Manual of Lambing Techniques E-Book

Agnes Winter

• Herausgeber: Crowood
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Beschreibung

Lambing can be a challenging prospect whether it's your first or your thirty-first season. This highly practical manual will take you through the period approaching, during and immediately after lambing. Advice is given on how to deal with a range of situations, from normal and malpresentations to the sick in-lamb ewe, abortion, pre- and post-lambing prolapses, to the health of the newborn lamb. It also covers the problems and emergencies that could arise in the first few days, and the easy-to-follow instructions are accompanied by specially-commissioned illustrations.

Leseprobe

A Manual ofLambing Techniques

Agnes C. Winter and Cicely W. Hill

Copyright

First published in 1998 by The Farming Press

This edition published in 2003 by The Crowood Press Ltd Ramsbury, Marlborough Wiltshire SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

This e-book first published in 2013

This impression 2009

© Agnes C. Winter and Cicely W. Hill 1998

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 84797 578 2

TothememoryofTomWinter,adearlylovedhusband

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Judith Charnley and Professor Michael Clarkson for helpful comments on the script. We are also very grateful to Jane Upton for so skilfully interpreting our amateur drawings into clear diagrams which are essential to making the most of the text.

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Author’s Preface

1. Introduction

About this book

Achieving a successful outcome

2. Basic Lambing Equipment

3. How to Make Your Own Lambing Ropes and Snares

Double-ended head rope with safety stops

Leg ropes

Plastic-coated wire head snare

4. How to Use Lambing Ropes and Snares

Head rope or snare

Leg ropes

5. A Simple Hoist and its Applications

Positioning the ewe

The hoist

6. Essential Notes on the Lambing Ewe

7. The Sick In-lamb Ewe

8. Abortion

What to do if a ewe aborts

Common infectious causes of abortion

9. Prelambing Prolapses and Ruptures

Prolapse of the vagina and cervix

Prolapse of the intestines through the vagina

Rupture of the abdominal muscles

10. Is the Ewe Ready to Lamb?

11. Essential Notes About the Lamb to be Delivered

12. Ringwomb

13. Visible Malpresentations and Problems

Head and one leg

Head

Nose and two legs

Nose

Two legs

One leg

14. Internal Malpresentations and Problems

Membranes

Head doubled back

Breech

Back

Large single lamb

Two lambs coming together

Dead smelly lambs

Deformed lambs

Torsion of the uterus

15. The Ewe After Lambing

Checking for more lambs

Routine postlambing ewe care

The placenta

Fostering lambs

16. Postlambing Prolapses

Uterus

Cervix

17. Essential Notes on the Newborn Lamb

Resuscitation

Routine checks for a newborn lamb

Moving lambs

Colostrum and feeding

Shelter and warmth

Castration and Tailing

18. Keeping the Lambs Alive

Lamb examination check-list

19. Problems and Emergencies in the First Few Days

Hypothermia

Watery mouth

Herniation of intestines

Atresia ani

Entropion

Contracted tendons

Infections causing scouring, joint ill, navel ill and liver abcesses

Diseases affecting the brain, nerves and muscles

Dead lambs

20. Conclusion

Index

Authors’ Preface

How did this book come about? It is based on a combined knowledge acquired over many years working with sheep, with each of us feeling the need for a detailed practical book covering the period approaching, during and immediately after lambing.

One of us (ACW) grew up on a small family farm in the Yorkshire Dales, and from a very young age had a particular affinity for working with sheep. After qualifying as a vet, this interest developed further whilst dealing with day-to-day veterinary work on farms, and included running a small flock of pedigree Wensleydale sheep and their crosses, which experienced many of the problems described in this book! For the last ten years, teaching veterinary undergraduates about sheep, particularly trying to introduce them to the difficulties they will encounter in dealing with problems around lambing time, has shown the need for a detailed book to which they (and others) can refer.

The other one of us (CWH) has spent 25 years in partnership with her husband Peter, working with commercial sheep, Dorset Horns, and a large flock of Poll Dorsets on a frequent lambing system. Experiencing all the problems which face the beginner in the early days, thinking ‘How did I tackle this problem last time?’, led to the keeping of copious notes and sketches on particular problems and their solutions, which accumulated over some 15 years.

These formed the core around which the book developed, with veterinary and other practical expertise added to produce the kind of book we feel we would have liked to have had to guide us in our inexperienced days. In particular, we want this book to go some small way towards making life better for both ewes and lambs looked after by those who read and use it. We hope we have succeeded.

Agnes C. WinterCicely W. Hill

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Lambing time can be the most exciting and rewarding time of the year in any sheep flock. It can also be the most worrying and potentially the most disastrous if the shepherd is unprepared, inexperienced or handles the sheep unsympathetically. For many years newcomers to caring for sheep traditionally learnt ‘on the job’ from experienced shepherds. More recently, a new generation of lambers has had hands-on experience at excellent classes run by the Agricultural Training Board. Sadly, many of these training groups have fallen by the wayside, although some training is still given by agricultural colleges and individual veterinary surgeons, and advantage should be taken of these if at all possible. Newcomers may, however, find it difficult to obtain the help of an experienced shepherd or convenient local course. This book aims to help the inexperienced, whether they be agricultural students, veterinary students or someone with a few acres who fancies keeping a few sheep, and perhaps even some experienced shepherds, when presented with a situation in which ewes or lambs appear to be in difficulty around lambing time.

About this book

For those who have little or no experience of sheep, you may read this book and think that things never go right at lambing time! In fact, the vast majority of sheep, providing they are given the opportunity, will lamb perfectly normally and unaided, and the majority of lambs will be alive and healthy. There are exceptions, so it is important to be able to recognise these – for example, some breeds require much more help lambing than others; in some breeds the lambs are less vigorous than others; diseases which cause abortion result in many more lamb deaths than usual. If you are deciding what breed to buy, it is as well to try to find out about any particular breed quirks before buying. Better still, start with some healthy crossbred ewes which have already reared a crop of lambs so know what the job is about.

As you read through this book, you will be conscious of some repetition, particularly in the sections dealing with difficult births. This is deliberate. We have tried to adopt a logical approach which can be followed in most circumstances, so the same technique is often applied for slightly different presentations; since we envisage the book actually being used in the lambing shed (a bit like a cookery book in the kitchen!), we have repeated instructions, to avoid too much page-turning at what can be a stressful moment for both shepherd and sheep.

It is impossible to cover every conceivable situation which you may encounter around lambing, but most common difficulties are discussed. Our methods are not the only ones which work and doubtless other people will have different methods which they favour. In particular, not every one will agree with the very precise instructions on positioning the ewe during correction of malpresentations; these have been developed and refined over many years and undoubtedly help when faced with a difficult case.

If you are inexperienced, you may find it difficult to handle and position a ewe as instructed during lambing unless you have assistance, but as experience is gained, it should be possible to position all but the largest, most obstinate or wild ewe with the minimum of help. The most important rule you should follow is: if in doubt,stop or leave well alone and seek the help ofsomeone with more experience, usually yourveterinary surgeon.

Achieving a successful outcome

The majority of losses in both ewes and lambs take place in the period around lambing. Giving birth and being born are, therefore, high risk periods in the life of the ewe and lamb respectively. Sympathetic and skilful handling at lambing time will reduce mortality and increase the satisfaction of a job well done, as well as maximising the profitability of the flock.

A successful lambing time depends not only upon what happens at the actual time of lambing, but on events several months previously and, having produced live lambs, on keeping the maximum number alive and thriving. Lamb survival is very dependent upon lamb birthweight, which is influenced by litter size and placental size, which are determined in much earlier stages of pregnancy, and by ewe body condition and colostrum and milk production, which are dependent upon nutrition.

In the run-up to lambing, preparation of sheep, accommodation and equipment is essential, together with close observation and prompt action when problems such as prolapses or abortion threaten.

During lambing time itself, the success of dealing with difficult cases relies mainly on five principles.

1. Good preparation of all necessary equipment, which is to hand before delivery is attempted.

2. The use of adequate lubrication, with the highest standard of cleanliness possible.

3. The correct assessment of the presentation of the lamb and appropriate positioning of the ewe, to reduce the pressure of the lamb against the ewe’s pelvic bones.

4. The relief of pressure in the birth canal by raising the ewe’s hindquarters during some complicated assisted lambings.

5. The careful manipulation of the lamb’s head and/or limbs, to produce a streamlined shape, carried out in a gentle and patient manner.

These principles should be observed even in the case of a seemingly small problem, which after thoughtless haste could be turned into a complicated one.

After lambing has taken place, ensuring that lambs receive sufficient colostrum, that they are mothered up properly and that the ewe is producing sufficient milk for all her lambs are crucial factors in carrying through success.

CHAPTER 2

Basic Lambing Equipment

All lambing equipment should be gathered together and prepared for use well in advance of the expected date of lambing. A plastic ‘caddy’ such as the type used for carrying household cleaning materials, or a ‘baby box’, is ideal for holding equipment.

Halter

Most experienced shepherds don’t bother with a halter, but if you are inexperienced, it will aid in restraining your ewe if other help is not available.

Lambingropesandsnares

A variety of commercial devices is available, many of which have their limitations. It is easy and cheap to make your own ropes and snares (see chapter 3). Each set should consist of two leg ropes and a head rope and/or snare. For a large flock, or in the case of synchronised lambing periods, it is essential to have numerous sets of lambing ropes available to ensure proper sterilisation between lambings. After use they should be cleaned under running water and soaked in disinfectant, then rinsed well, dried if possible, and put in clean polythene bags ready for next time. At the end of the lambing period they should be dried well before storage. See chapter 4 for more details about the practical use of lambing ropes.

Bucket

Choose one with a wide base to reduce the possibility of it being knocked over. A bucket with a lid, eg. a nappy bucket, prevents the water spilling if it has to be carried some distance. The bucket should be disinfected between each assisted lambing.

Lubrication

Soap, soapflakes and commercial lubricants are all commonly used. Soapflakes should not be used unless dissolved and prepared as described below. Detergents must never be used, as they sting and irritate if applied directly to a bruised birth canal and can cause the ewe to have difficulty urinating after lambing.

Soap is one of the cheapest and most effective lubricants. A bar of soap (unscented) in hand-hot water will soften on the outside and provide better lubrication on the shepherd’s hands and arms than soapflakes. It can be helpful to dig the fingernails into the softened soap to fill them. A cake of soap is also very effective when rubbed well into the lambing ropes before they are inserted into the uterus.

A home-made soap solution can easily be made and stored in a squeezy plastic bottle, which enables the solution to be directed along the hand into the birth canal. Stir one tablespoonful of soapflakes and half a teaspoon of glycerine into 500 ml boiling water. Stir until dissolved, cool slightly (not too much or it will be difficult to pour), then fill the squeezy bottle ready to use.

Of the proprietary lubricants available, the powder type which turns to jelly on contact with water is particularly useful. Some of the jelly types tend to fall off the hand before they get to where they are needed unless care is taken.

In a difficult lambing, where more lubrication is needed but little room is available for the hand, it may be possible to insert a stomach tube past an obstruction and then ‘inject’ lubricant through it from a large feeding syringe.

Other alternatives include petroleum jelly, liquid paraffin and, in an emergency, lard. If you come across a ewe requiring help unexpectedly and have no lubricant, milking some colostrum onto your hand is better than nothing.

Piecesofdrytowelling

These are invaluable for wiping away membrane and fluids from the mouth and nose of the newborn lamb, when every second may count. They should be discarded or washed frequently, to prevent the spread of infection between lambs.

Cleannewspaper

This can be laid on grass or bedding to help keep ropes as clean as possible during use.

Prolapseharnessesand/orlengthsofsoftcottonrope

These should be available so that prolapses can be replaced in the early stages, preferably before the ewe is in a state where she is straining badly.

Naveldressingsprayordip

It is good practice to treat the navel of newborn lambs, particularly in intensive indoor systems, to guard against infection. Spraying the navel cord is not as effective as dipping, unless done very thoroughly, but dips can act as a source of infection and so should be renewed frequently. An antibiotic spray, which can only be obtained from your veterinary surgeon, is one product which is commonly used. Iodine as a spray or dip is an alternative. This should be an alcoholic solution (tincture) rather than an aqueous solution and not more than 2.5% strength. Stronger solutions can cause premature cracking of the attachment of the cord to the skin, allowing in infections. Teat dips for cows are not suitable since they are emollient rather than astringent.

Stomachtubeandsyringeorfunnel

This essential piece of equipment allows quick and sure feeding of a lamb which will not, may not or cannot suck. It should be thoroughly cleaned in soapy water and rinsed after use. Prolonged soaking in disinfectant may eventually cause damage to the tube and particularly the syringe.

Supplyofcolostrum

Surplus ewe colostrum can be stored in the freezer. It is essential for times when a ewe has too little for her lamb(s). This may be because she has not been fed enough during pregnancy, has had mastitis or is ill, or has more lambs than she can feed. Ewe colostrum is best but there are alternatives (see page 68).

Thermometer

This is necessary to check the temperature of lambs, particularly if hypothermia is a possibility; also for checking ewes which appear off colour.

Warmingboxorheatlamp

For larger flocks, it is well worth investing in a thermostatically controlled warming box. For small numbers of lambs, a fan heater or infra-red lamp can be used, but great care has to be taken not to overheat the lamb or even burn it (see pages 71-2).

Syringesandneedles

A selection of disposable syringes including 2, 5, 10 and 50 ml sizes and needles including 16, 18 and 20 gauge x 2.5 cm will cover most eventualities. Dog vaccination syringes and needles are very suitable for treating lambs. Syringes should be safely discarded after breaking off the nozzle. Needles should be changed frequently and safely discarded into a special sharps container (ask your vet again).

Essentialdrugs

Consult your vet about a supply of drugs such as injectable antibiotic (usually given after a difficult lambing), injections such as calcium borogluconate and treatments for sick lambs, if necessary. A respiratory stimulant is useful and may succeed in helping a lamb which is reluctant to breathe. Most of these are ‘prescription only’ medicines and your vet will only supply them if familiar with your flock.

CHAPTER 3

How to Make Your Own Lambing Ropes and Snares

Commercially available lambing ropes are mostly made of twisted rope of varying thickness, with a loop at one or both ends; another type is made of rubber which is rather too stretchy. There are also several designs of lamb pullers. Some people use baling twine, but this may be contaminated and can cut into and damage lambs so should only be used with care. We suggest you make your own as instructed below. The designs for the ropes and snare have been refined by trial and error over several years and are superior in use (and cheaper!) to any commercially available.

The type of rope required is synthetic rather than cotton, and braided rather than twisted; it is inexpensive and can be purchased by the metre from shops catering for outdoor activities such as camping, sailing, and climbing. The rope can also be found in some Do-It-Yourself stores. Twisted rope is not so easy to manipulate into position, bits of membrane tend to get caught in the rope during lambing and it is time consuming to clean.