Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
If a lamb is dead inside a ewe and so large it can't be pulled out, a veterinar-
ian may have to dismember the lamb to remove it. This is an especially sad
and gruesome procedure, so if you do have a particularly squeamish side, or
if you have kids around, it may be best to leave, or send the kids away, for this
operation. There are some things that are best left unseen.
If you are there when the lamb is born and Mom isn't getting right to licking
it down, wipe the mucus off its nose, place it at the ewe's head quickly so she
can identify it as her own, and clean it off the rest of the way. (Now is the
time to graft on an orphan or triplet that needs a foster mother. See Grafting,
page 299). A lamb that's having diffi culty breathing from excess mucus in the
throat and lungs benefi ts from a quick swing. Grasp it fi rmly by the hind legs
and swing it aggressively in an arc several times — centrifugal force will expel
HOW TO DEAL WITH
THE UMBILICAL CORD
In advance of lambing, make sure you have a 7 percent tincture of
iodine solution in a small, widemouthed plastic jar.
1. Snip the umbilical cord to just about 2 inches (5 cm) long,
with either dull scissors or a dull knife; a dull instrument is
preferable because it reduces the chance of bleeding.
2. Hold the lamb so that the umbilical cord hangs into the con-
tainer and is submerged in the iodine solution.
3. Press the container against the lamb's belly.
4. Turn the lamb up so that the entire cord and the surrounding
area are covered.
Iodine should be applied as soon as possible after birth,
because many bacteria can enter via the navel. The iodine pen-
etrates the cord, disinfects it, and assists in drying. Avoid spilling
the iodine on the lamb or applying it excessively — it has a strong
odor that may mask the lamb's natural odor and cause the ewe to
reject it. As an extra precaution against infection, treat the cord
with iodine again in 12 hours.
