lambing prep

risk factors- perinatal mortality

• inadequate/ poor quality colostrum

• poor hygiene

• lack of navel dressing

• lack of supervision

• poor weather

• infectious disease

• ewe condition

• birthweight

• iodine deficiency

birthweights

• single 5.5 to 7

• twins 5-6

• triplets greater than 4

• for meat breed x f1 ewe, reduce by 1kg for hill breed

hygiene

• good lambing env

• clean and dry

• drainage

• stocking rate

what to do if not breathing

• doxapram hydrochloride, rub chest, stimulate nostril

colostrum

• high in fat and antibodies

• immunity and energy source

• best source is the dam

• alternative sources: ewes on same farm, another farm, cow (care with anti ovine factor), commercially bought in)

how to know if lamb has had colostrum

• if not- vocalisation

• steal

• if not identified may become dull

• beware suckling wool

• palpate abdomen

• aboout 30 min after lambing

colostrum requirements

• 50ml/kg on 2hrs

• 200ml/kg in 24 hrs

• not either or option

• restrain ewe and train lamb

• bottle

• stomach tube

• pick up those needing supplementation

• hungry/assisted birth/meconium stained

how to do navel dressing

• 10 percent iodine in alcohol base

• strong iodine

• first 15mins then 2-4hrs later

common conditions

• dystocia

• abortion associated pathogens

• hypothermia

• watery mouth

• navel ill

watery mouth

• e coli colonisation of gut of newborn

• due to intensive husbandry- poor hygiene, contaminated fleece, no colostrum intake

• endotoxaemia

• twins, esp triplets aged 12-36 hour

• dull, lethargic, depressed and reluctant to suck

• profuse salivation

• wet lower jaw

• increasing abdominal distension although lamb has not been sucking

watery mouth- treatment

• soapy water enemas

• mild laxatives/purgatives

• oral antibiotics in early phase

• oral electrolyte therapy at 50mls/kg fourtimes daily

• penicillin type drug injected intramuscularly

watery mouth- prevention

• abundant clean and dry straw bedding

• use of paraformaldehyde powder on straw

• clean and disinfect of individual pens between lambing ewes

• collect and dispose placenta

• colostrum

• oral antibiotic prep within first 15 min of birth as last resort

• yogurt 30mls per lamb (only anecdotal)

hypothermia

• linked to management

• not enough energy to maintain core body temp

• primary and secondary

• 37 or less

• weak or comatose

primary hypothemrmia

• glucose in blood sufficient but env losses too high

• mismothering/wet

• warm up (warming box 45 degrees) and feed once able to swallow

secondary

• over 6hrs

• brown fat all used and energy requirements supplied by colostrum

• not enough energy to maintain temp

• body temp drops

• dull depressed lateral recumbency

• cold mouth

• comatose if not caught soon enough

• if warmed up as before no glucose to support increased metabolism-hypogylaemic shock

• give energy before warming!

treating a comatose hypothermic lamb

• kettle

• water

• 50ml syringe

• 19g 25mm needle

• glucose 20 or 40 percent

• oxytetracycline spray

• boil water and mix 50:50 with 40 glucose solution in 50ml solution

inject into abdomen

normal gestation period 

143-147 days

1st stage labour

• 3 to 6 hrs

• increased activity- nest building

• separate from flock

• short abdominal contractions

• build to cervical dialtion

• mucus hanging from vulva

2nd stage labour

• actual lambing

• 10-60mins

• active and powerful straining

• amnion should rupture, may not

• normal presentation (nose and 2 feet)

3rd stage labour

• expulsion of foetal membranes

• 2-3 hours after lambing

common presentations

• head and 2 feet

• both legs back (normal)

• leg back (ewe on side with leg back uppermost,) repulse lamb,pull leg forward, lamb ewe

• bilateral shoulder flexion- (head out only) repulse lamb and bring legs forward, epidural

• breach (tail out)- repulse, bring hind limbs to vulva, epidural

• twins at same time- push one back, push other out, repeat

• head to side- repulse and pull head to fore, use snare to keep head up, lambs freq dead

other issues with ewes

• metritis

• ringwomb

• vaginal prolapse

• uterine prolapse

• twin lamb disease

• hypocalcaemia

• abortion

• mastitsis

metritis

• infection of womb

• sequelae of poor lambing practice

• dull ewe

• poor milk yield

• swollen vulva with red brown discharge

• antibiotic

ringwomb

• failure of cervix to fully dilate

• 2 fingers able to get in

• manual dilation

• c section

vaginal prolapse risk factor

• pre lambing issue

• vagina and cervix

• risk factors:

• over conditioned

• lack of movement

• high fibre diet

• triplet

• lameness

• hypocalcaemia

vaginal prolapse signs

• visual observation of prolapse

• straining like first stage labour

• isolation

• reluctance to feed

• cervix may be open depending on stage of gestation

vaginal prolapse- treatment

• first aid- clean and protect

• epidural

• ewe standing

• lift bladder to allow urination

• retain (truss/harness, plastic devices, suture)

• lamb ewe

truss/harness

• rope of manufactured harness

• applies pressure to area around vulva

• good for early prolapses

• check regularly

plastic devices

• mild early cases

• spoon retains tisue in correct position

• tied to wool on flank

buhner suture

• veterinary intervention

• epidural mandatory

• correct standing

• release at lambing

uterine prolapse

• large single ewes predispose

• due to pain or swelling of posterior reproductive tract

• identified by visual signs

uterine prolapse treatment

• vet emergency

• epidural

• antibiotic course

• NSAID

• feed

• water

• supplement lambs

evisceration through vaginal tear

• risk factors as for prolapse

• no treatment and euthanasia required

pregnancy toxaemia causes

• energy demands exceed supply

• triplets

• poor roughage quality

• inadequate concentrate supplementation

clinical signs of pregnancy toxaemia

• does not come to feed trough

• isolated

• dull and depressed

• blind

• head pressing

• fine muscle tremors of head

• weakness and recumbency

• death

pregnancy toxaemia treatment

• palatable feeds to promote appetite

• fresh water

• IV glucose injection

• glucocorticoid injection

• prevention: feed to lamb number, monitor BCS up to lambing

hypocalcaemia- causes

• in late gestation

• older ewes

• change in ration

• stress

• inapproprate mineral supplementation

clinical signs of hypocalcaemia

• depressed

• weak 

• unable to stand

• rumenal stasis and bloat

• reflux of ruminal contents with green fluid around nostrils and lower jaw

• coma and death within 48-72hrs

hypocalcaemia treatment

• 40ml IV calcium over 30-60s

• subcut slower

abortion

• should be less than 2 percent of the flock

• expulsion of a non viable foetus before term

• zoonotic- hygiene, pregnant women at risk

• isolate the animal and get a diagnosis

abortion prevention

• vaccination

• biosecurity

mastitsis signs

ACUTE(hot painful)

• heat pain swelling

• discolouration

• clots in milk

• sick ewe

• not feeding lambs

CHRONIC

• palpable masses

• decreased yield

treatment of mastitsis

early treatment with antibiotics and NSAIDs

risk factors of mastitis

• maintainig ewes BCS at 3

• extra supplementation for thin ewes and old ewes or cull older

• teat lesions may predispose to infection

• consider culling ewes with poor udder conformation

• check udder for abnormal masses

• separate

• ensure shelter during bad weather

• provide extra nutrition for ewes with multiple lambs

• test for maedi visna

• put freshly weaned ewes on a low plane of nutrition for 2 weeks

joint ill/ navel ill

• infection of the lamb due to ingress of bacteria through unhealed navel

• meningitis

• joint infection

• liver abscess

• local navel abscess

• spinal abscess

• etc

joint ill/ navel ill prevention and treatment

• navel dressing

• hygiene

• colostrum intake

• penicillin injection

• depending on specific clinical syndrome may be unsuccessful