lambing management · full belly. in busy times and in bad weather castration or tailing may be...

Lambing Management

Lambing management 13/7/04 09:50 am

Introduction

Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) wasestablished in April 2003 and is the strategic body for the

promotion and development of the Welsh red meat industry.Its mission is to develop profitable and sustainable markets

for the benefit of all stakeholders in the supply chain.

It brought together the red meat activities of threeorganisations, namely the Meat and Livestock Commissionin Wales (MLC Cymru), Welsh Development Agency andWelsh Lamb and Beef Promotions Ltd. Each organisationwas responsible for different aspects of red meat activity,

which have now been integrated into HCC’s work.

HCC is now the sole body for the promotion anddevelopment of red meat in Wales.

This booklet forms part of a series of publications producedby HCC’s Industry Development Team.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by anymeans without the prior written consent of the proprietor. Whilst all reasonable carehas been taken in the preparation, no warranty is given as to its accuracy, not liability

accepted for any loss or damage caused by reliance upon any statement in oromission from this publication.

Technical content ©MLC 2004Design ©Hybu Cig Cymru 2004


Lambing Management 1

Management at lambing for the grazing and housed ewe

This booklet summarises the latest methods of managing ewes at lambing. Theemphasis is on working with the ewe to maximise productivity, efficiency and welfare.Recommendations are based on research into animal behaviour, nutrition anddiscussions with farmers practising the systems described. Lambing practices varywidely; this booklet will be a success if just a few of the ideas are taken up.

Invited author - Dr John Vipond, Beef and Sheep Services, Scottish AgriculturalCollege, Sir Stephen Watson Building, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PH

John is the Senior Sheep Specialist with SAC at Edinburgh and has been active inresearch, teaching and consultancy to the UK sheep industry for many years.

Lambing outdoors

Hill sheep have always lambed outside but now significant numbers of large lowlandflocks also lamb outside to save feed and labour costs. Hill flocks may have oneperson to 1000 ewes or more lambing outside, lowland outdoor flocks averagearound one person per 600 ewes lambing compared to one person per 250-350lambing indoors. Studies in Ireland have shown that lambing outdoors reduces thetime spent on the component tasks associated with lambing to around 30%. Mostof the reduction in time being saved at feeding, strawing pens, working in individualpens with lambs and also less time spent on supervision, as this is restricted todaylight hours. For lowland farms, lambing outside has to be delayed until the grassis growing strongly enough to support feed requirements.


Following the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) it is likely flocks willget larger and farmers will look to lambing outdoors for efficiency but concerns aboutanimal welfare must be also addressed. Therefore it is encouraging to find that onthe right systems, lamb mortality can actually be reduced compared to averageintensive indoor systems. Key points in achieving this are:

• The weather is good, (sheltered fields, lamb later)

• The right breeds are used - Terminal sires leaving vigorous lambs at birthEwe breeds with easy care attributes

• The management system allows ewes to express natural behaviour.Lambing outdoors is particularly beneficial to organic producers, reducing the risk of watery mouth and need for antibiotics.

Better ewe and lamb bonding to reduce lamb mortality

The establishment of strong mother/offspring bonding, adequate shelter and goodsupervision ensures high lamb survival rates in flocks lambing outdoors andminimises workload and stress.

Survival of lambs outdoors is achieved by working with natural ewe and lambbehaviour, so it is important to have lambs with a high ‘get up and go’ factor, much ofwhich is genetic. Lambs that are quickly on their feet and sucking have ‘full-bellyweather-proofing’ - a more important trait to breed for than a thick skin or woolly birthcoat, but one which pedigree breeders who generally lamb indoors have notselected for. Farmers moving to outdoor lowland lambing need to reassess thebreeding objectives in terminal sires, insisting on strains within breeds that producelambs with the ‘get up and go’ factor. In this respect most outdoor lambing flockschoose Texel and Charollais sires over the Suffolk although it must be stressed thatthere is more variation within breeds than between them, studies in Irelandconcluded all the genotypes they studied including Suffolk X Cheviots weresuitable for outdoor lambing.

More lambs die through poor ewe to lamb bonding than lambing difficulty. Greaterattention paid to improving maternal bonding will have a better pay off than timespent attending to lambing ewes. Ewes with good maternal behaviour stay withlambs and lick them vigorously making low rumbling noises. Good lamb behaviour isvigorous udder seeking activity.

2 Lambing Management


Research into causes of lambing difficulty

Whether an ewe needs help at lambing is mainly due to the lamb(s) she is carrying,however first parity animals are often assisted - often not because they actually needmore help but because things just progress slower. The graph below shows thevariation in percentage of ewes requiring assistance depending on the sire of thelambs they were carrying. Within a breed the sire of the lamb had an importantinfluence on whether his offspring needed to be assisted, unrelated to the averagebirth weight of his lambs. Sire effects on lambing difficulty work through the shape ofthe lamb and effects of placental development on lamb vigour at birth. When lambingewes it’s more a case of assisting lambs to be born than assisting ewes to lamb.

Average % assistance needed by lambs from different sires

Similar variation between sires in time taken for lambs to stand and suck have beenfound. Closed flocks lambing naturally outside that select rams that have notreceived help at lambing make faster progress in reducing the need for interventionat lambing than flocks buying in rams where the intervention at lambing may be high.


50

60

40

30

20

10

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% la

mbs

ass

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Sire Identities

Bl1 Bl2 Bl3 Bl4 Bl5 Bl6 Bl7 Bl8 Bl9 Bl10 Bl11 Bl12Bl13 Bl14 Bl15 Su1 Su2 Su3 Su4 Su5 Su6 Su7 Su8 Su9

Blackface

Suffolk


Ewe and lamb behaviour before and after parturition

The majority of ewes actively seek isolation for lambing. It is felt important that theewe knows the lambing area and where the isolated parts are. Access should be 14days before lambing; a longer period than this is fine and saves winter-feed costs.The advantages of isolation to the ewe include less interference from other ewesclose to lambing that will try to steal lambs or, if they have lambed, may attack‘foreign’ lambs. The advantage to the lamb, is that it is less likely to bond to a foreignewe since, after birth, it will seek the nearest moving object.

Isolation aids bonding, the chosen birth site gets soaked in amniotic fluid and helpsthe ewe identify its lamb/s by smell. This effect is transient as the ewe and offspringsoon learn to recognise each other’s bleats. On some fields ewes and lambs willremain on the birth site for a long time and it is thought leaving them there mayensure even better bonding. On other fields, which have, a limited number ofpreferred birth sites, ewes move off the area after lambing. Ewes lambing outsideare less confused by human scent contamination due to handling, or disinfectantsetc. and may therefore bond better to lambs as a result. This improves lambperformance allowing triplet ewes with sufficient milk to rear their lambs.

Choice of site

Lambing fields should be chosen with natural isolation sites provided by rushes,nettles, bushes and odd corners, these are preferred by ewes and are moresheltered. Lambing ewes often ignore artificial shelters. Ewes seek natural shelterbefore lambing, particularly if wind speed is over 11 km/hour. The lambing fieldsshould ideally be sheltered from several wind directions well drained and wherepossible well rested from grazing, with a sward height of 6-8 cm. at turnout. This willgive a reserve of around 2 weeks grass if, in the event of cold weather, there isminimal grass growth. During lambing a sward height of 4 cm. is adequate as grassintake is low pre-lambing and excess grass increases the incidents of prolapse anddifficult lambing, however, at sward heights below 3-4 cm and in bad weather eweswill need supplementation. Most outdoor lambers prefer to avoid this at all costs asit causes mismothering and disturbs the birth process creating more work. Lambingdate in relation to grass supply is critical. Roots spread on the field are usefulgrazing supplements.Close proximity to buildings or handling pens is an advantage for dealing with ewes

carrying singles or triplets. Ewes scanned with twins and triplets should create theleast lambing problems and can lamb on more remote fields.



Management

Ewes can be visited every 3-4 hours by ATV for observation during daylight hours.Only those ewes having difficulty (after 2 hours) should be caught and lambed. Ifcross-fostering or other attention is needed and the weather is good, ewes can betemporarily tethered or put in a field pen made from hurdles. Alternatively they canbe transported back to individual pens inside if weather is bad, or where a specificcross-fostering unit has been established.

Installing bike ramps is cost effective in time and labour when lambing large flocksoutdoors

Over the lambing period lambs from the same litter are given a common mark to helpavoid mix-ups – particularly important at the last visit before nightfall to avoidproblems in the morning. Numbering the ewe is not necessary. If things are not toobusy, and weather is good, lambs can be caught, castrated and tailed if they have afull belly. In busy times and in bad weather castration or tailing may be temporarilysuspended. Management tasks at lambing include dipping navels, checking uddersand teats, suckling weak lambs, cross fostering or removal of ewes to individual pensindoors for handling other problems, e.g. ewes with prolapse/milk fever/staggers orpregnancy toxaemia. Lambs are normally tagged later on leaving the farm. A fewstrategically placed field pens can be very useful to put ewes having difficulties in.Light sheep hurdles can be kept in the lambing field or on an ATV trailer, alternatively



flighty ewes may be caught and tied to a fence with a halter allowing sufficient roomfor her to react naturally with her lamb. Generally triplets should be left with their mother unless a lamb is needed forfostering. Triplet lambs can be removed from the ewe after two to three days, bywhich time they will have received colostrum and can be fostered onto singles (wetfoster) or onto a ewe which has lost one of a pair (skinned lamb foster).

Extra contract shepherds may be brought in for peak lambing periods (first 3 weeks).Once this is over the unlambed ewes can be drifted out into handy fields for attention.

Easy care

The degree of routine handling required for ewes varies with the easy care attributesof the ewe, where this is moderate e.g., with terminal sire cross ewes, outdoorlambing of ewes may be restricted to those fit ewes scanned as carrying twins only.Troublesome ewes such as maiden gimmers, ewe hoggets, broken mouthed/thinewes, triplet bearing ewes and single bearing ewes may be either housed(particularly hoggets/single bearing ewes needing cross fostering) or run outside(particularly broken mouthed ewes/ewes carrying triplets). In both cases they shouldreceive the best pasture/most shelter, but concentrate feeding is not usually neededfor flocks lambing on grass.

Any breed of sheep can develop easy care traits for lambing, e.g., Lleyn. Cullingheavily for at least 5 years by removing ewes that have to be handled for any reasonand breeding replacements using rams similarly reared is effective but at current ewevalues this is expensive. Many farmers prefer the simplicity of buying in replacements.Most crossbreds out of hill ewes are sufficiently easy care for one man to handle600 ewes provided the right terminal sires are used. Specific breeds with easy carewhere one man can lamb 1000+ ewes include the New Zealand Romney and theEasycare, which also does not require shearing.



Specialist easy care breeds requiring less labour input

Viewfield Romney

• Uses NZ genetics

• Suits lowland /upland farms

• Heavy wool yields (4-5kg)

• Lambing assistance not routinely needed

• 75Kg ewes , lambs 19 Kg off grass

• Scanning % 160 –175%

• Bred by Marcus Maxwell, Viewfield, New Galloway Castle Douglas.01644420328 http://www.romneysheep.co.uk

Integration of buildings

If possible, choose fresh fields for lambing each year, but this is not essential.Consider dividing very large fields (over 15-20 hectares) into two, using one half forthe first three weeks of lambing and the other half for later lambing ewes. This willminimise the risk of infection of later born lambs contacting bugs that have built upover the lambing period.


Viewfield Romney

Easycare

• Derived from the Wiltshire horn

• Suits upland / hill farms

• No shearing required

• Selected for 30 yrs on easy care traits

• 60 kg ewes

• Scanning % 160-175%

• Easycare sheep society Sec Iolo OwenGlantraeth Bordorgan Anglesey.01407840250 http://www.ateal.co.uk/easycare

Easycare


Many farmers lambing ewes outside prefer not to use buildings at all because of theextra work associated with them, however on some farms it can be advantageous tohave a building where ewes with singles are housed overnight. By housing thesingles over night this helps reduce the incidence of hung lambs and the shepherddoing a nightshift can be kept busy cross fostering lambs lifted from triplet lambsduring the day onto ewes lambing during the night.

Crossfostering

Typically this would be done as a wet foster, i.e. the foster lamb is soaked in waterand then rubbed on the fluids and placenta of the new born lamb before both lambsare introduced to the newly lambed ewe for licking. The ewe’s maternal responsesare triggered by release of oxytocin in the brain although undernutrition or a prolongedlabour can reduce this. When fostering lambs cervical dilation with a gloved handencourages release of oxytocin in the brain and aids lamb acceptance. This onlyworks well if the ewe has given birth herself within a day or 2 of the attempted foster,since maternal behaviour is dependent not only on oxytocin but also relative levels ofoestradiol and progesterone and these fall rapidly after birth. It works best 6 hours orso after birth, as the cervix will have contracted by then and is easy to stretch.

Stocking rate at lambing

The lambing system adopted by an individual sheep producer will depend on farmcircumstances. Setting an initial stocking rate (fixed number of ewes per field) hasbecome the most widely practised method. Drift lambing is used less, although within aset stocked system many farmers will drift unlambed ewes out of the lambing group afterhalf the ewes have lambed. This makes ewes left to lamb easier and more quickly seen.

Stocking rates of about 11-15 ewes + multiples/ha are typical with a sward height of6 cm at turnout (pasture not grazed since January). With higher stocking rates thanthis mismothering is more likely, but singles have been stocked at up to 35-40/ha tokeep swards short and reduce birthweight and hence lambing difficulty. Wet weathercausing high concentration in sheltered areas can increase mismothering. Ewes shouldnot be separated on basis of lambing date as indicated by raddle marks as this increasesmismothering with too many lambing at the same time. However if ewes are scannedthey can be separated on the basis of expected litter size and potential managementproblems, with the singles and first parity ewes being handled separately.



Problems: lambing difficulty/losses /predation

The major difficulty reported has been oversize lambs creating birth difficulty. Forthose flocks practising lambing after turnout in early/mid April, most ewes have aboutfour weeks on grass before lambing, and can put on condition during this time beforethey lamb. If they start at Condition Score 22 they end up as 3 or more and thisleads to lambing problems. Ewes are better turned out in Condition Score 2 whenthey have four weeks grass before lambing. Another major problem with outdoorlambing can be severe weather, where possible ewes should be housed overnightwithout feeding. Fox predation can be a local issue, but is no worse than in othersystems and 5 wire electric boundary fences are useful. Outdoor lambed sheep aremore likely to face worm and fluke challenge, which should be monitored usingfaecal egg counts.

Advantages of outdoor set stock lambing

Advantages

1. Maximum numbers of ewes to be maintained per shepherd. In good weather with easy care ewes, low mortality rates.

2. Lower costs due to reduced need for facilities e.g., pens/transport/housing and lower costs for feed, lambing requisites /antibiotics etc.

3. Most suitable where lambing percentage is around 175% with ewes having easy care attributes.

Disadvantages

1. Needs sheltered paddocks.

2. Requires skilled personnel

3. Lambs born later, finish later and may miss best market or require specialised finishing crop, lower scanning % - can be up to 20% lower owing to later mating under worse feed and weather conditions.

4. In drier areas lambs can run out of grass before they are finished

Management of the housed ewe

Many ewes are housed at lambing; this provides shelter for the shepherd, a rest fromgrazing for the pasture and reduces time spent travelling around the sheep. It rarely



reduces lamb mortality to the target of 5-10% of lambs born – lambs in houses stillget hypothermia as sheep sheds need to be well ventilated and lambs are more likelyto get infectious diseases when housed. By lambing time sheep houses are usuallyheavily stocked, as room has to be found for all the individual lamb pens (1 pen per8-10 ewes lambing). This heavy stocking rate makes it harder to keep bedding dryparticularly where the silage is the forage used. Wet bedding leads to build up of E.Coli bacteria and increased problems with coccidiosis and foot problems after turnout.

Essential to indoor lambing is planning – sufficient initial space is needed and all thenecessary equipment has to be on hand. Good husbandry skills to help ewes withlambing problems and patience to get lambs to suck are a priority. Mechanisedmoving of sheep from the lambing shed to the field reduces stress and labour.

Management

Typically for indoor lambing, ewes are drawn as they lamb into individual pens wheredelivery is assisted in up to 50% of the ewes (on many farms this is usually so thatjobs can be got on with rather than from necessity). Individual pens must be easilyaccessed from the lambing shed area. Following isolation in individual pens, andhaving sucked, lambs are tailed and castrated. They are then moved to group pensfor 2-3 days containing 10-20 ewes plus their lambs before going out to theirsummer grazing area. Problems arise when bad weather stops lambs being movedoutside and when communications between staff break down on the larger farms. Asimple chronological record of progress of lambs in individual pens helps e.g.,moving a rotating disc nailed to the pen front so the number uppermost indicatesprogress with a code of:

1. One navel – treated with strong iodine solution

2. Two teats - checked for colostrum

3. Three square meals – lambs have sucked successfully

4. Four legs ready to travel -tailed, castrated, navel checked and not hypothermic.

Benchmarking

Benchmarking provides a useful means of highlighting where your flock performanceis good or where action needs to be taken to improve results.10 Lambing Management


Very few losses of lambs should occur in healthy housed flocks between scanningand lambing. Typically losses during this period will result in an abortion or mummifiedfoetus visible at lambing and losses should be within the error margin of the scanner(1-2%). Where ewes have contact with an abortion-causing agent, most likely to beenzootic abortion or toxoplasmosis, or possibly bacterial diseases such assalmonella/campylobacter or listeriosis, then abortion rates can vary from 5-30%.

Ewe deaths between tupping and lambing should be confined to the odd incidenceof pneumonia and the total should be under 2%. Most ewes deaths that occur closeto lambing are due to metabolic problems associated with lambing –hypomagnesaemia (staggers), pregnancy toxaemia (twin lamb disease) orhypocalcaemia (milk fever). Some ewes are also lost during the birth process. In agood year losses totalling fewer than 2% can be achieved around lambing. Higherlevels than this can occur in flocks of draft ewes. Where long-term illnesses arepresent in the flock, such as Jaagsiekte or Johne’s disease or, less commonly, MaediVisna, then the overall ewe death rate will be well over 5%.

Benchmarking shows a clear relationship between gross margin and reproductiveperformance in lowland flocks.

Recorded lowland flocks -mainly Mules crossed to terminal sires (average flock size 600 ewes)

Per 100 ewes to the ramRanked in gross margin/ha Top third Average Bottom third

Barren 3 5 3Ewes died 5 6 7Ewes lambed 94 92 95Lambs scanned 196 184 182Lambs reared 163 149 150% lambs survived from scanning to rearing 83 81 82

Total lamb losses were higher in lowland flocks than upland ones as more ewes carriedtwins and triplets. Losses of lambs during the critical period during and immediatelyafter birth are inevitable, very few farmers being able to keep this at less than 10lambs/100 ewes to the ram. Ewe nutrition has a big effect on how heavy lambs areat birth and the availability of colostrum. Target birth weights for terminal sirecrossed lambs out of crossbred ewes are: singles 5 kg, twins 4 kg and triplets 3kg.




Underfed ewes will have lambs half a kilo lighter. Overfeeding can also causeproblems due to oversize lambs often seen towards the end of lambing with birthweights 0.5 kg higher than normal.

It is a good idea to monitor lamb deaths around the lambing period using a diary orcalendar. Simply record lambs as they go into the dead pile as marked (numbers onthe side indicate that the lamb was a potential live lamb) or unmarked (lambs thatreally never got to their feet). This helps in later analysis to identify problems thatwere weather related (clusters of marked lambs over a period of bad weather) or dueto management/disease problems.

Exposure and starvation

Exposure and starvation are the biggest causes of neonatal lamb loss. Hypothermia(chilling due to exposure) occurs when the newborn lamb loses heat more quicklythan it can produce it, even though energy reserves are present. The unlicked lamb ina blizzard is the extreme example.

Hypothermia due to starvation (hypoglycaemia - shortage of blood glucose) occursin lambs over 12 hours of age where reserves have been used up and have not beenrenewed from colostrum. This happens after mismothering even in good weather,although bad weather conditions will hasten the lamb’s death. It is vital that the lambreceives colostrum within the first two hours of birth if starvation is to be prevented. Itis both a rich source of food, in particular energy, and a source of antibodiesprotecting the lamb from disease.

Where there is doubt about whether a lamb has sucked or how much it has taken,colostrum should be given by stomach tube. Lambs showing signs of diarrhoea orwatery mouth cannot digest milk or colostrum and should be fed electrolytereplacement solution containing 10% glucose by stomach tube.

A stomach tube is less useful with older severely chilled (hypothermic andhypoglycaemic) lambs. These lambs are often weak or semi-conscious and can notraise their heads. Unless used with care and experience the tube can be passed intothe windpipe and the animal drowned. Even if the feed is successfully placed in thestomach, absorption of the milk is very slow (glucose is faster) and there is a risk ofregurgitation and inhalation of the feed into the lungs. Such lambs with a temperaturebelow 37oC can be revived by use of intraperitoneal glucose.


Yoghurt - health food for lambs

Adequate colostrum intake is vital for the health and survival of newborn lambs. As ageneral rule lambs born inside require 230-240 ml/kg body weight, and lambs bornoutside require 280 ml/kg (divided between several feeds) during the first 24 hoursof life. Colostrum intake boosts the lamb’s ability to generate heat by 40%, providesantibody protection both locally within the gut and systemically within the blood, andacts as a laxative helping to expel meconium (the first dark brown dung), theretention of which has been associated with watery mouth.

Colostrum requirements of lambs

Size of lamb Example rearing type Colostrum Requirement

Large lamb Average single (5kg) 250 ml/feed 3 x daily

Medium lamb Average twin (4kg) 200 ml/feed 3 x daily

Small lamb Average triplet (3kg) 100 ml/feed 4 x daily

The bacterium, which causes watery mouth (E.coli), is a common inhabitant of thesheep’s environment and numbers build up over the lambing period. Newborn lambsinevitably ingest E.coli but adequate colostrum intake can help prevent theirestablishment by acidifying the stomach contents. The risk of enteric disease isincreased where colostrum intake is inadequate and lambs ingesting large numbersof bacteria may appear depressed and/or bloated at 2-3 days of age. Around 30 mlof natural yogurt, given by stomach tube at 24hrs of age is beneficial in helping toacidify the lambs stomach contents and thereby preventing/treating these symptoms.

Avoiding watery mouth due to wet bedding

Watery mouth often builds up towards the end of lambing when routine treatment ofall lambs with antibiotic may be needed. In very good weather ewes with twins andtriplets are best turned out as soon as possible as individual pens are often a sourceof infection. Outside pens with top, back and side protection from the weather maybe warmer than pens erected indoors, which are often draughty and poorly drained.Farmers are often recommended to avoid the re-use of pens where lambs have diedor scoured, at least until the pen has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, butcleaning and strawing individual pens is time consuming and there are alternatives tostraw. Fine pine shavings have much better water absorption properties and can bebought for around £5 plus delivery for a 20-kg pre-pack. Used as an alternative tostraw in individual pens, usage is about 1.5 kg (37p) per ewe. Over the lambingperiod a shavings /dung build-up of around an inch per week is normal.




Shavings at £250/t may look expensive but savings appear justified:

• Dry bedding

• Saving antibiotic cost for scours Potential saving 25p/lamb

• No cleaning out of pen needed 5p/lamb

• Time saved administrating antibiotic 5p/lamb

• Reduced lamb mortality Up to 50p/lamb

Management involves removal of afterbirths from the pen after each lambing, the eweremaining in the pen for around 24 hours. After each ewe is removed, three large handfulsof shavings are spread on the floor to give a dry surface. Ewes need access to water inpails fixed to pen sides in the pen and concentrate feed from a hopper (beet pulp nuts).On some farms using this method no prophylactic antibiotics have been needed. Analternative to wet disinfectant usage for individual pens is to use Stalosan F powder.

Procedure for reviving chilled lambs

Temperature Age of animal Treatment

37-39ºC(99% - 102ºF) Any age Dry the lamb

Feed by stomach tubGive shelter with ewe and other lambs.

Below 37ºC (99ºF) 0-5 hours Dry the lamb Warm lamb until temperaturereturns to 37ºC.Feed by stomach tube Return to the ewe ortransfer to the weak lamb unit

Below 37ºC (99ºF) More than 5 hours and Dry the lambable to hold up it’s head Feed by stomach tube

Warm until temperaturereturns to 37ºC Return to the ewe or transfer to the weak lamb unit.

Below 37ºC (99ºF) More than 5 hours and Dry the lambnot able to hold its head up Give intraperitoneal injection

of glucose Warm lamb until temperaturereturns to 37°C


Notes on table:

1. Transport: If treatment of the lamb has to be delayed, e.g. for reasons of distance, it may bewrapped in tinfoil to reduce heat loss.

2. Drying: Drying speeds up warming by reducing heat loss. It also ensures that the lamb willcome to no harm in the warmer.

3. Feeding: Ensure that the lamb gets a feed of ewe’s or cow’s colostrum at least three times aday if it cannot be returned to the ewe, in quantities as described earlier. This shouldbe given by stomach tube attached to a 50ml hypodermic syringe. Ewe milk replacermay be used if necessary for lambs over 2 days of age. Lambs being tube fed for anextended period are more susceptible to gastro-intestinal infections, especially ifcolostrum has been given too late or in insufficient quantity. Administration of oralantibiotics to the lamb may help to reduce the risk - ask your veterinary surgeon’s advice.

4. Mothering: If the lamb is one of twins or triplets remove the other lamb or lambs from the ewe atthe same time. The pair or trio should then be mixed thoroughly for a time to re-establish smell before going back to the ewe.

5. Lamb warmer:Lambs are warmed in a chamber maintained at 35-40°C. The lamb should be left inthe warmer until its temperature reaches 37°C. The warmer temperature must notexceed 40°C. Dry the lamb before placing in the warmer; otherwise evaporation ofwater will cause further chilling.

6. Glucose injection:Starved lambs over 5 hours of age can have very low blood glucose levels and maydevelop fit-like behaviour and die during warming. The most effective way of raisingblood glucose is to inject glucose solution into the abdomen, i.e. an intraperitonealinjection. Your veterinary surgeon will show you how to do this simply and safely.Glucose solution is supplied at a strength of 40% and has to be diluted 50:50 withrecently boiled water to obtain the required 20% solution. This procedureconveniently produces a solution for injection at approximately the correcttemperature (blood heat ~ 39°C). As there is a risk of introducing infection whengiving the glucose injection, the injection site should be pre-sterilised with strong



iodine solution and an injection of long-acting antibiotic given at the same time -consult your veterinary surgeon on this matter. If a glucose injection is not possible,some benefit may be derived from feeding the lamb by stomach tube provided it isnot too weak. However, it is more difficult for such lambs to recover.

Aftercare

Lambs should be returned to their dams as soon as possible after warming, but it isessential to ensure the link is strong before turning out. The lambs must be well fed -if in doubt about its welfare check its temperature.

If a lamb cannot be quickly returned to a ewe, perhaps because it is weak, it shouldbe isolated in an individual cardboard box lined with newspaper and under an infra-red lamp suspended at a height of about 1-2m (4ft). After use, the box andnewspapers should be burned. The lamb should be fed at regular intervals bystomach tube until returned to a ewe.

Further information

Please contact HCC’s Industry Development Team Tel: 01970 625050 or email: [email protected]

For further information on this brochure or the work of HCC please visitwww.hccmpw.org.uk



lambing management · full belly. in busy times and in bad weather castration or tailing may be...

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