Prolapse causes

[Man_in_black]

Morning

Other than being over condition (fecking mild winter!) is there anything else that causes them? Not been an issue for years but have had a couple now & not due another week.

Once heard very short tail can influence; or is that old wives? Had lleyn x chaollais shearling (first lambing) pop one last night. Bought her as a group of ewe lambs and all have extremely short tails....



All out so not restricted on moving about.
And any harness better than another? Got spoon in her since last night but wanting to use harnesses really.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Pretty sure the tail length won't have anything to do with it....I've heard people say it can be a calcium shortage but I'd be more inclined to say they're too fat and maybe a genetic weakness...just make sure you cull them next year and probably don't keep any daughters off them

 

[spin cycle]

bit of an ongoing 'project' here with a section of my flock i bought in.....ironically bit of charolais in them like yours

mine are housed...tried letting them out...but didn't really help....if anything if grass to good it makes it worse
restrict hay a bit....let them eat out before bedding with straw then fresh hay next day
all in all my approach is a bit 'eye of toad/wing of bat'
harness' are good

 

[Kevtherev]

Selenium deficiency is a contributing factor I was told years ago but I do not know if it's true???

 

[aangus]

I'm using Netex , I think that's who make them.
I have them on 3 triplet bearing ewes, up until last night.
I was going round them yesterday evening and saw one with water bag out, so removed harness and lambed her (3 good lambs).
Have used the spoons in the past but never again.

 

[Sheep92]

I think its a combination of bulky feed, good condition that contributrs to it along with genetics, have had about ten in the indoor ewes and 1 outside yesterday (day after being put into lambing fields)

 

[Guiggs]

I was told that nobody really knows the real reason..too fat, genetics and I've also heard about the short tail but I don't know if there's any truth in it!
I did read something not so long back saying it wasn't hereditary a d you can keep daughters
As it happens I kept a daughter from a ewe that prolapsed last year as a bit of an experiment so time will tell!

 

[GTB]

Harnesses are good. Nettex ones here. Used to stitch them up but harness is far kinder on the ewe and less risk of infection.
Actually sitting outside the vets at this very moment. Popped a harness on this morning about 4am and shes now lambing and its all a bit of a muddle. Fingers crossed.

 

[neilo]

I use the Nettex harnesses too, if I ever buy any (have half a dozen angling on a nail that mostly came from farm sales over the years). The Nettex ones can be adjusted in many ways, so can be made to fit any size or shape of ewe IME. I don't have any spoons, they went on the fire years ago.

I've heard all sorts of reasons for prolapsed, from feeding hay, feeding straw, feeding silage, feeding roots and short tails. Some say Romneys will prolapse more as they have big pelvises for easy lambing, but I've not ears that from anyone that actually runs them yet.
All those 'causes' have a certain logic behind the reasoning, but I've tried most of those feeding regimes and not seen any great increase from any if them. If it were short tails, there wouldn't be a French sheep left alive, as they were all docked at the stump until fairly recently (& maybe some still are?)

The only thing I've found is to being too fat, and not getting enough exercise, or being very lean whilst carrying a huge litter (when we had some pure Cambridge sheep).

I cull at weaning if they've prolapsed, but wouldn't worry about daughters.

 

[JD-Kid]

no real reson in tests they done here in NZ a few intresting things look at Ca levels and things that can efect them

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Whole lot of info about it in the booklet @easyram1 produced with @Global ovine and the other guy I can't remember the name of. Was there a copy posted on here?
It's been a fair issue here since all grass wintering - ewes looking too well at lambing. Ironic really as cutting out the cake and changing systems has resulted in ewes being too fat.
1 of the things that struck me was the effect of calcium and magnesium throughout pregnancy. If they've had it too easy mid pregnancy they're not as able to mobilise them in late pregnancy.
Whole load of other factors involved mostly affecting these elements.

For those who like to blame a particular breed, I've had a whole host of breeds here as I've switched away from mules and Suffolk x mules and have to say I can see no difference in susceptibility across the breeds.

 

[tinsheet]

Whole lot of info about it in the booklet @easyram1 produced with @Global ovine and the other guy I can't remember the name of. Was there a copy posted on here?
It's been a fair issue here since all grass wintering - ewes looking too well at lambing. Ironic really as cutting out the cake and changing systems has resulted in ewes being too fat.
1 of the things that struck me was the effect of calcium and magnesium throughout pregnancy. If they've had it too easy mid pregnancy they're not as able to mobilise them in late pregnancy.
Whole load of other factors involved mostly affecting these elements.

For those who like to blame a particular breed, I've had a whole host of breeds here as I've switched away from mules and Suffolk x mules and have to say I can see no difference in susceptibility across the breeds.

If you don't mind me asking, what are you feeding instead of cake, looking to do the same next year, only feed multiplies at present.

 

[Man_in_black]

I have been kicking myself as I went against my own ethos & did cake some of the multiples in December & January as thought looking bit too lean!! Now grass has come in and some are like barrels

 

[Poorbuthappy]

If you don't mind me asking, what are you feeding instead of cake, looking to do the same next year, only feed multiplies at present.

Grass in the main .
Got access to dairy/beef farms grass from November to early feb. This has enabled me to build a wedge to get through feb and March. However this year my own winter grazing has decreased (given up an away tenacy) so did house 1 lot on silage and fodder beet. I gave in and fed these a lb of cake for a few weeks because they came in a bit lean (fluke issues).

 

[Mutch]

One researcher in NZ was thinking along the lines of a clostridial infection being the cause, but as of then no firm evidence

 

[Nithsdale]

Fat ewes prolapse... but main offenders are thinner ewes here. Twins and triplets.

There's no rhyme or reason, and no common link (unless it's TE level related).

Changing my feed has made a huge difference after the last few years.

 

[Guiggs]

How do people insure quality and quantity of milk without cake?

 

[Nithsdale]

How do people insure quality and quantity of milk without cake?

Good quality grass... if your fortunate to have it.

 

[tinsheet]

Grass in the main .
Got access to dairy/beef farms grass from November to early feb. This has enabled me to build a wedge to get through feb and March. However this year my own winter grazing has decreased (given up an away tenacy) so did house 1 lot on silage and fodder beet. I gave in and fed these a lb of cake for a few weeks because they came in a bit lean (fluke issues).

What sort of ewes are you running, I am switching across from mules to Llyens, and hopefully bring in a NZ texel, intend feeding grass, maybe kale or forage rape to the ewes.

 

[tinsheet]

How do people insure quality and quantity of milk without cake?

The right sort of ewe would help I presume.