Maniototo

I've had the very unique chance to help with the lambing on a family friend's farm in the Maniototo region in Central Otago.

Sheep farming is the main source of income for the area with its vast tussock grasslands and the region being sparsely populated.

When asked to go lambing I had images of being curled up in front of a fire with soft fluffy lambs wrapped up in a blanket feeding them milk. Not quite exactly how it turned out. It involved more herding sheep and separating them on feet (surprisingly difficult given the nature of sheep) driving a 4x4 pick up truck through fields (i chickened out at maneuvering the truck through a narrow gate with a hay feeder attached to the back - didn't think my insurance would cover bashed farm equipment); bottle feeding placenta covered lambs that were noisy and not soft and cuddly and helping with sheep bearings (when the uterus falls out).

All in a sheep farmer's day of work.