Rip Little Lamb

[SAVWA]

I am so sad to have witnessed quite a few sheep deaths lately in a flock who live at the farm where I keep my horses. It seems there are all sorts of ailments that can afflict them. I have watched as they are subjected to so many things.. from being shorn whilst in labour to tagging, ringing, early weaning and so many other 'necessary' processes that make humans lives easier to process these 'stock'.

They don't really get vet care, mostly they are just found dead in the paddock or if discovered ill they have their throats cut.

Last week the lambs got sick from ingesting rye grass flowers.

One little lamb was becoming paralysed and was moved into a yard. I put a in a couple of friends for company. Yesterday I found him in agony and crying. I called the vet but he died as I sat stroking him. His two friends snuffled him and stood over him before heading back to the paddock. He was just a baby and all I could imagine was how different his care would have been if he was a horse or a dog or a cat. I'm so sorry for you little lamb.. fly free at the rainbow bridge. I don't know if this is where i should be posting for a lamb, I just want to honour his little life somehow xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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[Daisy]

RIP little lamby

[fifi]

it is very sad, and at least this little one was cared for at his end.

I also see needless suffering in the huge flocks on farms all around us - BUT we do have one local farmer who sheds his vulnerable sheep in winter, doens't winter shear, and has spring lambs - not winter lambs born to shorn & miserable ewes. He has great paddock rotation and many wildlife/windbreak corridors.

And his flocks are content, have less stress & disease and produce healthier lambs & beautiful wool. his profit is good and mortality rate very low. The other farmers do what they do because 'that's how its done' and then complain when they lose stressed and sickly lambs & ewes. It's difficult for them to open their eyes to a better way.

fifi

[SAVWA]

Thankyou Daisy and fifi..your thoughts are much appreciated and how wonderful to know there is someone like your neighbour fifi!! Its so great to know change is possible, I'm going to work on it statring with what you've told me. Thankyou againxx

[fifi]

Lissa, if you can get a copy of the ABC programme 'Landline' the episode done on the New England farmers doing wildlife corridors/tree planting and reneneration, its the best argument I've seen for change :-)

Farmers generally don't like being told what to do, so work verrrrrry slowly !!

fifi

[SAVWA]

Thanks for such great advice fifi... will check it out and as you say.. slowly slowly.. makes me glad I'm a vego for sure