Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
WARMING UP A FROZEN LAMB
The warm-water method is probably the best method of warming
a “frozen” lamb, one that is really, really cold. Submerge it up to
its neck in water that is quite warm to the touch. It will begin to
struggle, but keep it immersed for several minutes. Dry it well, and
place it in a warm environment until it has totally recovered. Feed
it 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 mL) of warm colostrum or milk replacer
as soon as it can take it. Force-feeding with a stomach tube after
removal from the water and drying speeds up recovery (see Stom-
ach Tube Emergency Feeding, page 296, for more information).
If you are dealing with a slightly older lamb that's become severely hypo-
thermic from starvation, then it will need an injection of glucose. This hap-
pens to lambs that don't get fed within an hour or so after birth. They need
the energy in that fi rst hit of milk very badly. If they don't get it, their body
temperature begins to fall, and they begin to “feed” off the glycogen, or sugar,
reserves in their body. Without the glucose injection, a lamb will die during
warming.
The use of a plastic “lamb coat” in cold weather can be benefi cial because
it helps the lamb retain a great deal of body heat. A newborn lamb appears
wrinkly because there is very little body fat under the skin. It takes 3 to 5 days
to build up that fat layer under the skin, which acts as natural insulation.
When a lamb coat is used to help the lamb retain body heat, the energy that
would be used to keep it warm is converted to body fat. This can be especially
benefi cial to twins and triplets with marginal milk intake.
Weak Lambs
A lamb that has been weakened by a protracted or diffi cult birth may be suf-
fering from anoxia (lack of oxygen) or have fl uid in its lungs. The fi rst few
minutes are critical. If it gurgles with the fi rst breaths or has trouble breath-
ing, swing it as discussed previously. Two or three swings normally get things
going. Be sure that you have a fi rm grasp on the lamb (the lamb will be slick)
and that there are no obstructions in the path of your swing.
It is not essential for the fi rst feeding to be colostrum, but make sure the
lamb does receive colostrum during the fi rst few hours of life. The lamb's
