How many days premature is 'unviable' for lambs?

[yellowbelly]

Gathing up tonight and, laid in one of the twin bearing pens, is a 4 or 5 year old ewe shoving her guts out the back

The earliest she could be due would be in 7 days. By the look of her bag, I'd guess nearer to 14.
Working on the principal that her lambs had no chance if I didn't do something, I decided to do a farmer's c-section. I've done these successfully in the past, but the ewes have been much nearer to full term.

I got the first one out in a jiffy but the second one was caught up the the 'mess' that was hanging out the back and took a bit longer than I would have liked. Both were a bit floppy but had heartbeats and were breathing.

The second one didn't live long enough to get stomach tubed but the first one is holding his head up and has sucked a dose of colostrum out of a bottle.

The old blokes used to tell me that if they were more than 4 or 5 days early they were 'abortions' and wouldn't live. It's very early days for this one anyway but it got me thinking, "Just how many days early is unviable?"

 

[Ciderman8961]

Always struggled with anything a week early.
Seem ok at start but never seem to make it.

 

[Skintagain]

I had a couple of midgets early last year can’t quite remember how many days but they made it and I couldn’t pick them out a month later. They had to come in front of the fire in the house a few times though to keep them warm.

 

[Gator]

Gathing up tonight and, laid in one of the twin bearing pens, is a 4 or 5 year old ewe shoving her guts out the back

The earliest she could be due would be in 7 days. By the look of her bag, I'd guess nearer to 14.
Working on the principal that her lambs had no chance if I didn't do something, I decided to do a farmer's c-section. I've done these successfully in the past, but the ewes have been much nearer to full term.

I got the first one out in a jiffy but the second one was caught up the the 'mess' that was hanging out the back and took a bit longer than I would have liked. Both were a bit floppy but had heartbeats and were breathing.

The second one didn't live long enough to get stomach tubed but the first one is holding his head up and has sucked a dose of colostrum out of a bottle.

The old blokes used to tell me that if they were more than 4 or 5 days early they were 'abortions' and wouldn't live. It's very early days for this one anyway but it got me thinking, "Just how many days early is unviable?"

cant like that mate.
I've only done a farmer c as the last resort but nearer time or as nearer as I can guess, and so far av been lucky. If it sucked from the bottle your in with a chance I'd say.
Good luck it

 

[M-J-G]

When I worked in research we used to start lambing cover on day 139 (Polled Dorsets), lambs were fine from then, anything before took a lot of looking after and was in most cases unrewarded.

 

[z.man]

Seen them live at 138 but not many well under 50% but at 140 seem to be 95% + survival good luck

 

[andybk]

worth small dose of AB , lungs are very high risk with prems (well it is with babies)

 

[Bury the Trash]

I think iirc Lungs are about the last bits to be ' finished ' for want of a better way to put it, if they are fully functional the lamb will be ok ? I Dont know the time scale on that tho.

 

[Highland Mule]

Had twins last year a week ahead of
anything else. They survived but were pretty much last to reach prime.

 

[Smallfarmer1]

When they have that watery/floppy look its hard to keep them going think pre 140 days is unviable

 

[abitdaft]

worth small dose of AB , lungs are very high risk with prems (well it is with babies)

Wish I could remember now, but can't, however I had a C section a couple of years ago on an early lamb and I asked the vet whether a steroid ( which is is what prem human babies get to mature the lungs ) would be advisable and was told no, just can't remember explanation.

 

[neilo]

I concur. About 5 days early andyou stand a chance (with plenty of tlc). Any longer and yes, some might survive, but the probability of that reduces somewhat. They usually have a habit of enduring several days of ‘intensive care’, before keeling over to the inevitable.

Perhaps i’m Getting jaded in my old age, but I am certainly getting more ruthless on those types as years progress. Wasted too much time trying to avoid the inevitable in the past.

Good luck with them though.

 

[Highland Mule]

Just checked my dates - a maximum of 142, if the gimmer has been tupped the first day.

 

[ilyria]

I had one go last night at 138, lamb seems to be quite a strong little thing though. Can't be more than 138 as this tup wasn't even on the holding before that

 

[twizzel]

Had a set of triplets at 138 days this year, they all lived