News

[Hen-Gen]

Its all gone a bit quiet so here's my bit of news.
Any sheep that is imported here is tested on arrival and then again six months later in order to exclude a raft of sheep diseases that exist in mainland Britain. I imported a ram last Spring that tested clear on his first test. However on his six month test he was positive for CLA. I called my neighbour and he brought down his humane killer, destroyed him and buried him in a deep hole. That was last Saturday. He was a beautiful show winning ram from a reputable breeder. Obviously this is a financial loss but I hope he has left a son en-utero because this disease is not transmissible by sexual methods.
His breeder was aghast and offered me a replacement free of charge. But I can't help but think that the test result was wrong.

 

[Margaid]

Oh Hen-Gen that's awful, I'm so sorry to hear that. The reaction of the breeder could imply that you're right about the test but unfortunately no-one can afford to take chances. Fingers crossed that you're right about his offspring.

 

[Icemaiden]

What's CLA?

 

[valeriebutterley]

Hen-Gen so sorry about your ram and the financial loss also, where was he from? must have cost you a fortune to import.

Really sorry, I know a fair bit about rare chickens, but nothing about sheep.

 

[Marigold]

What an awful blow, HenGen., i'm so sorry. 2018 hasn't been good for you so far, has it? Are you recovering from the after-effects of your epilepsy attack?

 

[MrsBiscuit]

I am sorry to hear that HG, it's bad enough when poultry gets something bad, it must be 10 times worse with larger livestock. .

 

[Hen-Gen]

Yep, my husband said that I must have been very bad in a previous life. Truth be told I've not been a paragon of virtue in this one either .

CLA, Icemaiden, stands for caseous lymphadenitis. At first it has no visible symptoms and is only transmitted by rams clashing heads and the transference of blood. Later the infected ram develops pus filled boils on his head and neck which burst and then make any neighbouring sheep open to infection. These are then prone to loss of fertility, abortion and general lack of health. Obviously he had none of those visible symptoms so should not have passed on the disease.

He was a very stylish Black Welsh Mountain that was destined to be the final ingredient of my three-breed project. Already bred the Zwartbles x Rouge ewes so if they are pregnant then all should be OK. Netherlands, France and Wales - done my bit for European solidarity.

But as I said before 'if you have livestock then you have deadstock'.

I've previously sold some ewes to two neighbours and a stock ram to a third over the years. So long after I'm dead I should be part of island folklore as that gay Englishman and his bloody, black sheep and striped hens!
Immortality,huh?

 

[bigyetiman]

Sorry to hear this Hen-Gen, you must be gutted. But it is a fine line between life and death when you keep livestock. At least you were able to deal with it quickly and humanely and not have to get a vet over.
Hope the ewe produces a ram for you.
I am sure you will be remembered for your adventures in breeding livestock, and many other fine attributes