[Ag-eq] Lambing on the BlanchRanch: a tragedy

[Jewel]

I apologise if the following message has already been on the list.  I don't see it in sent items, 
and it does seem that some of my messages are going astray as are some that are addressed to me.

      Jewel

I have a tragedy to relate and it was caused, mainly, because I am blind which would have been
cancelled out if I had been just a bit more thorough.
I let the ewes and their lambs out into the back paddock:  oh!  maybe 4 days ago.  However,
yesterday, when Sam, my honorary shepherd came to count the lambs, he found that one ewe and her
lamb had been left shut in the stockyard.  I had heard the occasional baah, but I assumed that it
was from one of the ewes in the paddock.
The ewe had died, of starvation I would guess, as, not knowing that there was a sheep there, I had
not been putting out any feed.  I had intended to open the yard where there is a water trough, but
as there was no feed there and there are other water troughs out in the paddock, I hadn't!
When Sam found them, the ewe was cold, but must have died that morning as the lamb had been feeding
from her even after her death:  I didn't know that that could happen
! he was fine and is now being bottle-fed.
I had said that I would not be hand-rearing anything, but this, of course, is a completely different
case as the lamb is strong and healthy, and he, sure, is that!  I have never seen such a big lamb
for his age which is about a week.  He must weigh 10 pounds and already is up to my knees in height.
I didn't have any replacer milk powder so, until I could get some, I gave him cow's milk which, at
first, he thought was vile, but he changed his mind and was away with a hiss and a roar.  Well,
perhaps, not the best choice of words, as he is very quiet.
His name, btw, is Rambo!

         Jewel