The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Pedwardine on June 05, 2013, 10:38:45 pm
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Had a call from our neighbour and landlord earlier this evening to say they thought one of our ewes looked like she had died. We ran over and she had definately gone. It was so very unexpected. She was five years old, no signs of flailing with death throes or pain, no fluids from her mouth to indicate she'd choked or anything (nothing poisionous on field), she hadn't been cast, besides which death takes a long time with that one and we and our watchful neighbour hadn't seen her where she died up until late afternoon. We'd been with the ewes and their lambs for around 2 hours this afternoon and there was no sign of anything wrong. The only odd thing about her upon examination was quite smelly breath (old and sour) and a rather sloshy tummy. She leaves behind twin ewe lambs who I'm now obviously concerned about. They know something has happened and were left sniffing where Berry's body had lain. Bless her, they have lovely full tummies. It must have been a heart attack or something as it was just so sudden and how she lay was just like she'd fallen down dead.
What do you do with the lambs in a circumstance like this? They were born on 14th April so are just over seven weeks old. They are good strong, healthy girls. They've been eating grass and creep but surely will still need milk. How do I now get them to feed from a bottle? One is more friendly out of the two and her sister is always nearby. I'm hoping they will fare ok overnight but know they will be missing their mum. I've just never had this situation before and am really concerned. I feel it best to leave them in their familiar environment with all their playmates and the other mums. It's just so awful that this has happened. :'( Anyone with any advice?
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Very sorry to hear your sad news :bouquet: .
My neighbour had something similar about 4 weeks ago and the ewe also had twin lambs of a similar age. I offered them creep and milk powder but it was not organic ::) so they decided to leave them in the field with all the other lambs and mums. After a couple of hours they did not appear stressed and both now seem absolutely fine. I hope your little ones fare ok too :fc: .
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No experience to offer advice. Just sending :hug: so sad.
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I had a similar think happen several years ago and I just left the twins with there buddies, they thrived and are still with me to this day
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That's what I'm hoping for, that they'll just get on with life. At that age do they need what mum's milk gives them or do they drink it out of habit just because it's on offer? I can't hear any crying out there tonight. I so hope they'll be reslient little girls.
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Sorry for your loss :bouquet: In my limited experience this sudden death sounds like pastuerella (sp?). Lambs should be fine without milk now as long as they have creep feed grass and water.
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Oh, no ......really sorry about your ewe. :bouquet: Its such a shock when they go like this, and you do not know the cause. Could it have been bloat? That can make horrible smelly froth come up in the mouth?
The lambs will be ok. I have had goat kids weaned at this age, and so long as the little ones can drink water and get some creep feed they will be fine. Sending you lots of :hug: :hug:
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Oh so sorry to hear this. I keep looking out the window checking that mine are all ok.
I can't give advice about the lambs as i don't have that much knowledge but judging from what others are saying they should be ok. :fc:
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Oh this is a shame, but yes as said you can wean the lambs and if they're eating grass keep them out and pop out a creep feeder to top up if they need it. :bouquet:
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Have left word with vets to call me. Whilst we would like to think it was a good quick death, I need to be sure that nothing was untoward. Sounds awful I know but can't afford a PM as we owe vets masses :o at the moment. Still, my vet is great at helping for no charge over the 'phone so have said about the dodgy breath (no foaming at all, just gas) and the sloshy tummy and hoping he can say "Aha, it's this". Just going over with a bottle to see if lambs are interested. No crying in the night which is good :fc:
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Sorry about your loss. If you can't afford a PM you could do one yourself if you fancy having a go - you should be able to find stuff on the web telling you how and what to look for? I've certainly seen details of PM'ing a lamb.
The lambs should be fine, they might even manage to steal milk from the other Mum's if they are cheeky. :)
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They'll be extremely unlikely to take to the bottle at this age but with creep and good grazing should get by OK. The contents of the rumen will continue to ferment for a while after death so froth at the mouth isn't necessarily an indicator of bloat.
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lambs should be fine ... I weaned my bottle fed ones off at 5-6 weeks. Access to creep and water and they will do well.
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Nope, no take on the bottle. Didn't really expect them to. Weren't even curious though lots of other lambs were! I have to say, they seem fine.
Oooh, OH has been present at a PM and helped but, doing it ourselves? Don't think we're able to stretch our capabilities that far. Just looked down at movement to my right expecting a dog and it's a flippin' chicken ;D Got a Black Copper Maran who is increasingly taking up residence in the house. She's progressed from the kitchen today then?!
All these things make you smile and help a little :)
Just had a call from my neighbour. Babies are crying now :'( Must be hungry or have realised she's not there anymore.
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Very sorry for you loss, such a shock when a healthy one minute animal is then found dead.
As others have said the lambs should be fine with their friends and with access to creep feed.
re a PM the knackers yard that take our deadstock will always open up an animal to check for cause of death and at no charge if you ask, they can pick up on anything that is obviously wrong, eg pasturella, fluke, pulpy kidney etc, so generally worthwhile if the cause is unknown.
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Oh no, I just read your message, that is awful. Im so sorry.
Have you just put them onto new pasture? I have a problem on my property with going from hay over winter to the lush new growth on grass in spring in one particular paddock. They seem prone to bloat there.
One year I had three go down with bloat, and one died (an older wether) in front of my eyes. There were no signs except bloated tummy after he was dead.
He was miserable for about an hour,but i thought like the othrs he would come right I had called the vet but he wasnt quick enough. Angus died very quickly, he rolled on his side I held him and he was gone in about 1/2 a minute. Much easier and humane than i had expected Up until the last two minutes when he rolled over I had expected he would come right. His tummy was very gurgly.
The lambs sound like they will be fine. They will take a bottle only if you sit them on your lap and try and dribble it in until they learn.They will struggle against it till they learn. Easiest to slip the teat between their cheek and gums and eventually they get it. Time consuming and they sound like they will be ok without it. You know in the bloat forums for lambs people suggest weaning them at quite a young age so must be ok. They probably will learn to take pellets or creep from you and will treat you as mum.
I assume you vacs for pulpy kidney / tetenus etc?
Thinking of you. i am so sad for you.
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They'll be extremely unlikely to take to the bottle at this age but with creep and good grazing should get by OK. The contents of the rumen will continue to ferment for a while after death so froth at the mouth isn't necessarily an indicator of bloat.
This. In summer, ruminants 'blow up' pretty quicky when they die, so it wasn't nescessarily bloat that killed it.
I wouldn't worry too much about one unexplained death though. Its par for the course with sheep.
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Yes I agree with Steve, its very sad, but it does occassionally happen.