by
Susan Schoenian
Date of last revision:
27-Dec-2005 23:52
Click
HERE to download as a MS Word file.
Nearly 20 percent of lambs die before weaning. Eighty percent of those losses occur during the first 10 days. Good baby lamb care can significantly increase the number of lambs reach by ewes in the flock. A realistic goal is to limit lamb mortality to 4 to 5 percent.
After the ewe has completed delivery, she and her lamb(s) should be moved to a lambing jug (individual pen). Lambing jugs help with bonding and prevent mismothering. Soon after delivery, the ewe's udder should be checked for milk supply and potential problems, such as mastitis. Each teat should be stripped to remove the wax plug. Lambs should be monitored closely to make sure they nurse. Lambs that have nursed will have a full stomach upon palpation. Lambs that have not nursed should be assisted. Weak lambs may need assistance.
The navel of a newborn lamb is a possible route for infectious agents. Navels more than 2 inches long should be clipped closer to the body. To avoid infections, it should be disinfected soon after birth. Spray or dip the navel area with antiseptic solution such as gentle iodine, betadine, or Chlorhexidine (Nolvasan®).
 |
|
Lambs
should nurse during their
first 30 to 60 minutes of life. |
Colostrum is the "first milk" that a ewe produces after lambing. Colostrum contains a high level of several nutrients that are important for lamb health and performance. Colostrum also contains a high level of antibodies against a variety of infectious agents. At birth, the lamb does not carry any antibodies because antibodies in the ewe's bloodstream do not cross the placenta.
It is critical that lambs receive colostrum during the first 24 hours of life in order to ensure adequate absorption of colostral antibodies. Antibodies are large protein molecules that can cross the intestinal wall and enter the blood stream of the lamb only during the first 24 to 36 hours of life. Absorption of these antibodies is most efficient during the first few hours after birth.
It
is recommended that lambs receive 10 percent of the body weight in colostrum
by 24 hours after birth. This means that a 10 lb. lamb should consume 1 lb.
(16 ounces) of colostrum by 24 hours of age. Ideally, the should consume half
of this within 4 to 8 hours of birth. A 60 cc syringe holds 2 ounces of colostrum.
All lambs need colostrum. While it is possible for lambs to survive without
colostrum in a relatively disease-free environment, the liklihood of disease
and death is higher in lambs that do not receive colostrum. The ideal colostrum
source for supplemental feeding of lambs is from healthy ewes in one's own flock.
Ewes vary in the quantity and quality of colostrum they produce. Young ewes
generally produce less colostrum because they also produce less milk. At lambing,
ewes should be checked (stripping the teats) for the quality and quantity of
colostrum.
Older ewes have had greater exposure to infectious agents and usually have a higher concentration of antibodies in their colostrum. Colostrum from dairy cows or goats may be used if ewe's colostrum is not available.
Producers who are attempting to develop an Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP) - free flock need to be concerned about the source of colostrum, since OPP can be transmitted from infected ewes to lambs via the colostrum. To prevent transmission of OPP, lambs should not be allowed to consume ewe's milk. Cow colostrum is a suitable substitute for ewe colostrum.
Hypothermia
and Starvation
Hypothermia and starvation are the two principal causes of early lamb mortality and may result in losses of 5-20% of lambs born alive.
 |
|
Hypothermia
and starvation are the two principle causes of lamb mortality.
|
Hypothermia (chilling) is defined as low body temperature. To maintains its body temperature, a newborn lamb must produce as much heat as it is losing to the environment. If it cannot do this, its body temperature will start to fall. A smaller lamb will chill faster than a larger lamb. Lambs with thicker coats will lose less heat. The quicker a ewe licks off the lamb, the less vulnerable it will be to chilling. Lambs born in drafty pens or outside with no shelter from the wind will lose body heat quicker. Lambs born in colder temperatures obviously lose body heat more quickly than those born during moderate weather.
Lambs with hypothermia appear weak, gant, and hunched up. In severe cases, the lamb may be unable to hold its head up. The ears and mouth may feel cold. The lamb may lack suckling response. The normal body temperature for lambs is 102-103°F. Lambs with temperatures below 100°F are considered hypothermic. A rectal thermometer can be used to assess body temperature.
It is important to get colostrum in newborn hypothermic lambs to elevate the body temperature. Tube feeding is an effective means of doing this. It may also be necessary to move the lamb to a warmer environment to elevate the body temperature. There are several ways to warm a lamb. If the lamb is wet, dry it off and wrap it in a towel. A hair dryer can be used to warm a lamb. The lamb can be put into a warming box. Heat lambs should be used sparingly.
Click HERE to see a diagram of a lamb warming box.
In newborn lambs, hypothermia usually results from exposure. In lambs over 24 hours of age, hypothermia is usually a result of starvation. Older lambs should be handled in a similar manner, except they do not need colostrum. Milk replacer can be fed with a bottle or tube feeder.
Click HERE to read an article on Hypothermia in Newborn Lambs from Ontario, Canada.
Click HERE to read another article on [PDF] Hypothermia in Lambs (Source: National Animal Disease Information Service/NADIS).
Lamb starvation is the number one killer of lambs. It may be caused by many factors: inadequate intake of colostrum, rejection by dam, mastitis, teats which are too large or close to the ground, inadquate milk production, joint injury or illness, soremouth, and/or a difficult birth. Starvation typically occurs during the first three days of life. A lamb will be found standing with its head down, ears drooping back, or it may become too weak to stand. The stomach would be empty upon palpation. Shivering, shaking and hypothermia may follow but this hypothermic lamb is typically over 12 hours of age.
