Lambing Practices
Published on Nov 24, 2015
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When the flock is large, much time and labor may be saved by separating ewes that are nearest lambing. By separating ewes according to breeding dates or bagging (ewes will usually show udder development about 10 days to 2 weeks before lambing), the producer can direct attention where it is especially needed. Ewes about to lamb may be placed either in drop pens or lambing corrals, depending upon flock size and available facilities.
Photo by _berteh
Observe ewes closely during the lambing period and give assistance when necessary.
After lambing, place the ewe and lambs in a lambing pen.
If necessary, assist new lambs by cleaning membranes from around the nose and face.
Check to see if the ewe has milk and the teat canals are open.
Clip and treat navel cords with 7% iodine.
Photo by LadyDragonflyCC - >;<
If lambs are weak or fail to nurse, assist them or use a stomach tube to insure that colostrum is consumed.
If the weather is extremely cold, provide an external heat source (incubators or heat lamps). External heat is needed only to get lambs dry and off to a good start. Its extended use may increase the lamb's susceptibility to pneumonia.
Photo by Kol Tregaskes
Identify, ear tag, paint brand, etc., and record information on lambing records before ewes and lambs leave the lambing pens.
Ewes and lambs can be moved to mixing pens within 1 to 3 days. Problem cases may require longer stays in lambing pens.
Routine checks should be made daily of newborn lambs and their dams to identify problems.
After removal of ewes and lambs from lambing pens, clean and disinfect pens thoroughly.
Photo by Maarten Nijman
Lambing Management
The gestation period of ewes is 147 to 150 days. For ease of remembering, just call it 5 months. Before the lambing period, plans should be made for caring for the animals when born. Arrange to have someone check the ewes at regular intervals around the clock during the lambing season. When the ewes are about to lamb they usually appear restless and their paunch will be distended; there will be a sunken appearance in front of the hips, a swollen vulva, and an enlarged udder. The chance of a lamb being separated from its mother is likely to occur when the ewe has multiple births in an un-penned area.
Photo by A Roger Davies
It is important that fresh water be available to the ewe. Although it is not necessary to feed the ewe very much the first day after lambing, a small quantity of good quality hay can be fed. By the third day after lambing the ewe may be supplied the regular ration with the grain level increased to meet her nutritional requirements. A good milking ewe needs grain along with hay for maximum milk production. Ewes with only one lamb can be turned out of the lambing pen in a day or two if the lamb is doing well. Ewes which have twins will probably need to be confined longer to make sure that the lambs are getting along well and are vigorously active enough to follow their mother. It is a good practice to keep these ewes which have lambed separate from those which have not.
Photo by jonno259
Lamb care after lambing
As soon as the ewe has lambed, check to see if she has milk. A little warm milk will increase its strength and stamina. The “colostrum” or first milk, is high in nutrients as well as being a good source of protein antibodies which will help protect the lamb from the diseases which the ewe has encountered during her lifetime. Research has shown that calves which have satisfactory antibody protein levels have a much higher survival rate than those with low antibody levels. The concentration of antibody protein in the ewe’s milk declines rapidly the first day and within 24 hours has fallen to a level similar to normal milk. The ability of the lamb to absorb antibody protein from the colostrum persists for only a short time after birth.
Photo by djwudi
