RAMpant Hormones!

The four Little Soay ram lambs have been growing, they have been growing bigger, they have been getting fatter, their horns are growing and so has something else. The “something else” appears to have been enlarging at a faster rate than everything else…..except their testosterone level, and combining the two “t’s”, testicles and testosterone elevated the four little rams to priority red in Greg’s “must do” list before they began to “practice” and usurp Rodney the resident ram’s job. The boys were moved into a  temptation free zone to live a celibate life with rams in waiting, Galveston and Blondie who have little time or patience for either said testosterone or dangly bits (particularly if they are attached to another ram). All seemed well, the little rams eventually settled down in their new bachelor pad, Galveston and Blondie studiously ignored the young pretenders and all concerns of incestuous behaviour and 5 legged two headed lambs were set aside….until the little black “ram” engineered an audacious escape. Surprisingly, Galveston and Blondie did pay an inordinate amount of time and energy ensuring that the escapee was made VERY welcome in their pasture, so much so that it caused Greg to take a closer look at the little black lamb. The closer look caused great consternation here on the ranch….it didn’t detect any ram’s parts but it DID explain why the celibate rams were being so accommodating…..the little black ram was in fact a little black ewe and clearly her arrival in their midst was the answer to a celibate ram’s prayers. OOOPs….looks like a new priority for Greg’s sorely stretched priority list and the little “she” in amongst the big “he’s” became a NOW project for relocation back to the girlie pen and yet another claim for the No Blame Policy.

Billy Bob the bull came to visit Daisy Mae today…..in a straw. This morning our black Dexter cow was a wanting lady, her hormonal body clock had gone into overdrive and every bull between here and Texas must have been aware of her needs. Misty Moo the Jersey heifer was wisely keeping a safe distance from the wanton cow and Greg ensured that he and the girls did not become the object of her lust. A resolution to Daisy May’s problem was only a telephone call away….Wayne “the AI man” was summoned and with luck the Billy Bob / Daisy Mae union will result in a healthy calf at the end of March next year.

It has been a wet week for Anna and Jen but clearly their enthusiasm wasn’t dampened by the persistent rain that sorely tested the new drain system in the barnyard. All around the ranch, splashing through puddles, plodding through the mud both girls smiled and it was easy to smile with them. Both girls have ridden Lady the huge Shire mare, mucked out stalls, milked Daisy the cow, chopped and stacked wood, operated a chainsaw and sawmill, turned out the sheep and groomed and tended to the horses. Every experience was a new memory and we enjoy making those memories with our two WWOOFER volunteers, sadly each visit has to end (usually when I just get the names right !!!) and Jen left the farm today to return to Oregon. Jen was only here since Monday and in that short time we became very fond of her. We look forward to a return visit as soon as circumstances allow Jen…. good luck in everything you do.

Time to go to bed, Take care, keep safe, M