Just like to say thanks to all of you for your help and concern
and especially Amanda (Pedwardine) who has been so supportive on the phone. I haven't had internet for a week and it's been really frustrating. The loss of little Susie really hit me hard, she was like a little dog and had a huge character, it was just sooo sad
. Anyway my vet was adamant it was a calcium issue, but he said there could be other complications and I'd done all I could do and the only thing left was nursing. He said he could have come out but it didn't sound hopeful from what I described and I'd just have a vet bill to add to a dead sheep, he was proved right!
I was so worried about the others I couldn't sleep so as soon as I got help I moved all the in-lamb ewes out of the field as thankfully we've not had rain for a while and some of the land has dried out. They seem fine at the moment, and look happy to be on new grass, even if there isn't a huge amount of it! Hopefully now they aren't competing with the other sheep they will get more feed. They aren't touching the haylage so must be getting enough grass for the moment, they are also having ewe nuts.
I had planned to lamb them outdoors but spent today turning one half of my barn into lambing pens, just in case the weather turns again!
A quick reply re. the listeria comment, the losses I've had have all been unrelated and have been different sheep in different fields, and before I was feeding extra haylage. I haven't had any losses apart from Susie, since feeding it.
