Prolapse

[Devil's advocate]

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

Only small flock here but 60 ewes one prolapsed cervix, had triplets two days later so little bother.

But ewe lambs had two out of 30. But I blame myself due to flooding & fallen trees on fences, one field was not grazed until late Feb & was really too good for inlamb hoggs, not suitable for baby lambs due to very high fox & badger population & not fenced well enougth for little lambs either. Needed the "fog" grazing off it to make good horse haylage. Of the two they were twins which both gave birth to twins, one was shot because uterus fully out & she kept pushing when it was put back the other just the cervix but l had the vet put that back because I expected more bother. Everything will be culled, the Dam of these two had a prolapse post lambing as a hogg but performed well this year as a Shearling. The lambs were kept because they were such a superb pair reared by the a hogg, but lesson learnt.

 

[ford4000]

my father and I both agree that there is a higher chance of our ewes prolapsing when the weather is colder. a frosty night or cold wind blowing and we are on alert for prolapses much more than if it is raining or warm.

 

[neilo]

my father and I both agree that there is a higher chance of our ewes prolapsing when the weather is colder. a frosty night or cold wind blowing and we are on alert for prolapses much more than if it is raining or warm.

That's another theory to add to the list. I've never heard of that one before.

What's the thinking behind that, or is it an observation?

 

[RushesToo]

my father and I both agree that there is a higher chance of our ewes prolapsing when the weather is colder. a frosty night or cold wind blowing and we are on alert for prolapses much more than if it is raining or warm.

I'm convinced that calcium plays a big part.This year we hadn't had a single prolapse up to about 10 days ago.At that time we had a couple of cold nights and grass growth stalled in the heavily stocked lambing fields.We lost 2 newly lambed ewes to milk fever at this time despite not having had any ewe deaths since scanning.Then in the space of 3 days we had 4 ewes prolapsed.all of which we lost either before or during lambing.After that everything settled down and with lambing nearly finished we have had no more prolapses.So I find it interesting that at a time of slight stress leading to calcium deficiency prolapses suddenly became a problem.The ewes that prolapsed were all twin bearing cast blackies which are notorious for succumbing to milk fever/staggers when stressed on good grass.

Seems that you and @sheepwise identify the same cause. Anyone else got anything to add - and how can we test it?

 

[Longlowdog]

Aberdeenshire has had it's driest, mildest winter for many years and prolapses are very common this year. The year it got down to -24 had no more prolapses than normal. No-one has mentioned tail length/pelvic floor muscle relationship and the dangers of docking so short the ewe can't wag her tail yet. Also heard the theory that prolapses are related to bad feet and lack of exercise leading to generally poor muscle tone.

 

[neilo]

Seems that you and @sheepwise identify the same cause. Anyone else got anything to add - and how can we test it?

See if there are any housed flocks that get prolapses?

 

[neilo]

Aberdeenshire has had it's driest, mildest winter for many years and prolapses are very common this year. The year it got down to -24 had no more prolapses than normal. No-one has mentioned tail length/pelvic floor muscle relationship and the dangers of docking so short the ewe can't wag her tail yet. Also heard the theory that prolapses are related to bad feet and lack of exercise leading to generally poor muscle tone.

The tail length thing has always made sense to me, but surely all the sheep in France (where they are docked completely) would be prolapsing?

A bit of tail is helpful to hold the harness in place.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Aberdeenshire has had it's driest, mildest winter for many years and prolapses are very common this year. The year it got down to -24 had no more prolapses than normal. No-one has mentioned tail length/pelvic floor muscle relationship and the dangers of docking so short the ewe can't wag her tail yet. Also heard the theory that prolapses are related to bad feet and lack of exercise leading to generally poor muscle tone.

I've always erred on the side of leaving tails too long - hasn't helped me this year. Even have an odd few with tails left long - had 1 of those prolapse this week too.

 

[ford4000]

It's an observation , I don't know why !

 

[ford4000]

Seems that you and @sheepwise identify the same cause. Anyone else got anything to add - and how can we test it?

You would think that a dirty,wet night would cause them more stress than a night of frost though, but it's frosty nights we see most. Ewes lying down more ,leading to more internal pressure ??

 

[Blod]

Maybe on a cold night they pack a bit more food in adding so adding to the internal pressure?

 

[jemski]

Aberdeenshire has had it's driest, mildest winter for many years and prolapses are very common this year. The year it got down to -24 had no more prolapses than normal. No-one has mentioned tail length/pelvic floor muscle relationship and the dangers of docking so short the ewe can't wag her tail yet. Also heard the theory that prolapses are related to bad feet and lack of exercise leading to generally poor muscle tone.

I'd go with the lameness theory, just from observations here. Two out of the four that prolapsed this year here were lame.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Aberdeenshire has had it's driest, mildest winter for many years and prolapses are very common this year. The year it got down to -24 had no more prolapses than normal. No-one has mentioned tail length/pelvic floor muscle relationship and the dangers of docking so short the ewe can't wag her tail yet. Also heard the theory that prolapses are related to bad feet and lack of exercise leading to generally poor muscle tone.

I've put prolapses back into undocked ewes, always leave a decent length of tail so can't comment on the no tails type of docking.

 

[Blod]

I'd go with the lameness theory, just from observations here. Two out of the four that prolapsed this year here were lame.

I agree, since I've been using footvax we've had a lot less. It has a logic, it must be quite a strain for a heavily pregnant sheep to limp, plus they are more likely to take a hammering at the trough.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I'd go with the lameness theory, just from observations here. Two out of the four that prolapsed this year here were lame.

I agree, since I've been using footvax we've had a lot less. It has a logic, it must be quite a strain for a heavily pregnant sheep to limp, plus they are more likely to take a hammering at the trough.

Don't wish to be awkward, but don't recall any of the 25 or so I've had this year being lame. (And yes I've got the usual smattering of lame sheep around the place.)

 

[gatepost]

A lot less prolapses this year, no real reason why, just made sure selenium levels were kept up, only thing we did differently was to give the twin baring ewes a bit of whole barley via a 3in1 feeder for a few weeks earlier than we would normally feed, helping them during the wet to keep going, and housed the 3s after scanning. ??