Raising bum lambs again

As I write this, I am listening to the cries of two lambs who are in the playpen on my back porch. I absolutely determined several years ago that I was not going to raise bum lambs anymore. 

I had a relapse three years ago and raised four lambs, they were fun and I did enjoy them. Then I said it was enough and I wasn’t going to do it anymore. I got rid of all of my milk replacer, the bottles, most everything, but not all. 

So today when a friend called and asked if I had any colostrum I wasn’t even sure. I went and looked and found a few bags in the freezer. I warmed a bag and headed to his lambing corrals and there were two nice big black lambs with a wonderful mother trying her best to take good care of them, but she had no milk in her udder. It was quite sad. I fed them each about 2 ounces of colostrum, put them back with mom and came home. I went back down a couple of hours later to feed them again and still there was no milk in her udder.  The friend and I were hoping that maybe her milk would come in this afternoon. 

It didn’t. So I made a run into town to get a bag of lamb milk replacer, and I have to admit while I was there I made a stop and Mad Jack’s to get supper, that was just a bonus. I picked up the playpen from the shop, started warming another bag of colostrum and headed to get the lambs. They were still so hungry and even homed in on me because I had brought milk to them a couple of times, they instinctively knew that I meant food. 

Angie helped me get them home, we set up the playpen, put a heating pad in there and some towels. By then, the milk was warm and they each took about 5 more ounces of the colostrum. Then we settled them in the playpen, put a cover over the top and left them. I was hoping they would be quiet until at least 8 p.m., but they are hollering again and it is only 7:30 p.m. I guess as soon as I am done with this I will have to mix up some replacer and feed them. 

They are big beautiful lambs and I must say I am actually pretty happy to be back in the swing of feeding bummers. At least it is warm enough they will go outside real soon and that is when they really get fun. They will help me in the garden and have a good time chasing the chickens. 

Curried Rack of Lamb

Two 6-rib lamb rib roasts

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh ginger

¾ teaspoon salt

1 ½ teaspoons curry powder

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

Smash garlic, ginger and salt with back of knife to form paste. Add curry, lemon peel, oil and pepper; mix well. Spread mixture evenly over fat side of each roast. Place roast, fat side up on rack in open roasting pan, do not add water, do not cover. Roast in a 375º oven to desired degree of doneness. Remove roasts when meat thermometer registers 125º for rare, 155º for medium, and 165º for well done. Let rest for 15 minutes before carving. Serve with roasted potatoes and tiny green beans.