Are the days of lambing inside numbered?

[Farmer Keith]

I spent yesterday afternoon updating our flock health plans with the vet and conducting our annual AB review as part of which we discussed the use of prophylactic ABs namely Orojet on the farm here, now over the past 5 years we’ve halved its use from all lambs to only doing lambs with a higher risk of watery mouth ie triplets, ewes with less colostrum etc .

However next year Orojet will be no longer available it seems leaving Spectam as the only licensed AB to be used in the lambing shed. The direction of travel seems quite clear and I’m beginning to wonder if the writing is on the wall for inside lambing, there are undoubtably going to be occasions when the weather at lambing time is not as favourable as 2020 and it’s going to be an absolute nightmare, all of this against a backdrop of the sheep sector being the lowest user of ABs across the livestock sector.

 

[tepapa]

Can't see many older shepherds turning sheep out to lamb so they can run after them to catch them If they need assistance when they have a lambing shed on the farm.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Can't see many older shepherds turning sheep out to lamb so they can run after them to catch them I'd they need assistance when they have a lambing shed on the farm.

Very much the issue here, my uncle is in his early 70’s and loves the lambing work but would never catch a ewe out in the field.

 

[Agrivator]

Use Cubisan or similar disinfectant in the lambing pens, ensure all lambs get adequate colostrum, and make certain that all lambs pass the first meconium - and if necessary give them an enama .

 

[aled1590]

Don’t use any AB for lambs in the shed, just plenty of colostrum and hygiene. Must admit we get the odd one with WM and joint ill towards the end but not enough of a problem to start AB

 

[PhilipB]

Use Cubisan or similar disinfectant in the lambing pens, ensure all lambs get adequate colostrum, and make certain that all lambs pass the first meconium - and if necessary give them an enama .

I've never heard about this meconium thing, please could you explain further?

 

[Ysgythan]

I spent yesterday afternoon updating our flock health plans with the vet and conducting our annual AB review as part of which we discussed the use of prophylactic ABs namely Orojet on the farm here, now over the past 5 years we’ve halved its use from all lambs to only doing lambs with a higher risk of watery mouth ie triplets, ewes with less colostrum etc .

However next year Orojet will be no longer available it seems leaving Spectam as the only licensed AB to be used in the lambing shed. The direction of travel seems quite clear and I’m beginning to wonder if the writing is on the wall for inside lambing, there are undoubtably going to be occasions when the weather at lambing time is not as favourable as 2020 and it’s going to be an absolute nightmare, all of this against a backdrop of the sheep sector being the lowest user of ABs across the livestock sector.

no. Look up Pruex.

 

[Mc115reed]

Why would it be the end of lambing indoors purely because some farmers are too idol too make sure they maintain a clean environment at lambing time and ensure lambs get a decent amount of colostrum and instead use blindly dosing every lamb with spectam as the solution too the problem..

 

[Northern territory]

How does everyone monitor adequate colostrum. Know if one big setup in Hampshire used to tube every lamb.

 

[Estate fencing.]

Funny enough I lamb 400 inside and 400 outside. And last year had very little watery mouth and no joint ill inside, but outside had several with watery mouth and 10 joint ill lambs. I put it down to lambs not getting enough colostrum because the ewes where wondering off for water and leaving the lambs.

 

[Mc115reed]

How does everyone monitor adequate colostrum. Know if one big setup in Hampshire used to tube every lamb.

Must be a time consuming job milking all those ewes off and sterilising the tubes between every ewe. [emoji15]

 

[Northern territory]

Must be a time consuming job milking all those ewes off and sterilising the tubes between every ewe. [emoji15]

I agree it is just an example but if you lamb 4 or 500 ewes plus how does everyone check every lamb has had colostrum. It’s an open question?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

We lamb 900 inside. In 40 years we’ve never used a prophylactic dose for watery mouth. Keep colostrum up, feed the ewes right and keep them pens clean. No intention of swapping too outdoor lambing outright. We lambed out this spring in the dry. But first sign of wet, get them in!!

 

[Anymulewilldo]

I agree it is just an example but if you lamb 4 or 500 ewes plus how does everyone check every lamb has had colostrum. It’s an open question?

We have vet students. As soon as they’ve had breakfast they have to check every lamb, same after tea before they go too bed.

 

[Yale]

@sandywil90

 

[Pistonbroke]

I've never heard about this meconium thing, please could you explain further?

One main benefit of colostrum is that it acts as a laxative to shift the black crap already in the gut. If short of colostrum the system backs up giving e coli the chance to multiply and cause watery mouth. Stomach tube of warm soapy water up the backside gets the stuff moving. I do any triplets or quads as routine now

 

[PhilipB]

One main benefit of colostrum is that it acts as a laxative to shift the black crap already in the gut. If short of colostrum the system backs up giving e coli the chance to multiply and cause watery mouth. Stomach tube of warm soapy water up the backside gets the stuff moving. I do any triplets or quads as routine now

Thanks

 

[ISCO]

We used to do every lamb with spectam and half ml of Betamox at birth. Last 3 years have used pine shavings and only done triplets or weak lambs without problem.
Considering using Pruex this year for indoor lambs and then be brave enough to stop all AB.
Started lambing outside 3 years ago as well. Ocasionally have a odd joint I'll lamb outside but now much prefer outdoor lambing.

 

[Timbo]

I spent yesterday afternoon updating our flock health plans with the vet and conducting our annual AB review as part of which we discussed the use of prophylactic ABs namely Orojet on the farm here, now over the past 5 years we’ve halved its use from all lambs to only doing lambs with a higher risk of watery mouth ie triplets, ewes with less colostrum etc .

However next year Orojet will be no longer available it seems leaving Spectam as the only licensed AB to be used in the lambing shed. The direction of travel seems quite clear and I’m beginning to wonder if the writing is on the wall for inside lambing, there are undoubtably going to be occasions when the weather at lambing time is not as favourable as 2020 and it’s going to be an absolute nightmare, all of this against a backdrop of the sheep sector being the lowest user of ABs across the livestock sector.

Without being rude, or disrespectful in any way at all, if you are relying / using Orojet or Spectam etc as a matter of course you either have a colostrum / ewe nutrition or a hygiene / best practice problem in your shed, where triplets or susceptible lambs are not getting sufficient supplementary colostrum through clean kit or are picking bugs up in the pens.

Those red rubber tubes are about the worst thing ever for spreading disease.

 

[Tim W]

I spent yesterday afternoon updating our flock health plans with the vet and conducting our annual AB review as part of which we discussed the use of prophylactic ABs namely Orojet on the farm here, now over the past 5 years we’ve halved its use from all lambs to only doing lambs with a higher risk of watery mouth ie triplets, ewes with less colostrum etc .

However next year Orojet will be no longer available it seems leaving Spectam as the only licensed AB to be used in the lambing shed. The direction of travel seems quite clear and I’m beginning to wonder if the writing is on the wall for inside lambing, there are undoubtably going to be occasions when the weather at lambing time is not as favourable as 2020 and it’s going to be an absolute nightmare, all of this against a backdrop of the sheep sector being the lowest user of ABs across the livestock sector.

The sheep sector will change a bit in the next decade , emphasis slowly shifting to lowland flocks integrated into arable systems which could lead to fewer indoor Lambers? It should by definition be good for sheep....clean grazing, low worm burdens, good growth rates & a possible further reduction in AB use?