The last Jaquinto ET cria was born at teatime yesterday and it was another very strong youngster who was trying to suckle every female in the field after about five minutes. Its mother, a first timer, ignored her so we banged them up in the barn together overnight. All is well now.
Jaquinto is back with us now so we are going full pelt on mating up all the maidens. We were waiting until they were shorn, it makes life a lot easier for the males. Tulaco Centurion comes home tonight after a couple of weeks in Hampshire so they will both be mating three a day for the next week to get through everybody.
It is pretty hot here so all this kind of work gets done last thing or first thing when it is a bit cooler.
I was at the Devon & Exter Hospital yesterday for my assessment day before my DAFNE course when I learn to be a better diabetic. It is a whole week 9 to 5 from July 14 and there are eight of us, all female. Hopefully it will be a laugh as well as teaching us to control the blood glucose highs and lows more effectively. I have had to employ all my persuasive skills to get on this course – i.e. shouting, stamping feet, sobbing etc. It worked.