Lambs, lambs and more lambs

Well it feels like it should be near the end of the year.   For the last couple of weeks, it feels as though there has been lots of sheep work.  I think I mentioned in my last blog we were pre-wean drenching our terminal lambs.  Well, that was followed by doing all the maternal lambs too.

We then bought home all our terminal ewes and lambs on Friday 16th ... a slow walk up the road but luckily the day wasn't too hot.

We then drafted off what looked like big lambs and weighed these over the scales on the Saturday and crutched whatever needed crutching.  Saturday was one of those days when we were grateful that we had invested in some covered-in yards, as the day deteriorated into rain ... not that we were complaining because we were in need of our 21 mls.  The roof overhead, certainly made working in the rain much more enjoyable.

We managed to get the job done and washed up in time to welcome our dinner guest!

Sunday morning we were up 5.30am, mustered in the ewes and lambs and drafted off all the marked lambs.  We had only contract booked 200 lambs, but in reality we should have booked around 350!  Terminal lambs had done better than planned.  Despite our contract numbers going up each year, we are still underestimating what we can achieve.  The average weaning weight of our terminal lambs was 32 kg which means half of our lambs could have been killed off mum!  Pretty good going for us!

By 7.00 am the 223 lambs were winging there way to Te Kuiti Meats (with 2 other loads to pick up on the way).

Monday we weighed all the lambs and weaned everything in the terminal mob.  The ewes had to sit round home until Friday 24th for shearing, so the holding paddocks are well eaten out.  We shore the terminal ewes and went through and culled all the old girls (the original ewes purchased in 2008).  Some of them were 6, 7 and 8 years old.  A handful (approx 50) have had a second chance if in good condition and good udder as we haven't quite got enough replacements to get rid of all.  All the 'keepers' were taken back down the road, whilst the 'culls' had to wait till this morning for their terminal ride.  Not enough space at the works, so with 150 gone, another 100 to go.

Then inbetween we have weaned, tagged, weighed and crutched (only dirties), all our maternal ewes and lambs.  Some weaning was good and some wasn't.  The 2-tooth mobs weaned 29kg average, whilst our maternal twins did worse at 26 kg, and singles at 30kg.  Overall average 28kg.  There will be a bit of tweaking to that as some of our male lambs came through twice and haven't sorted the files out yet.  I also have yet to revise our lambing % based on lambs weaned to ewes scanned due to the extras tagged at weaning.  Need a rainy quite day to catch up!

Despite all that, another 160 lambs left this morning bound for Te Kuiti.  It was up at 5.00am to get the lambs drafted off the ewes to meet the 6.30am truck.  We were all loaded and truck departing by 7.30am.

The first lambs (terminal) didn't yield as well as would have liked - 45%, down 1-2% for milk lambs.  The black faces did 16.9 kg CW and the white faces did 16.4 kg CW.

Weaned ewes and ewe lambs this morning

Couldn't resist - Alice with two goats who had made their home between the press boxes!

Today is a quiter day, catch up. The ewe lambs have been left with mum for the day, and tomorrow we will draft off the ewe lambs, empty out and pen up for shearing, due to start on Thursday. We will shear all maternal ewes and ewe lambs over two days, before catching breath again. 

Next jobs lined up are drenching the works lambs and sorting into 2 lines based on weight, weaning our hoggets and shearing all hoggets.

Catching up on the pet lambs

Kleiner and Deigo at the beginning ...

The pet lambs - Blueberry, Deigo and Kleiner are enjoying relative freedom in the woolshed paddock.  They are now weaned but still like to come for a chat and a cuddle.

Blueberry use to walk with Alice to the bush every morning and was there to meet her off the bus every night

Alice showing off her 'Student of the Week' certificate to Blueberry and the heifers

 





The heifers checking out Blueberry





 

Alice took Blueberry to the school pet day at the end of September. She rode in style in the back of the car.  The children are broken up into 'pre-school', junior and senior.  They had to walk into the ring and the judges asked them a few questions about their lamb and how they look after it.  They then have to walk around the ring, through some poly-rods, and at the other end, their lamb was held whilst they walked away and then had to call it.  They were then awared on - Rearing, Leading and Calling, with an overall winner in each section.

Katja, Blueberry and Alice on the way to Pet Day

Alice in leading Blueberry around the ring

Junior kids all getting excited about ribbon time!

Alice and Blueberry got 2nd prize in the calling

  Alice competed in the Junior group, and as she won a ribbon, could have gone onto the Group Day at Te Kauwhata, but we decided against this year, but Alice is keen to give it a go next year. 

 

Also as part of Pet Day, they do a number of indoor activities such as 'Sand Saucer', 'Wildflower Display', 'Buttonhole' and some art work.  Alice got second with her poem.  All in all she was pretty excited about her results ... and so were we.

Alice got 3rd in teh New Entrant Sand Saucer

Alice got first in the New Entrant Wildflower display - native clematis in a calf feeder with flax leaves

And now ...

The three lambs not so long ago ...

The lambs will stay in the holding paddock until weaning, and then might find themselves with lots of other lambs.  Blueberry will get shorn and go with all the other girls down the road.

Catching up with the lambs

We are getting ready for our first draft of lambs which go the week of 18th November.  This will also correspond with weaning and shearing.

So Monday/Tuesday were late days doing the terminals ... not so good for the school girl.

Monday we mustered into the holding paddock in the morning one mob.  They had plenty of feed to occupy themselves whilst we shot off to the Nikau Coopworth (http://www.nikaucoopworth.co.nz/index.html) ram sale at Tuakau.  We had a shopping list for 5 rams, but only came away with 2.  We had short listed our rams down to about 8 that we were interested in, 2 weren't presented on sale day and one more not confident on their feet.  We tried to mix and mingle the sires up a bit, but the majority of our selected rams all came from the one sire.  We have a few other options up our sleeve, so hopefully we can get the other 3 on board without too much trouble.

Having got back on Monday, we waited for the school bus and then headed for the yards.  We drenched all the lambs with a pre-wean drench, and marked all the 'old ewes'.  These are the originals that came with the farm.  Our goal is to cull as many of them out this year, depending on replacement numbers.  I then drafted out any untagged lambs and any lamb close to works weight.

We ended up tagging 74 lambs, which was about 32 more than I had already estimated.  This has lifted our overall lambing percentage up about another 1%.  There are still a handful yet to do, either I missed them in the drafting race or they were missed in the muster.

Tuesday we walked the hills twice to muster two different mobs and do the same things again, in what was 2 hot days. 

We were interupted Tuesday afternoon with the vet visit to give the dogs their annual vaccination and to meet the school bus.

The end result we are pretty much on target for our first draft of 200 lambs to go, which equates to 26% of total terminal lambs off mum.  For us this is good.

Terminal and those without tags waiting to be weighed and tagged

Waiting to go up the race

 
On Wednesday we managed to dock our hogget lambs.  We docked 111% in the paddock and 51% to hoggets scanned.  Our scanning % was 66%, therefore our losses are 24%.  The hoggets themselves are looking in good condition and the lambs, whilst a month behind the maternals, docked probably slightly behind the weight of the maternal lambs.  The goal now is to keep the hoggets well feed up to weaning, which will be around 8th December, as ewes are a third more efficient in converting energy whilst lactating.   This gives us close to 2600 lambs which is above our target.


Hoggets and their lambs after docking

This coming week we plan to do the same to the Maternal lambs, so some long days ahead and in a busy week with lots of things on.



How did lambing go?

One of our goals was to get all our docking done by the end of September whilst Katja was still with us.  We managed to do this and hit good weather too.  We do have our hoggets to go which are ready to be docked anytime from now on.

First day of docking was 13th September.  We started with a small mob to make sure all the bits and pieces were set up right and working.  We bought them up the lane and into the yards and new shed.

Bringing the first mob of ewes and lambs home

Katja's first lamb pick up and the first lamb to be docked this season

Mal and Katja working - Katja loading the cradle, I tagged and earmarked, and Mal did the tails

 This year we splashed out and bought a docking iron - scissors this time, to replace old plunging iron.  It seemed to work well and allowed us to manage the tail length better than the old one.  On my couple of goes with the new iron, I didn't need as many muscles as it cut through the tail easily.

 

Alice in the penful of lambs

Tagging set up

This year we decided to tag all the lambs at docking with EID tags.  Above is our homemade system, made out of two old drench containers, and the disinfectant container on the right.  After 2300 lambs, I made about 8 mistakes ... not too bad really.

  

Katja with her dog and whistle

While Katja was here, we gave her her own dog (dishwashing powder bottle filled with stones) and whistle.  Sorry Katja, I have forgotten what you called your dog!  I don't think Katja mastered the whistle at all during her stay, but I know the dog pictured above didn't survive, and was replaced with a 3 litre milk bottle.

Maternal ewe and lambs in the top yards

Lunch break at the top yards

Ryan keeping the cradle full, but it only takes two terminal lambs

Terminal ewe and lambs on the other block

We docked in smaller mobs this year, taking the pressure of the days and working with when we could get labour.  It took us 8 days to dock 2300 lambs.

We were relative pleased with our lambing percentage this year, with 15% losses from scanning.
Our maternal ewes achieved 144% to ewes scanned and our terminals a poorly 110%.  The terminal ewes are the last of the original ewes, which will hopefully be culled this year, so looking forward we would expect this to lift.  Ultimately, it is the number of lambs that survive to the truck + replacements that need to be calculated back to show how successful lambing has been.

Our next task is to give all the lambs a pre-wean drench.  Having gone through evaluation of drenches, whether to include a tape drench or not, we have decided to go for a tape drench - First.  There is some research that suggest a pre-wean drench is beneficial for both ewe and lamb.  The impact of whether to use a tape drench or not, is a bit more mixed, but some trials had shown a positive outcome.  We are looking at weaning terminals the week 18th November and the Maternals the following week (25th November).  Then we will be into shearing, weighing, condition scoring and more drenching! 

Where there is livestock, there is dead stock

Apologies for the delay in getting anything posted ... it has just been one of those times and there is lots to catch up on.  We have had docking, the bull going out to the bulls, ram selection on the radar and our silage is being cut as we speak.

You would have read in an earlier blog that I lost my huntaway Flo unexpectedly.  That was that start of things.  Since then, I have had to say goodbye to my foxy at the end of September, who I have had for 14 years, or would have been 14 on 7th November.  I got her as a pup from my parents who bred her.  I'll have to dig out one of her pup photos ... she had a spotty black and white toy to keep her company until it finally got torn to bits. 

Dash's demise was reasonably quick ... getting sick on Friday night, obviously didn't have a good night and Saturday she wasn't herself although still hydrated.  She was sick again Saturday night and Sunday she was on a downhill path.  She started to get dehydrated although we did manage to get some liquid into her.  Whilst we had her around us, after lunch she decided to retire to her kennel.  I visited her there, and then about an hour later she had passed away.

She had been my buddy and done lots of things with me, travelling here and there.  She will be sadly missed.  We had a small family ceremony as we put her in the 'garden' wrapped up in her sheepskin blanket.  We have now planted a kowhai tree over the top to remember her by.

But that wasn't the end of our dramas.  On the 13th October we found two heifers, 1 paralysed rear end and one in a creek.  As we don't have a tractor, we had to call on our neighbour to help get the two heifers to flat ground - neither able to stand.  In the paddock next door we discovered my horse had lost his cover, and then on closer inspection discovered that his left hock was rather swollen and he was putting no weight on it.  As it was a weekend, we rang round the neighbours to find some anti-flam (we live in a strong horse area, both recreational and polo) to give him, provided him some feed and water.  Unfortunately he was at the bottom of the gully.  Pampering him for a few days, we progressively got him into a flat paddock.  There was speculation as to what damage he had done.  The final diagnosis though was that he had broken his leg and that means only 1 thing, that he would have to be put down.

Sad looking Fleet on his last morning

So, I took the kids to Mainly Music, and Malcolm did what he had to do and the neighbour helped to bury him.  He is down the drive so every day, I walk past him a minimum of 4 times a day.  I feel so sorry that there was nothing I could have done for him.

But that is not the last of things ... the 2 heifers we were rolling and sitting up twice a day, feeding and giving water to.  After 2 weeks of doing this, there was no response by either animal of their hind quarters.  They had started to loose considerable amount of condition.  We suspect that the incident of the heifers and Fleet were connected as they we beside each other.  We are not sure whether Fleet scared the cattle, or the cattle scared Fleet.  One of the heifers had a burn mark on its back and burnt between its back toes ... was it lightining?

Our two patients

Rightly or wrongly, we decided to put the heifers down.  It was unfortunate for the two week period that they were being looked after, we probably had some of the worst weather - wind that we could barely stand up in, cold weather, rain and a mini-storm.  I guess we will never know what really happened, but  there appears to be no other damage.

So, it has been a rather emotional month or more on the farm.  I am hoping that we have had our fair share and that things will be on the up from now.

Politically incorrect rugby and more

Whilst I haven't been blogging we have been doing some stuff. 

1st September, Katja and I, ventured to Te Akau Complex to watch a game of rugby.  Mal had to stay home as Alice had got chicken pox (ended up having the next week off school).

The game is the legendary Pakeha v's Maori game.  We have managed to watch every year since being out here, barr one.  It is a good opportunity to catch up socially with the locals.  This was Katja's first game of rugby so she got a snapshot of the rules in the car on the way there.

We managed to get a prime seat, initally in the sun, but as the game went on, and the wind changed direction it got decidedly cooler. 

Te Akau Rugby sports a team in the 2nd division of Waikato Rugby and are made up of locals to Te Akau and some further afield.  Check out their facebook site ttp://www.facebook.com/TeAkauRugby

Apparently the majority of this years Maori team were made up of the Te Akau Rugby team, whilst the Pakeha had more 'ring-ins'.  I also thought from watching the game, that the fitness was a little better on the Maori side.  It was enjoyable afternoon mixing and mingling and watching rugby and whilst the day turned cool, it wasn't raining!  Enjoy some photos taken by Katja of the game and final score ...

Break down after scrumb

Lineout - Maori throw

Lineout - Pakeha 8 missed the ball

Final score

The following weekend we decided to head to Wai-o-tapu (http://www.waiotapu.co.nz/) near Rotorua, so that Katja and Alice could experience the geyser, mud pools and thermal area.  On the 2.5 hour drive over we thought the weather might not be too kind to us, but we were lucky with our time at Wai-o-tapu but not later in the day.  We got there in time to see Lady Knox Geyser. 

We then spend near the next 3 hours walking around and seeing the sights.  We walked all the tracks and saw all the sights.  Alice was a little ho - hum about what she saw but enjoyed the open air and lunch of course!

Lady Knox Geyser

Devil pools - although small, Katja, Alice and Mal are on viewing platform

Champagne Pool

Alice posing - view we basically had for our lunch break

Lunch stop - kindly taken by our new Swiss friend

Crater

Edge of Champagne pool - colour more vibrant than photo and lots of steam

Devil's bath - photo doesn't do colour justice - a very bright fluro green/yellow

We stopped at the mud pools for a quick look as we left, but discovered taking photos of mud popping into the air was quite a hard thing to achieve.  We then headed back to Rotoura (http://www.rotoruanz.com/).  We had a look around the lake edge, government gardens, tudor bathhouse (http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/thermal-pools-and-spas/2/5) and walked into town for a much needed coffee at Fat Dog Cafe http://www.fatdogcafe.co.nz/), which helped wash down our shared carrot cake.

Feeling a bit more replenished we headed off to relax a little at the Blue Baths (http://www.historic-venues.co.nz/) before heading home.  It certainly wasn't over crowded and was certainly relaxing.  We joined 2 others who were having a soak in the combination of 29 degree large main pool, with two hot pools at 38 and 41 degrees respectively.  The open air and slight drizzle did not dampen our experience.  Inside, Coke Cola was preparing for their awards evening, so we even had live music!

Refreshed and relaxed we headed home, with dinner being at Poppas, Ngaruawahia, where we were treated to a generous meal.

Flo - RIP

There was a sad start to today.  I knew Flo had a sore tummy last night and I went out just after 7am to see how she was but alas she had passed away in the night.  I feel sorry for her being in her kennel by herself without being comforted.  She was 9 years old.  Below are some snaps of Flo and I out and about.

Lucy, me and Flo

Flo, Dash, Me and Lucy - girl power!

Flo running one way and the sheep the other!



Working together last spring

... and another

So, now I am down to one dog, just before docking.  Lucy moved onto a smaller block with dairy heifers to look after on a part-time basis.  I have inherited Pearl from Mal, who we have had ever since we moved to this block, making her about 8 years old.  Flo was our main yard dog. 

Request .... if anyone has an older dog that we suit me, we would love to hear from you.

Despite Flo being big and a bit bolshy, she will be sadly missed as she was a good kean dog (too  kean sometimes) and had a lovely nature.  Before coming to me, she lived a good life out the back of Tahora with a family now immigrated to Tasmania.  She would work for anyone, but probably more so in the last 6 months had become quite loyal.

May you rest in piece Flo.

Extra additions and a trip to Raglan

The rain has certainly limited the tasks that we are able to do.  The ground is feeling pretty water logged and we have created mud tracks in a few places but are lucky that we are not feeding out and creating more mud.

The week has revolved around necessary stock work, fencing and a bit of maintenance.

Mal headed off farm on Tuesday and left us to do the lambing beat.  His last words were "don't bring home any lambs".  It was my intention not too but that is not how things turned out.

After we had put Alice on the school bus, we headed to the other block to check things out, mainly from ridge tops with a pair of binnoculars.  Not far in along the track we had to lamb a ewe, unfortunately the lamb was dead.  Heading further along the track, over a small slip, we spied a ewe with a bearing but decided she could wait until our trip back.  Negotiating the few newborns on the track, we entered the pine trees.  Then sitting by the fence in the trees was a lone ewe lamb (Dora).  Then I parked up and went for a stroll to check on a ewe and happened to stumble across a new born lamb left on the track and no mum in sight (Deigo).  Whilst I headed out in one direction, I looked to the hillside and saw a ewe who I thought had triplets, and told Katja to look.  But alas I was mistaken, it was quads.  In her haste to depart the area, she left one behind, who I decided could come home with us (Kleiner Boots).  So with our hands ful, we headed back.

Katja, Dora, Kleiner Boots and Deigo by the pines

 On the way back we tried to catch the bearing, but with my dog not playing ball, we went on a goose hunt with no success.  In the meantime, I came across another ewe trying to lamb, but unfortunately not a good ending for either party with the lamb obviously being stuck for a while.  Managed to get it out but no-one survived (and I had to escape for the dry-reaching).  The next we returned to get what colostrum we could from the ewe (nearly a litre) which is now frozen in cubes.

The team at home - Pearl, Dora, Kleiner Boots, Katja and Deigo

Kleiner Boots is rather small, coming to the top of my redbands.  We should have weighed him but hopefully you get a glimpse of how small he was.  Unfortunately Dora's story is not so good either.  Managing to give her a feed, by mid-afternoon she had gone down hill (possibly no colostrum) and my evening had passed away.  In the meantime, Deigo had picked up and Kleiner Boots (who was a day or two old) was doing rather well.

On the weekend we decided to venture to Raglan, the cheesemaking for the day had to go on hold.
We collected some sausages and chips and headed to the beach for lunch.

Having lunch at the beach

Raglan certainly put on a nice day for us, with lots of sun and no wind.  As a bonus, there wasn't a lot of people around either.  With the tide going out there was plenty of wet sand to build a castle and moat.  I didn't think the water was that warm, but the kids thought is was ok for jumping waves.

Alice, Katja and Rachael with their castle

We then headed into town for the obligatory ice cream that you have to do at the seaside before heading off to Bridal Veil Falls.  This was my first visit and now I wonder why it has taken me so long to get there!  The 261 steps down to the bottom were well worth the walk, as we were rewarded by the 55 metre drop, with water cascading into a large pool at the bottom.

Bridal Veil Falls

It was enjoyable day of the farm and was nice to have such a fine day to do it in.