PREPARING FOR LAMBING

1. PREPARING FOR LAMBING Dr. Sherry Smith Dunnville Veterinary Clinic

2. Lambing-Most Important Event of the Year

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

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

5. OBJECTIVES • Lambing • Signs of Lambing • Stages of Lambing • Normal Versus Abnormal Presentation • Assisted Lambing

6. OBJECTIVES • Aftercare 1. Lambs 2. Ewe

8. A. Getting Prepared • Managing the Ewe • Nutrition • Vaccination and Deworming • Shearing • Lambing Records

9. Nutrition is Key!!!

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Body Condition Scoring in Sheep

17. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Last 4-6 Weeks of Gestation • Critical period • Period of largest weight gain • Period of greatest fetal growth

18. 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

20. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Inadequate Nutrition during Gestation • Metabolic Dx (ex. Pregnancy Toxemia) • Weak lambs at birth • Increased lamb mortality

21. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Inadequate Nutrition during Gestation • Decreased birth weight • Decreased milk production • Slower lamb gains

22. Poor Nutrition during Gestation= Weak Lambs

23. 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

24. 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

25. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Metabolic Disorders in the Transition Ewes • Pregnancy Toxemia • Milk Fever

26. 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

27. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Pregnancy Toxemia • At Risk • Overconditioned ewes • Underconditioned ewes • Ewes with multiple fetus

28. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Pregnancy Toxemia-Clinical Signs • Off-feed • Lethargic • Lagging behind rest of flock • Poor muscle control • Walking aimlessly

29. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Pregnancy Toxemia-Clinical Signs • Teeth grinding • Twitching • Eventually unable to rise • If untreated-DEATH

30. Pregnancy Toxemia in a Ewe

31. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Pregnancy Toxemia-Treatment • Early Stages • Propylene Glycol • Yogourt and Water • Force Feeding • Vitamin B12

32. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Pregnancy Toxemia-Treatment • Later Stages • IV glucose • Ewe may require a C-section

33. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Pregnancy Toxemia-Prevention • Adequate energy in ration • Exercise • Avoid abrupt feed changes

34. 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

35. Ensure adequate feeder space

36. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Milk Fever • Acute hypocalcemia • Occurs in late pregnancy to early lactation • Cause-increase demand for calcium

37. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Milk Fever-Clinical Signs • Weakness • Ataxia • Muscle trembling

38. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Milk Fever-Clinical Signs • Decreased appetite • Progresses to inability to stand • If untreated-DEATH

39. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Milk Fever • At Risk: • Old Ewes • Ewes with multiple fetus

40. Milk Fever in a Ewe

41. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Milk Fever-Treatment • IV, PO, or SQ Calcium

42. 1. Managing the Ewe-Nutrition • Milk Fever-Prevention • Exercise and proper nutrition • Good loose mineral mix • Calcium supplementation

43. 1. Managing the Ewe- Vaccination and Deworming • Vaccination for Clostridium • Late pregnancy risk of high levels of parasites

44. Deworming in a ewe

45. 1. Managing the Ewe-Shearing • Dependent on time of year and availability of shelter • 2-3 weeks prior to lambing • If don’t shear-Crutch

46. Shearing a ewe

47. Crutching a ewe

48. Record Keeping is Important!!!

49. 1. Managing the Ewe- Lambing Records • Important • Cull ewes with lambing problems • Do not keep offspring of ewes with lambing problems