lambing

Question 1

how much colostrum do lambs need

Answer 1

need 10% body weight in first 6 hours and 10% in next 12 hours

Question 2

how do you treat a lamb that is hypothermis with a temp between 37 and 39

Answer 2

• dry
• stomach tube colostrum (2/3 down esophagus)
• return to ewe
• monitor

Question 3

how do you treat a hypothermic lamb if temp is under 37 and under 6 hours old? why

Answer 3

• dry lamb
• warm lamb
• stomach tube colostrum
• return to ewe
• monitor

lambs under 6 hours old still have brown fat tissue as source of energy so warming is most important

Question 4

how do you treat a hypothermic lamb over 6 hours old

Answer 4

• dry lamb
• stomach tube colostrum
• warm up
• return to ewe
• monitor

if lamb cant hold up head, suggests GI tract not working:
- dry
- glucose
- warm up
- feed
- return to ewe
- monitor

Question 5

what is the dose of glucose in hyporthermic lambs

Answer 5

10 ml per kg
20% solution, needs diluting to 50%: 50% freshly boiled water 50% solution

Question 6

what causes hypoglycemia in newborn lambs

Answer 6

starvation (rejection, mastitis, weakness etc), exposure, congenital abnormalities

Question 7

what is watery mouth and what does it cause

Answer 7

bacterial infection of E.coli, can increase risk if poor hygeine and inadequate colostrum

Question 8

clinical signs of watery mouth

Answer 8

• normal at birth
• dull
• absent suck reflex
• salivation
• abomasal distension
• GI stasis and retention of meconium

Question 9

how do you know when lambing is imminent and what are the 3 stages of labour

Answer 9

• ewe utter gets larger and sacroiliac ligament slackens
• satge 1: last 2-6hrs, cervical dilation, behaviour change, abdominal contractions, appearance of water bag
• stage 2: 1 hr, passage of the lamb through the birth canal
• stage 3: within 2-3 hours of stage 2, repulsion of the fetal membranes

Question 10

list indications for when it might be necessary to intervene during lambing

Answer 10

• ewe trying ro lamb for more than 1 hour with no delivery
• no progress once lamb is visible at vulva for 20 mins
• frequent powerful contractions but no progress in delivery
• ewe started to lamb then stopped
• lambs head visible but no forelimbs
• foetal head visible and only 1 limb visible
• only tail visible
• large and swollen lamb at vulva
• parts of 2 lambs visible
• brown/smelly discharge
• vaginal prolapse identified

Question 11

list common conditions affecting lambs

Answer 11

• hypothermia
• hypoglycemia
• watery mouth (caused by E.coli
• joint ill
• entropion

Question 12

when should castration not be performed

Answer 12

if lambs are intended for slaughter at a young age there is no need, also after 7 days old but never first 24 hours after birth

Question 13

when should tail docking be performed

Answer 13

if fly strike is not a problem in the area, before 7 days old but after first 24 hours