NADIS (National Animal Disease Information Service) is a network of 40 veterinary practices and 6 veterinary colleges monitoring diseases in cattle, sheep and pigs in the UK.
Lambing in some flocks is already underway and in most others will be starting in the next month or two. With the reduction in the amount of labour employed on UK sheep farms in recent years careful preparation is even more important than before :-
Lambing Areas
a) Outdoor
Careful shepherding and selection of lambing paddocks is required to minimise
disturbance of lambing ewes to encourage good ewe-lamb bonding.
| » | Whenever possible, steep and exposed fields should be avoided. | |
| » | Lambing fields should not be too large and water sources not too far apart. |
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| STEEP LAMBING FIELDS SHOULD BE AVOIDED ESPECIALLY FOR TWIN-BEARING EWES |
b) Indoor
| » | good access to lambing pens and good lighting | |
| » | the stocking rate indoors should not exceed one ewe per 1.1 m2 and the area of individual pens should be at least 3.0 m2. One pen per 8 housed ewes is recommended | |
| » | strict hygiene of lambing accommodation. It is important that both the lambing courts and individual pens are kept clean, to minimise contamination of ewes' fleeces and udders. Buildings should be well ventilated and drained and individual pens should be cleaned between occupants. Long-tailed ewes should be dagged before entering lambing accommodation. |
Lambing - Strategy & Equipment
Despite long term planning, the need for careful skilled assistance of some lambing ewes is inevitable. Also, a clear plan is required about when to seek veterinary assistance and provision must be made for the immediate humane destruction of distressed animals. Lambing equipment should be ready in advance:-
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| » | arm length disposable gloves | |
| » | obstetric lubricant | |
| » | head rope, noose or lambing aid | |
| » | antiseptic solution | |
| » | antibiotics, clean needles and syringes |
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5) Other Diseases around Lambing
Provision should be made for the management of those diseases which occur annually in most flocks around lambing. Guidelines should be set up in advance as to when to seek veterinary assistance and when and how to ensure prompt and humane destruction.
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| PAIN RELIEF, STRAINING AND EWE SURVIVAL FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT OF VAGINAL PROLAPSE IS ENHANCED WHEN THE PROCEDURE IS PERFORMED UNDER VETERINARY EPIDURAL ANAESTHESIA |
The list of essential supplies includes -
| » | calcium borogluconate injection for treatment of hypocalcaemia | |
| » | antibiotics for the treatment of mastitis and metritis | |
| » | plastic retainers or harnesses, local anaesthetic, clean obstetric tape and needles for the management of vaginal and uterine prolapse | |
| » | energy supplements for the treatment of pregnancy toxaemia |
6) Care of Newborn Lambs
The fundamental requirements are :-
| » | sufficient skilled assistants to monitor all neonatal lambs, to detect and investigate disease and instigate early treatment | |
| » | a compact lambing period to maximise the use of labour and minimise the build-up of disease in the lambing environment. | |
| » | dip all lambs' navels in strong iodine solution at birth (and again four hours later). | |
| » | ensure that all lambs receive adequate colostrum within their first 4 hours. If in doubt, administer 50 ml/kg of colostrum or colostrum substitute by stomach tube | |
| » | check all penned lambs regularly for signs of brightness and full stomachs. Navels should be brittle by 36 hours-old |
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Despite careful management, some disease in newborn lambs is inevitable. Provision should be made for the more common problems which occur in the flock -
| » | stomach tubes, colostrum, a warming box, glucose injection, syringes and needles for the treatment of starvation and hypothermia | |
| » | oral antibiotics for watery mouth prevention | |
| » | injectable antibiotics for navel ill etc. | |
| » | Your vet can advise you about the most appropriate regime for your flock. |
| Copyright © NADIS 2006 | www.nadis.org.uk |
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