Lambing 2019

Grem

Member
Location
South Wales
Sorry if this is in the wrong place, but I can't see how to start a new topic.
After waking up to 2 inches of snow last Thursday morning we had a very sick lamb (6-8 weeks old). Boss reckoned it was hypothermia, but surely a healthy lamb will keep up with the ewes, eat creep and/or hay? It was the only one affected. Its temperature was a degree low but nothing too bad. Warm bottle, heat lamp and antibiotics failed to do anything for it. It was dead less than 24 hrs later.
This morning I walked right up to a lamb, again 6-8 weeks old. It was yelling for its mother, to no avail. It has diarrhoea, feels warm but is totally blind (over night). It has had diarrhoea for a few days ? too much creep??.
Boss gave it Alamycin and Metacam. I don't hold out much hope - by 6pm it was arching its head over its back, just as the other one did.
Any ideas? I suspect E.coli .
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
Sorry if this is in the wrong place, but I can't see how to start a new topic.
After waking up to 2 inches of snow last Thursday morning we had a very sick lamb (6-8 weeks old). Boss reckoned it was hypothermia, but surely a healthy lamb will keep up with the ewes, eat creep and/or hay? It was the only one affected. Its temperature was a degree low but nothing too bad. Warm bottle, heat lamp and antibiotics failed to do anything for it. It was dead less than 24 hrs later.
This morning I walked right up to a lamb, again 6-8 weeks old. It was yelling for its mother, to no avail. It has diarrhoea, feels warm but is totally blind (over night). It has had diarrhoea for a few days ? too much creep??.
Boss gave it Alamycin and Metacam. I don't hold out much hope - by 6pm it was arching its head over its back, just as the other one did.
Any ideas? I suspect E.coli .

Could be a complex involving cocci (what colour scour?), and e coli. Boss will have given rehydration therapy to help antibiotics do their work?

But if blind ... is there anything at all in its environment that could cause poisoning?
 

RushesToo

Member
Location
Fingringhoe
In my rights to shoot it here ---but i don't have a gun and even when i did have a gun i never seemed to have it in the right place at the right time
I have to say, only half in in jest, that shooting out of control, simple minded, causing untold damage individuals will probably still be called murder in the UK. The dog may have promise however.
Sorry Tim - not sure that there is any better way to sympathise with the frstration. Well handled.
 

Grem

Member
Location
South Wales
Could be a complex involving cocci (what colour scour?), and e coli. Boss will have given rehydration therapy to help antibiotics do their work?

But if blind ... is there anything at all in its environment that could cause poisoning?
Hi, Thank you for replying. Its poop is brown with a touch of mid green and very liquidy. Boss gave no rehydration therapy at all but gave it another dose of the same LA Alamycin as yesterday. It was still alive at lunch time but had been paddling its legs. It also lies with its head right over its back - not sure if this is a pain reflex as last weeks did the same. I haven't been at work this evening. I'm not sure I want anything to do with it really (apart from finding out a possible cause) because we have no biosecurity in place - just the lamb separated from the flock. Personally, I think it should have seen a vet - but that costs money.
I'm pretty sure there is nothing it could have eaten to cause the blindness although it had frequented an area under blackthorn scrub.
 

RushesToo

Member
Location
Fingringhoe
Hi, Thank you for replying. Its poop is brown with a touch of mid green and very liquidy. Boss gave no rehydration therapy at all but gave it another dose of the same LA Alamycin as yesterday. It was still alive at lunch time but had been paddling its legs. It also lies with its head right over its back - not sure if this is a pain reflex as last weeks did the same. I haven't been at work this evening. I'm not sure I want anything to do with it really (apart from finding out a possible cause) because we have no biosecurity in place - just the lamb separated from the flock. Personally, I think it should have seen a vet - but that costs money.
I'm pretty sure there is nothing it could have eaten to cause the blindness although it had frequented an area under blackthorn scrub.
@Grem If you want to get to the bottom of this and stopping it happening more then you have to decide what you will do.

The first choice is do nothing.
Another is it is not about what you know but making the person in charge still feel like they can make a change but asking you / allowing you to help them. This will be difficult, but if you have in your mind a way to make it so the both of you do something that stops this happening more and it is more profitable then it can happen.

A way I have found helps is say something that you know - background, facts and potential savings. State how you have the knowledge, and then ask if this might be worth trying.

There are many options in-between these two. I would always try and change things that are wrong myself.

I hope this helps you find a way through
 

Grem

Member
Location
South Wales
@Grem If you want to get to the bottom of this and stopping it happening more then you have to decide what you will do.

The first choice is do nothing.
Another is it is not about what you know but making the person in charge still feel like they can make a change but asking you / allowing you to help them. This will be difficult, but if you have in your mind a way to make it so the both of you do something that stops this happening more and it is more profitable then it can happen.

A way I have found helps is say something that you know - background, facts and potential savings. State how you have the knowledge, and then ask if this might be worth trying.

There are many options in-between these two. I would always try and change things that are wrong myself.

I hope this helps you find a way through
Thank you. I have tried on several occasions during this lambing period (even offering to take lambs to the vet and paying for it myself) but my boss 'knows it all', claims to be an animal lover but won't have anything put to sleep or take an animal to the vets if he thinks the vet will suggest it. I can't say he is cruel but animal welfare is not a strong point around here. AB given out wholesale, foot rot cut out prior to ABs, lack of hygiene, lack of /poor feed but nothing that would get him hung. It certainly makes me think twice about eating meat and I'm no vegetarian.
It's a number of years since I had my own sheep but I'm sure I used to give my lambs 2 Heptavac P injections one at 6 weeks then another at 12 weeks. Replacements were then vaccinated again in the autumn. Our lambs are only vaccinated in the autumn if they are to be kept. Who is right?
 

yellowbelly

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N.Lincs
After a hectic 10 days or so the brakes have come on, only 4 lambed today so suddenly we have enough pens:rolleyes:

The first heat cycle is over (y), however, the last half a dozen singles thought it would be a good idea to have their own 'Let's see who can have the biggest lamb' competition :facepalm::facepalm: Fortunately they've all been presented correctly and while most of 'em needed a bit of a pull, the last one to be born, this 19.5lb Charolais cross, was popped out by his ageing Mule mother with no bother at all....
thumbnail_20190410_193519.jpg
thumbnail_20190410_193544.jpg

Just 31 left now (a few that returned to service and the tail end of the hoggs) but I expect they'll manage to drag it out for the full 17 days :sleep::sleep::sleep::sleep:
 

ilyria

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
wales
Down to the final 5 now. Narrowly avoided a caesar this morning with a whopping lamb, had a visit from Mr fox overnight and lost one and got one at home in the oven. Things come in 3s right?
Anyone else had more ram lambs than ewes? Worked out we're about 63-66% ram lambs this year
 

Grem

Member
Location
South Wales
Down to the final 5 now. Narrowly avoided a caesar this morning with a whopping lamb, had a visit from Mr fox overnight and lost one and got one at home in the oven. Things come in 3s right?
Anyone else had more ram lambs than ewes? Worked out we're about 63-66% ram lambs this year
43 ram lambs to 47 ewe lambs so far. Only 2 to go.
 

GreenerGrass

Member
Location
Wilts
Having a bad time at the minute, ewe with hung lamb last night, got out dead. Got in trouble getting the second one out and had to call vet out, lamb dead.

This morning newborn killed by raven leaving ewe with just one, and a single ewe with a dead lamb 2-3 days old. Looked in mouth and it's tongue had been taken.

Horrible bloody things. Why are they such evil barstewards. i've trapped a lot of crows would hanging them up in the field help? Or any other suggestions, it seems to be there in a moment and gone just as fast so only saw it flying away today.
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
Suddenly, there's 20 couple either out to field, in the crèche pens, or in individual pens since Tuesday.

Lambing due date is Saturday according to Dad's old Silcock Gestation Table (made from metal, with a dial for ewe, cow, mare and sow gestation calculations).
Modern breeds have shorter gestations?
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
Thank you. I have tried on several occasions during this lambing period (even offering to take lambs to the vet and paying for it myself) but my boss 'knows it all', claims to be an animal lover but won't have anything put to sleep or take an animal to the vets if he thinks the vet will suggest it. I can't say he is cruel but animal welfare is not a strong point around here. AB given out wholesale, foot rot cut out prior to ABs, lack of hygiene, lack of /poor feed but nothing that would get him hung. It certainly makes me think twice about eating meat and I'm no vegetarian.
It's a number of years since I had my own sheep but I'm sure I used to give my lambs 2 Heptavac P injections one at 6 weeks then another at 12 weeks. Replacements were then vaccinated again in the autumn. Our lambs are only vaccinated in the autumn if they are to be kept. Who is right?


I've begun vaccinating the April born lambs with with Ovipast P+ at 6 weeks - one dose - because of more pneumonia about as much as anything. Ewe lambs as definite replacements from the earlier flock are vaccinated with Heptavac P+ on shearing in September, with their booster/pre-lambing jab later which works here.
Think there are different ways of going about it, tbh.

With the poorly lamb, if he's dehydrated the antibiotic can't work effectively. Glad he's on metacam. It feels harsh, but some can only be given into the lap of the gods. If he's paddling, then it isn't a sign that he'll turn the corner.

I think that @RushesToo 's advice is sound. Tactful nudging by helping could be the way.

All the very best in what must be a most frustrating situation.
 

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