Lambing 2023 at WOOL SHrED

It will be remembered for how much rain and mud was about! Paddling in muddy paddocks was a thing!

The Weather has featured this last shepherding year. Drought conditions in Summer 2022 impacted on the sheep getting good grass up to tupping (the ram visiting )and subsequent scanning percentages.

Pregnancies were all over the place for many flock owners. My two shearling ewes didn’t fall pregnant so I’m hoping next year will be their year. In the meantime, they are happily grazing with the rest of the flock.

Apart from climate change having an impact it was team and networking that also played a major factor. Behind the scenes are other small flock owners starting out on their shepherding journeys and established more experienced flock owners only too happy to share information and advice.

Help either in verbal or physical form came into its own this year. WhatsApp groups of shepherds/shepherdesses asking for help or offering for sale excess feed or milk powder. Communities within communities. It was great to bond over lambing.

This year the Lewis flock currently have 11 newborn lambs, 9 being ram lambs and 2 ewe lambs. I had 2 x breach lambs this year. They presented coming out backwards, bottom first. This isn’t the first time for me to deal with this, but every lambing of new life is a heart-stopping moment for the shepherd. We want to get it right.

I have one ewe who is yet to lamb as I write this blog. My fingers remain crossed for a good and healthy delivery of her lambs.

All the mums have coped well with pregnancy and lambing this year. I’m very proud of how each mum who are all characters in their own right look after and protects their offspring.

I will update you more on flock news later in the year.