Just to add, although I was of course sad to see the lambs loaded and off, it is the way of things. I knew that my lambs had received the best of everything, and had led a happy, if short life.
And then my beloved ewes had a bit of down time before the next tupping in November.
I still believe VERY strongly that it is the quality of life that matters (and should be paramount with every farmer, stockman, haulier and even abattoir worker) rather than the quantity of life.
I could bang on about this as nauseum, I have seen people think that they were doing the right thing and "saving" a lamb from slaughter, only to end up with an unhappy (and possibly unhealthy) animal because they had no idea about dipping, worming, dagging and foot trimming.