[Jacob-list] reference books

[Neal and Louise Grose]

After pulling tons of calves in my life, sheep are really no big deal. You 
would be surprised at how much room a dilated ewe has. (But please invest in 
a box of OB gloves, it is better for you and the sheep.) In all honesty 
though, one of the few assists that I have had in 15 years was a 
longwoolXFinn ewe delivering quints. She tried to push two out at once. It 
is amazing to see a ewe out in the pasture delicately picking her way 
amongst five slimy, sneezing lambs and trying to clean all of them up. All 
and all, I am just as happy with twins from the Jacobs. Leave the multiples 
to the experts.

Neal Grose

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Susan Nielsen" <snielsen at orednet.org>
To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 12:23 AM
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] reference books


> On Fri, 18 Feb 2005, Betty Berlenbach wrote:
>
>> I  did use the funny book once, though, in the middle of the night ...
>
> Which reminds me of the night we were facing our first difficult
> delivery. (Everybody has a story...) The ewe had been going for some
> time, with no result. Richard had pulled a calf once, in his youth,
> but he looked at the size of his hands that night and said, "Not me."
> So I went and got the blue book, and reviewed the normals and the
> horrors, and soaped up and re-read the normals and the horrors, got
> on my knees and read the thing again, and then I said, "Shit, I know
> my James Herriot.  I don't need this." Tossed the book aside, reached
> in and found a nose, and my heart just soared. It was great. Arranged
> the little hooves and out she came, sweet as a lesson in delivery.
>
> Books are wonderful helps, but in the end, you just have to believe
> what you are about to do. After the first time, it wouldn't be
> frightening again. It might be difficult, but it wouldn't be
> frightening. (Though we've not had another occasion to use our
> Herriot learning.)
>
> Susan
> --
> Susan Nielsen | Beehive: If you build it,
> snielsen at orednet.org | they will comb.
>
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