Prolapse

DB67

Member
Location
Scotland
Anyone else getting more than usual this year?

I had 4 today from hill twins. Usually get maybe 2 out of 300 twins a year but had 7 already and still got a good few to lamb.

Success rate is tiny aswell with them. Had one last week which I lambed today (lambs dead) and she died instantly after lambing.

Grrrrr.
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
Had a ridiculous number this year here. About 1/2 of them have died, either before lambing or after taking off dead lambs. Reckon I've lost 2% or so, and had at least another 2% strapped up and been ok.

Don't wish to alarm you but mine have kept doing it right to the end too. Had 3 this week despite being almost finished. 2 ewes, 1 which split when I was catching her (never had that happen before) and subsequently died, the other a single, and suspect she'll die too. 3rd is a hog which doesn't seem too bad so far.

:mad::mad::mad:
 

DB67

Member
Location
Scotland
Yeh had one that split today catching her too. A wee tear can sometimes be okay but usually they burst beyond help.

Wouldn't say it's fat ewes either but it's got to be down to better grass? Doesn't seem to be any other real reason for it!
 

GTB

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
Had a ridiculous number this year here. About 1/2 of them have died, either before lambing or after taking off dead lambs. Reckon I've lost 2% or so, and had at least another 2% strapped up and been ok.

Don't wish to alarm you but mine have kept doing it right to the end too. Had 3 this week despite being almost finished. 2 ewes, 1 which split when I was catching her (never had that happen before) and subsequently died, the other a single, and suspect she'll die too. 3rd is a hog which doesn't seem too bad so far.

:mad::mad::mad:
Same here. Fantastic lambing weather but prolapses and mastitis galore.
 

DB67

Member
Location
Scotland
Yes lots of rain but we have had lots of rain and snow in previous winters and not been as bad.

Although it is something to consider. Is there something lacking that can cause prolapse?
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Everyone I've spoken to this year, has had more prolapses than normal and higher losses amongst those too.

I've had a few more too, but ewes were all bolused after scanning so hopefully not any of the main TE's to blame. Hopefully just 'this year's challenge', next year there will be something else no doubt.:)
 

jonny

Member
Location
leitrim
More than normal this year too. Biggest problem this year was ewe lambs pressing after lambing Most of them Lambed themselves so no rough handling 6 out of 50 had to be stitched up a couple of days after lambing
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
Yeh had one that split today catching her too. A wee tear can sometimes be okay but usually they burst beyond help.

Wouldn't say it's fat ewes either but it's got to be down to better grass? Doesn't seem to be any other real reason for it!

My vet reckons it's just down to ewes having had an easy winter with good grass and silage. He actually predicted it was going to be a bad year for it in January as ewes were looking so well after the autumn flush and silage analyses were particularly good, and grass tended to 'grow' all winter - certainly it didn't get a frost check.
Mine have only had grass and the tiniest bit of crystallyx. Some weren't even on very good grass through February. It's also been nearly all doubles rather than triplets, plus a couple of singles.
Agree we've had wet winters before that trace element leaching would seem unlikely, but I still wonder if there's more to it.
 
feed them hay in the last few weeks of pregnancy, replace lick buckets with blocks, andd feed oats,barley,bean,wheat mix rather than concentrates, or to save yourself money and hassle replace the flock with a traditional breed and keep them pure
 

romneymarsh

Member
Location
Romney Marsh
At last an opportunity to be a little smug on a sheep post.
800 ewes 3 prolapsed.
Two died so something wrong inside.
One remains fat'ish triplet carrier still looks ok.
Always cull out a ewe that prolapsed.
 

Blod

Member
No more prolapses than usual but mastitis has been a real problem this year and it's the aggressive sort, Stinking black udders.
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
feed them hay in the last few weeks of pregnancy, replace lick buckets with blocks, andd feed oats,barley,bean,wheat mix rather than concentrates, or to save yourself money and hassle replace the flock with a traditional breed and keep them pure
What do you call a traditional breed @IH 684 ?
I've a multitude of breeds here due to a change of policy, and it's been no respecter of breed. Lleyns, Romney, kiwi stuff, mules. All have suffered.
I saved myself money and fed grass, no concentrates, no hay, no silage, but still had issues.
Not sure what you're saying?
Most people say hay is worse than silage or grass for causing prolapse.
 

Johnny400

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
Well i have had only two(out of 340) from my own breeding and the second has just died this morning. I have 60 bought in blackie crosses and 5 of them ive had to catch and tied up but at least all, apart from one, lambed and running with lambs.
They were on swedes right till the first one lambed and all the old boys were saying id have BIG problems but maybe ive been lucky.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I don't think anyone really knows what causes it, but have heard many theories over the years. Feeding any of hay, straw, silage or roots have all been blamed (& now concs too?), as well as housing sheep with little exercise.

We've had more than usual, but still only 1%. Ours were full of roots right up to lambing too.
 

Dave6170

Member
We ve had a few this year as well. One died out of maybe 6 or 7 in 410 ewes. And she burst it when trying to catch her. Dad says he never used to get as much as now. Again breed, age, feeding seems to have nothing to do with it.
 

ford4000

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
north Wales
a lot less than normal here too,and only a few deaths of about 0.5% and I've had to shoot more than have died! Why ? wish I knew so I could do the same every year! ewes have been in better condition than normal as well, giving birth to big twins
 
grass is wet which losens the back end with wet feaces hay is dry which assists in keeping the rear end muscles working and thus helps keep in the internal bits where they should be, traditional breeds i would reccomend are wiltshire horn, herdwick, two horn jacobs, norfolk horn, dorsets, keep them pure you will find iam sure a lot less issues, take for example the new easy care breed they came from the wiltshire horn as people have less time and money these older breeds are becoming more popular
 

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