Lambing - Lambs

How long after birth should a lamb start moving?

1-2 mins
If longer need to rub/swing to stimulate moving/breathing

Meconium staining

faecal material accumulates in foetus
indicates a stressful birth
lamb may be slower to feet
lamb be be later to find udder

How much time following birth should be left before navel is treated? What is used to treat the navel?

30 mins ~ allows ewe and lamb to bond
Strong I2 solution
'Blue spray'

How much colostrum should the lamb receive in first 24 hrs?

10% of BW in first 6 hrs
10 % of BW next 12 hrs

When lamb is >24 hrs, what procedures should be done?

Eartagging
Number sprayed
Tail docking
Castrating
Check for entropion

What can cause prepartum lamb losses?

Infections
Stress
Metabolism issues
Placenta insufficiency

What can cause parturient lamb losses?

dystocia
congenital abnormalities

What can cause post-partum losses?

Hypothermia
Mismothering
Weak lamb

How to treat hypothermia

Warm (in lamb box if severe)
Feed

If glucose has to be given intra perineal, how much and where should be given?

10ml/kg BW
1 finger wide and 1 finger caudal of navel
45 degree angle administration

24-48 hrs, what are the main concerns for lamb survival

Hypoglycaemia due to:

mastitis

rejection

multiple lambs

weak lamb

Watery mouth due to:

poor hygiene

inadequate colostrum

Signs of watery mouth

Dull
absent suck reflex
salivation
GI stasis - meconium retention

2-7 days, what may cause lamb losses?

Lamb dysentery
Enteritis
Neonatal septicaemia
starvation - lack of milk/Orf