The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: mfc on August 29, 2012, 10:07:13 pm

Title: Dead Lamb
Post by: mfc on August 29, 2012, 10:07:13 pm

Sadly, I found one of our GFD ram lamb's dead in the field today and i'm wondering what could of caused this. He was (or seemed to be) quite happy yesterday - running around with the others. I'm wondering if this awful wet weather we have had has had anything to do with it. Although they dont have a proper field shelter, they could get into the corners of the field and the hedges are good. Really quite sad for him as he was a real character.

Title: Re: Dead Lamb
Post by: Greenmoor on August 29, 2012, 10:11:40 pm

Sorry to hear of your loss. Always makes it more sad when they were a character  :(

Gemma

Title: Re: Dead Lamb
Post by: jaykay on August 29, 2012, 10:26:49 pm

Oh no  :-\

Unlikely to be lack of shelter at this time of year, it's wet but not cold.

Sudden death could be one of the clostridial diseases. Was he vaccinated? It could also be coccidiosis or Nematodirus but you'd usually see scouring first with those. Or pneumonia but again you'd usually see respiratory symptoms first.

Plenty of things to kill a lamb, sadly  :-\

Title: Re: Dead Lamb
Post by: Mallows Flock on August 29, 2012, 10:34:53 pm

Are you in the position to be able to get a Post Mortem done. I am lucky enough to not ever have (yet) lost one of my flock ( maybe due to good pasture, sheltered conditions and mild Southern weather possibly or just sheer luck so far) so I don't know cost and procedure but I bet loads of other members know the drill here and can advise! Sorry for your sad loss. I would be gutted  :sheep:

Title: Re: Dead Lamb
Post by: domsmith on August 30, 2012, 08:40:30 pm

Quote from: Mallows Flock on August 29, 2012, 10:34:53 pm

Are you in the position to be able to get a Post Mortem done. I am lucky enough to not ever have (yet) lost one of my flock ( maybe due to good pasture, sheltered conditions and mild Southern weather possibly or just sheer luck so far) so I don't know cost and procedure but I bet loads of other members know the drill here and can advise! Sorry for your sad loss. I would be gutted  :sheep:

In scotland we have SAC vet centres that do PMs and despose of the carcass, you just ring them up and take it in. the report  gets sent to your vet. Trouble is they never  ever find anything! waste of time. taken pigs, lambs when we first started and never once was there even a hint of what had killed them. dont bother now.

a clostridial desease or similar very sudden death.

dominic

Title: Re: Dead Lamb
Post by: Pedwardine on August 31, 2012, 08:19:15 am

So sorry mfc. It's more upsetting than you can put into words isn't it?

Title: Re: Dead Lamb
Post by: omnipeasant on August 31, 2012, 10:18:10 am

Sometimes they are a ticking bomb. No warning just dead. perhaps a heart problem, it happens. Sorry to hear about this. 

Title: Re: Dead Lamb
Post by: Foobar on August 31, 2012, 11:16:22 am

So sorry for your loss.


I had the same thing happen earlier in the year. Got (expensive) PM done, not much came back from that other than "apart from the fact that he's dead, he seems very healthy".  :-\   Concure with Dominic, I won't be PM'ing again.

Title: Re: Dead Lamb
Post by: Tilly on August 31, 2012, 11:36:59 am

 
 :bouquet: it`s sad, I know, but" CHIN UP" and don`t dwell on it.
                                                  ---- turn your attention to looking after the living  :hug: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: .
 

 
...as for post Mortems on livestock- have had a few done in the past and mostly results have been inconclusive :-\  too.!
 
Tilly