Protecting our keep
Hi Debbie,
I think that Arcus in Kermit green as modelled by you would be fantastic (XL). I can’t promise to look half as good in it as you!
All is well here. The Bowmonts had an MOT yesterday when I checked on their body condition. We are only a few weeks away from putting the rams in now and I have to get them “fit not fat” which means enough body condition to be healthy but not so much that they lay down fat aound the ovaries etc which affects conception.
They were all wormed and given a vitamin and mineral tonic ( you could see them saying YUKKK! and I don’t blame them - it smelled foul!) One of my older ewes aged 8, now has absolutely no teeth at all but despite that is in very good body condition. Many farmers would put a ewe like that down but she is doing fine and is happy so why should we? She also happens to produce cracking lambs and a good fleece so she is staying put as long as she’s fit.
I’m currently getting organised to take at least one sheep to an AI centre for embryo harvesting. It’s a high tech rather invasive process but it does mean that one ewe which had a prolapse and therefore can’t lamb again will be able to give me some embryos. I can’t afford to lose her genetics.
She only gave me one male who was not good enough to breed from.
Apart from all that - I was really pleased to see you on the RSPCA Good Business awards short list. Do you ever look at www.warmwell.com ? Do take a look sometime. Mary Critchley who runs it from France is a real hero of mine. She did so much during Foot and Mouth and has the ear of DEFRA and government ministers. There is a piece up at the moment about slaughtering. Don’t watch the video. I haven’t got over it yet. And don’t let Ernie anywhere near it!! However, its something we all need to face up to. I’ve just joined The Humane Slaughter Association www.hsa.org.uk as a consequence . They do so much behind the scenes to stop atrocities like this.
BFN,
Lesley
I’ve read this about 10 times and it fires me up every time - you’re so rad Lesley! Lesley is the momentum behind our Bowmont program and she’s quickly turning into a hero of ours. Consider us 21st century cowboys: Lesley (Rare breed specialist) turns Ranch Doctor, Debbie (designer) is now handling ranch logistics and with every ranch comes a few ranch hands. They drive livestock across the land, take their coffee black and every so often have to protect their keep, you come near our Bowmont and you’ll be pushing daisies.
Just a quick shout saying thank you Lesley, this whole program is turning into one of the most inspiring things we’ve done as of yet - super stoked, loads of love and look forward to turning the world right around the kitchen table soon…
Pictured above, from left to right: Mart ’sure shot’ Knight, Tom ‘el heffe’ Kay, Ernie ‘the Peruano’ Capbert
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