The days and nights are warming up. Our paths through the snow have become muddy bogs and we are trying to decide if this is an early spring, or just the March thaw. It makes no meteorological sense, but I am reminded of the saying, “early Easter, early spring.”
One sign that spring is not far away is the arrival of baby animals. Of course, this is no surprise since we know when we put the bucks and bulls in and we know the gestation period of sheep and cattle. This month's births are deliberate bets we made last year. We shed lamb some of our sheep early so that we can raise our own bucks. We shed calve the heifers early when we have time to watch them before we get busy with the real spring work.
All is not always bucolic on the birth scene. I am reminded of Sue Wallis’s poem, “Cattle, Horses, Grass and Sky,” with the lines “ the mighty throbbing earth from whence springs death, and life and birth.”
The early lambing has been underway for a few weeks, but with good weather and a good crew, it is bringing forth lots of lives and very few deaths. However we lost both our first calf, born by c-section and a “catch colt” from one of our saddle mares who had been bred by a wild horse stud last spring.
Here are some photos of babies, ovine, bovine, canine, and equine.
Hampshire ewes with early lambs
Powder Flat, Moffat County, Colorado
Hampshire and Rambouillet ewes with twins
Powder Flat, Moffat County, Colorado
Ewe with brand new lambs in the jug
Powder Flat, Moffat County, Colorado
Trailer, carrying heifer, with flat tire
Colorado 13, between Baggs and Craig
Vet trying for a vaginal birth
Craig, Colorado
Trying to visualize
Caesarean section
Pat and Seamus watching
Too late
The heifer's going to be OK
Siobhan and Grandpa George compare puppies
Home Ranch horse barn
photos by Sharon O'Toole
Sharon with puppies
photo by Siobhan Lally
Long-suffering Suzie
photo by Sharon O'Toole
Siobhan with new colt
Home Ranch laundry room
photo by Sharon O'Toole
