Downs First:

Following a fundamental mistake by a vet in a routine task, Phoenix male goat suffered an overwhelming infection. The vets provided medication for him, but the little guy was clearly damaged, so he and his twin Pirate were PTS. I brought forward culling three of the others, so it was all done at once by the vets. These other animals could not go into the food chain due to recent worming nor be rehomed due to the failed CLA test two years ago.

It’s been a miserable summer with heavy-duty nursing of this very poorly goat, and that has overshadowed everything this year. It was a difficult decision, but it was the right thing to do in all the circumstances.

Ups:

It rained 🙂 After the whole farm was turned into haylage, they may even get a second cut! Post script 07/09/23 Just cutting it now…

The rain also made the garden grow; we have veg on our plates and flowers gracing the table.

The soft fruit crop looks good, and the orchard has a fair few trees that are laden to counterbalance the few that seemed to get caught out by ‘something’ late at blossom time.

I’ve been learning to manage to feed round-bale hay to the goats – I’ve still had to have small bales around for the days when it has been too windy or wet, or both, to lift the bale cover, but it’s been lovely hay and I have managed with dumpy bags to shift the stuff to the racks without it blowing over the village 🙂