As I got closer it edged its feet over the edge and was going to jump. I decided I was going to take thr dogs back to frogmore and hoped that by leaving it to calm down it would come back from the edge. After a cup of coffee I went back and she was still threatening to jump, she was certenly going to be a problem. Her head was held very high and her eyes were very twitchy. This means that her calcium levels where dangerously low and any kind of shock would mean that she would drop down dead. A ewe can get very low calcium levels by being worried when they are pregnant.
I phoned Simon who was at Polperro and he came back at once. Lorna, Chris, Simon and I went down to lantivet bay with the tractor and ropes. It was pouring with rain and everywhere was muddy and slippery. I was quit worried about the whole thing. It wasn't any good calling the coastguard because if the ewe saw a stranger she would certainly jump.
Simon got over the fence and slid along on his stomach, the ewe looked back but didn't see him because calcium deficiency can cause blindness. He made a grab for her back leg just as she jumped, thank goodness he is really strong as he managed to hold on and gradually pull her up.
I had a large syringe of calcium waiting for her and injected it under the skin. We took her up to the farm and examined her. Her ears had been bitten and were bleeding and one will always be fat and droopy. She had an injection of penicillin to stop infection in her wounds. We will keep her housed until she lambs in February, hopefully they will be alive.
I have heard people say my dog wasn't attacking the sheep it was only playing with them. I wish they would realise that the trauma of being chased and cornereed is enough to kill them.
The cows are due to begin calving now; it's always worrying until you see the first safely delivered, hopefully without any help from us. I like to go early in the morning and hear the the lovely, gentle soung a mother makes to her calf. It's always exciting to see if baby looks like mum or dad, last year they all had a white face like the bull. We have bought a new young bull.
We bought his mother as well so his growth wouldn't be stunted by weaning.
He will stay and suckle her until he is almost a year old. That should ensure that he has strong bones. I have decided to call him Ronald. Next year when the vet comes to do our TT test he will put a ring in his nose. I hope he proves to be a quiet sort of chap!
The weatehr forecast is saying we are going to have severe storms and heavy rain followed by very cold weather. I hope it's not as bad as the forecast. We all have too many hills for snow and ice.