[Jacob-list] Granny ewes

[stonecroft235 at juno.com]

Fred, your comments about granny ewes reminded me of our situation here
two years ago.  We have an old Fieldwood ewe (we bought her from Ruth
Ross who bought her from Susanna Davy) who is a wonderful mother and
self-proclaimed defender of the flock.  Her name is Anna (Fieldwood9212)
& she is a bugger to catch and is constantly watching for danger - if we
feed in the barn she grabs a mouthful to eat,  then proceeds to  stand at
the door to maintain guard, dashes back for another bite, returns to her
post and so forth.  Two years ago her daughter, a yearling ewe & first
time mother, lambed first out in the meadow apparently very early in the
morning, producing twins.   When I arrived the new mother was happily
caring for ONE of her twins and Anna was caring for the other one.  I
tried very unsuccessfully to put the adopted baby back with his original
mother but she would have nothing to do him, and Anna was determined to
keep him.  At that point we were very concerned that this little guy
would drink up Anna's colostrum and there would be none left when she
finally lambed - fortunately she lambed within the next 24 hrs. with
twins.  Interestingly, she elected to keep the adopted baby and one of
her own, but refused her own second baby.  It appeared that in her mind
she knew she should have only two - three were a crowd!!  And being the
strong willed gal she is, there was no changing her mind.  We kept her
confined for 5 days and held her against her will so the refused baby
could drink colostrum/milk, and after that point we bottle fed  the
orphan.  Anna is a great mother - she would go to great lengths to defend
and care for her babies but it was an interesting drama.  In April Anna
will be 9 years old - and there is no indication that she is aging,
except that she carries her unborn lambs a bit lower -- that ole gal will
probably live to a ripe old age out sheer stubborness!!!   And you know
what---we have learned to love that old girl despite her feistiness!!!  
(Her sire was Fieldwood Ari and her great, great sire came from Scone
Palace - and her dam was a Sheepside ewe with Sheepside lines, Reynolds,
and then imported sheep.)

Sue Martin
Stonecroft
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