Olga had stuck her head through the livestock panel and through the fence. Her weight then caused the fence to choke her and she died there. Dora, Olga and Lena (named after my mother and her sisters) were my very first sheep, three little Karakul lambs, who came out from Ontario along with 2 Canadienne cows and 6 Canadian horses. Of the three sheep, Olga was by far the most personable and friendliest. She always came for a hug and a scratch and she would often stay with the dogs, just being close to them. She was an exceptional mother too, with twins last year.
The sheep were fine this morning, but when I went out later to water them, Olga was dead. She had stuck her head through the livestock panel and then through the fence wire. Leaning on the livestock panel forced her weight on the fence wire and she choked and died. I found her shortly after she expired, still warm and pliable, her eyes opened and her body distended and bloated. I am not sure she bloated because she hung herself, or she was bloated from acidosis or eating too much alfalfa she found as the snow thawed. Perhaps that was what she was trying to access through the fence wire.
As with any animal death on the farm, the animal is opened to look for clues as to the death. Olga appeared to be in perfect health, but my heart broke when I realized she also lost her twins, about a month before they were due, two little girls. Olga was the sweetest sheep, and because of her, I fell in love with sheep and now have a lot of them. Olga will be sadly missed every day when I go to the pen to see the flock and do not see her coming to me.
We think that sheep do not have emotions, but Olga's daughter stood and cried for her mother, calling to her. Olga's daughter is normally quiet and never heard. The other sheep also stood with the daughter and paid respects to Olga as I removed her body from the flock. My poor heart is broken. Good bye Olga and thank you for honouring me with your life.
The sheep were fine this morning, but when I went out later to water them, Olga was dead. She had stuck her head through the livestock panel and then through the fence wire. Leaning on the livestock panel forced her weight on the fence wire and she choked and died. I found her shortly after she expired, still warm and pliable, her eyes opened and her body distended and bloated. I am not sure she bloated because she hung herself, or she was bloated from acidosis or eating too much alfalfa she found as the snow thawed. Perhaps that was what she was trying to access through the fence wire.
As with any animal death on the farm, the animal is opened to look for clues as to the death. Olga appeared to be in perfect health, but my heart broke when I realized she also lost her twins, about a month before they were due, two little girls. Olga was the sweetest sheep, and because of her, I fell in love with sheep and now have a lot of them. Olga will be sadly missed every day when I go to the pen to see the flock and do not see her coming to me.
We think that sheep do not have emotions, but Olga's daughter stood and cried for her mother, calling to her. Olga's daughter is normally quiet and never heard. The other sheep also stood with the daughter and paid respects to Olga as I removed her body from the flock. My poor heart is broken. Good bye Olga and thank you for honouring me with your life.
Olga's distended bloated body
The lost twin ewe lambs.
The sheep paying their last respects to Olga. The black one with the tuft on her head in the middle is Olga's daughter and she was crying for her mother.
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