The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Cuddles on April 09, 2017, 11:52:10 pm

Title: heavily pregnant ewes with dirty bums
Post by: Cuddles on April 09, 2017, 11:52:10 pm

hi guys,

I'd appreciate some advice on this one.  First time lambing so I may be being a little over cautious. 
My girls are due to pop in a few weeks but some of them have have developed decidedly dirty bottoms!  I suspect it might be the flush of the new grass coming through but I'll drop a dung sample off at the vets for a FEC to be safe. 

So, with that in mind, my question is what to do with the dirty bums?...  a couple of the ewes can be quite flighty so if I don't need to stress them out by penning them for dagging I won't.  However, by leaving all that muck close to the udder, could this cause issues for any lambs?  ...Or would you leave them for now and dag them once they've lambed but before they are turned back out?

Thanks,
Cuddles

Title: Re: heavily pregnant ewes with dirty bums
Post by: Buttermilk on April 10, 2017, 07:16:50 am

I would dag what I can as sucking on a muck clanger does not do a new born lamb any good.

Title: Re: heavily pregnant ewes with dirty bums
Post by: Cuddles on April 10, 2017, 09:29:20 am

 :yuck:  hahaha

Thanks buttermilk, that painted a very vivid picture in my head!  I'd better go and clean up the kitchen... is there a spray coffee all over the place when you read something funny emoji??

:roflanim:

Title: Re: heavily pregnant ewes with dirty bums
Post by: Marches Farmer on April 10, 2017, 11:41:49 am

When testing a ewe for milk immediately after birth I always use a dairy teat wipe on the teats themselves.  In this case I would let her lick off the lamb and dag her as soon as she's calmed down and rested for a while.  I usually dag the ewes and trim the wool from the underside and end of the tail before they go to the ram.  This helps quite a bit to keep the rear end clean.