Backwards lambs

[D.A]

Hi All,
This month I’m lambing the first 21 ewes. I’m getting a real problem with lambs coming backwards??? Pretty much every one so far has got either one backwards or both.
is there a reason for this? Stress??

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Just one of those things

 

[Al R]

Just one of those things

Just one of those things, in 2018 I had backwards Tuesday with 45 lambs in a row backward’s, even sets of triplets all backwards! 5 different breeds, inside/outside 3-4 different rations...

 

[D.A]

Ah ok, thought I was messing something up! Lambs definitely not wanting to come out in this weather!! ? thank you for the replies!

 

[andybk]

dont lambs turn just before lambing ready to come out , ? anyone else noticed a flush of lambs during stormy weather , maybe they are a day or so early ,be interesting to see what happens if weather settles down

 

[tepapa]

I was told it could handling during mid pregnancy, whilst the lambs are still mobile in the womb. During late pregnancy there isn't enough room for the lambs to move about so at that point they are fixed, either forwards or backwards.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

anyone else noticed a flush of lambs during stormy weather , maybe they are a day or so early ,be interesting to see what happens if weather settles down

Bad weather always brings sheep on lambing...it’s believed it’s so the cleansings are washed away thus preventing predators

 

[Farmer_Joe]

i though it was just low pressure, bad weather they all let go

 

[neilo]

Bad weather always brings sheep on lambing...it’s believed it’s so the cleansings are washed away thus preventing predators

I’ve never heard of that reasoning. I always assumed it was to suit their suicidal ambitions.? But yes, you can almost guarantee they’ll be lambing flat out when it’s going to be pee’ing down for the next few days.

 

[Global ovine]

Hi All,
This month I’m lambing the first 21 ewes. I’m getting a real problem with lambs coming backwards??? Pretty much every one so far has got either one backwards or both.
is there a reason for this? Stress??

Most lambs prior to birth move into the normal birth position once contractions start. However some don't and these are often the result of insufficient room to move in the uterus due to litter size (total weight of uterine contents), and/or are not vigorous lambs. There has been numerous reports of breach birth incidence varying widely between sires (sires of the lambs). If the lambs are in the normal birth weight range, this vigour can also be observed by the time it takes to first suck. Lambs from sires that feed the quickest have very low incidence of breach birth when all lambs experiencing birth difficulties were excluded from the data. So it pays to avoid sires with a history of sluggishness in their offspring.
How a ewe is handled at any stage of pregnancy is irrelevant except in the birthing stage.
If stress is nutritional, it will affect lamb size and a litter of smaller lambs may have more room to move. But most of the stress will be on the ewe's metabolic system as nutritional pathways means the lambs always get first access to the blood supplied nutrients. Hence Milk Fever or Twin Lamb disease is the risk if the ewe's intake is insufficient.

 

[steveR]

I’ve never heard of that reasoning. I always assumed it was to suit their suicidal ambitions.? But yes, you can almost guarantee they’ll be lambing flat out when it’s going to be pee’ing down for the next few days.

Yep!

All of MrsR's pet flock are all indoors now having seen the forecast for the next week and due to pop. The rush started today.

Thank gawd there are not many this time... Where/when they will be turned out though.... ?

 

[ford4000]

I’ve never heard of that reasoning. I always assumed it was to suit their suicidal ambitions.? But yes, you can almost guarantee they’ll be lambing flat out when it’s going to be pee’ing down for the next few days.

Especially triplets!

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Bad weather always brings sheep on lambing...it’s believed it’s so the cleansings are washed away thus preventing predators

What a sensible reason! I always assumed it's because your average ewe is a vindictive b***h and will lamb faster when the weather increases the risk of her lambs succoming to hypothermia. Or if lambing inside like we do, they know you can't turn out from the little pens so they lamb faster to increase stress levels and the need for make shift pens which are a PITA to water & feed. Last spring our record was 147 individual pens for 3 days while it froze and snowed/ pee'd down outside. On the bright side when the weather takes up they all relax and stop lambing for a day or two. Allowing us to catch up!

 

[steveR]

What a sensible reason! I always assumed it's because your average ewe is a vindictive b***h and will lamb faster when the weather increases the risk of her lambs succoming to hypothermia.

Oh yes indeedy!! The perfect end to gestation for some ewes to save having to look after the lambs...

Got one A1 B*tch that had a humungous lamb that she couldn't deal with last Friday. I rearranged the legs and got it out and with my limited experience, I was actually quite chuffed with myself.

Then the problems really started, she loves the lamb, mothering it, stamping of feet at people, the works! But feed it... will she hell as like. As soon as the lamb gets near the teats, she does a 180.... She will fight like hell when you hold her and I have had to trap the ewe by the neck to allow the lamb to suckle... We need a sheep crush!!

Last night I gave in and have started bottling the lamb full time... The ewe will have achieved a sheep deathwish ambition of sorts.... she can go to Shrewsbury, as a cull!!!

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Oh yes indeedy!! The perfect end to gestation for some ewes to save having to look after the lambs...

Got one A1 B*tch that had a humungous lamb that she couldn't deal with last Friday. I rearranged the legs and got it out and with my limited experience, I was actually quite chuffed with myself.

Then the problems really started, she loves the lamb, mothering it, stamping of feet at people, the works! But feed it... will she hell as like. As soon as the lamb gets near the teats, she does a 180.... She will fight like hell when you hold her and I have had to trap the ewe by the neck to allow the lamb to suckle... We need a sheep crush!!

Last night I gave in and have started bottling the lamb full time... The ewe will have achieved a sheep deathwish ambition of sorts.... she can go to Shrewsbury, as a cull!!!

My old fella wanders around the sheds now with his red marker spray looking for passengers on the next Bentham bus. I did tell him last year that it's a very negative approach, he said it encourages those debating being Pillocks with their own lambs to straighten up and behave. Can't fault his logic ??

 

[Nithsdale]

You boys need better sheep.

Mine tend to slow down lambing if bad weather comes in.

 

[steveR]

You boys need better sheep.

Mine tend to slow down lambing if bad weather comes in.

Is this the time to mention Easycare sheep...... and then retire to the other room??

 

[Nithsdale]

Is this the time to mention Easycare sheep...... and then retire to the other room??

There's no such thing as Easycare (I mean the term, not the breed)

There's just sheep fit for purpose and one's which aren't

 

[steveR]

There's no such thing as Easycare (I mean the term, not the breed)

There's just sheep fit for purpose and one's which aren't

 

[dt995]

Last night I gave in and have started bottling the lamb full time... The ewe will have achieved a sheep deathwish ambition of sorts.... she can go to Shrewsbury, as a cull!!!

You're going to drown her? That's probably not very Red Tractor...