There comes a point in every ewe's life when she has to undergo the indignity of the teeth, tits and toes regime. Can she still nibble? Check. Is she free of lumps and bumps on the all crucial udder? Check. Are her feet in good order? Check. Those that don't pass muster are destined for the mutton wagon. It's a cattle market out there.Every year, a month or two before tupping time, you go through this process, weeding out those not fit for another season of lambing. Today was the day and just one girl hasn't make the grade. Thank goodness that there are champions for mutton, and that there are pockets of interest in this delicious meat and the concept of long, slow cooking.
Toy-boy get his toes trimmed too, so that he can dance the fandango with the girls on the 1st November without worrying about bunions.
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11 comments:
Saw your headline on another blog and had to visit - reading the old ewe report, I just had to think - oh, thank goodness they don't run that check on aging librarians - it would be mutton time for sure!
I understand about the teeth and tits, but don't you trim the ewes' feet if that's all that's needed? I'm assuming you're talking about more serious problems.
Mutton - all you need is a pressure cooker! But I will never be a fan of sheep's liver. ;)
Susan - how nice of you to stop by, and yes, I feel the same way!
Jay - yes, a trim is easy; it's where there might be serious foot issues that I look out for. And over zealous trimming is something to avoid too. As with all things natural, human intervention only where it's helpful.
You have a very interesting blog. I am a "reader" and like to read about different places and people! :)
There's no doubt about it, even a prize ram can't feel romantic if his feet hurt.
Ah, so nicely put!
Our sheep have had the same annual investigation.
I hope you and your readers might enjoy my blog too, please come and visit soon.
http://arcadianadvocate.wordpress.com
I do admire you - I would get all sentimental!
Welcome fifty plus!
SM - I know how he feels...
AA - all part of the ritual cycle as you say.
Welshcakes - it's not worth being sentimental - even if they got through lambing they'd just produce poor lambs that haven't got access to milk and then die (lambs AND ewe), which is even worse!
Linked you from someone elses blog. Really glad I stopped by. Your blog is a great read.
It isn't just Prince Charles who is an advocate of mutton [Hmmm.. I wonder why that would be ?? Let us not go there, eh !]
Simon Hoggart is a fan, although his 'past' appears to indicate that he sometimes enjoys [or 'enjoyed', past tense now strictly enforced] a bit of 'mutton dressed as lamb' when on duty at the 'Spectator'...
By the way Ruth 'Nessa' Jones has a new Radio Wales show on Sunday morns - she had Charlotte Church on who had a couple of geese. She had named them after members of the family, but has now renamed them 'Christmas' and 'Dinner' to pre-empt the problem of getting emotionally attached to them...
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