The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: NZelmo on July 16, 2012, 02:29:24 pm

Title: Very Fat and very Skinny Wiltshire Horn
Post by: NZelmo on July 16, 2012, 02:29:24 pm

Good Afternoon fellow Small holders, 

A silly question, but one you may know the answer to.

We are new to Wiltshire Horns, and have 14 very happy lambs bouncing around the field.  However 2 of our castrated lambs come in every eveving for a check over and one is like a balloon, with a very hollow sounding tum, and his friends comes in looking very slender, Both are eating well, both on the field and with the occassional muncy on sheep pellets. 

The slender one also has green (grass) staining around his mouth and legs.

Both have been wormed and treated the same... any ideas?

many thanks Em :sheep:

Title: Re: Very Fat and very Skinny Wiltshire Horn
Post by: woollyval on July 16, 2012, 03:33:51 pm

Check his jaw and teeth...if crooked or parrot etc teeth will not cud properly and he may be spilling

Title: Re: Very Fat and very Skinny Wiltshire Horn
Post by: SteveHants on July 16, 2012, 04:15:19 pm

In the first instance it sounded like bloat, but he would probably have rolled over by now if it was...


Keep an eye on him, maybe have a chat to your vet.

Title: Re: Very Fat and very Skinny Wiltshire Horn
Post by: Mallows Flock on July 16, 2012, 07:44:01 pm

My thought wass bloat too for the fatty... maybe wouldn't hurt to gently syringe 40 mils of veg oil into him just to make sure. As for the skinny one, cud spilling will cause lack of nutrition and poor-doing. I am looking after a friends now that cud spills! I find little cow-pats of chewed grass round the field and she and the other sheep have remnants of her spilling on their backs, shoulders etc Can be caused by misaligned jaw but can also be a sheepy for of reflux... kind of like our acid indigestion reflux.. but causes malnutrition long term. this ewe lamb is going to the butcher in November as cud spilling means breeding from her is not an option!

Title: Re: Very Fat and very Skinny Wiltshire Horn
Post by: NZelmo on July 16, 2012, 10:05:14 pm

Thank you everyone, a little update..

The fat one has been fat for over a week, and I have been rubbing his tum to see if that makes him burp!  I do get little ones but nothing major.  Should I inject some oil into his mouth to loosen him up?

The skinny one I tend to agree with all comments.... I watched him tonight and he was dribbling....  Will he just take longer to mature for the freezer, or will he likely get ill?  Can I supplement him with more sheep pellets each night?

Huge thanks, every comment is a confidence booster that we are doing the right things  :farmer: