Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
10
Lambing is both hard work and rewarding, but the hard work needs to be
emphasized. And if you choose to lamb in the winter, the work will be even
harder.
Certain husbandry practices done a few weeks before lambing can be very
helpful when the time for lambing arrives. These practices — shearing, crotch-
ing, and facing — can help keep a clean environment for the newborn lamb
and remove obstacles that could make your job more diffi cult.
Shearing
If the weather is mild and you do your own shearing and can ensure gentle-
ness, ewes can be sheared up to 3 or 4 weeks before lambing. See chapter
11 for information on shearing. There are some advantages in having ewes
sheared before lambing:
■
No dirty, germ-laden wool tags for lambs to suck
■
Clean udder makes it easier for lambs to fi nd teats
■
Fewer germs in contact with the lamb as it emerges at birth
■
Easier to assist at lambing, if necessary
■
Easier to spot an impending prolapse (see Vaginal Prolapse, in
chapter 8)
■
Easier to predict lambing time by ewe's appearance
■
Ewe less apt to lie on her lamb in pen
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