Ewes Fate

We regularly cull the livestock on our farm.

 

Why?

 

There are several reasons….the female is not producing offspring to our standards, the female has birthing issues, the female is old and losing vigor, the bull/ram is too closely related to the present breeding stock (offspring from said males are now at breeding age) or our overall number of animals have increased above what is prudent for our management practices or for the current pastures conditions which are usually weather dependent...a dry year produces less grass; thus, fewer animals can be properly nourished.

 

Today, we culled seven old ewes.

 

Glenn and I were easily able to manage and load the ewes without our main help…Becky.

 

I  love sheep.

 

My rationale for being partial to the sheep - they are so much smaller than the cattle and so much less threatening to me.  Think of it…a cow weighs about 1300 pounds, a ewe only about 125.  125 pound animal is a lot easier to move and guide than one that outweighs you 7-fold or more. 

 

Once loaded, we drove north to one of the stockyards in Harrisonburg.  Unloading was a snap.  We followed our animals through the weighing process.

 

our seven ewes waiting in the pen (top of photo)
our sheep are hair sheep - compare to the wool sheep in the other pens



ewes getting weighed



overview of interior of facility - not a single cobweb

front of facility - large truck is labeled 'cow taxi' - even farmers have a sense of humor

I was amazed at the cleanliness of this particular stockyard inside and outside - neat, tidy, well-maintained, and nary an odor.  I did not even notice one fly. And, friendly. I was pleased and impressed. This is not a typical stockyard environment. 

 

weighing - ewes are in the pen just beyond the windows

 

We got our weight tickets and bid farewell.  The auction is tonight.  Payment will be made by the early part of next week.  And, we are keeping our fingers crossed that prices will be on the high end.  (Note: It’s uncanny how Glenn usually manages to take his livestock to market on a week when the prices tend to fall.)

 

auction area - show ring - ready for business

Falling prices has been our fate for years.  And, we accept it.