Guts out/prolapse - genetic?

[Jerry]

I keep getting told by many that prolapses in sheep are not genetically link but it nags away at the back on my memory.

I had a ewe thaat had a small prolapse 4 days ago, it went back in and stayed in for couple hours until I got a harness on her. It did not pop out in that time.

All fine I though, she was happy, no straining, and about 10 days to go till lambs due.

She was not over fit or overly large.

Last night at some point she pushed her guts out through the harness and popped her clogs.

Just updating my records to record the death and noticed her mum did the exact same thing 2 years ago.

Probably just coincidence??

 

[Bury the Trash]

I don't think so. Some prolapse can be inherited ir
I have wrote the odd post about it before.

 

[andybk]

could be a genetic weakness of pelvic muscles , or a stain from a past hard lambing , i tend to cull any prolapses even small ones and mark offspring to go as well , unless dam is of specific genetic merit and the lamb may get a second chance , life's to short

 

[Ysgythan]

There’s a Goldilocks zone of easy lambing and no prolapse. Some easy lambers are also easy prolapsers, susceptibility is genetic, but the risk is capable of being managed.

 

[gatepost]

could be a genetic weakness of pelvic muscles , or a stain from a past hard lambing , i tend to cull any prolapses even small ones and mark offspring to go as well , unless dam is of specific genetic merit and the lamb may get a second chance , life's to short

How many years have you been doing this?

 

[andybk]

How many years have you been doing this?

about 25 , still get a few though in , good condition ewes , always use the spoons , never had any issues with them as long as clean , and good twine around belly , did use stitching or harnesses (and the home made ones made with big bale string ) worked ok but spoon is easier to use, 5 min job , and i know they wont push it back out and lamb ok with it in .Wont keep them though , always remember one "good ewe " i gave a second chance to ..........., the next year i went out on a birthday bash got back 1am to find she pushed the lot out , no warning , what a mess to sort out in middle of night, never again .

 

[Doc]

Any intervention to do with reproduction is a permanently mark (ear notch) and cull job.
Keep those that keep you.
If they’ve lambs, let her rear them then get shut, if no lambs, just get shut.

 

[marco]

I notice it's usually the ones that are lame that have a higher incidence of prolapsing. i think anything that has any foot trouble should be culled.

 

[jemski]

I notice it's usually the ones that are lame that have a higher incidence of prolapsing. i think anything that has any foot trouble should be culled.

I'd agree with this. Possibly because they spend more time lying down putting pressure on their insides.

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

I'd also agree regarding the lame ewes, lack of exercise and as above.

 

[JD-Kid]

I'd also agree regarding the lame ewes, lack of exercise and as above.

exercise also leads to higher rate of vit D and flow on efects

 

[neilo]

Any ewe that prolapses here gets the end taken off her ear, a cull mark that never gets missed. I don’t cull daughters though.

I suspect there is a genetic link, but only in so much that it might increase the chances of it, but by no means will the descendants definitely prolapse.

Similarly on repetition, they won’t necessarily ever prolapse again, but the likliehood is definitely higher IME.

 

[Ysgythan]

Any ewe that prolapses here gets the end taken off her ear, a cull mark that never gets missed. I don’t cull daughters though.

I suspect there is a genetic link, but only in so much that it might increase the chances of it, but by no means will the descendants definitely prolapse.

Similarly on repetition, they won’t necessarily ever prolapse again, but the likliehood is definitely higher IME.

That’s why over culling risks incurring unintended consequences. It’s all a balance.

 

[gatepost]

That’s why over culling risks incurring unintended consequences. It’s all a balance.

Just reading local Victoria history, 1440 estate down the road gave up their flock of 200 ewes due to murrain (death) we seem to have been culling them for a long time, and they keep coming back and dying on us, I have read the successive threads on prolapsing, as far as I can see no rhyme or reason, this year no problems with ewes shut in sitting about very little exercise, feck me 3 out side the 2 days ago, 1 single 2 doubles all walking about but sitting on steep banks, one lot not a blade of grass, other lot fair picking, both adlib fodder I've given up trying to fathom it, but if it has a pull as a gimmer then chances are it will do it for life, but is it her fault? discuss, happy lambing everyone.

 

[Bury the Trash]

as far as I can see no rhyme or reason,

That's the 'conclusion' that a couple of local, ( sadly missed ) eminent sheep vets arrived at, having made the subject a study project of theirs....long time ago tho.

 

[andybk]

That's the 'conclusion' that a couple of local, ( sadly missed ) eminent sheep vets arrived at, having made the subject a study project of theirs....long time ago tho.

surely no one would give one a second chance , once muscles are gone its only a matter of time .

 

[Jerry]

surely no one would give one a second chance , once muscles are gone its only a matter of time .

All are recorded and culled here no matter how “good” a ewe she is.

Just frustrating and I think I’m not doing too well as getting too many in my book.

I would love to know the real root causes if there are any?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

All are recorded and culled here no matter how “good” a ewe she is.

Just frustrating and I think I’m not doing too well as getting too many in my book.

I would love to know the real root causes if there are any?

Are you feeding them hay? Is your land very steep?

 

[Jerry]

Are you feeding them hay? Is your land very steep?

No. Are on just stubble turnips till about week from lambing. Then just grass. Land is not steep, mainly flat with some rolly bits. But nothing you would call steep as it is mainly arable ground.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

No. Are on just stubble turnips till about week from lambing. Then just grass. Land is not steep, mainly flat with some rolly bits. But nothing you would call steep as it is mainly arable ground.

I’ve heard it said it can be a lack of calcium but I wouldn’t like to say. My gut feeling is it’s purely genetic