Mis presented lambs
- Thread starter BAF
- Start date
Skintagain
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- Location
- Perched on the Pennines
Very small lambs are a problem as they haven’t the strength to straighten up. Very big lambs get hung cause there isn’t the pelvic room. Some ewes don’t have enough pelvic space either (texels have got horrific down some lines). Lack of excercise in ewes also plays a factor as does obesity and malnutrition.
these are all my take
these are all my take
I was interested years ago, when an old, well respected Border Leicester breeder, claimed that the ram had an influence after he had kept records going back years, I have kept a note with the peds, not possible with the com ewes, and I think he might have had a point, certainly various rams have thrown lambs with similar presentations, one in particular, every lambs left leg back ?
- Location
- JanDeGrootLand
The old hands worked out and wrote down everything they could to find what worked best.
Certain breed lines would have strengths and weakness's.
One that sticks in my mind from youth on NCC's was anything with white hoof was unlikely to be retained for breeding as more likely to have rot. So much so that one or two Tup breeders would colour hoof before sales.
With our NCC/Texel x ewes last two years have had too many needing front feet pulled, just tucked under chin making shoulders as wide as possible. Could very likely be something in the breeding as using Tex and Beltex cross tups .
Certain breed lines would have strengths and weakness's.
One that sticks in my mind from youth on NCC's was anything with white hoof was unlikely to be retained for breeding as more likely to have rot. So much so that one or two Tup breeders would colour hoof before sales.
With our NCC/Texel x ewes last two years have had too many needing front feet pulled, just tucked under chin making shoulders as wide as possible. Could very likely be something in the breeding as using Tex and Beltex cross tups .
spin cycle
Member
- Location
- north norfolk
@spin cycle don't you come here offering reasonable arguments to me 
I'm not going to chop his head off just yet, he's sired some serious lambs enough to forgive yanking a few out....although I got the vets bill for the one they pulled whilst I was away. They could have taken me out for dinner before they bent me over! I'd say they could have used lube but that'd probably have cost extra!
I'm not going to chop his head off just yet, he's sired some serious lambs enough to forgive yanking a few out....although I got the vets bill for the one they pulled whilst I was away. They could have taken me out for dinner before they bent me over! I'd say they could have used lube but that'd probably have cost extra!- Location
- JanDeGrootLand
There are also varied ideas that ground conditions could be cause of problems, like if ewes having to jump over a small ditch or chose to do so, it would be the cause of difficult lambings. If space was tight at feed boxes and ewes pushing in and being jostled that was "definately " the cause of dead born lambs oh and frosted neeps..
Well maybe it made them feel better if they had a reason, but some of their ideas were right and the product of generations of experience.
Every mans own idea in the right one in his own mind.
- Location
- Isle of Skye
I think it is almost the opposite of this. Ewes that are jumping over ditches and clambering up and down ledges right up until they lamb are the ones whose lambs get shaken into the natural position, IME it's the ewes that hardly move, ie housed ewes, or maybe just ewes stood at a ring feeder on a flat field, they seem to be the ones that have the most malpresentations.
This is my idea in my mind and it's definitely the right one.... the right idea I mean, I'm not claiming to be in my right mind though.
My parents always used to house they're sheep at Xmas, right through to lambing in March to rest the grass. Over the years bits of local winter keep have meant they now keep them out until about 10 days pre lambing, and they definitely have less trouble with difficult lambing, less prolapse, and livelier lambs as a result. I Iamb out, always have and definitely think alot of one leg backs must jus be delivered and I know nothing about it. Only normally have to lamb the head onlys, or true breach and other real tangles.
- Location
- JanDeGrootLand
And with different ground conditions and vey different sheep, an idea that's right in one is probably wrong in the other and the other is perfectly right in the right place.
And all this gibberish BEFORE lambing has started. What will we ramble on about after 6 weeks of mayhem and broken sleep and storms and wind and cold and wet. # Any body want to by a flock lambing from 6th April.
Do not tip sheep for crutching or routine feet trimming within a month of lambing. Much better to suffer inconvenience of dirty sheep and treat odd limper til after lambing if sheep need to go off their feet for trieatment.
I always used to give lambing ewes dagging and foot trim prior to lambing until a bout of sciatica prevented it one year . . . .lambing was transformed from maybe 30% malpresentations to 5%.
I always used to give lambing ewes dagging and foot trim prior to lambing until a bout of sciatica prevented it one year . . . .lambing was transformed from maybe 30% malpresentations to 5%.
- Location
- Fife
- Location
- JanDeGrootLand
May consider. Half day lost first Prolaps. Took to vet as 2crop and was pushing hard. Seems to have settled now.
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- Location
- JanDeGrootLand
Just discussing this for feet problems. I usually use turnover crate, but one of the clamp bars is just in front of hind leg. Will that pressure have an adverse effect on lamb/s. Did two last week at dosing but a few more showing a limp. 5 and a bit weeks to lambing. Think will gather again and separate the half dozen that need looking too, but they never show up in the pens. Definately all a double footbath treatment.
Dont like trimming feet at lambing as no matter how carefull will carry infection on hands so have to jag every ewe that needs help.
Skintagain
Member
- Location
- Perched on the Pennines
Why vets?
I'd make that two.
If there's anything that must be looked at, two of us do it, restrain her upright and lift the foot cattle style.
Awkward but we just don't tip anything well on in lamb.
Still get mis-presentations though!
- Location
- Fife
I shear my ewes 2 weeks before lambing. Haven't noticed any problems.
I guess singles aren’t such a problem!