Lambing

Lambing

1. Mortality

   • 10-25% by day 3
     • dystocia
     • still birth
     • hypothermia
     • starvation
     • infection
     • non- infectious disease
   • perinatal
     • poor colostrum
     • poor hygienee
     • lack of naval dressing
     • lack of supervision
     • poor weather
     • disease
     • ewe condition
     • birth weight
       • light birth weight= poor nutrition in late gestation
       • single= 5.5-7kg
       • twins= 5-6kg
       • triplets= >4kg
     • iodine deficiency

2. Hygiene

   • good lamb environment
   • clean and dry
     • reduce diseases
   • drainage
   • stocking rate

3. Normal lambing

   • amniotic sac
     • if out of sac, leave it alone
     • if sheeted, break sac to allow breathing
   • breathing
     • yes, may take 30 seconds to breath
     • no- dopram, rub chest, stimulate nostril

4. Colostrum

   • milk from ewes after lambing
     • high in fat and antibodies
     • source of immunity
     • other sources
       • ewes from same or other farm
       • cows
       • bought in comercially
   • how to know if lamb has had colostrum
     • observing suckling
       • beware of suckling wool
       • 30 minutes after lambing
     • palpate abdomen
     • pick up ones that meed supplementation