldn't wean him earlier than 4 months, if possible.  He'll manage though, if you feel she had better go in one month's time.

 

[Bionic]

Thanks everyone.
He is eating cake so  he will be fine when she has to go.
I have never been to a cull market before and don't expect to enjoy it either, but there is one fairly local to us. I see on their website they do cull ewes every Wednesday.  I have just dropped them a mail with a couple of questions.

[ladyK]

What a sad and difficult decision... feeling for you. 

[Foobar]

I have never been to a cull market before and don't expect to enjoy it either, but there is one fairly local to us. I see on their website they do cull ewes every Wednesday.  I have just dropped them a mail with a couple of questions.

Can't you eat her yourself?  It's not going to be very nice for her to go to market on her own.


We will be eating my favourite ewe this autumn as she's had mastitis/udder malfunction this year.  In fact now that I think about it, we will be eating my two favourite ewes actually.   I wouldn't dream of sending them to market; as least if I get them slaughtered I know they have had as stress free a life and death as possible.

[ZaktheLad]

Or you could apply to the council to have her buried on your land as a pet.

[in the hills]

Sorry, Bionic 

Maybe it would be easier on you and her if she went another way as mentioned. 

[madcat]

Sorry to hear this, I appreciate it's never easy. 

The suggestion of eating her yourself seems reasonable if it can be arranged .

[feldar]

sorry to hear you're girl has to go. It's always hard when they are favourites