I've had a few this year that start off looking a bit clubbed but have got steadily worse instead of decontracting with benign neglect like they usually do. Is this linked to selenium deficiency/ white muscle disease does anyone know? Any suggestions? Its mainly the bottom joint so splinting is pretty impossible as its curled so tight. Big healthy lambs apart from that and knuckling round after the ewes.
Contracted tendons in lambs legs - deficiencies?
- Thread starter YorksLass
- Start date
- Location
- Isle of Skye
Don't know the cause but suspect a deficiency as usually lambs from weaker ewes, we get the odd one or two most years, I use lolly sticks, running up from the tip of the toes on the front of the legs and just tape them on using insulation tape (stays on well in the rain) Very rare that splints need to stay on more than a day or two, obviously needs to be handled and checked regularly as the tape will quickly get too tight as the lamb is growing. I've found using any type of padding just allows for slack to develop, and the splint comes off.
Have done this successfully many times.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
They get better themselves. Never seen any getting worse. Just keep an eye that the lamb is feeding
- Location
- central scotland
Had two this year that got worse ending in the inevitable, had never seen any before that didn’t get better......well weird
Think the OP was wondering if deficiencies were the cause , @le bon paysan is quite good on stuff like this.
I've had it with calves but not many to cause an issue .
I've had it with calves but not many to cause an issue .
- Location
- Limousin, France
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
I’ve never splinted them, and never seen one (yet) that hasn’t come right in time. Maybe I’ve been lucky?
I know someone that is adamant that a jab of Alamycin LA helps to strengthen the tendons in such cases, but I can’t see why it should?
I know someone that is adamant that a jab of Alamycin LA helps to strengthen the tendons in such cases, but I can’t see why it should?
Thankyou @le bon paysan - presumably this could also be addressed by forage/ soil analysis and redress?
@Nithsdale Farmer They were a week old and showing no sign of improvement, instead both lambs were used to knuckling about and therefore no chance of retraining the limbs themselves.
The vit e/ selenium jab from the vet def uncrunched the ankle joint, have been splinting upright since, redoing every other day to ensure not cutting circulation off. Slow but steady improvement - thanks for the combined help all.
@Nithsdale Farmer They were a week old and showing no sign of improvement, instead both lambs were used to knuckling about and therefore no chance of retraining the limbs themselves.
The vit e/ selenium jab from the vet def uncrunched the ankle joint, have been splinting upright since, redoing every other day to ensure not cutting circulation off. Slow but steady improvement - thanks for the combined help all.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Ah.
Do you house your ewes?
Never seen that in sheep/lambs - but dad did have an issue like this in calves. Poor/contaminated silage was the fault - vet told us to stop using clamp and go to round bales. That was 30 years ago and never had an issue since
its not been a good year
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Get a few bales sampled and see what (if anything) comes up.
It was the waste/spoil on the top and sides (earth sided pit) were believed to be the source of the issue. Looking back the grass probably wasn't rolled in properly before being sealed up
It was the waste/spoil on the top and sides (earth sided pit) were believed to be the source of the issue. Looking back the grass probably wasn't rolled in properly before being sealed up
- Location
- Limousin, France
Yes, forage analysis certainly.
Treating the animal is more targeted than treating the ground.
Here our ground is low in Selenium and Iodine. We use All trace Hi Iodine bolus 8/10 weeks before calving. Sorts our problems. I'm sure there's an equivalent bolus for sheep .
@neilo is your man on sheep.
Edit , googled these,
Are you using the right selenium-approved sheep bolus? - Agriland.co.uk
Dr. Elizabeth Berry BVSC, PhD, MRCVS, veterinary director with Animax, has confirmed that all of their Allsure boluses contain selenium selenite and are
www.agriland.co.uk
Selenium Cobalt bolus for sheep
we are in need of bolus to maintain levels in sheep, what are other people using?, never used them before. Are some better than others, Thanks.
thefarmingforum.co.uk
Buy Animax Tracesure Selenium & Iodine Bolus for Sheep 25 Pack from Fane Valley Stores Agricultural Supplies
Tracesure Selenium Iodine Bolus is a ruminal bolus for sheep and calves, providing slow release supplementation of selenium and iodine. Where dietary intake o
www.fanevalleystores.com
Last edited:
Pistonbroke
Member
Our old retired vet was adamant that an overdose of alamycin helps. Effect of the carrier that made it long acting rather than the antibiotic ingredient. Did a couple of calves and they came right quite quickly but, hell,who knows,they might have come anywayI’ve never splinted them, and never seen one (yet) that hasn’t come right in time. Maybe I’ve been lucky?
I know someone that is adamant that a jab of Alamycin LA helps to strengthen the tendons in such cases, but I can’t see why it should?
The London Palladium event “BPR Seminar”
This is our next step following the London rally 
BPR is not just a farming issue, it affects ALL business, it removes incentive to invest for growth
Join us @LondonPalladium on the 16th for beginning of UK business fight back
lwtheatres.co.uk
BPR is not just a farming issue, it affects ALL business, it removes incentive to invest for growth
Join us @LondonPalladium on the 16th for beginning of UK business fight back
BPR Summit | LW Theatres
lwtheatres.co.uk