Lambing-Time Management SCOTT P. GREINER, PH.D. PROFESSOR, - - PDF document

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Lambing-Time Management SCOTT P. GREINER, PH.D. PROFESSOR, - - PDF document

May 13, 2023 339 likes •554 views

12/23/2019 Lambing-Time Management SCOTT P. GREINER, PH.D. PROFESSOR, EXTENSION ANIMAL SCIENTIST VIRGIN IA TECH SGREINER@VT.E DU 540.231.9 1 59 Keys to Successful Lambing Season Breeding season Ram breeding soundness Ewe

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Lambing-Time Management

SCOTT P. GREINER, PH.D. PROFESSOR, EXTENSION ANIMAL SCIENTIST VIRGIN IA TECH SGREINER@VT.E DU 540.231.9 1 59

Keys to Successful Lambing Season

  • Breeding season
  • Ram breeding soundness
  • Ewe fertility
  • Pre-lambing ewe management
  • Nutrition
  • Health
  • Facilities and preparation
  • Lamb health and survival
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  • Age
  • ewe lambs vs. yearlings vs. mature
  • Weight
  • 135 to 250 pound ewes
  • Stage Production
  • maintenance vs. lactation
  • Level of Production
  • rearing singles vs. twins vs. triplets

Factors Affecting Nutrient Requirements of Ewes

0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 Dry Matter, lb/d

  • 1

1 2 3 4 5 L L Gestation Month

130-150% lambing rate 180-220% Lambing rate

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Crude Prot., lb/d .

  • 1

1 2 3 4 5 L L

Gestation Month

130-150% lambing rate 180-220% Lambing rate 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 TDN, lb/d

  • 1

1 2 3 4 5 L L Gestation Month

130-150% lambing rate 180-220% Lambing rate

2 4 6 8 10 12 Ca & P, g/d

  • 1

1 2 3 4 5 L L Gestation Month Ca P

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Ewe Nutrient Requirements: Gestation

Stage of Production DM intake lb/day Energy TDN (%) Protein (%) Ca (%) P (%) 1st 15 wk. gestation 3.3 55 9.4 .25 .21 Last 4 wk. gestation: (130-150% lamb crop) 4.2 57 10.5 .33 .32 (180-225% lamb crop) 4.4 66 11.1 .41 .25

*Energy typically limiting nutrient in late gestation *Increase in Ca requirement *Feed complete mineral- Se and Vitamin E Example diets: 3.5-4 lb. med/good quality hay + 1.5 lb. concentrate 4-5 lb. med quality hay + 1 lb. concentrate

Ewe Nutrition- Late Gestation

  • 70% fetal growth last 4-6 weeks
  • Mammary development
  • Colostrum quality
  • Lamb strength/vigor (birth weight)
  • Metabolic disease prevention
  • 21 days of severe underfeeding or 80 days of moderate underfeeding
  • Both result in smaller placenta leading to reduced birthweights
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Ewe Lambs

  • Manage and feed seperately from mature ewes
  • Need to gain 35-40 pounds during gestation
  • Feed for growth and pregnancy (energy late pregnancy)
  • Ca and P requirements higher than mature ewe- feed fortified trace

mineral salt free choice

  • Feed highest quality feedstuffs to ewe lambs- avoid poor quality hay

Body Condition Scoring

  • At lambing 3-3.5 BCS
  • Positive plane of nutrition during late gestation (even fat ewes)
  • Increase BCS, if necessary, starting early/mid gestation

BCS 1 BCS 3 BCS 5

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Body Condition Impacts

  • Thin Ewes
  • Pregnancy toxemia (ketosis)
  • Small and weak lambs
  • Higher lamb mortality
  • Reduced quality and quantity of colostrum
  • Poor milk production
  • Fat Ewes
  • More prone to pregnancy toxemia
  • Increased lambing difficulties
  • Enhanced likelihood of prolapse
  • Increased feed costs

Preventing Lamb Loss

  • Adequate nutrition particularly in

3rd trimester

  • Condition at lambing is the most

important determinant of lamb survival (effect on birth weight)

  • Lambs need BAT (brown adipose

tissue)

  • First source of energy of lamb
  • Utilized to produce heat
  • Ewe must have adequate BCS and

mineral supplementation for lamb to have BAT

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Body Condition Scoring

Group Stage of Production Ideal BCS Breeding Ewes Pre-Breeding 3 Mid-pregnancy 2.5-3 Pre-Lambing Lambing 3 3+ Weaning/Drying off 2+ Rams Pre-Breeding 3-3.5 Summer 2+ BCS 1 BCS 3 BCS 5

Fat and Thin Ewes Reasons and Consequences

  • Why are ewes too thin?
  • Inadequate nutrition, parasitism, inadequate bunk space, inadequate grouping of animals,

wasting diseases, chronic diseases, genetics, high milk production (multiple lambs), old (need to be culled)

  • This sets them up for: failure to conceive, less lbs lamb weaned, pregnancy toxemia,

parasitism and disease

  • Why are ewes too fat?
  • Were not culled, poor milk production (low wean wt), overfed in early-midgestation,

dominant ewes

  • This sets them up for: pregnancy toxemia, fatty liver, dystocia, vaginal prolapse
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Ewe Management: Pre Lambing

  • Adequate bunk space
  • Exercise
  • Minimize stressors
  • Management groups: mature vs. ewe lambs
  • Shear or crutch ewes
  • Mineral supplementation
  • Vaccinations/deworming
  • C, D, & T
  • 4-6 wk pre-lambing
  • FAMACHA- periparturient rise

MAJOR CAUSES OF ABORTION

1. Enzootic abortion (EAE) caused by Chlamydia psittici. 2. Vibrio abortion caused by Campylobacter sp. 3. Toxoplasma abortion caused by Toxoplasma gondii. 4. Salmonella abortion caused by various Salmonella organisms.

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PREVENTION

  • Flock biosecurity
  • Vaccines available for 2 of these
  • Chlamydia (EAE)
  • Campylobacter (Vibrio)
  • Follow Label directions- require a primary

vaccination and a booster initially, then annual booster prebreeding

  • No vaccine for Salmonella or

Toxoplasmosis

PREVENTION

  • Maintain first lambing ewes as a separate unit

(most likely to abort)

  • Do not feed on ground
  • Dispose of placenta and dead or aborted lambs

immediately (submit to lab for diagnosis)

  • Isolation of ewes which abort
  • Antibiotics
  • extra-label prescription
  • Rumensin
  • extra-label prescription
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Pregnancy toxemia/ketosis

  • Inadequate energy intake during late

gestation.

  • Treat with propylene glycol
  • Prevent with adequate energy nutrition

during late gestation

Milk fever/hypocalcemia

  • Low blood calcium caused by not enough
  • r too much calcium in diet.
  • Treat with IV or sub-Q calcium solution
  • Prevent with adequate Ca

supplementation in ration

Pre-lambing Health Issues in Ewes Baby Lamb Mortality

  • Dystocia - Stillborns

20.0%

  • Starvation

19.1%

  • Abortion

16.5%

  • Pneumonia

17.0%

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  • Stomach tubes
  • Thermometer
  • Prolapse retainer
  • Towels/rags
  • OB lube, sleeves
  • Disinfectant
  • Iodine
  • Needles, syringes
  • Bo-Se
  • Ear tags
  • Record book
  • Milk replacer, supplies
  • Propylene glycol
  • Docking, castration equipment
  • Antiobiotics

Lambing Supplies Getting Ready

  • Predict lambing dates
  • Ram marking harness
  • Ultrasound (due date, fetal number)
  • Visits to lambing barn
  • Efficient labor
  • Feeding management
  • Vet relationship
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Lambing Barn Environment

  • Dry
  • Draft-free
  • Well ventilated
  • Lambing pens/jugs
  • 5 x 5 ft. (or larger)
  • N = 10-15% of flock

Birthing Process

  • Ewe to ewe variation
  • Water bags  45 to 60 minutes
  • Feet visible  30 minutes
  • Multiple lambs  30 min. intervals
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Normal vs. Abnormal Presentation Causes of Dystocia

  • Failure of cervix to dilate or dilate completely
  • Lamb with large head or shoulders (fetal

disproportion)

  • Twins coming simultaneously
  • Ewe disturbed during the initial stage of lambing
  • Lamb(s) in abnormal presentation, position, or posture

(malpresentation)

  • Others include vaginal prolapse and deformities
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Tips for Examination

  • Clean area around vulva and rear (warm water with chlorhexidine or mild

soap)

  • Scrub hands or arms before entering vulva and wear OB sleeves
  • Apply liberal amounts of lube (put handfuls into vagina/cervix before

manipulating)

  • Shape the hand into a natural wedge
  • Dialate gradually by expanding hand
  • Push forward between contractions
  • Determine presentation, position and posture

*Often best to manipulate lambs with ewe standing

Determine Presentation, Position, and Posture

  • Presentation: Head first (anterior)
  • Position: Right-side up (dorsal-sacral)
  • Posture: Right limb flexed back

Perform corrective action

  • Front limbs: joints flex in the same direction
  • Hind limbs: joints flex opposite of each other
  • Confirm limbs are connected to

head/shoulder that is present

  • After 20-30 minutes seek professional help
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Newborn Lamb Processing

  • Move ewe/lambs to jug
  • Insure colostrum intake
  • strip teats
  • monitor lambs
  • Dip navels- iodine
  • Selenium/Vit. E- .5 cc BoSe

Colostrum Intake

  • Colostrum
  • Antibodies
  • Energy
  • Colostrum intake:
  • ~10% Body Wt. in 24 hrs
  • 10 lb. lamb = 16 oz (30 ml = 1 oz.)
  • Start with 60-120 ml, followed by several oz every 3 hours
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Sources of Colostrum

  • Ewe
  • Flock-mate
  • Frozen
  • Goat
  • Cow
  • Artificial

Lamb Hypothermia

  • Normal temperature 102-103
  • Hypothermia 100-101
  • Severe hypothermia <99
  • Newborns
  • chilling, exposure
  • premature birth, weakness, trauma
  • insufficient energy intake
  • Older lambs
  • starvation
  • disease

Indicators

  • Hunched posture
  • Hollowed out sides
  • No suckle reflex
  • Excessive calling
  • Down or lethargic
  • Unresponsive
  • Mouth feel
  • Rectal temp
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Hypothermia Treatment

after determining temp

Temp <99 and can stand

  • Collect milk or colostrum from dam

and feed (use altenative source if necessary)

  • stomach tube
  • Put in warming box or warm up until

temp reaches 101

  • Return to mother
  • If temp is <99, still standing
  • Warm up first to 99 F and then feed

by stomach tube

Temp <99 and can not stand/suckle

  • Put in warming box (checking

temp every 20 mins)

  • Tube feed at 99
  • Warm to 101
  • Return to Mother if bright and

standing well

Young Lamb Management

  • Use jugs sparingly
  • Mixing and monitoring
  • Identify ewe and her lambs
  • eartag
  • paint brands
  • Dock and castrate early
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Docking and Castration

  • Time: 2-5 days after birth
  • Tetanus vaccination
  • Ewes vaccinated prior to lambing- none
  • Older lambs (ewes vaccinated)- toxoid
  • Ewes not vaccinated- toxoid & antitoxin

Ewe/Young Lamb Management

  • Monitor closely upon leaving jugs, first 2 wk of life critical
  • Potential lamb issues:
  • Starvation (rejection, ewe mastitis)
  • Pneumonia
  • Scours
  • E. coli
  • Cryptosporidiosis
  • Rota virus
  • Salmonella
  • Potential ewe issues
  • Mastitis
  • Orf/soremouth on udder/teats
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Orphan Lambs

  • Causes:
  • Multiple births
  • Ewe complications
  • Rejection
  • Abandonment

Grafting

  • Within 1-2 d after birth
  • Candidate: strong lamb
  • Wet grafting
  • Stocking
  • Use stanchion for ewe
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Artificial Rearing

  • Candidate: small lamb
  • Colostrum- 1st 24 hr.
  • Train to bottle (warm milk)
  • Progress to self-feeder
  • Clean, dry environment
  • Milk replacer is expensive!

Milk Intake

  • 15-20% of body weight daily
  • Divide by frequency of feeding
  • Frequency:
  • Newborn: min. 6x daily
  • Week-old: 4x daily
  • Older: 2x daily
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Keys to Artificial Rearing

  • Self-feed with bucket
  • Pen by age/size
  • Maintain healthy environment
  • Creep feed & water early
  • Wean early (3 weeks, min. 20 lbs.)

Keys to Successful Lambing Season

  • Breeding season
  • Ram breeding soundness
  • Ewe fertility
  • Pre-lambing ewe management
  • Nutrition
  • Health
  • Facilities and preparation
  • Lamb health and survival
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