Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
thick, strong ring made of a special rubber compound. Leave the ring on until the testicles
come off.
Lambs should have access to fresh water and hay or pasture starting at 1 week old. Weaning
can be started at 6 weeks for orphan lambs. Provide plenty of fresh water and good quality
pasture to the lambs being weaned. At the time the lamb is weaned, it should be given a
dewormer. Dewormers kill worms and parasites, which compete with the lamb for vital nutri-
ents and can lead to poor lamb growth. Lambs should be vaccinated against tetanus and pulpy
kidney. If the mother had been vaccinated against these diseases and if adequate colostrum
was fed to the lamb, these vaccines can be given to lambs at 3 months old. If not, the lamb
should be vaccinated when the tail is docked. Three to four weeks after the first vaccine, the
lamb will need a second injection of the same vaccine.
If you find a weak lamb, the most important steps to take are to dry the lamb thoroughly using
warm towels to bring its body temperature up. Most shepherds will bring the lamb into the
house and place it in a cardboard box or large plastic tub lined with disposable bedding. Fill
hot water bottles or a used, plastic soda bottle with hot water and wrap it in towels. Place the
wrapped bottle up against the lamb. A heat lamp can be used to provide warmth. When the
lamb warms up, it will start to bleat and want to be fed.
The lamb should be fed colostrum, preferably from its mother. Cow colostrum can be fed if
the mother does not have sufficient colostrum. Return the lamb to its mother as soon as pos-
sible. An orphan lamb should be placed in a warm, dry pen with a supplemental heat source.
Many people will let the orphan bunk in a box in the house or a warm basement until it is a
week old. Then, it will be put into its own pen in the lambing barn.
Ewe health
Viruses and bacteria causing miscarriages in ewes can be a big problem, and these bacteria
and viruses are considered zoonotic as they also can cause symptoms in humans. Pregnant
women should never handle dead lambs or fetuses, placentas, or placental fluids. Miscarriages
can be reduced by strict sanitation of the lambing areas and by keeping other animals out of
the lambing pens. Any ewe that has aborted a lamb should be isolated from the flock to help
decrease the transmission of the disease organism. The aborted fetus and placenta should be
placed in a plastic garbage bag, tied shut, and brought to a veterinary clinic to be examined.
Usually the tissues will need to be sent to a university diagnostic lab to determine the cause of
the abortion. Some common causes of abortion include:
