Ewes not dropping milk

[Farmer 83563]

Worth checking to make sure they are getting enough Mag, important role in Calcium metabolism

SBP are quite high in Calcium and may be making them lazy (not metabolising their own calcium reserves) - just a thought

 

[andybk]

are the lambs soggy ? weak at birth , small or spiney backed ? its what we had and was selenium , its a long term thing so feeding last few weeks wont make much difference, needs bolus twice a year month pre tupping , month pre lambing , made hell of difference here , prolificacy up 20% , more milk , stronger lambs , ewes in overall better condition , get vet to take a couple bloods to confirm

 

[Pistonbroke]

SBP are quite high in Calcium and may be making them lazy (not metabolising their own calcium reserves) - just a thought

Calcium balance is flipping complicated. Would the whole crop be upsetting it?

 

[Farmer 83563]

Calcium balance is flipping complicated. Would the whole crop be upsetting it?

Tell me abut it! .... took me years to get to the bottom of our slow calving and lambing problems mainly through trial and error. What are potash levels like in the wholecrop fields? High potassium in silage can cause blood to become alkaline and blood pH to rise. High blood pH reduces calcium mobilization from the bone. We try and keep hay from lower potash fields back for pre lambers and pre calvers now or give them some clean straw to pick at.

 

[Pistonbroke]

Tell me abut it! .... took me years to get to the bottom of our slow calving and lambing problems mainly through trial and error. What are potash levels like in the wholecrop fields? High potassium in silage can cause blood to become alkaline and blood pH to rise. High blood pH reduces calcium mobilization from the bone. We try and keep hay from lower potash fields back for pre lambers and pre calvers now or give them some clean straw to pick at.

Not tested but potash wouldn't be particularly high,it's more of a nurse crop when reseeding on weakish ground

 

[sheepdogtrail]

Two yearlings,one two yr old. Texel x and a pure charollais

Are they first timers? Are they in sheds or out in the paddock? Temp could have something to do with because it sounds like they are being offered the proper ration. I would suggest, isolation in a single jug with lamb(s). Personally, I have seen it take 48 hours before milk let down in naive ewes and colder temps that have been manually dilated. It would be odd, but certainly not impossible for just three ewes that have been housed together to have this milk let down issue as a result of bacteria.

I hope they are nursing normal now.