The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: steve_pr on April 05, 2013, 12:45:15 pm
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One of our ewes has had the unfortunate experience of losing both her lambs, one a fews days after birth (cold weather and a small lamb who simply didn't have the strength) and the second (one way visit to vet with huge abcess (that wasn't, and had to be put to sleep - rather traumatic for us!)).
Understandably mum is wandering around rather stressed calling for a lamb that is no longer there. Any suggestions? I know she will get over it in time but any suggestions to relieve her distress in the meantime?
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Pity to could not get another lamb fostered on to her. I have found that if you leave the dead lamb with mum long enough they accept their loss and recover quicker.
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If you can't foster, don't feed her concentrates becuase you don't want to encourage milk production and cause mastitis. If her udder gets very full you may need to milk her.
Sorry your losses :bouquet:
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Just keep her with other sheep, not ewes with lambs if you can. She'll be calling partly because she's got an udder full of milk and is uncomfortable. As said, dry her off quickly (good straw and limited water for 24 hours should do it).