Weak lambs

[valtraman]

I’ve started lambing some been great others not so much (usual lambing ) but I’ve had a few of what I would say premature early type lambs that are alive . Some require heat lamp others not but there so fine. After a few days some have died just seems there guts can’t take it . Also getting some well 2 just now that have there heads down & just wander round. On the other hand I’ve had some super strong lambs & most are good but I’m just wondering what if anything is causing these little weak ones. Ewes are jagged for nothing ever in their life & been like that for years. Hopefully just the problems at the start

 

[spin cycle]

low level toxo??

 

[valtraman]

low level toxo??

Not sure I’ve had odd weak lambs in past but not as much as this . Would you test lambs or the ewe?

 

[aangus]

Are the lambs wooly/hairy?

 

[spin cycle]

Not sure I’ve had odd weak lambs in past but not as much as this . Would you test lambs or the ewe?

i don't know......4 yrs ago i had a mummy cat turn up so toxovaxed the ewes and noticed a real difference in the lambs.....i think toxo had been bubbling along at a low level......apparently toxo is undiagnosed on a lot of farms

 

[valtraman]

Are the lambs wooly/hairy?

They generally been quite fine haired/wool

 

[aangus]

They generally been quite fine haired/wool

Doesn’t sound like BD

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Are the lambs wooly/hairy?

are you thinking of hairy shakers?

 

[Skintagain]

I’ve started lambing some been great others not so much (usual lambing ) but I’ve had a few of what I would say premature early type lambs that are alive . Some require heat lamp others not but there so fine. After a few days some have died just seems there guts can’t take it . Also getting some well 2 just now that have there heads down & just wander round. On the other hand I’ve had some super strong lambs & most are good but I’m just wondering what if anything is causing these little weak ones. Ewes are jagged for nothing ever in their life & been like that for years. Hopefully just the problems at the start

have You got to due date yet?

 

[valtraman]

have You got to due date yet?

Yeah I’ve been lambing since mid feb slowly now into second cycle & it’s these these ones some been coming few days early but hard to say just how early the lambs are

 

[Skintagain]

Yeah I’ve been lambing since mid feb slowly now into second cycle & it’s these these ones some been coming few days early but hard to say just how early the lambs are

Had two or else three years of bad lambs maybe 50 per year. They were either extremely small or big but skin and bone. Weak or odd decent lamb that couldn’t stand. Changed this and that but pinpointed it to a beltex tup, kept his son and used him on some shearlings and they were all same so they both have become kebabs.

 

[primmiemoo]

Not sure I’ve had odd weak lambs in past but not as much as this . Would you test lambs or the ewe?

Worth a chat with the vet. They'll advise on what samples are needed. Weak lambs could point to toxo, though. Are you losing one of a double? Is afterbirth a wrong colour or consistency?

 

[neilo]

Iodine deficiency can show as exactly those symptoms IME. Blood testing half a dozen ewes will tell you if that’s your problem.

 

[Mc115reed]

If I remember rightly, look at an afterbirth of one of the weak lambs mothers, if there’s white glands on it that’s a sign it’s toxo

 

[spin cycle]

Iodine deficiency can show as exactly those symptoms IME. Blood testing half a dozen ewes will tell you if that’s your problem.

beat me to it...if it were toxo the ewes will have antibodies

 

[ladycrofter]

+1 for toxo., especially if you have a good lamb and a weak/dead/mummy twin. The bug can damage one placenta and not the other
But as mentioned elsewhere we are Sel and E deficient in Highland. The lambs get jagged at birth but we've also started jagging the ewes with 1ml at scanning to try to preempt any damage in the fetus.
So it could be a combination of things, do you bolus your ewes?