Redgut in Lambs

[steveR]

Never seen this before but lost a 5-6 week old cade earlier in the week with what the Vet thinks was redgut. Cause was a well meaning person moving the small pen the 4 cades were on and they got too much super fresh grass instead of just poking their heads through the bars...

Got another one back in the shed now after seeing signs of bloating. Don't think it'll pull round from what Vet says, and looking at it, I agree.

I am told there is no cure for the condition unless it is caught REALLY early. Anyone found anything that can help a mild case?

I am pretty sure the first lamb had got bloated as a milk cade, and been treated with live yoghurt and got over it and was going away nicely. PITA after spending so much time and money on them

 

[neilo]

I’ve only ever saved one, a few weeks ago. It was blown up and obviously in some discomfort, but I thought nothing ventured…

I gave him a jab of Pen & Strep, along with 3ml of the the same down the throat.
Couldn’t tell by the morning and right as rain afterwards (& weaned soon after obviously).

I had heard years ago about giving Synulox down the throat, but rarely catch them when still alive.

I’ve had no end in the cases this year, but had been persuaded to try a different brand of milk powder. My mistake.

 

[steveR]

I’ve only ever saved one, a few weeks ago. It was blown up and obviously in some discomfort, but I thought nothing ventured…

I gave him a jab of Pen & Strep, along with 3ml of the the same down the throat.
Couldn’t tell by the morning and right as rain afterwards (& weaned soon after obviously).

I had heard years ago about giving Synulox down the throat, but rarely catch them when still alive.

I’ve had no end in the cases this year, but had been persuaded to try a different brand of milk powder. My mistake.

I wonder what and if was in the PenStrep that helped?

Still alive after 24hrs, so will try a jab shortly. Herself asked what I could jab it with, and TBH, I hadn't got a clue what might help!!

 

[Badshot]

We had several of it the last year we had sheep.
The clover got out of control, was knee high, smothered the grass, they were doing amazingly well, then started having nearly fit lambs die.
Absolutely heart breaking seeing the best lambs dead because the grazing was too good.
Didn't have any answers except gave them access to hay too.
That did slow the problem up quite quickly.

 

[steveR]

I wonder what and if was in the PenStrep that helped?

Still alive after 24hrs, so will try a jab shortly. Herself asked what I could jab it with, and TBH, I hadn't got a clue what might help!!

Lambie deceased...

As @Badshot says, it's the best lambs....

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

I think it's worth paying for good milk powder, we use volac, but also have them on ad lib pellets which have an additive to stop red gut.

 

[steveR]

I think it's worth paying for good milk powder, we use volac, but also have them on ad lib pellets which have an additive to stop red gut.

Been using a Ewes milk powder that we have found to be very good the past 2 years, pellets have been less palatable than I like, so back ro coarse ration next year I think.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Been using a Ewes milk powder that we have found to be very good the past 2 years, pellets have been less palatable than I like, so back ro coarse ration next year I think.

We start them off on starter pellets which are coated with milk powder to get them going. They then go onto the lamb pellets with the red gut additive.

Get them weaned at the latest by 6 weeks. They don't go out until after this and then into a fairly bare paddock. I want them eating pellets to get away.

This year I'm going to experiment by changing them over to a mix of 2/3 16"% protein pellets 1/3 barley and hope they get enough protein from grass

You can mostly mix them in with other lambs when they're sold. There was one lot of 12 sold on their own that made £142 at 46 kgs