Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Lambing on a Large Scale

I was invited to spend a few days helping out with lambing at McCormick Sheep and Grain in Rio Vista this week.  They are lambing out 1350 ewes (give or take a few) - much larger scale than our operation.  It's a beautiful place with an amazing history - here are some photos:

Lambing "jugs" - pens where ewes are allowed to bond with their lambs for
a day or two..

More lambing pens - inside this time.

Even  the geese know that something's up during lambing!

The main sheep barn.

Mo and my shadow - looking for more sheep on the hill.

Look closely - you'll see a peafowl on the granary catwalk!

Ewes with single lambs - awaiting their ear tags.

Mo - "If I don't look at them, they don't exist."
Bottle baby lambs are always curious!

Bellying up to the lamb bar.

Heading out on the hill this morning.

Drifting pairs back toward the headquarters.

Some of the tools of my trade today - my notebook
and a set of lamb hobbles.

Ready to go back to mom!

The old horse barn - it use to take 28 horses to pull
the combined wheat harvester.  Imagine harnessing
(and un-harnessing) 28 horses everyday!

Just thought this was a cool truck!

Inside the horse barn.

Ellen and Jill headed for a new pair (a ewe and her lamb).

Straw bales provide shelter from the wind and sun.

2 comments:

  1. Very nice pics! Love the wind mills. But more...I love the sheep.

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  2. What a huge farm ranch! This is a tough job, and only hardworking people can take care of this kind of livestock. We do have a farm ranch that is managed by our clan. Each one of us has responsibilities such as taking care of irrigation systems, weed control, taking care of livestock, and plans of conservation that are involved in our ranch. Managing a ranch is actually finding a needle in a haystack, if you only knew a little. But once you get used to it, you'll actually find it easy.
    Darren Lanphere

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