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Re: [OM] Nathan's PAD 2/9/2016: eye contact

Subject: Re: [OM] Nathan's PAD 2/9/2016: eye contact
From: Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2016 21:32:34 -0700
On 9/4/2016 7:53 AM, bj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
. . .

Sheepish Moose

  I don't know if Welsh farmers do as farmers do
where I live, most likely as the paint ( actually a kind of large crayon
used on wool, which doesn't mark it permanently - called 'raddle' ) ( I
never realised I had that named stored in my memory bank), is used to
tell the farmer if the ewe has been mated.

When the rams are put out
with the ewes (tupping time), the rams are fitted with a harness
carrying the raddle on their chest so that the farmer can tell whether
or not a ewe has been mated and therefore likely to have a lamb.

Those
which have not mated are likely to be separated off (drafted) and sent
early to the meat works / slaughterhouse. Barren ewes have a lesser
value on a farm producing both meat and wool.

The rams are let loose
with the ewes at a time which ensures that all the lambs are born at a
time which suits best spring grass growth and before the drier summer.
Lamb size and growth are therefore maximised, and when they in turn are
sent to the meat works (also to suit expected market values).

The
timing of farm operations is not random. It's mostly about the money.
The sheep don't know that, of course!

More completely useless, but fascinating, information from this great list! :-)

Thanks, Brian.

No Raddle Moose

--
What if the Hokey Pokey *IS* what it's all about?
--
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