Lambing

Question 1

What are the 2 main skin pathogens present in lambs?

Answer 1

• Orf

- Ringworm

Question 2

When showing neurological signs, what may be occurring the in sheep?

Answer 2

• Cerebrocortical necrosis (CCN)
• Hypocalcaemia
• Pregnancy toxaemia
• Hypomagnesaemia
• Listeriosis - silage
• Louping ill

Question 3

What should be considered when an animal is recumbent?

Answer 3

• Toxaemia
• Mastitis
• Peritonitis
• Trauma/lameness
• Exhaustion/starvation

Question 4

What are some treatment options for a vaginal prolapse?

Answer 4

1. NSAIDs & Antibiotics
2. Clean & lubricate
3. Replace - Retain
   - Suture
   - Truss / Harness

Question 5

What occurs in the first stage of parturition, how long is this process?

Answer 5

• 6-12 hours
• Vulva relaxation
• Uterine contractions
• Cervix dilates
• Allantoic fluid

Question 6

How long should after stage one should a lamb be born?

Answer 6

Within 1 hour

Question 7

What are the signs that stage 2 of lambing is occuring?

Answer 7

• Abdominal straining
• Foetus through vagina
• Amnion breaks
• Lies down
• Strains
• Grunts

Question 8

What occurs during stage 3?

Answer 8

• expulsion of foetal membranes 3-4 hours after last lamb is born

Question 9

Within 15 minutes of being born, what position should the lamb be in?

Answer 9

Sternal recumbency

Question 10

How much colostrum should be ingested in the first

1) 6 hours?
2) next 12 hours?

Answer 10

1) 10% of BW

2) Another 10%

Question 11

What procedures may a farm do within the first 24 hours?

Answer 11

• Tagging for identification
• Spraying numbers on coats to link ewes and lambs
• Docking and castration
• Check for entropion

Question 12

What are the 2 treatment options for entropion?

Answer 12

• Pinching with artery forceps

- Injection of saline

Question 13

What are prepartum causes of losses?

Answer 13

Infectious
Stress
Placenta insufficiency
Metabolic problem

Question 14

What are the 2 causes of parturient losses?

Answer 14

Dystocia

Congenital abnormalities

Question 15

What are the treatment principles for hypothermia?

Answer 15

Warming

Feeding

Question 16

What is the order of actions if a lamb has a temperature of less than 37C and they are less than 6 hours old?

Answer 16

Dry lamb -> Warm up

-> Stomach tube colostrum -> Return to ewe -> Monitor

Question 17

If a lamb has a temperature below 37, is over 6 hours old and cannot hold its head up, what is the order of actions?

Answer 17

Dry lamb -> Glucose i/p

-> Warm up -> Feed -> Return to ewe -> Monitor

Question 18

What are some of the main causes of hypoglycaemia?

Answer 18

Starvation
 - Mastitis
- Rejection/Inexperience
- Multiple lambs
- Weak lamb
Exposure
Congenital abnormalities

Question 19

Which bacteria causes watery mouth?

Answer 19

E.coli

Question 20

What are the clinical signs of watery mouth?

Answer 20

Normal at birth Dull
Absent suck reflex Salivation
Abomasal distension GI stasis
-> Retention of meconium

Question 21

What is the guideline of the minimum amount of milk needed in an orphaned lamb?

Answer 21

15% of BW/24 hours