Ivanka (1711) died a few weeks ago. Today I took 1665 to the sale barn. A couple of months ago, 1736 went to the sale barn. It's always hard saying good bye to the old ewes.
Ivanka was 8 1/2 years old. She lost her first lamb, then went on to raise sixteen lambs, including triplet ewe lambs this year. Her death was heart-breaking. I blamed myself. Perhaps, she only needed a good deworming. I saved Ivanka's daughter last year. Her name is Hollywood. Like her mom, she lost her first lamb.
Ivanka with her triplets this year
Ivanka as a lamb (she was a favorite)
Ivanka, 4 months old
1665 was 9 1/2 years old. She'd raised twenty lambs, including twins this year. Unfortunately, she had gotten very thin and I couldn't put any weight back on her, despite preferential feeding. She was always recognizable due to the big black spot on her left front leg.
1665 with her triplets from last year
A set of black lambs in 2023
1736 lambed late this year, in May. She had triplets, but milk on only one side. I had to supplement the lambs: two rams and a ewe that I dubbed "Rock, Paper, and Scissors." Pretty lambs, out of a clean-up buck. Due to her age and udder issue, I couldn't keep her another year; so, I took her to the sale barn when she "weaned" her lambs. She was 8 1/2 years old and had raised 17 lambs for me.
Her first lamb
She had the first lambs in 2023, twin rams
Three good ewes. Now part of the past. Always hard. I have several ewes that will be 8, 9, and 10 next year. More hard decisions.
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