New Baby reindeer to my herd

"Mine's brighter than yours!" Glad to hear that Jeeves is happier, long may that continue!

 

I can't post "Elsewhere" an update of Gandalf who is booked to join us... Where he was born they are having serious problems with false positives on their cattle TB tests. Gandalf was meant to come to join us in September but another 3 false positives (on cattle) have meant no movements for them until the earliest November..
In the meantime someone from N Ireland, who follows my herd on Facebook, saw I was buying him from Jennie and tried to buy babies from me is trying buy Gandalf from Jennie. She has told him she isn't selling any but he already saw that he was coming to me.... Good job she wants her boy to go to me not a bidding competition..
Here he is, thank you Lilaclady for letting me host picture on a message.

 

Well Karen, when the dust settles, I think Gandalf will make a fine addition to your herd! I think he
as a cute face and a well shaped body!
Thanks lilaclady for helping get this picture to us!

 

You are more than welcome to do it anytime. I hope that the follower in NI does not cause you and Jennie any problems. Gandalf does look a handsome young man!

 

Gandalf is the one with the green collar, correct? They change so fast as they grow up!

 

Shimmer yes he is. Sorry didn't state which one he was - but the one "Claiming" the photo.... I think he will fit in just fine with my lot!

There is an option for him to join us sooner but not one I or Jennie would risk... He could be individually tested for TB reaction but reindeer regularly react to any injection (Freddy has an abscess forming from his regular inoculation site - I am hoping he's the only one but last year 2 out of 4). TB testing looks for a reaction after injecting dead tb virus - if skin reacts the animal has to be culled, abbatoir will then say if they have TB... Not worth risking, I'll wait even though I hoped he may have been big enough to cover the smaller girls in the rut...
With all problems this year now I can't see anyway of babies next year... Someone MAY have a 2 year old bull for sale in September BUT not sure I can find a way to purchase him BUT watch this space... I will try.
For now just a baby photo of Belle & Tigga..

 

Whatever you do, we will be watching. We know you will do your best for your "family".

 

I think you are right not to take the risk with Gandalf. Who knows maybe there will be a way for you to get a 2 year old bull, if not we will just appreciate watching this years babies growing up even more.

 

Could you not hire a stud in like you did with Monty?

 

What about Freddy? If Gandalf might be able, might not Freddy be, too? Or is he just too young? Could he be kept for Hector's place? He would be a fitting tribute to Hector, and it seems like he is taking on some of Hector's calm and friendly personality....Not to mention what great genes he has!

 

The females include Freddy's mum, his grandma and his half-sisters...and I think his aunts? We've been through this more than once already. Freddy is just too closely related to too much of the herd to be used.

-edit-

I -think- the two smaller girls that Karen was talking about Gandalf potentially covering are Freddy's half-sister and half-aunt. The older reindeers include Freddy's mother and grandmother, but I can't get the rest straight in my head. Also if I try I keep getting a song by Gilbert and Sullivan stuck in my head, from HMS Pinafore. For anyone else who appreciates G&S:

"and so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts,
His sisters and his cousins, who he reckons up by dozens,
His sisters and his cousins and his auuuunts!"

The character they're singing about ended up marrying one of those cousins (spoilers). Let's not encourage the same thing or worse here?

 

Are they all related?? Freddy is the closest and best thing there is to preserving Hector's genes. There must be some he could cover, if not this year, then next. Maybe a new female in place of a bull or in addition to a bull could be considered? Aren't they less expensive? (Or sometimes even free, as with Elsa, who is a great addition to the herd.)
And shouldn't all options at least be considered?
We all miss Hector. Freddy is becoming most like him, his closest and strongest heir.

Like you, I can't keep them all straight, either. (Maybe Karen could paint big numbers on their sides - Red for 'Related' and Green for 'Go'! LOL!!)

At any rate, I hope that offering ideas are helpful gifts for Karen to consider. We all know and trust she will do what is best for her beautiful herd.

 

Elsa is the only one I know isn't related. I think the other females Hector covered were all half-sisters of each other which would make them Freddy's half-aunts. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong?

That's highly debatable. I think that Karen should consider as many options as she wants to, and that the rest of us should not try to talk her into things. Especially things she's considered and discarded before. They are her reindeer after all.

 

If I recall correctly, Karen has already said that Freddy and Storm are going to Ythanbank, which leaves Jeeves as the only 'full' male that could, in theory, cover in Hector's place as stud. But given how the first rut affected Hector, AND the concerns around Jeeves atm, I doubt if Karen wants to try that, at least for this year. Plus he would only be considered for the same smaller reindeer as Gandalf but with the complication of genetics involved.

 

Yes Freddy and Storm have already been promised elsewhere and I will not go back on that promise to Ythanbank, as I know how important it is to try to plan ahead. My older girls are completely unrelated to each other only related to their offspring.
Jeeves in fact is the least related but I would not consider him as an entire "keeper" bull as I am not sure why his mother was a unicorn. It could have been an accident in the wild or it could be genetic.. Her calves have always had 2 antlers but it may be a recessive gene.
My smaller girls are Lexi (unrelated to Jeeves), Elsa because she has stumpy legs (unrelated) and Lotte a distant aunt. I will let them all run together this year but Jeeves won't be big or have the attitude to overcome the girls. Girls lead a merry chase and will only stand if bull impresses them..
My challenge has been getting all 5 babies in a close up photo... and it is far more difficult than it sounds!
PS Jeeves, doesn't stand a chance of covering the girls, with his orphan status he is growing far more slowly than the others and even a well grown male would be unlikely to cover girls in his first year... So let's not worry...

If I can find a way of buying an 18 month (with attitude) then maybe we can have calves next year... But for now, forget genetics my girls won't stand unless the are impressed by the bull!

 

Love the photo, they are certainly growing up quickly, although little Storm looks as though he has some catching up to do!

 

[/QUOTE]That's highly debatable. I think that Karen should consider as many options as she wants to, and that the rest of us should not try to talk her into things. Especially things she's considered and discarded before. They are her reindeer after all.[/QUOTE]

Shimmer, no one is trying to talk Karen into anything. As was clearly stated, "...I hope that offering ideas are helpful gifts..."
NO ONE is so perfect that they can always think of every single option in every single situation, although Karen probably comes as close as one could ever hope to get when it comes to her beloved herd.
(My apologies to Karen, as I had forgotten that Freddy was already specifically promised.)

However, that begs the question...is there a possibility that something might be offered that might stimulate new trains of thought? (It is called 'covering all the bases', and 'trying to be helpful') Why? Because who ever can consider all options at all times when all of them might not always be apparent. (...and that would be called 'perfection'.)

I was reared in a family that believed the sharing with others of thoughts, facts, and ideas, and a thorough discussion of them, was the best way to bring about the best conclusions. Anything less was incomplete, and therefore not the optimum that could be achieved.

It saddens me that you would consider this in the way that you have in your quote above, and then put it out there to influence the thoughts of others.
Therefore, in order to no longer offend anyone, no more 'ideas' or 'helpful gifts' will be offered unless specifically asked for. "Considering all options" may be "highly debatable" to you, but I consider it as achieving the best possible outcome.

Just put it down to our being reared differently, which is the normal way of things.

 

Farmlily .... where I come from, what you describe is called 'brain-storming' and is a sound tactic as it looks at the same issues from differing angles and, as each person thinks differently, has the inherent possibility of throwing up many different solutions to the same scenario as well as possible flaws and pitfalls. In other words, it covers many more possibilities than a single person would probably envisage in the same length of time, and with more input, surely more beneficial ideas can be thrown up and how can that be anything but good?

 

Very well said, BLZ!! Better said than my post, thank you.

It feels good
To be understood!

 

I may be a little quiet over the next few days but don' worry, reindeer well. I just have the In-Laws coming for a long weekend. Will be back shortly.