ANIML SCI 251, U2.3: Lambing & Neonatal Care

what are these signs of?

•bagging up

•hallowing out

•restless behavior

•stopped eating/less interested in hay

•separation from flock

•pawing at the ground

•knickering

•mucus discharged from vulva

•repeatedly lying down and standing back up

lambings

DEFINITION: when udder develops and becomes firm, approximately 4 weeks before lambing

bagging up

DEFINITION: when the lamb drops into a lower position to allow for delivery approx. 1-2 days before lambing, shows as a sunken loin area

hollowing out

DEFINITION: vocalization, calling out for lambs. done before and after they’re born

knickering

a waterbag indicates that a lamb is coming in approximately ______ minutes

30 minutes

a waterbag should be the color of ______, a darker color/bloody discharge indicates illness

tea

it it normal for a waterbag to rupture? (yes/no)

yes

during a NORMAL birth, 30 minutes after the waterbag you should see:

pair of hooves, head, shoulders, and rest of lamb

what is the ideal position for lambing?

superman

ideally, do lamb’s toes point upwards or downwards?

upwards

describe this presentation:

breech

describe this presentation:

backwards

DEFINITION: difficult birth

dystocia

these are examples of what:

•ewe is straining for over half an hour and there’s no sign of a waterbag

•waterbag, but no signs of labor

•active labor for 30+ minutes after waterbag and no sign of a lamb

•no straining, but the ewe appears distressed

dystocias

if progress has stopped, after ______ minutes have passed from contractions, passing waterbags, or appearance of lamb, then call a TA

30 minutes

if the ewe is stressed and running around what should you do?

halter her

list the 4 things needed to assist w/ a dystocia

gloves, OB lube, dystocia bucket, and PPE

DEFINITION: a bucket with plastic bag to line it with warm water and betadine/iodine scrub

dystocia bucket

what is the most important factor to check to see after the lamb is born?

breathing

what do we use to remove fluid from newborn lamb’s nostrils and mouth?

aspirator bulb

list the steps for processing the umbilical cord

clip, dip, strip

what is a lamb’s umbilical cord dipped in?

iodine

where does the lamb receive nutrients from while in utero?

placenta

after lambing, the placenta should be delivered after ______ to ______ hours

2-3 hours

DISEASE: 

•cause: placental tags left in the uterus

•clinical signs: fever, stops eating, stops producing milk, bad odor, dark discharge

•treatment: oxytocin at the discretion of a vet

•prevention: minimize stressful events before and during lambing, provide proper supplements

retained placenta

DISEASE: 

•cause: too cold

•clinical signs: temp below 99 F, hunched posture, hallowed out sides, dehydration,

•treatment: lamb must be warmed (heat lamps, water watter bottles), don’t feed until warmed

hypothermia

DISEASE: 

•cause: lamb having a difficult time nursing (not standing, mom rejecting lambs) or not enough milk made for all lambs

•clinical signs: cold belly, lethargic

•treatment: tube feed or bottle feed

starvation

list the 2 major causes of death in lambs

hypothermia and starvation

DISEASE: 

•cause: deficiency of selenium and vitamin E

•clinical signs: abortions, stillborns, miscarriages, retained placenta, and delivering weaker lambs. mild stiffness, pain while walking, hunch posture. cardiac symptoms similar to pneumonia, frothy nasal discharge

•treatment: skeleton symptoms treatable, cardiac symptoms permanent

•prevention: BoSe injection 1-2 days after they’re born

white muscle disease

DISEASE: 

•def: low calcium in blood

•cause: lambs fully rely on ewe to provide sufficient calcium, if she isn’t able to provide

•clinical signs: stiff gait, ataxia, salivation, beginning of bloat, and death (if untreated)

•treatment: Ca injection

hypocalcemia

DISEASE: 

•def: D+

•cause: nutrition deficiencies, infectious agent (bacteria, virus, parasites) like e.coli, crypto, salmonella, and flystrike

•clinical signs D+  

•treatment: take temperature, administer anti-D+, electrolytes, and dewormers/antiparasites. Don’t allow to run its course, lamb can become dehydrated

scours

what is the most common and expensive disease that affects newborn ruminants?

scours

DISEASE: 

•cause: bacterial infection of multiple joints, entering through castration sites, dirty bedding, or dirty lamb processing tools

•clinical signs: swollen legs, nursing less, infected navel, infected spine, which leads to paralysis of legs

•treatment: antibiotics, if no response, euthanasia

•prevention: clean bedding, ensure proper colostrum, and treat navel w/ iodine

joint/navel ill

list the 3 steps of lamb processing

ear tagging, tail docking, and BoSe injection

what would the first ewe lamb of 2023’s ear tag be?

351

what would the first ram lamb of 2023’s ear tag be

301

ewe lambs are assigned numbers ______ to ______

51-99

ram lambs are assigned numbers ______ to ______

1-49

LAMB PROCESSING:

•pro: decreases risk of fly strike

•con: vaginal/rectal prolapse if tail is docked too short

tail docking

dock the tail after the ______ palpable joint

3rd

what are these signs of?

•ewe spinning around

•kicking at lamb

rejection

these are reasons we may ______:

•mother dies

•ewe has too many lambs

•rejection

•health issues

•poor milk supply

foster