Milford Strikes Again!
Milford our old bandy legged ram with only one testicle, who was born here at the Sanctuary to a rescued ewe, despite all the odds against him not only survived and thrived but has gone on to become a Dad two years running now.
We do not actively or intentionally breed animals but Milford, who we all thought was sterile and that includes the vet, and is most certainly not the most agile of sheep, has proved us all wrong on both counts. He must have some Va Va Voom that is attractive to ewes as all the Girls in the paddock next to his adore him when he starts to parade along the dividing fence. The dividing fence that we thought we had Milford-proofed until he was spied nimbly negotiating it to have his way with the Girls Next Door.
Well, Milford achieved an awful lot in the ten minutes is took us to get him back in his own paddock. Where, we might add, the fence now has a double strength electric current running through it with extra cross pieces placed at a strategic height!
Milford has brought great happiness to his ladies who, all having been rescued from the commercial market and having had countless lambs taken away from them at around eight months old which the sheep and their lambs do find greatly distressing, have now become happy Mums and their lambs will not be taken away from them this time. They and their lambs will be together at the Sanctuary for the rest of their lives. The lambs will go on to form groups of friends their own age. Not Mums, lambs or groups of friends will be spilt up let alone go to slaughter or to live export.
So, we feel that in this way this is an occasional to celebrate especially at this time of year when there is so much cruelty, neglect and suffering going on in the commercial market.
Francis – Milford’s first conquest – was rescued only a year ago from a farm with an appalling record of abuse – see the Lambing Page – she now has Freddie who is all black and bares a great resemblance to his Dad but we hope does not follow in his footsteps.
Mavis gave birth to Winifred. Molly has Wilfred and Doris has Dottie. Very caring, loving and happy Mums.