This past winter I sold Mazie. It was difficult because she was a favorite. OK, you all know about my favorites, but she was super friendly and is a true black merino. I sold her for a couple of reasons. One was that I had made the decision in the fall as to who was going to be sold and who was going to stay. I have to stick by that or I am sunk.
After all, you have to sell something if you want to stay in business. Secondly, you have to sell the good stock, not just the stock you are weaning out of the flock. To be a top breeder, you must sell top quality stock. Reputation is everything and if someone feels they get a bad deal, they are likely to loose future sales I might have with their neighbors.
So Mazie was up for sale and she had been “exposed”. That is sheep talk for being bred. Nothing for certain, no promises, just a chance that the ewe “might” have a lamb. The ram was hanging out with the ewes and you can sometimes catch the action, but often you don’t. What I offer here, if the sheep is not exposed or takes, is a breed back. That means that when the ewe is ready, you can have it bred for a future lamb by bringing it back to the farm or having the ram go to the ewe. Cheaper then buying a second lamb or having to buy a ram. So Mazie had the potential to lamb out, or could be brought back for breeding.
About a month ago the buyer emailed me with news that there had been a pregnancy test with negative results. I offered to buy Mazie back, kinda hoping I could because I missed her, but offered reassurance that the tests are not always right and that it was still a little early. About 2 weeks later she emailed that Mazie had begun to “bag out”. That is when the udder grows large with milk.
Today I got the pictures of the new lamb. I don’t know if it is a ewe or ram, but it is very cute and very black.
I am thrilled for Mazie’s owner. This is her first experience with lambing and I am sure she is on cloud 9. Good and healthy, and I bet Mazie is doing fine as a mother. I wonder what she will name her/him?
It feels bitter sweet in a way. I wish that Mazie was still here, especially with that nice black lamb, pangs of sellers remorse. However, Wu may someday have her lamb and the pangs will go away.
