PREPARING FOR LAMBING

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PREPARING FOR LAMBING

• Dr. Sherry Smith
• Dunnville Veterinary Clinic

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Lambing-Most Important Event of the Year
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LAMBING TIME

• Most important time of year
• Stressing due to increase demand in time and
  resources
• PREPARATION IS KEY

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OBJECTIVES

• Getting Prepared
• Managing Ewes
• Preparing Facilities
• 3. Preparing Supplies

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OBJECTIVES

• Lambing
• Signs of Lambing
• Stages of Lambing
• Normal Versus Abnormal Presentation
• Assisted Lambing

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OBJECTIVES

• Aftercare
• 1. Lambs
• 2. Ewe

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A. Getting Prepared

• Managing the Ewe
• Nutrition
• Vaccination and Deworming
• Shearing
• Lambing Records

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Nutrition is Key!!!
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Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Nutrition is the key to healthy ewes and healthy
  lambs
• Three periods of gestation
• -first two-three weeks of gestation
• -following 12 weeks-maintenance period
• -last 4-6 weeks of gestation

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• First 2-3 Weeks of Gestation
• Slight weight gains after conception
• Good quality roughage and feedstuffs to reduce
  embryo mortality

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Next 12 Weeks of Gestation
• Maintenance of pregnancy
• Body condition score ewes
• Use good quality roughages and feedstuffs
• AVOID MOLDY FEED
• Save highest quality feed for late gestation

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Body Condition Scoring
• Estimates condition of muscling and fat
  development
• Based on feeling of level of muscle and fat
  deposited over and around vertebrae in loin
  region
• Central spine, Spinous process and Transverse
  process

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Body Condition Score-3-3.5
• Average Weight
• Spinous Processes-smooth and less prominent
  moderate pressure required to feel between them

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Body Condition Score-3-3.5
• Loin muscle is full with moderate fat cover
• Transverse process smooth with firm pressure
  needed to push fingers under edge

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Body Condition Scoring in Sheep
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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Last 4-6 Weeks of Gestation
• Critical period
• Period of largest weight gain
• Period of greatest fetal growth

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Last 4-6 Weeks of Gestation
• Start feeding grain
• May need to add concentrates
• Provide mineral-salt mixture free choice
• Provide sufficient feeder space

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Inadequate Nutrition during Gestation
• Metabolic Dx (ex. Pregnancy Toxemia)
• Weak lambs at birth
• Increased lamb mortality

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Inadequate Nutrition during Gestation
• Decreased birth weight
• Decreased milk production
• Slower lamb gains

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Poor Nutrition during Gestation Weak Lambs
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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Metabolic Disorders in the Transition Ewe
• Transition period-4 wks pre-lambing to 2-3 weeks
  post-lambing
• Short period of time-radical metabolic changes in
  ewe

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Metabolic Disorders in the Transition Ewe
• Ewes are facing
• -final stages of gestation
• -onset of lactation
• -intake and appetite fluctuations
• -diet transitions
• -fluctuations in hormone levels

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Metabolic Disorders in the Transition Ewes
• Pregnancy Toxemia
• Milk Fever

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Pregnancy Toxemia
• low glucose concentration in the blood
• excessive breakdown of body fat
• primary cause-inadequate nutrition during the
  last 1/3 of pregnancy

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Pregnancy Toxemia
• At Risk
• Overconditioned ewes
• Underconditioned ewes
• Ewes with multiple fetus

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Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Pregnancy Toxemia-Clinical Signs
• Off-feed
• Lethargic
• Lagging behind rest of flock
• Poor muscle control
• Walking aimlessly

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Pregnancy Toxemia-Clinical Signs
• Teeth grinding
• Twitching
• Eventually unable to rise
• If untreated-DEATH

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Pregnancy Toxemia in a Ewe
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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Pregnancy Toxemia-Treatment
• Early Stages
• Propylene Glycol
• Yogourt and Water
• Force Feeding
• Vitamin B12

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Pregnancy Toxemia-Treatment
• Later Stages
• IV glucose
• Ewe may require a C-section

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Pregnancy Toxemia-Prevention
• Adequate energy in ration
• Exercise
• Avoid abrupt feed changes

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Pregnancy Toxemia-Prevention
• Prevent stress
• Adequate feeder space
• Ensure moderate body condition
• Prevent ewes from becoming obese
• Separate timid/thin ewes

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Ensure adequate feeder space
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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Milk Fever
• Acute hypocalcemia
• Occurs in late pregnancy to early lactation
• Cause-increase demand for calcium

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Milk Fever-Clinical Signs
• Weakness
• Ataxia
• Muscle trembling

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Milk Fever-Clinical Signs
• Decreased appetite
• Progresses to inability to stand
• If untreated-DEATH

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Milk Fever
• At Risk
• Old Ewes
• Ewes with multiple fetus

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Milk Fever in a Ewe
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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Milk Fever-Treatment
• IV, PO, or SQ Calcium

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1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition

• Milk Fever-Prevention
• Exercise and proper nutrition
• Good loose mineral mix
• Calcium supplementation

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1. Managing the Ewe- Vaccination and Deworming

• Vaccination for Clostridium
• Late pregnancy risk of high levels of parasites

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Deworming in a ewe
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1. Managing the Ewe-Shearing

• Dependent on time of year and availability of
  shelter
• 2-3 weeks prior to lambing
• If dont shear-Crutch

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Shearing a ewe
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Crutching a ewe
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Record Keeping is Important!!!
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1. Managing the Ewe- Lambing Records

• Important
• Cull ewes with lambing problems
• Do not keep offspring of ewes with lambing
  problems

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Lambing Pen
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2. Preparing Facilities

• Prepare 1 week prior to lambing
• Clean and fresh bedding
• Draft-free
• Lambing pens-1 per 10 ewes
• Lambing jugs-small ewe-4 ft by 4 ft
• -large ewe/multiple births-5 ft by 5 ft

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Preparing Supplies

• Lambing Kit
• Colostrum and Milk Replacer

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3. Preparing Supplies-Lambing Kit

• Soap
• Disinfectant
• Obstetrical lubricant
• Syringes and needles
• Antibiotics

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3. Preparing Supplies-Lambing Kit

• Vitamin E and Se
• Lamb cords and lamb snare
• Navel disinfectant-iodine based
• Clean towels or cloths
• Clean pail for warm water

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3. Preparing Supplies-Colostrum and Milk Replacer

• Can be ewe or cow

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3. Preparing Supplies-Colostrum

• Very important
• Can be fresh or frozen (in 500 cc units)

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3. Preparing Supplies-Colostrum

• Three roles
• Protective
• Laxative
• Nutritional

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Lambing

• Normal gestation period is from 140-150 days
• Signs of Lambing
• Stages of Lambing
• Normal Versus Abnormal Presentation
• Assisted Lambing

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B. Lambing-Signs of Lambing

• Behavioral Changes
• Separation and/or isolation
• Territorial
• Pawing at ground
• Restless, nervous or uncomfortable

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B. Lambing-Signs of Lambing

• Behavioral Changes
• Up and down
• Tail switching
• Frequent urination
• Decreased appetite

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B. Lambing-Signs of Lambing

• Physiological Changes
• Increase respiration
• Sides caving in
• Vulvar area swollen
• Mucous discharge
• Teats enlarged

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B. Lambing-Stages of Lambing

1. Dilation of the cervix
2. Expulsion of the lamb
3. Expulsion of the afterbirth

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B. Lambing-Stages of Lambing

• Dilation of the cervix
• -2 to 14 hours
• -Uterine contractions
• -White mucus plug is passed
• -Cervix dilates
• -Ewe is uneasy

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Stage 1 Lambing
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B. Lambing-Stages of Lambing

• b. Expulsion of the Lamb
• -Less than 2 hours
• -Stronger and more frequent contractions
• -Waterbags and lamb pushed through cervix
• -1st waterbag ruptures

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Stage 2 Lambing
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B. Lambing-Stages of Lambing

• Expulsion of the Lamb
• -2nd waterbag pushes through vulva and ruptures
• -Forefeet first, followed by head
• -May take considerable effort to pass head
• and shoulders

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B. Lambing-Stages of Lambing

• Expulsion of the afterbirth
• -5-8 hours after lambing
• -multiple births-separate afterbirths

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Stage 3 Lambing
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B. Lambing-Normal Versus Abnormal Presentation

• Normal Presentation
• Two Forelimbs and a head between them

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Normal Birthing Presentation
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B. Lambing-Normal Versus Abnormal Presentation

• Normal Delivery
• Five hours from start of cervical dilation to
  delivery of the lamb

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B. Lambing-Normal Versus Abnormal Presentation

• Signs of Abnormal Deliveries
• -straining and no signs of waterbag for 1 hour
• -continues to strain an hour after rupture of
  waterbags and no signs of lambs
• -lamb appears wedged in the birth canal
• -abnormal presentation

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Lambing-Normal Versus Abnormal Presentation

• To Determine If Normal Presentation
• -is fetus facing forward or backwards
• -compare anatomy of fetus to ewe
• -follow legs to body of the fetus
• -determine normal posture of fetus

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B. Lambing Normal Versus Abnormal Presentation

• Abnormal Presentations
• One or both forelimbs back
• Head back
• Hind legs instead of forelegs
• One or both hindlegs back

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B. Lambing-Normal Versus Abnormal Presentation

• REMEMBER
• Assistance will be needed if you see the above
  signs of abnormal deliveries
• ANY DELAY COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIVE
  AND DEAD LAMBS!

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B. Lambing-Assisted Lambing

• Secure ewe
• Wash hind end
• Scrub hands and arms
• WEAR GLOVES-REMEMBER ZOONOTIC ORGANISMS!
• Lubricate

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Assisted Lambing
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B. Lambing-Assisted Lambing

• Slide hand into vagina assess situation
• Is cervix dilated?-IF NOT-DONT PULL LAMB
• Correct abnormal position
• Dont convert posterior position to anterior
• position

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B. Lambing-Assisted Lambing

• For Normal Delivery
• Place noose of lambing cord over each leg
• Lubricate birth canal
• Apply steady pulls synchronized with ewes
  contractions
• Once head and forelimbs out pull side to side and
  downwards

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Assisted Birth
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Posterior Presentation
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B. Lambing-Assisted Lambing

• For Posterior Presentation
• Pull lambs hind legs first-straight back
• Once hind legs and pelvis are out-change pull
  downwards towards the ground

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Twins
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B. Lambing-Assisted Lambing

• Twins
• Reach in and feel which parts belong to which
  lamb
• Try to straighten lambs positions
• Push one lamb back to allow other to come first.

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B. Lambing-Assisted Lambing

• Abnormal Presentations

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Positions-head back
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Abnormal Presentation

• Head Back
• Correction-push lamb back and reach in and gently
  search for head and try to position face forward

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Positions-one or both hindlegs back
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Abnormal Presentations

• One or both hind legs back
• Correction-push lamb forward and gently grab one
  of the rear legs and place it in the birth canal.
  Repeat with the second leg.

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Positions-breach and upside down
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Abnormal Presentations

• Breach and Upside Down
• Correction-push lamb forward, turn lamb and
  repeat procedure for hind legs back.

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Positions-one or both forelegs back
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Abnormal Presentation

• One or both front legs back
• Correction-push body back, gently grabbing and
  repositioning the front leg. Repeat with other
  front leg.

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B. Lambing-Assisted Lambing

• Remember
• Large lambs may require c-sections
• Deformed lambs-MAY REQUIRE VETERINARY ASSISTANCE
• Multiple births are common multiple placentas
• Check ewe after birthing

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C. Aftercare

• Lamb
• Ewe

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C. Aftercare-Lamb

• Ensure it is breathing clear nostrils
• Clip and dip umbilical cord
• Need to nurse or tube-feed colostrum within 6-8
  hours after birth

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C. Aftercare-Lamb

• Colostrum
• First milk produced by ewe
• Provides energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and
  WBC
• Require 10 of BW within 24 hours

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C. Aftercare-Lamb

• Colostrum
• Unable to absorb antibodies from colostrum after
  36 hours
• Do not heat up colostrum
• Do not dilute colostrum with water

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C. Aftercare-Lamb

• Weak Lamb
• Help nurse
• Provide supplemental heat if cold
• If unable to suckle-tube-feed

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Hotbox for lambs
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Tube Feeding Lamb
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Aftercare-Lamb

• Tube-feeding
• Warm colostrum
• Sanitize feeding tube and syringe
• Measure length of feeding-tube
• Restrain animal

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C. Aftercare-Lamb

• Tube-feeding
• Hold head Insert feeding-tube
• Check to see if in esophagus
• Allow colostrum to trickle down esophagus
• Needs 10 of BW of colostrum
• Crimp feeding-tube as you withdraw

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C. Aftercare-Ewe

• Ensure ewe and lamb bond
• Examine ewe internally for other fetus
• /- oxytocin
• Antibiotics if you had to intervene
• Anti-inflammatories for pain

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Ewe bonding with lamb
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C. Aftercare-Ewe

• Fresh hay and water
• Gradually re-introduce grain
• Complete lambing records and ID lambs
• Place in small groups of 6-10 ewes, 1-2 days
  after lambing

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Aftercare-Ewe

• Post-lambing problems
• Mastitis
• Prolapsed Uterus

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Aftercare-Ewe

• Mastitis
• Inflammation of the udder
• Caused by physical injury, stress or bacteria
• Production costs-Txt, premature culling and
  decreased performance of lambs.

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Aftercare-Ewe

• Mastitis
• Seen shortly after lambing until post-weaning
  period

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Aftercare-Ewe

• Mastitis
• Several Forms
• Clinical Mastitis
• Severe Mastitis
• Subclinical Mastitis

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Ewe with Mastitis
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C. Aftercare-Ewe

• Mastitis
• Treatment
• Antibiotics
• Anti-inflammatories
• Stripping quarters
• Supplementing Lambs

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C. Aftercare-Ewe

• Mastitis
• Prevention
• Good management and sanitation
• Good drainage
• Prevent overcrowding
• Prevent respiratory dx in lambs

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C. Aftercare-Ewe

• Prolapsed Uterus
• Everted uterus
• Extends from vulva can extend to below hocks
• Prominent caruncles may be present
• Afterbirth may be present

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Prolapsed uterus in a Ewe
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Aftercare-Ewe

• Prolapse Uterus
• Results from powerful abdominal straining
• Immediately after birthing or after 12-48 hour
  interval

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C. Aftercare-Ewe

• Prolapse Uterus
• Due to
• Prolonged labour
• Pain arising from infection or swelling of
  posterior reproductive tract

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Aftercare-Ewe

• Prolapse Uterus
• CALL VET
• Uterus is replaced correctly and fully inverted
• Vulvar sutures
• Antibiotics

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Questions????