Lambs stinking of fox

Aye sure but there are other good folk out there much as yourself 👍
Yes, that's true. And - not wanting to blow my own trumpet too much - a fair few of them were taught by myself.

The basic fact of the matter is, you guys know full well that you can wind me up to the very extreme limits on a thread like this!
It's my favourite subject, as you're well aware, and just about the only subject on SD where I really do know what I'm talking about, and don't have to just blag my way through.

For a significant portion of my life I did five months of lambing every year, back-to-back contracts, and there isn't much (if anything) I haven't seen.
I've also studied, since my teens, the various causes of lamb mortality, and developed many simple strategies for reducing losses (none of which involve shooting foxes). I have, over a sustained period, achieved mortality rates as low as 3% in my own flock (the national figure is more like 15 - 20%), and I've also made experimental changes to flock management and measured their effects on lamb mortality figures (one of which saw lamb mortality rise to 20%, but again no foxes were involved).
I've kept detailed records of lambing data over all those years, so can always refer back for confirmation.
I also have vets in my family who I can bounce ideas off.

So yes, keep on winding me up. It's quite fun. But don't expect to change my opinion.

And please, do hold something back for this time next year, otherwise we'll have to start right back at the beginning again.
😆😆😆
 
Yes, that's true. And - not wanting to blow my own trumpet too much - a fair few of them were taught by myself.

The basic fact of the matter is, you guys know full well that you can wind me up to the very extreme limits on a thread like this!
It's my favourite subject, as you're well aware, and just about the only subject on SD where I really do know what I'm talking about, and don't have to just blag my way through.

For a significant portion of my life I did five months of lambing every year, back-to-back contracts, and there isn't much (if anything) I haven't seen.
I've also studied, since my teens, the various causes of lamb mortality, and developed many simple strategies for reducing losses (none of which involve shooting foxes). I have, over a sustained period, achieved mortality rates as low as 3% in my own flock (the national figure is more like 15 - 20%), and I've also made experimental changes to flock management and measured their effects on lamb mortality figures (one of which saw lamb mortality rise to 20%, but again no foxes were involved).
I've kept detailed records of lambing data over all those years, so can always refer back for confirmation.
I also have vets in my family who I can bounce ideas off.

So yes, keep on winding me up. It's quite fun. But don't expect to change my opinion.

And please, do hold something back for this time next year, otherwise we'll have to start right back at the beginning again.
😆😆😆
No.ones winding you up Tim just trying to point out that your not always right !you seem to have a packham complex when others point things out to you
You may well be able to change management practices, ewe and ram genetic selection etc
But time and time again you revert to 'there must have been an underlying issue with 'lamb' 'ewe' food abcxyz for the fox to take that lamb take off the blinkers and read what others here write ,it's not made up it's observant countrymen saying it as it is !
 
I don't think anyone here is out to wind you up mate.
Peace 🕊️ 🙏






Effing fox lover 🙄
With respect, my friend. I don't think you'll find anywhere that I've claimed to be a fox lover!
There are many good and justifiable reasons for shooting foxes:
Protecting ground nesting birds.
Protecting outdoor piglets.
Protecting poultry.
Protecting game birds (if that's your thing).
Go ahead and kill'em with a clean conscience.
I do.
I'm just not fussed about the ones in the lambing fields, that's all. They don't cause me any bother, so generally I leave them alone.
 
With respect, my friend. I don't think you'll find anywhere that I've claimed to be a fox lover!
There are many good and justifiable reasons for shooting foxes:
Protecting ground nesting birds.
Protecting outdoor piglets.
Protecting poultry.
Protecting game birds (if that's your thing).
Go ahead and kill'em with a clean conscience.
I do.
I'm just not fussed about the ones in the lambing fields, that's all. They don't cause me any bother.
IMG_3152.webp
🦊🦊
 
With respect, my friend. I don't think you'll find anywhere that I've claimed to be a fox lover!
There are many good and justifiable reasons for shooting foxes:
Protecting ground nesting birds.
Protecting outdoor piglets.
Protecting poultry.
Protecting game birds (if that's your thing).
Go ahead and kill'em with a clean conscience.
I do.
I'm just not fussed about the ones in the lambing fields, that's all. They don't cause me any bother.
Will you stop biting, your worse than a randy old trout! 😘
 
Wait till they reintroduce lynx and wolves to Wales @BenBhoy we'll have 100 pages then
Perhaps, before that, we should have another thread on shooting pet dogs? In that department I show no mercy!
There's been a few threads before I know, but we could have another one as a gradual build up to the lynx and wolves thing, couldn't we?

FYI the main difference between dogs and foxes is the fact they pose a very real threat to sheep, rather than an imagined one.
 
Perhaps, before that, we should have another thread on shooting pet dogs? In that department I show no mercy!
There's been a few threads before I know, but we could have another one as a gradual build up to the lynx and wolves thing, couldn't we?

FYI the main difference between dogs and foxes is the fact they pose a very real threat to livestock rather than an imagined one.
🤦
 
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Perhaps, before that, we should have another thread on shooting pet dogs? In that department I show no mercy!
There's been a few threads before I know, but we could have another one as a gradual build up to the lynx and wolves thing, couldn't we?

FYI the main difference between dogs and foxes is the fact they pose a very real threat to livestock rather than an imagined one.
Actually my friend and good shepherd had to shoot his landlady's Alsatian last year.
That's gone down great but it was a typical case of mothering a pup instead of training it with an occasional leathering!

Some folk aren't safe to have a shitshoe in their charge.
 
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Not wanting to play devils advocate @VSS but you’d have to be a bloody fool to get everything right with regards to watery mouth etc and not be on top of predator control. It’s a basic. Just as corvid control is.
 
Not yet my mate. We decided it wouldn't be fair on my old dog. I know some people say it gives an older dog new lease of life, but don't think that be case with her. She's gone really downhill in last week, just turned 15 but getting her to vet in Tuesday ☹️. Must admit I was tempted by some patt X JRT on her mind.
Ah! $hitty time ahead mate :(..

Kelpie...
 
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