Managemnt Of The Ewe And The Newborn Lamb Flashcards
Easy Care Sheep
-advantages of these
-derived from
• Increasing in popularity in UK
• Low incidence of dystokia
• Strong vigorous lambs
• Self-shedding – no need to shear
• Derived from Wiltshire Horn and Welsh Mountain/Cheviot
• Reduced fly strike
• Less energy used for wool production
Metritis
Metritis- infection of uterus post lambing- as tissues are exposed to external environment whilst ur hand is in there they can become contaminated
Common problems in shape farm around lambing time
In young lambs
In ewes
Lambs- navel ill,
watery mouth,
scours,
entropian
Ewes- prolapse vagina,
prolapse uterus
retained placenta
metritis & mastitis
Losses of sheep occurs most commonly when during lambing?
Exactly during lambing
Risk factors for lamb survival
-the ewe
-the lamb
- —First time mothers-mothering instincts more variable
—Old ewes, sick ewes, thin ewes – reduced milk yield
—Difficult lambing – ewe less able to mother and feed newborn lamb - —Small lambs - greater surface to weight ratio - reduced vigour so more susceptible to hypothermia
- born with small amount of brown fat reserves (have a little bit of starting energy but doesn’t last long)
—Birth Trauma - reduced vigour and ability to suckle
- lack of response -> abandonment
—Hypoxia
—Premature lambs - sufficient milk available?
Colostrum
-what does it do to lamb and what does it contain
-does it matter when its given?
-produced when
-Gives the lamb energy and immunity—> contains concentrated delivery of antibodies to prevent against contamination/disease etc
-the earlier it gets colostrum the better
-produced at end of pregnancy- early lactation
Sometimes colostrum doesn’t find its way to lamb due to different reasons like mother hasn’t been able to get up, or doesn’t like its own lamb :(
What are some colostrum supplementation requirements?
Requires 50ml/kg per feed if it has had none
3-4 feeds in first 24 hours, should be receiving around a litre
Where to get colostrum supplementation? And where not to collect?
Collecting Colostrum
- collect from well fed ewes with singles
- check lamb has fed well
- do not collect from those with twins
- do not collect from stillbirth if suspect infection
Storing Colostrum
- fridge for two days
- frozen (years!)
- thawing - moderate temperature (dont microwave)
Name 3 other sources of colostrum
.Bovine Colostrum
- useful alternative
- need slightly (30%) more (more frequent feeds) - can vaccinate against sheep diseases!
- best used pooled to prevent haemolytic anaemia
2.Goat Colostrum
- good alternative
- needs to be CAE free (
3.Proprietary Colostrum
- need to check product carefully – some have IgG - if good quality can be very useful adjunct
What are the 2 biggest causes of los of lambs
Hypothermia and starvation
Hypothermia
-how to diagnose
-2 types
Take temp; if at or below 37c- start of hypothermia
-brown fat reserves provide energy and are burned off in first 5/6hours- after that without colostrum will die
-primary hypothermia-not usually hypoglycaemic
-secondary hypothermia- more than 5hr old lambs – usually hypoglycaemic
Lambs born indoors should only be turned out if…
• Dry
• Suckling well
• Well-bonded to their mothers
• The weather is not cold, wet or windy
• The ewe has plenty of milk
How should turn out occur?
In small groups, allow mothers and lambs to pair up
Secure boundaries
Keep an eye on them
Treating hypothermia
-if less than 5hrs old
-if >5hrs old
- Use warming box—>colostrum by stomach tube
- Hold head up—> colostrum by stomach tube—> warming box
Or
Recumbent—> glucose IP injection (10ml per Kg @ 20% sterile soln)—> warming box
If lamb has no more brown fat reserves, energy first or heating?
Energy first
