ARCHIVED NEWSLETTER - 21st December 2005
Winter Solstice
On
December 16th we put out the ram and had 18 inches
of snow that night. It was difficult getting hay and corn out
to the different breeding groups for a few days until we had tracks
through the drifts.
Wintering is going to be a little different this year. The dry
conditions last summer mean we are short of hay and so we will
be feeding more corn than usual and stretching the hay out with
barley straw. (we bought several loads of drought-stricken barley
that was cut and baled and has weed grasses and barley grains
in it ) — neighbours of ours call it "whole crop"
we call it "stray".
Fortunately we had a good long fall with quality grass and we
were pleased with the condition of the ewes by the start of December.
Lamb and cull ewe prices have been great in the run up to Christmas.
Between good prices and the shortage of hay we have had a great
incentive to cull the ewes hard — the flock looks better
than ever.
We had hoped to have a litter of pups by now — however
we lost of our stud dog "Skunk" last fall and our
new male was too young to breed successfully.We are now hoping
for a litter in late spring or early summer.
Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2006.
Mark and Cherry
|
