11/09/2025
* Warning, some photos maybe upsetting, dont look if you may be offended.
You know all those gorgeous photos you see of bouncy, healthy lambs? That’s the fun side of farming. What you don’t always see is the other side — the stress, the sweat, the tears, and the heartbreak that often comes with it.
I’m sharing this not for sympathy, but for others who’ve been through the tough times too. Sometimes it helps to know you’re not alone when things don’t go to plan.
I’ve had some good years — ones where lambing went smoothly, or when a sick lamb pulled through against the odds. But this year has been an absolute disaster.
💔 Earlier in the year, I lost a couple of purebreds and a breed-up just days after shearing when a storm hit. Despite having shelter, they stood in the wrong spot with the wind driving straight at them. If I hadn’t checked them when I got home late from work, it would have been far worse. Around the same time, my new replacement ram got himself stuck in a fence insulator under the bottom rung by his horn. He waa so big and healthy, he survived Initially but after that cold snap, I lost him too.
💔 Fast forward to lambing, and my second round has been rough. Poppy (F2) had a beautiful big ewe lamb. Mum’s milk was slow to come in, day 3, it was flowing but day 4 her little girl was found huddled in the corner hyperthermic. I tried everything — warming, tubing, sitting with her and Poppy to help her feed. Poppy was so good, letting me milk her. She didn’t make it. Was more than 24 hours of battling before she passed.
💔 Then, just this week, I had two purebred lambs born — a ewe and a ram. The little ram was fine one moment at 3pm day old, and failing at 6pm. I noticed when I was bringing them in to the shed for the evening to escape the weather that was going to hit,
it was evident he wasn't ok. Sure enough his temp was 36. His tummy was full, but when taking his temp I discovered he hadn’t passed anything His bum was too clean. I tried enemas, ( which got a bit out but not enough,imagine my excitement when he finally poo'd a bit) massages, warming in the electric blanket to stabilise his temperature… but despite all the effort, he slipped away too.
💔 And as if that wasn’t enough, this morning I went out to find another purebred had lambed early. She wasn’t due until the 18th, so she wasn’t even on my watch list yet. She’d been unwell a few weeks ago, so I’d treated her with ABs and extra treats. I thought she may have been slipping but managed to bounced back. She delivered two perfectly marked PB ewe lambs — one that had clearly passed weeks ago, and the other born far too small. I'm unsure if she was initially alive and the wet and cold was just to much for her last night or if she was born sleeping.
🔭 I had been on lamb watch for Polly, who I have no idea how she's going to cope with lambing when she does. She's only small at 2 years of age and is at 152 days today. Fingers crossed it goes well.
I checked on her twice last night through out the night (you can see my concern )but never ventured right into the paddock as she was right by the gate both times. If only she was stading on the other side I may have noticed my other girl.
It’s gutting. You keep thinking, “surely it can’t get worse?” — but sometimes it does. Farming is full of those highs and lows. Behind every cute lamb photo, there are hard nights, tough losses, and a whole lot of heartbreak that doesn’t make it to social media.
So, to anyone else having a rough season — you’re not alone. ❤️
