26th October: Today was the sale of nearly all the Highland Cattle. The cows were all scanned on Tuesday. I hadn't expected Maisie to be in calf but she is 5 months. I had intended to keep the old bag/pet as her other option was the big burner, since she is now aged. Annag, who has a calf at foot, has lungs damaged by pneumonia earlier this year, is also in calf. I can't put away cows in calf so they will both stay. All the other cows, apart from Peallachag, who calved first week of September, are scanned in calf.
I had enormous help with the sale from my neighbours, Robin Kyle and Jim Wilson, who helped get cattle in, had them scanned, got them in and loaded for transport to the sale.
Alun Garton and Pat Gray did a great job in presenting the cattle for sale and I couldn't have managed without them.
The sale itself
didn't go all that well. Prices were poor because the sale was delayed as a result of foot and mouth and also because of the bad harvest which has bumped up the prices of feed. My only consolation is that Pat bought three lots and friends of Alun bought two. I know they all have good homes. I worry about the others.
Ronnie
wouldn't listen when I told him not to be involved in moving cattle to the ring and put himself in danger when the steers. the first of ours to be sold, were being moved. He wouldn't listen to me and got really angry. He went behind them to the pens before the sale ring.
I just keep thinking about my girls. I had expected they would be here for the rest of their lives. Ronnie doesn't understand other people's emotions and feelings so he tells me I should calm down .I just can't stop crying tonight.
7th October:
I am selling several males: two stallions and three youngsters, as I cannot look after twenty four ponies on my own. It has been a hard decision to make.
I have just updated the Ponies for Sale page with a slide show of Rannoch and hope to have more photos of the ponies for sale in the near future. I have only advertised males so far as I don't know how many ponies I can cope with over the winter and I find it hard to choose which females to sell as they are the core of the stud.
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