The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Harebell on March 29, 2015, 09:56:50 pm

Title: Lamb born without lower jaw
Post by: Harebell on March 29, 2015, 09:56:50 pm

This morning a 3 year old ewe gave birth to a big female lamb - but it never lived or died soon after birth as it was born without a lower jaw.  Never seen anything like it before but after looking on Google, it does apparently happen sometimes and is known as 'agnathia '

Saw the vet on an unrelated matter today and mentioned it.  She said there had been more lamb birth deformities  than normal in our area this year.  They had tested some for schmallenberg but no positive results yet. 

Anyone else come across something like this before?  I suppose things like this just happen sometimes.

Title: Re: Lamb born without lower jaw
Post by: Melmarsh on March 29, 2015, 10:25:04 pm

We had a single female born to a 3 year old lleyn ewe back in the 90's and that had half a bottom jaw, it was alive but would never have been able to suck so it had to be euthanased.
The lleyn made up for it the following year by having 5! Lambs but she only reared one herself as she wanted to sit on them. Needless to say, she was culled !!  :hug: