The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Hillview Farm on March 09, 2014, 07:03:27 am

Title: Ewe not letting her milk down?
Post by: Hillview Farm on March 09, 2014, 07:03:27 am
Hello all,

First ewe lambed last night a week early, she has a fairly large bag. Long story short, I don't think she's letting her milk down for the lambs or it's not all there? I can't get very much out at all by hand and after the lambs feeding for 2 hours last night and no massively full tums I gave them colostrum myself. The ewe has milk there and the colostrum looks normal and good but just won't let it down!

Advice?
Title: Re: Ewe not letting her milk down?
Post by: Hillview Farm on March 09, 2014, 07:08:01 am
Forgot to add, no mastitis and her teats are high on the udder, it's like the milk can't drain onto the teats. Sadly this girl will have to go :(
Title: Re: Ewe not letting her milk down?
Post by: kanisha on March 09, 2014, 07:20:55 am
Injection of oxytocin should do the trick.
Title: Re: Ewe not letting her milk down?
Post by: Ladygrey on March 09, 2014, 08:09:37 am
Yeah a jab of Oxytocin should help her out,
seeing as she lambed a week early and no mastitis or obvious problems I would see how she goes after the jab as this can happen after early lambings

Title: Re: Ewe not letting her milk down?
Post by: Hillview Farm on March 09, 2014, 08:30:53 am
After speaking to a shepherd he said they can take 24hours for it to come, he's finding me a jab and it seems she's let some more down so fingers crossed!
Title: Re: Ewe not letting her milk down?
Post by: Ladygrey on March 09, 2014, 08:34:23 am
Thats great  :fc: Yes it can take a little while to come down sometimes :)
Title: Re: Ewe not letting her milk down?
Post by: in the hills on March 09, 2014, 10:59:28 am
Hopefully it will come. Not had it with our ewes but it's the case even in humans that it can take a good 24 hrs .... I know  ;)  ;D so supposing it can be the same for sheep.
Title: Re: Ewe not letting her milk down?
Post by: shygirl on March 09, 2014, 01:00:07 pm
Forgot to add, no mastitis and her teats are high on the udder, it's like the milk can't drain onto the teats. Sadly this girl will have to go :(

is it her first lamb? if so im sure it will all go south after a few lambs  :roflanim:
Title: Re: Ewe not letting her milk down?
Post by: SteveHants on March 09, 2014, 05:34:53 pm
Forgot to add, no mastitis and her teats are high on the udder, it's like the milk can't drain onto the teats. Sadly this girl will have to go :(

is it her first lamb? if so im sure it will all go south after a few lambs  :roflanim:


Sensibly, I imagine there will be no more lambs after these.