We thought this year's lambing was fairly smooth - after all - we only lambed out 13 ewes! The lambs all came in droves and between work, puppies and chores, we managed to deal with a few assisted births and had only one "sketchy" lamb who was not thriving as well as he should....
NOW all has gone to hell in a hand basket. Most all the lambs have Sore Mouth (crusty contagious scabs around nose, eyes and ears) and we have one ewe (a troublesome one in the past, but not a total write off, until now) with Blue bag mastitis, which we are treating as aggressively as we can but don't feel the prognosis is very good. Poor quality haying last summer and a harsh, long winter indoors probably didn't help as our little flock is in worse condition this spring than ever before - most loosing wool and thinner than we would like. However, we are very good about keeping pens cleaned, the flock "closed", etc., so hope that this is just bad luck and will not be the new theme! We are such newbie farmers - learning the hard way!
So, Pat and Tap have 4 yearlings only to work this spring - not ideal. And Pat seems to be stickier than ever after a long winter off, where as Tap seems to have hit the ground running and I feel I could trial tomorrow and do fairly well. So will be working on exercises to free up Pat and get her fast flanks back. I need a lesson!
A HUGE thank you to our sponsors!
- Thank you to Abbie Tamber for her kind and generous donation, we were surprised by some additional fees bringing the dogs home, so this helps tremendously!
- Nan Keder and the late Bill Gignac for their tremendously generous sponsorship check - I am moved to tears by the generousity of my friends near and far. In Bill's memory, I will be sure to "Go have fun with my dogs" - this was always his and Nan's advice before any competition and it will surely help me keep everything in perspective. Again THANK YOU!!!
- Thanks to everyone at Liko North America for participating in the 50/50 draw. Over $200 was raised!
- Thank you to Julie Daniels and White Mountain Agility for donating proceeds from the equipment auction held at Instructor's Camp !
- Megan and Creekside Fynn for their generous contribution to our fundraising efforts!
- Jane and Mike Buckley of Ottawa for their very generous cash donation!
- Dave and Mary Ellen Young for donating the lamb used for the Argentenian Lamb Roast benefit dinner at the Sherbrooke Int'l Sheepdog Trials. The dinner was a HUGE success - thanks also to Dr. Herten Graeven (my dentist) for cooking!
- Nancy Phillips and the Mad River Sheepdog Trial for donating a portion of their profits to our fundraising campaign.
- The Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club for awarding me one of their very generous grants to help club members who are representing Canada with their dogs at a world championship in any dog sport.
- Caroline McKinney, a NOMAD member for her generous donation!
- Creekside's M.D. "Doc" and his fur-parents Jimmy and Sandy Cody for their generous sponsorship donation!
- To Val Henry and her brother for designing and making the great T-shirts - all of which were donated! 28 shirts were sold in one weekend at the CATS/NOMAD trial! Wow!
- EVERYONE who so generously donated items or services for the Silent Auction - it was a huge success! Thanks to all who placed bids and showed so much support! The Northeast agility community is AWESOME!
- Waggers Pet Products for their VERY generous and VERY appreciated sponsorship check!
- Val Henry for her very generous monetary sponsorship! THANK YOU! I hope Jus' mom and sis can do you proud!
- Rose Redick & Kensa, Woody, Abbie, Rodney and Fawn for their very generous monetary donation! Thank you so very much!
- Emily Adham (future owner of Tap x Chip puppy) for sending in much more than she "bet" in the puppy wager. Thank you so much!
- Del and Fred Waters (and Haggis and Ghillie) for their generous monetary sponsorship ! Wow! I have great friends!
- Guides Canins for their generous monetary sponsorship - Guides Canins is the best training center around!
- Thanks to EVERYONE who took part in the Puppy Wager! For a complete list, please visit the puppy blog.
- Mom and Dad for a wonderfully generous donation to the dog's "Executive Class" ticket!
- Avid Canada for providing a few items that might be used in a raffle.
- Creekside Cait and David for their TRULY generous donation. We hope mom and sis will make you proud!
- Sasha's Blend Canada - Will keep Pat supplied with the only joint support supplement that REALLY works!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
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1 comment:
Don't worry too much about the sore mouth. It shouldn't be a problem unless it gets so bad they can't eat. Sore mouth is a lot like chicken pox. I try to make sure that all my lambs get sore mouth as babies so it's easier on them and I don't have to worry about them picking it up during show season.
Blue bag mastitis though - nasty. :-((
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