The ultimate signal that spring has sprung: newborn lambs frolicking through the meadow. Although it is a cheerful spring image, the 225 lamb shepherd Catrinus Homan provides a lot of extra work at the Doldersummerveld.
The Schoonebeker heath sheep generally graze the Wapserveld and the Doldersummerveld under the watchful eye of Homan. But now, with so many newborn lambs, the shepherd is very busy tending the mother sheep and their brand-new offspring.
Spring crowds
There seems to be no end to Homan’s to-do list these days. “Feeding, lambs being born, navel disinfecting, hutch building, watering, re-feeding, hutch building, navel disinfection…and because there are so many, that fills the day quite well, yes,” says the shepherd.
Nevertheless, you will not hear Homan complain. “These are the animals with which I will fight the pipe straw (plant on moist grassland, ed.) again in the coming years,” he says. “So it’s always nice.”
A virtual visit
Unfortunately, due to Q fever measures, it is currently not possible to visit the sheep. Fortunately, a solution has been devised.
A live stream of the sheepfold can be found on the Drents Landscape website. The lambs and their mothers can be admired there 24/7. So it could just be that you are watching the birth of a lamb live!
Watch the video with the many lambs below: