Pre and Post Lambing Care

1
Pre- and Post Lambing Care

• Karen Hutchinson
• Virginia Cooperative Extension
• This presentation is from Virginia Tech and has
  not been edited by the Georgia Curriculum Office.

2
Seminar Goals

• Identify steps to take prior to parturition
• List some signs of an impending birth
• Discuss techniques for post-parturition lamb care
• Discuss techniques for post-parturition ewe care

3
Pre-Parturition Ewe Care

• Steps to take for healthy ewes and lambs
• Feeding
• Increase feed levels gradually, to allow ewe to
  accustom herself to higher levels.
• Higher feed levels necessary to promote and carry
  out good milk production
• Minerals/Salt
• Provide free choice salt and minerals for the
  ewes
• Provide ample supplies of water, also free choice
• Avoid copper, as it leads to toxicity

4
Pre-Parturition Ewe Care, contd.

• Steps to take for healthy ewes and lambs
• Location
• If possible, move ewes to a more accessible spot,
  close to facilities for lambing and care
• In a close location, ewes can be watched
  carefully, without the hassle of getting out and
  hiking a ways into the fields to do a simple
  check on them
• Preparing the jug
• Clean, dry bedding
• Close to water, feed, etc..

5
Pre-Parturition Ewe Care, contd.

• Steps to take for healthy ewes and lambs
• Crotching the ewes
• Closely trim the area around the ewes hind end,
  allowing the vulva to be seen easily
• Decreases messiness at lambing
• Secure Supplies
• Maintain a lambing kit in the barn or lambing
  facilities, so all supplies will be on hand in an
  emergency

6
Lambing Kit Supplies

• Dental floss or thin cotton twine for tying off
  umbilical cord
• Navel dip (mixture of iodine and rubbing alcohol)
• Towels
• Sharp scissors
• Soap
• Clean bucket for hot water
• Stomach feeding tube and syringe

7
Signs of the Impending Birth

• Restlessness
• Ewe off feed
• Ewe strays from flock
• Ewe hesitant to come near people, even when food
  is involved
• Ewe kicks or noses at side or belly

• Belly drops
• Vulva loosens
• Mucous from vulva
• Ewe lays down and gets up repeatedly and
  frequently

8
Post-Parturition Lamb Care

• After birth (if youre there), clear lambs nose
  and mouth of mucous and liquid
• Tickle nostrils with piece of straw or hay to
  encourage snorting and breathing
• If ewe is unable, towel off lamb and set lamb by
  her head

9
Post-Parturition Lamb Care, contd.

• Clip, Dip, and Strip
• Clip Clip the lambs navel, either separating
  it from the ewe, or shortening an excessively
  long cord that was already broken naturally
• Dip Dip the navel in an iodine and rubbing
  alcohol mixture to kill any germs and protect the
  lamb against infection
• Strip Strip the first bit of waxy substance
  from the ewes teats, enabling the lamb free
  access to colostrum

10
Post-Parturition Lamb Care, contd.

• Watch for birth of additional lambs
• Repeat process for them
• Be sure lamb eats within an hour.
• If lamb cant eat, the ewe wont let him, etc..,
  may have to stomach tube feed some colostrum.

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Post-Parturition Ewe Care

• Feeds/Feeding
• Watch the ewe closely the first day or so after
  lambing to monitor her feed intake.
• May have to adjust feeds appropriately, depending
  on how many lambs she has and how her milk
  production is.
• Provide plenty of roughage.

12
Post-Parturition Ewe Care, contd.

• Water Supply
• Provide ample amounts of water, but again, be
  sure that the lambs are keeping up with her milk
  supply.
• Immediately after birth, can add a cup of
  molasses to a bucket of warm water for the ewe to
  drink.
• Adds some sugars, helps the ewe bounce back
  from the birth.

13
Post-Parturition Ewe Care, contd.

• Udder Checks
• Check udder at least once a week the first week
  after lambing to be sure the lambs are nursing
  evenly on both sides
• Check for hot, swollen, or red udders, which may
  be indications of mastitis
• Check to monitor how much milk the ewe is
  producing.

14
Post-Parturition Ewe Care, contd.

• Watch carefully both in the jug and outside to be
  sure ewe is caring for lambs.
• Be sure she takes them and feeds them.
• Watch for signs of hostility
• Monitor ewe body condition score
• Keep an eye on the ewes general body condition
• Use body condition scores to appropriately adjust
  feed levels