Wednesday 2 January 2013

Feet.

Feet - always a contentious issue both for sheep, cattle and humans - in fact for all mammals I suspect.   If your feet hurt then you are not a happy bunny.   It is awful to see sheep limping in the fields - and a sure sign their feet are bad is if they are eating on their knees.
There is nothing worse than sodden grass for encouraging wet feet and foot problems in sheep and the only way to keep on top of them is to inspect them regularly.   Today was the day. 

I went out to greet the men when they arrived, bearing New Year gifts of various titbits in a dish and hot coffee heavily laced with whisky to keep out the cold.   It is a miserable day here.  Then it was on with the tasks.

First a drench for liver fluke, next a drench for worms and finally a foot inspection.   I took photographs of drenching and then a close up of an infected foot - not a pretty sight I'm afraid - which was cleaned well and then sprayed with antibiotics.   Hopefully in a day or two the sheep will feel a lot better.

Task done then men went off home and the farmer cleaned up the hoof parings.   Disgusting as it may seem, if he doesn't carefully clean them all up then Tess and the farm dog have a competition to see who can eat the most before the farmer notices what they are doing!

Sorry - photographs will not upload - normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. 

 

14 comments:

Mac n' Janet said...

Feet can be a bugger, have a brother-in-law who is having trouble with his plantar fasclitis and even after surgery is not doing well. Hope you sheep do better.

mrsnesbitt said...

I know there is a ldy who knit jumpers for sheep her work prompted her to start a ceramic sheep range. I have a couple of them. Perhaps she should knit some booties what do you think Pat?

John Going Gently said...

My dogs had a fight over some horse hoof clippings once
They found them delightful

Gwil W said...

Wonderful atmosphere - the new header picture. Should be in Yorkshire Life.

Gerry Snape said...

I'm with Gwil...I love the header, and what a job ...good that you brought them some Whiskey!

Heather said...

Poor old sheep. Lucky that they have the farmer and his colleagues to care for them properly. I hope that the drier conditions have reached Yorkshire and that you will all benefit. I think it is possibly quite natural for dogs (and maybe other animals) to tidy up all sorts of revolting leftovers.
This comment may appear twice - strange goings on are going on!

Arija said...

We have not had a good wet since 1995 but I do remember what you are up against. Our paddocks were also sodden and flowing with water. At the time we had a Leicester stud and they held up ever so much better than the Merinos with their fragile feet.

Your header makes a lovely picture, although the reality of feeding sheep out in all weathers is not nearly as nice.

I wish you the best of health, love and friendship and a warm glow around your hearth. May the New Year be a blessed one for you and your farmer.

Hugs . . . Arija

Dartford Warbler said...

Feet .....after weeks of poulticing a pony hoof following an abscess, I sympathise with the Farmer and all those grazing animals who have had trouble in this wet, wet winter.

Hoof clippings seem irresistible to dogs. There is no accounting for taste!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for visiting. I am having real problems with my computer. The engineer is coming to look at it tomorrow, so until then there is little I can do.

MorningAJ said...

I THINK I'm glad the photo of the infected foot didn't upload! Good luck with teh computer fixing. It can be a bit of a bind sometimes to get them to work how you want them to.

Elizabeth said...

Feet!
A very vital part of the anatomy.
Do hope problems get resolved.

Anonymous said...

Hoof clippings and dogs. I learn something every day!
Here in Australia, evidently dogs enjoy crispy dried pigs ears (one hopes from the huge feral wild boars that are hunted and such a nuisance). These are sold in pet shops and fodder stores. Dogs love them evidently. I'm a cat person myself and can see that hoof clippings and pigs ears would be way beneath their dignity.

Anonymous said...

...repeating myself -probably much like pig's ears on a canine digestive system.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for visiting. I have been off line for a couple of days but the engineer has just been to fix things - thank goodness.