According to Jodie Pennington, region small ruminant educator with Lincoln University Cooperative Extension at the Newton County Extension Center, the best advice for lambing is to be prepared.
“Whether you lamb in a very extensive or intensive system, be prepared for the worst and hope for the best,” said Whitney Whitworth an Associate Professor of Animal Science for the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
To prevent starvation and hypothermia, the udder of the ewe should be clipped of any wool, i.e. crotched, to be sure that the baby lamb does not nurse on loose wool. “It is important to make sure that the lamb nurses as soon as possible after being born,” Pennington said. “If it has not nursed within six hours after birth, you should tube-feed it colostrum.”
Starvation can also result from the ewe not having milk – which is more common in first-time lambers or undernourished ewes, Pennington added.
Whitworth added that some animals are just not good mothers, so vigilance is essential to survival. “Watch for lambs who are drawn or have hunched backs or just seem not quite right (lethargic, weak). Those need extra attention.”
Pregnancy toxemia is a BIG problem in sheep. “Make sure that heavy pregnant ewes have extra energy in their diets,” Whitworth said. “Also, making sure ewes stay on a constant nutrition regimen (not too fat or no starvation periods or extra stress) will reduce pregnancy toxemia, hypocalcemia and hypomagnesia. Keeping them active and moving can aid in preventing some metabolic disorders. Any problem will be worse in a ewe carrying multiple fetuses because of the strain on her body.”
“Ewes that are susceptible to pregnancy toxemia or ketosis are more apt to not produce milk and should be fed supplemental grain in the last few weeks before parturition,” Pennington said. “This year, the drought resulted in limited forage supplies so ewes tend to be thinner than normal and may need extra feed as they approach lambing.”
According to Pennington, good ventilation and a dry, well-bedded lambing area will help prevent pneumonia. “If the lamb appears to be weak or sick, give it antibiotic, probiotics, and an energy supplement promptly,” she added. “Isolate any sick lambs from the other lambs. Vaccinate the ewes at least six weeks before lambing for respiratory diseases and CDT (Tetanus and Clostridium perfringens Types C & D).”
Lambs need a dry, clean environment. They don’t have to be inside but it is essential to keep them dry and warm. If it is bitterly cold outside, a barn may be needed or you may have to keep the baby lambs inside until the temperature goes above 20 F.
“This year, we have a lot of producers who do not have adequate hay,” Pennington added. “If the ewes have a less than desired body condition, watch them carefully and make sure they have enough milk for the babies. If needed, isolate thin ewes and feed them 1-2 pounds of grain near parturition to prevent ketosis and to get them in adequate flesh to provide milk for the babies. Usually a high-producing ewe will lose between 1-2 points on body condition (on a 5 point scale) after she lambs.”
