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 fertility • Pre-lambing ewe management • Nutrition • Health • Facilities and preparation • Lamb health and survival 1
12/23/2019 Factors Affecting Nutrient Requirements of Ewes • 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 1 4.5 Crude Prot., lb/d . 4 Dry Matter, lb/d 0.8 3.5 3 0.6 2.5 2 0.4 1.5 1 0.2 0.5 0 0 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 L L -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 L L Gestation Month Gestation Month 130-150% lambing rate 180-220% Lambing rate 130-150% lambing rate 180-220% Lambing rate 4.5 12 4 10 Ca & P, g/d 3.5 TDN, lb/d 3 8 2.5 6 2 4 1.5 1 2 0.5 0 0 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 L L -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 L L Gestation Month Gestation Month 130-150% lambing rate 180-220% Lambing rate Ca P 2
12/23/2019 Ewe Nutrient Requirements: Gestation DM intake Energy Protein Ca P Stage of Production lb/day TDN (%) (%) (%) (%) 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 3
12/23/2019 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 4
12/23/2019 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 3 rd 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 5
12/23/2019 Body Condition Scoring Group Stage of Production Ideal BCS Breeding Ewes Pre-Breeding 3 Mid-pregnancy 2.5-3 Pre-Lambing 3 Lambing 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 6
12/23/2019 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. 7
12/23/2019 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 8
12/23/2019 Pre-lambing Health Issues in Ewes 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 or too much calcium in diet. • Treat with IV or sub-Q calcium solution • Prevent with adequate Ca supplementation in ration Baby Lamb Mortality • Dystocia - Stillborns 20.0% • Starvation 19.1% • Abortion 16.5% • Pneumonia 17.0% 9
12/23/2019 Lambing Supplies • 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 Getting Ready • Predict lambing dates • Ram marking harness • Ultrasound (due date, fetal number) • Visits to lambing barn • Efficient labor • Feeding management • Vet relationship 10
12/23/2019 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 11
12/23/2019 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 12
12/23/2019 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 13
12/23/2019 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 14
12/23/2019 Sources of Colostrum • Ewe • Flock-mate • Frozen • Goat • Cow • Artificial Lamb Hypothermia • Normal temperature 102-103 Indicators • Hypothermia 100-101 • Hunched posture • Severe hypothermia <99 • Hollowed out sides • No suckle reflex • Newborns • Excessive calling • chilling, exposure • Down or lethargic • premature birth, weakness, trauma • insufficient energy intake • Unresponsive • Older lambs • starvation • Mouth feel • disease • Rectal temp 15
12/23/2019 Hypothermia Treatment after determining temp Temp <99 and can stand Temp <99 and can not stand/suckle • Collect milk or colostrum from dam • Put in warming box (checking and feed (use altenative source if temp every 20 mins) necessary) • stomach tube • Tube feed at 99 • Put in warming box or warm up until • Warm to 101 temp reaches 101 • Return to mother • Return to Mother if bright and standing well • If temp is <99, still standing • Warm up first to 99 F and then feed by stomach tube Young Lamb Management • Use jugs sparingly • Mixing and monitoring • Identify ewe and her lambs • eartag • paint brands • Dock and castrate early 16
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