THE FARM

The Gibson family farm has been in our family since 1906. It has been a fully functioning farm the whole time. My Grandfather and Great-Grandfather grew mostly canola and durum, and for the past ten years my father has been raising sheep. Our farm is located in the south-west corner of Saskatchewan. I grew up mostly in the city of Saskatoon, spending my summers out at the farm. You could say I have a bit of farm-kid in me. The farm spans for hundreds of acres around the farmhouse, but the garden is just down a path through the yard. This is where the magic happens...

Spilled Milk May 30

          Well, after 23 successful births, we have hit a bit of a snag.We have a pair of twins that were born this afternoon that need milk. Their mother had a very difficult birth, and she is so weak she can't stand up. Furthermore... she has no milk. So, for now at least, these lambs will have to be bottle-fed.
     Lamb formula is a great alternative to milk when real milk is not available. It has all the nutrients a growing lamb needs, but it does have one downfall. Mother's milk is fortified with all of the antibodies that the mother has acquired in her lifetime. These antibodies are the baby's only immunity to the outside world. Lamb formula doesn't have this essential element. There is absolutely no substitute for the real thing. 
So, left with no milk, it seemed our only solution was formula. But my dad had an idea. We borrowed some milk from a different mother who had just had one baby, put it in a bottle, and fed those little guys. And man were those guys hungry!! They spilled half of it all over themselves just trying to suck it down as fast as they could!! But they were full up by the time they were done. This borrowing trick was only a temporary solution of course, but if they have to be on formula from now on, at least I can sleep soundly knowing they had a quick boost of the nutritious good stuff. 




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