Common questions on before, during and after lambing

Things to watch out for during the sometimes fraught process

Q How can I best prepare my ewes for lambing?

a For optimum milk production and lamb birthweights it is best to check the condition of your ewes six to eight weeks before lambing and batch them accordingly, to either bring their condition down if they are overfit or put flesh on if they are too lean. Ensure you are up to date with liver fluke treatments then recheck their condition four weeks before lambing, when clostridial boosters are due. Ewes carrying twins and triplets should get supplementary concentrates for four to six weeks before lambing. Blood tests can help identify deficiencies.

Q What problems should I watch for at lambing?

a This year the ewes are pretty fit which will predispose to prolapses and twin lamb disease. Keeping an eye on body condition and supplementing twins and triplets will help to prevent twin lamb, but if any ewes stop eating or won’t stand drench them with propylene glycol. Worse cases will need veterinary attention so prevention is definitely better than cure. To prevent prolapses ensure ewes carrying multiple lambs aren’t relying on too much roughage and fat ewes are thinned down as early as possible. Other metabolic conditions like hypocalcaemia and CCN can also develop if ewes are not eating so check with your vet whether to treat these conditions too. Wear gloves for assisted lambings and use plenty of lubricant to help the ewe. If it has been sore on her give a painkiller injection and if necessary use antibiotics against metritis. Schmallenberg virus has reappeared this year so make sure you get any deformed lambs examined by your vet.

Q How can I best ensure lamb survival?

a Healthy lambs will be up and suckling rapidly after birth, taking a warming dose of colostrum. If the ewe has little milk top this up with good colostrum from another ewe or quality powder. Ensure the lambs are warm, the navels are dipped and meconium is passed soon after birth. If having problems with weak lambs, watery mouth, navel or joint ills speak to your vet to reduce losses. If more of your ewes than expected abort or are barren, blood tests can be useful to investigate flock problems and sending the aborted lambs along with the placenta to the lab can help to identify the disease and allow targeted prevention.

A ewe tending her lambs.