SageHill Ranch Journal

[Finnie]

I’m so glad you were finally able to get some California Reds!!

 

[SageHill]

I’m so glad you were finally able to get some California Reds!!

I'd given up. Then the ewe showed up and grabbed her. The lamb is from another ewe crossed with a Dorset. Looks like I can mess with wool a little.

 

[Baymule]

I have sheep that come to me to be plucked and others that hate it. Then there are the brats that use me for a rubbing post.

 

[SageHill]

Learning is a process. Having lost an old ewe early this year we had to call someone to take her away. Cost $. Sigh. She was a good old girl, never trouble, produced nice lambs and was good to train dog on. I had two more from the original 12, both showing signs of aging. Guessing they were in the 10+ to 12 range or so???? Add in my ram who was born here and quite nice had us sitting on gen 2 and 3. So today we took three up to auction. Time will tell what I get, and I'm not expecting much. I'm looking at it as the oldsters may have a year or so possibly??? But I don't want to fork out $$$ when they go. We don't have a back hoe for the tractor and I'd like to have at least 10 or so more acres to "plant" them. We don't. So it's to auction we go, knowing that I won't have to shell out $$$ for disposal . Sad, but that's life and being able to keep things going here.
Trip to auction to drop them off...
Bye bye you three, you've had it good here and probably better than most...

 

[farmerjan]

Learning is a process. Having lost an old ewe early this year we had to call someone to take her away. Cost $. Sigh. She was a good old girl, never trouble, produced nice lambs and was good to train dog on. I had two more from the original 12, both showing signs of aging. Guessing they were in the 10+ to 12 range or so???? Add in my ram who was born here and quite nice had us sitting on gen 2 and 3. So today we took three up to auction. Time will tell what I get, and I'm not expecting much. I'm looking at it as the oldsters may have a year or so possibly??? But I don't want to fork out $$$ when they go. We don't have a back hoe for the tractor and I'd like to have at least 10 or so more acres to "plant" them. We don't. So it's to auction we go, knowing that I won't have to shell out $$$ for disposal . Sad, but that's life and being able to keep things going here.
Trip to auction to drop them off...
Bye bye you three, you've had it good here and probably better than most...
View attachment 119019

Sad but understandable. My DS talked to one of the buyers at the sale the other day... because our old bull is going to have to go. He is getting a little stiff in the joints, won't make another winter most likely and cannot afford to put him down with the prices they are bringing...but he does not want him hauled around and run through the sale and poked and prodded and put in a pen with other bulls to maybe get hurt. This buyer said that he has a guy that hauls direct to the slaughter house and when DS is ready, to call and he will see to it that he won't get abused... yes, we will get paid for him... maybe not quite what he might bring in the stockyard sale... but fair enough... and he will make a one way trip without getting abused or hurt by other bulls etc. It is part of life. So we are trying to give him a little dignity, and as much care as we can, to the end.

 

[Mini Horses]

Well, these are the tough things that must be addressed. It's sad, I know - BTDT & more will happen. It's hardest with my milking girls. Those you bond with a real relationship since I'm not a commercial dairy & usually only keep a few milking for personal use & I'm only milker. Occasionally I'll train one to sell. Don't always have the time. BUT ...

when I retire......

 

[Baymule]

That hurts as bad as them dying. Tough situation. I gave 2 of my old girls to my friend Chase, they were 5 and 6 years old, still have a lot of years left and have given him nice lambs. I know breeders that sell their 6 year olds so they don’t have to deal with dead sheep.
I have plenty of land to bury them on or I can take to back corner for buzzards or other wildlife to feed on. Special pets are honored with burial, lambs feed the wildlife.

 

[Mini Horses]

Yep ... I have land, a backhoe and burials.

 

[farmerjan]

I have buried several over the years... the real special ones... My first guernsey dairy cow, my original "matriarch" beef cow, my old mare from when I was a teenager, came to Va with me and died of old age... buried a few that we didn't expect to die.... but there is a line and we have to be practical. So when our old bull Bubba got to where he had trouble getting up and down, arthritis, age, we made arrangements for him to get on a truck and went directly to slaughter. That friend/cattleman/dealer has passed away. But we hopefully have another source for ones that have served us for years, to have an easier time to go to their final end. It is sad that you have to make those choices, but it is a fact of farming... especially with cattle and animals that we raise for meat. And honestly, financial considerations do play a part. Whether it is not having the way to bury them and then having to pay to have them removed, or just the practicality of significant lost income to bury them... you have to face the whole picture and made prudent decisions.

 

[SageHill]

I had not thought of having to do this when I started, this is a journey. If I'd known then what I do now - I'd still choose this. It is a fact of life, like having to pull lambs, feed, worm, treat injuries, etc. It just IS, and that's the way it goes. Sad - though I'm not upset at all. If this was one of the dogs heck yeah I'd be a mess (always am, but that's their legacy). @Mini Horses I do get that - that bond for milking has got to be strong. Total hands on literally and daily yup.

I know breeders that sell their 6 year olds so they don’t have to deal with dead sheep.

That's exactly my thinking. Though I'm thinking more around 8 yrs - but that's me now and time will tell what/how I end up.
This is a cycle - I'm learning every day all sorts of things. My only regret - I wish I'd started 20 yrs ago. Better late than never!