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L A M B I N G A R T I C L E
The sheep sales have only just finished and already lambing is just round
the corner. Lambing in this practice is no longer a rush of frantic activity in
the spring, like Christmas it lasts longer every year. Pedigree sheep start
after Christmas and hill flocks are still at it into May but good preparation
whenever sheep are due will help ensure a healthy crop of lambs.
Veterinary Surgeon
Andy Barrett
Binscarth Farms
LAMBING
G
etting ewes' nutritional status right is
the single most important aspect of
preparation; two thirds of lamb
deaths are a result of conditions that have
their origin during pregnancy rather than at
lambing time. Growth of the placenta is
important because it determines the size of
the lambs and, the hormones the placenta
produces affect the yield of colostrum and
influence the mothering ability of the ewe.
Scanning to check lamb numbers allows
better feeding of ewes carrying multiple lambs
and condition scoring sheep as often as they
are handled means that feeding can be
corrected if necessary. Lowland ewes should
be in condition score three at the end of the
third month of pregnancy and hill sheep score
two. If a lot of sheep are thin, liver fluke,
external parasites or trace element problems
may be responsible, the higher the proportion
of the flock that are affected the more likely
it is that there is a management problem.
Faecal or wool examination and blood
sampling may help sort this out.
Three quarters of foetal growth occurs in
the last six weeks of pregnancy and ewes
in good body condition at this time have the
lowest lamb losses if they are fed well until
lambing. Condition scores change relatively
slowly, if there are doubts about the
adequacy of nutrition then blood sampling
a group of 10 ewes a month before lambing
and testing BHB levels provides a cheap
and quick way of checking feeding.
Flat rate feeding while easier to manage
requires good quality forage and may
not be sufficient for very thin ewes. If
swayback has been previously diagnosed
copper supplementation should be given
in mid-pregnancy. Glass boluses supply
copper over the longest period, copper
capsules and injections will also effectively
prevent swayback.
Copper can be very toxic to lowland sheep
and should not be used unless clinical
swayback problems have occurred, be
particularly careful of giving copper
supplements just before housing sheep and
feeding them concentrates which supply
copper in a more available form.
Clostridial vaccine boosters should be given
to ewes six to eight weeks before lambing is
due. If replacement ewes have been bought
in it may be best to give them a full course
rather than assuming that they have previously
been injected.
XLVets Practice
Kingsway Veterinary
Group, Skipton
GET READY FOR
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
Andy Barrett
Kingsway Veterinary Group
15
LIVESTOCK MATTERS