Nearing the end of lambing (70 to go) getting some really small lambs, found a couple dead but most are alive but small and weak. They are easily half the size of normal lambs being born in same field. Ewes are in good condition and have been fed cake for 5-6 weeks and are due now as we change raddle colour every week in tupping time. Done for toxo and enzo at a year old. What could be causing this?
What causes small lambs?
- Thread starter Floordoor
- Start date
Northeastfarmer
Member
- Location
- Cleveland
Sounds like either nutrition or toxo to me
- Location
- East Sussex
Ticks?
GrannyAching
Member
- Location
- Mynyddoedd Preseli
Really? Can you explain a bit more, please?
- Location
- East Sussex
Are these sheep bought in or been grazed on land they have not been on before?
Have you got Ticks on the bellies of the ewes?
We had a problem last year with some bought in shearlings having small weak lambs and this was thought to be exposure to Ticks that they had no resistance to. Tick fever tends to reduce the efficiency of the placenta and this causes small or weak lambs.
There is no doubt that Tick numbers have increased dramatically due to poorer grazing and the wet winter.
A neighbour of mine has been losing lambs recently due to Ticks causing anaemia and they have had to treat all the lambs some only 2 weeks old.
Have you got Ticks on the bellies of the ewes?
We had a problem last year with some bought in shearlings having small weak lambs and this was thought to be exposure to Ticks that they had no resistance to. Tick fever tends to reduce the efficiency of the placenta and this causes small or weak lambs.
There is no doubt that Tick numbers have increased dramatically due to poorer grazing and the wet winter.
A neighbour of mine has been losing lambs recently due to Ticks causing anaemia and they have had to treat all the lambs some only 2 weeks old.
- Location
- Western Oregon
My experience is that 90% of your lambing problems and problem lambs will be in the first 10% to lamb and the last 10%. Dont know why.
All home bred, all ground they have been on before. Never had ticks round here or heard of any.
- Location
- Cornwall
How long is your tupping period? Is it possible that they are both the least fertile, the last to go to ram, and also the ones that don't grow their unborn lamb as well as the earlier lambers? Anything else they have in common, are they older ewes, young ewes?