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Autumn
In
Autumn, all sheep get vaccinations and oral
doses to protect them from diseases the coming
Winter. The most common disease in the Kerry
hills is liver fluke, caused by a tiny snail
that lives in the grass. The snail will
go into the sheep’s system whilst it is eating
the grass.
The
snail
will eat holes in the liver of the sheep if
it has not been vaccinated, and the sheep will
die a painful death. The snail is known to
thrive in wet climats such as we have here
in Ireland, so it is very important to ptotect
the sheep. Vaccinations nowadays cost about €1 to €2 for each of the approximate 1,000 sheep
we have on the farm!
Early
November, the rams go back into the hills
to do their ‘job!’ In approximately one to
two months, they cover all the ewes that
are in season at that time. It is hard work,
but they like it very much. Every day John
Kissane checks if the rams are still in the
right spots, so at the end of December all
ewes have had the opportunity to meet a ram.
Ewes carry their lambs for about five months,
so our lambs will be born in Spring.
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