Courante & RouxLife has a way of knocking our good intentions for a loop: My complicated musical-breeding-pens plan for the ewes and rams this fall never happened. Lack of time, lack of sleep, and lack of space interfered with getting the breeding groups put together and dismantled more than just the one time.
LynethSo here's what really happened:
Anna Belle went in with Bombarde on November 3, 2009 and was pulled out December 24. I'm fairly positive she was bred on November 23.
Lyneth, Nhu, and LRO January went to Arvada's pen on November 7, 2009 and they came back out again on December 24. I jotted down that Nhu was bred on November 29. Then I saw Arvada very interested in Lyneth in late December. I'm hoping he managed to do his job since he had plenty of time and I didn't have the space or time to use a clean up ram.
Darla GayOnly the above 4 ewes will be lambing this spring. I unintentionally gave Sian and Silverthorne the year off. Some regrets there, yes...but I'm not complaining. As I was praying about my frustrations this fall, I realized that God is more than likely looking out for me. I made the choice to not put new breeding groups together over Christmas break. The prospect of a small lambing season is almost a relief. If life is too busy now to simply rearrange sheep...what is it going to be like this spring?
LeilI have accepted the ramifications of not pushing myself, or my plans too hard. It feels a little odd to have so many sheep right now and not be planning for a big lambing season. But I think this is exactly what I needed. This time next year...there should only be two polled rams and maybe one prospect ram lamb living at Boston Lake Farm. There will also be a more select group of ewes. I'm looking forward to my flock and my efforts being that succinct.
4 comments:
Poor little Ash didn't get any? Poor boy; for such neglect I really think he needs to move to Boulderneigh next June! ;-)
I did the same here, only five ewes to the rams and I'm not sure they all took as the season was short and no cleanup ram here either. I'm finding it a distinct relief though to look forward to a small manageable lambing season, and with the pairings I did do, if all take, I should have some nice lambs. It helps to think about that when I see all the unbred ewes 'free loading' at the hay bales. But then they can grown nice fleeces for me too...
Tammy
Michelle, Ash might have to stay here to get some work done next fall! I feel rotten that he didn't get any girls this year. If I decide to let him go you will be the first to know about it.
Tammy, I am hoping the four girls I did use will also give me some nice lambs. And you are right, the wool the open girls grow is so nice. I'm not as worried about them freeloading as I am about the boys. Right now I own 7 rams. And I only want the 2. It costs $50 to have one processed. So I'm waiting for Clancy to have time to butcher.
I understand perfectly Sabrina. Musical breeding pens gets to be a lot more work than we think it will be.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Annabelle gives you a white polled ram lamb that you want to sell. I'd love to have more of Bombarde's genetics and Annabelle's such a beautiful white ewe.
Post a Comment