[Jacob-list] worst lambing experiences topic

[Robert May]

WELL SAID MARY ELLEN...

ANOTHER POINT, WE, AS BREEDERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
TO THE "NEW SHEPHERDS" THAT PURCHASE STOCK FROM US TO
HELP THEM THROUGH THEIR FIRST LAMBING SEASON.

WHEN NEW SHEPHERDS PURCHASE SHEEP & LAMBS FROM OUR
FARM, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR ME TO GO OUT AND LOOK AT
THEIR "FACILITIES" SUCH AS FENCING, ETC. AND I MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT I'M AVAILABLE BY 'PHONE TO RESPOND TO 
QUESTIONS THAT MAY ARISE.  I DON'T WANT PURCHASERS TO
'FAULT THE JACOB BREED', IF THEY HAVE A QUESTION AND I
CAN ANSWER IT...

REGARDS,
BOB MAY
SWAYZE INN FARM
HOPE, NJ
--- Mary Hansson <buffgeese at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>  
> My reaction to this topic is that it is one of the
> better discussed and more appropriate ones on the
> list.  It is the rare shepherd on this list that
> will EVER have to deal with any of these
> circumstances, and I think each shepherd bringing
> their own "worst experience" has been pretty clear
> about this.  The Jacob sheep is a very good lamber,
> there are very few complications, and very few
> rejections.
>  
> What every shepherd DOES need to know is that things
> do go wrong.  These are sheep and under our care,
> and that does mean CARE.  We shouldn't just walk
> away assuming things will be ok because they are
> "natural" and all of us know that "natural is always
> ok on it's own".  That just ain't so.
>  
> I had much more confidence with the few problems I
> have had because of a much worse scenario that had
> happened to another breeder who wasn't so bright. 
> [She bred her Jacob ewes to a commercial
> ram.....DUMB MOVE, and she had a vet bill, and a
> house-sitter that would never come back to her
> property because they had to go in and literally cut
> the lamb apart (already dead by the time the vet
> came) to get it out of the ewe who almost died.]  I
> learned from this shepherd's lack of knowledge
> without having to make that mistake and also being
> aware my problem was much less severe.
> 
> I recommend that new or less confident shepherds
> always have buddies to call in emergencies.  Get a
> list of people to call up when you have a crisis
> situation.  Having another ear and brain help
> tremendously.  I still call people after almost 11
> years with these sheep and am not afraid to admit I
> have a lot to learn.  I have a whole list of poor
> schmucks that get to hear my questions (these same
> poor schmucks usually get lots of laughs from my
> experiences, so it is not all a loss).  I offer to
> talk people through worrisome experiences on a
> regular basis----all the while reminding them I am
> NOT a vet and when at all possible they should avail
> themselves of their vet's services and knowledge. 
> Every single person on this list has people contacts
> they could make.  Get phone numbers of people you
> feel comfortable talking with (of course from those
> individuals), and don't be afraid to use them.
>  
> Arm yourselves with books.  I repeatedly recommend
> Laura Lawson's Managing Your Ewe.  That book is the
> price of a very inexpensive vet farm call.....which
> has paid for itself probably 50-75 times at a
> minimum at my house alone.  The Merck Vet Manual is
> another great resource...got to weed through it.
>  
> Mary Ellen
> 
> 
> Mary Ellen Hansson, MEd, RD, LDN
> ISeeSpots Farm
> Jacob Sheep:  Lambs, adults, wool
> www.iseespots.com>
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